More
Than Conquerors
Steve W. Reeves
INTRODUCTION:
A. A
lady was driving down a country road one day when she came upon a terrible
traffic accident. A car had veered off the
road and hit a tree. There were several
people injured. The lady got out of her car
to help. She later recalled, “I was so glad I
remembered my first aid class. I put my
head down on my knees to keep from
fainting.”
1. I’m afraid that is how Christians are in
today’s world. When we should be going
about doing good to those who are
spiritually injured by sin about the only thing we
seem to do is put our heads down on our
knees to keep from fainting.
2. God has not reconciled us to Himself
through the blood of His Son so that we
might live in defeat. He wants us to be
“more than conquerors.”
B.
Listen to Romans 8:31-39.
“What then shall we say to these things? If
God is for us, who is against us? 32 He
who did not spare His own Son, but
delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also
with Him freely give us all things? 33 Who
will bring a charge against God’s elect? God
is the one who justifies; 34 who
is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who
died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at
the right hand of God, who also
intercedes for us. 35 Who will
separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or
distress, or persecution, or famine, or
nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 Just as it is
written,‘For Your sake we are being put to
death all day long; We were considered as
sheep to be slaughtered.’ 37 But
in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer
through Him who loved us. 38 For
I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor
angels, nor principalities, nor things
present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor
height, nor depth, nor any other created
thing, will be able to separate us from the
love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our
Lord.”
C. How
can we be assured of God’s intention that we are “more than conquerors?” In
Romans 8 Paul systematically sets forth
five reasons to support this statement.
I. ABSOLUTION
(vss. 1-2).
A. Paul wrote, “Therefore there is now no
condemnation for those who are in Christ
Jesus. 2 For the law of
the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law
of sin and of death.”
1. Absolution is a formal release from
guilt.
2. This is exactly what we have been
offered through Christ.
B. Several years ago the Gov. of
Mississippi, preparing to leave office,
created a controversy when he pardoned
several prisoners who had committed
serious crimes. Though people didn’t
like it, he had the authority under the law to
issue the pardons
1. Jesus has made it possible for us to
receive divine pardon for our sins. He
fulfilled the law and offered
Himself as the perfect sacrifice for sin. We no longer
have to live under condemnation.
2. We must accept that pardon. On December 6, 1829 two men, George Wilson
and James Porter, robbed a United
States mail carrier in Pennsylvania. Both
men were subsequently captured and
tried. On May 1, 1830 both men were
found guilty and were condemned to
die by hanging on July
2, 1830. James Porter was executed
on schedule. Wilson had a friend who
asked President Andrew Jackson to
grant a pardon which he did. There was only
one catch. Wilson refused the
pardon. The case made it all the way to the
Supreme Court. Chief Justice John
Marshall wrote the following in the decision:
"A pardon is an act of grace,
proceeding from the power entrusted with the
execution of the laws, which exempts
the individual, on whom it is bestowed,
from the punishment the law inflicts
for a crime he has committed... A pardon is a
deed, to the validity of which
delivery is essential; and delivery is not completed
without acceptance.”
C. God offers us pardon of our sins through
Jesus Christ.
1. The choice is yours whether to accept
or reject the pardon.
2. Without that pardon there is
condemnation. With the pardon your sins are
forgiven and there is no condemnation.
II. ADOPTION (vs. 14).
A. In verses 14-15 Paul writes, “For all
who are being led by the Spirit of God, these
are sons of God. 15 For
you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear
again, but you have received a spirit of
adoption as sons by which we cry out,
‘Abba! Father!’”
1. Prior to our conversion we were
slaves to sin. We were in bondage.
2. In Ephesians 2:12 Paul wrote, “ that
we were “separate from Christ, excluded
from citizenship in Israel and
foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without
hope and without God in the world.”
B. Because of the sacrifice of Christ and
the presence of the Spirit we are no longer
slaves but children.
1. How is this possible? Through
adoption.
2. Those who have adopted children (and
several of you have) have demonstrated
a precious spirit of love and
sharing. You have given your precious child your
heart, your home and your identity.
3. God has demonstrated that same
wonderful spirit with us.
B. As a result we can call God, “Abba.”
1. An Aramaic term denoting an “intimate
relationship.”
2.
I did not call my father, Mr. Reeves. Nor did I call him, Melemoth Wade
although
that was his name. To me he was,
“Dad” I used that name with fondness
because it spoke of our close relationship.
III. ANTICIPATION (vs.
18).
A. In verse 18 Paul says, “For I consider
that the sufferings of this present time are
not worthy to be compared with the glory
that is to be revealed to us.”
1. Since the day of Adam’s sin humanity
has lived in a world that has groaned with
suffering.
2. Paul illuminates this fact in verse
22 – “For we know that the whole creation
groans and suffers the pains of
childbirth together until now.”
B. All of us know something about groaning.
1. We know something about being beat
up, weighed down, discouraged,
heartbroken, and perplexed.
2. In 1962 the book Craters of
Diamonds by Victor and Mildred Goertzel was
published. The book examined the lives of
400 famous people (scientists,
musicians, artists, actors and
educators). The authors were curious
about the
common denominators of success
exhibited in the lives of these individuals.
They found only one. In 392 of the
cases the individuals had overcome
tremendous obstacles and suffering
before realizing success.
C. When confronted with suffering we must
remember they are only temporary
and they cannot begin to compare with
the glory and splendor of eternity with God.
IV. ASSISTANCE (vs. 26).
A. God has never intended that we travel
through life by ourselves.
1. As Jesus was preparing for His death,
burial and resurrection He told the
apostles that He would not leave them helpless (Jn.16:12ff).
2. He has not left us helpless. Verse 26
says, “In the same way, the Spirit helps us
in our weakness.”
B. We don’t know how to pray as we should.
It’s not a matter of right words. It’s that
we don’t really know what we need. We
often confuse needs with wants.
Sometimes we use prayer as a type of
“wish” list for our wants.
1. God understands. By allowing His
Spirit to dwell in our lives we have one who
helps us in our prayers.
2. Jesus used the word “para-clete”
meaning one who comes alongside. The Spirit
does not pray for us. He comes
alongside us when we pray to help us.
3. He helps us