His Love Ministries
Episodes
Tuesday Dec 13, 2016
Tuesday Dec 13, 2016
Romans 8:34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NKJV)
Ro 8:34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Ro 8:34;
1Ti 2:5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,
Even He cannot do both, accuse and justify at the same time. And since our justification resides in a Person, the Lord Jesus our righteousness, in whom we stand as uncondemned and unchargeable as the Son Himself, it is impossible, after having been justified, that we be again accused—and brought under condemnation.”[1]
Jesus Christ is God’s appointed Judge
Joh 5:22 "For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, 27 "and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.
Ac 17:31 "because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead."
So Paul answered this question by stating, Christ Jesus. But Jesus is the very One whom the believer has trusted for salvation[1]
Paul cited four reasons.
First, He died for us and thereby removed our guilt. 1Th 5:10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.
Second, He arose from the dead and is therefore able to give life to those who trust Him (cf. John 11:25;
John 14:19 "A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also.).
Third, He has ascended to the position of supreme authority in heaven where He represents us (v. 29).
Fourth, He presently intercedes to the Father for our welfare Heb. 4:14-16;
Heb 7:25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.; cf. Rom. 8:26).
1Jo 2:1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous
Peter sinned against the Lord, but he was forgiven and restored to fellowship because of Jesus Christ. Luke 22:31–32 “Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has asked permission to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed especially for you that your own faith may not utterly fail”. He is interceding for each of us, a ministry that assures us that we are secure.[1]
Certainly the Judge will not condemn His own who are in Him by faith! (cf. Rom. 8:1)[1]
We may accuse ourselves, and men may accuse us; but God will never take us to court and accuse us. Jesus has already paid the penalty and we are secure in Him.[1]
Through such love we are more than conquerors over all things (35-39)
In Romans 8:31–34 Paul proved that God cannot fail us, but is it possible that we can fail Him? Suppose some great trial or temptation comes, and we fail? Then what? Paul deals with that problem in this final section and explains that nothing can separate us from the love of Jesus Christ.[1]
Ro 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Joh 10:29 "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand.
Present trials and sufferings are not an indication that God has withdrawn His love from us. The context (vv. 37, 39) shows that “the love of Christ” is His love for believers (not their love for Him; cf. 5:5)[1] Even though the Father allowed His Son to suffer, He did not stop loving Him. The Father deals with His adopted sons as He dealt with His Unique Son (cf. John 16:33). Paul suggested seven things, in increasing intensity, that a believer might experience—and he experienced them all (2 Cor. 11:23-28)—that some might think could come between a believer and Christ's love.
trouble (thilpsis, “pressure or distress”; mentioned frequently by Paul in 2 Cor.) or hardship (stenochōria, lit., “narrowness,” i.e., being pressed in, hemmed in, crowded) or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword. These things—stated in increasing intensity—do not separate Christians from Christ; instead they are part of the “all things” (Rom. 8:28) God uses to bring them to conformity to His Son.
Then Paul quoted Psalm 44:22 in verse 36 to remind his readers that in this life the people of God must face much affliction (cf. John 16:33) including even martyrdom for some. In the early days of the church one or more Christians were martyred every day, or faced the possibility of it. Their persecutors valued Christians’ lives as nothing more than animals to be butchered.
36 As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter."
Suffering has always been the portion of the righteous (Ps. 44:22). The sufferings in view are the consequence of our identification with Christ.
Ac 5:41 So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.; 1 Pet. 2:21-25; 4:14-19).
Ro 8:37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
In all these adversities (cf. “all things” in Rom. 8:28 and “all things” in v. 32 with all these things in v. 37), rather than being separated from Christ’s love, believers are more than conquerors (pres. tense, hypernikōmen, “keep on being conquerors to a greater degree” or “keep on winning a glorious victory”) through Him who loved us. Jesus Christ and His love for believers enable them to triumph (cf. 2 Cor. 2:14).[1]
Verses 37-39 express very eloquently the impregnability of our position as believers. "In all these things" is possibly the translation of a Hebraism meaning "despite all these things."
The Greek word hypernikomen suggests "hyper-conquerors." Our victory is sure! The Cross is the great proof of God's love for us, and it is the basis for our victory. It proves that God is for us (v. 31).
Ro 8:38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,
God will continue to love us when we die, and He will continue to love us whatever may befall us now. He loves us on both sides of the grave. Helpful or hostile angelic beings cannot change God's commitment to us. Nothing that the present or future may hold can do so either. No force of any kind can remove us from His loving care.
Paul listed the extremities of existence in this verse and the next.
Paul then ended his discussion on believers’ safety in Jesus Christ and the certainty of their sanctification with a positive declaration—For I am convinced (perf. Tense (something that is completed), “I stand convinced”; cf. 15:14) that nothing can separate believers from the love of God (God’s love for them, not their love for God; cf. v. 35).
Paul’s list of 10 items begins with death, where the list of 7 items in verse 35 ended. These elements in God’s universe include the extremes of existence:
The items mentioned are those that people dread (life, death, supernatural powers, above, below, any creature to cover any omissions).[1]
(1) death
(2) or life, believers are in God’s presence); the extremes of created spiritual armies:
2Co 5:8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. 9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.
(3) angels and (4) demons (angels would not and demons could not undo God’s relationship with His redeemed ones);
(4) the extremes in time:
(5) the present and
(6) the future (nothing known now, e.g., the hardships listed in Rom. 8:35, or in the unknown time to come); spiritual enemies:
(7) powers (perhaps Satan and his demons; cf. Eph. 6:12; or possibly human governments);
39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(8) height and
(9) depth (nothing overhead or underneath can suddenly come swooping down or up to sever believers from God’s love); the extremes in space: Space cannot separate us from His loving care either.
Paul may have used height and depth as astrological terms that were familiar in his day, hupsōma (height) referring to the high point, or zenith, of a star’s path, and bathos (depth) to its lowest point. If so, the idea is that Christ’s love secures a believer from the beginning to the end of life’s path. Or perhaps he used the terms to signify the infinity of space, which is endless in every direction. Either way, the basic meaning is that of
totality.[1]
(10) and everything in the entire created realm. Absolutely nothing in His Creation can thwart His purpose for believers in Christ. What a climactic way to affirm the certainty of believers’ salvation![1]
Finally nothing in all creation can drive a wedge between the loving God and His redeemed people. That must include the behavior and belief of His own children as well. Not even the redeemed can remove themselves from God's love, which Christ Jesus has secured for them!
A review of this great chapter shows that the Christian is completely victorious.
Lessons:
We are free from judgment because Christ died for us and we have His righteousness.
We are free from defeat because Christ lives in us by His Spirit and we share His life.
We are free from discouragement because Christ is coming for us and we shall share His glory.
We are free from fear because Christ intercedes for us and we cannot be separated from His love.
If God be for us, who can be against us!
Donald Grey Barnhouse told a personal story that beautifully illustrates death’s powerlessness over Christians. When his wife died, his children were still quite young, and Dr. Barnhouse wondered how he could explain their mother’s death in a way their childish minds could understand. As they drove home from the funeral, a large truck passed them and briefly cast a dark shadow over the car. Immediately the father had the illustration he was looking for, and he asked the children, “Would you rather be run over by a truck or by the shadow of a truck?” “That’s easy, Daddy,” they replied. “We would rather get run over by the shadow, because that wouldn’t hurt.” Their father then said, “Well, children, your mother just went through the valley of the shadow of death, and there’s no pain there, either.”
Friday Dec 09, 2016
Friday Dec 09, 2016
Read Ps 90 by Moses
James discusses the subject of making plans, something very relevant for us
Making plans, in of itself, is not wrong...
Paul often made plans in regard to his travels - Ac 15:36; 18: 20-21; 1 Co 16:5-9
Making plans or setting goals is a key to success in life
But there is a right way to plan, and a wrong way;
[First, let's consider the "right" way
WE CAN SUBMIT TO GOD'S WILL
We can make our plans, but we should make them conditional to God's approval - "if the Lord wills" (15)
Ps 39:5 Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, And my age is as nothing before You; Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor. Selah 6 Surely every man walks about like a shadow; Surely they busy themselves in vain; He heaps up riches, And does not know who will gather them. 11 When with rebukes You correct man for iniquity, You make his beauty melt away like a moth; Surely every man is vapor. Selah
This is what Paul did
"God willing" - Ac 18:21 but took leave of them, saying, "I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem; but I will return again to you, God willing." And he sailed from Ephesus
Ro 1:7 To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.
9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers, 10 making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established--
"if the Lord permits" - 1Co 16:7 For I do not wish to see you now on the way; but I hope to stay a while with you, if the Lord permits.
Nu 14:8 "If the LORD delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, 'a land which flows with milk and honey.'
De 19:8 "Now if the LORD your God enlarges your territory, as He swore to your fathers, and gives you the land which He promised to give to your fathers,
1Co 4:19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power.
1Co 16:7 For I do not wish to see you now on the way; but I hope to stay a while with you, if the Lord permits.
Jas 4:15 Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that."
Saying "if the Lord wills" assumes our faith in two things:
That God does have a will for us
Ec 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.
Jer 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
That God can intervene (by divine guidance) to carry out His will
IF WE REALLY WANT OUR PLANS TO SUCCEED, THEN WE WILL SEEK FIRST TO KNOW GOD'S WILL, AND PLAN ACCORDINGLY...
To a great degree, this is possible, for God wants us to:
Understand His Will - Ep 5:17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is
Be filled with His Will - Co 1:9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
Prove His Will - Ro 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
When we know God's "revealed" will from our study of the Bible, then we can act or plan accordingly
The right way to plan is to show our submission to God by leaving our plans subject to His will – Do we pray, God will this bring you Glory
Mt 7:7 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
There is also God's "permissive" will
Now let's look at the "wrong" way in "Making Our Plans"
WE CAN IGNORE GOD'S WILL – What are our motivations
v13-15 TO PLAN THIS WAY IS FOLLY
Because life is COMPLEX (v13)
So many decisions to make, so many mistakes might be made
If it's possible to know God's will on any matter, that would increase the likelihood that our decisions and plans will be correct
Because life is UNCERTAIN (v14a)
No one has a guarantee of tomorrow
Luke 12:16-26 – Parable of the rich man – your soul will be required
Pr 27:1 Do not boast about tomorrow, For you do not know what a day may bring forth.
Gal 1:6-7 Sow you reap
Only God can bring about what He wills for the future without fail
Because life is FRAGILE (14b)
It is like a "vapor"
How quickly we can succumb to sickness or an accident illustrates how frail we really are
Because life is BRIEF (14c) About 18 different descriptions in the Bible for how brief life is.
"appears for a little time “Job 9:25-26 Now my days are swifter than a runner; They flee away, they see no good. 26 They pass by like swift ships, Like an eagle swooping on its prey.
Job 14:1 "Man who is born of woman Is of few days and full of trouble. 2 He comes forth like a flower and fades away; He flees like a shadow and does not continue.
v15 Life is short, so it is important that we do God's will and not our own - cf. 1Jn 2:17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
v16 TO PLAN THIS WAY IS BOASTFUL ARROGANCE and Sin – Wrong Priorities
The word arrogance comes from the word wanderer, the person who wanders around like those who sell cure alls for everything. A person who mounted a platform or soapbox to sell phony things.
To plan without taking into consideration God's will is to set ourselves up above God Himself!
How could one be more arrogant than that?
Ps 37:4 Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.
Mt 6:33 Seek ye first
TO PLAN THIS WAY IS SIN (v16-17)
v16 It is sin because it involves arrogance and boasting which is evil
v17 It is sin because we who are Christians know better
We know what is good: to plan with God's Will in mind
To do otherwise is to sin!
CONCLUSION
How do we make our plans? – deo Volente – Means If God Wills was found on the letters of people who wrote them 100 years ago.
If we plan without considering the will of God, then we are foolish, arrogant, and sinful!
If we make our plans subject to the approval of God, then we are wise, submissive, and righteous in God's sight!
What about your "plans" for eternity?
There is no doubt what the Lord's will is on his subject - cf. Mt 28:19-20
We can be certain if we submit to God's will He will take care of our needs
But to ignore His will is trouble
Have you done "as" the Lord wills?
We need first a willingness to do God’s will when we find it
Know that His will is always in Harmony with His Word
We need to come to Him earnestly in prayer seeking His guidance in all matters
Lu 11:2 So He said to them, "When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.
Psalm 40 and verse 8 he said, "I delight to do Thy will, O my God,
The psalmist also says in Psalm 143 verse 10, "Teach me to do Thy will for Thou art my God." It's as if he is saying in one place I want to do it, and in another place I'm not sure I know how. I delight in doing it, teach me specifically how. Basic to one's relationship to Christ then is doing the will of God.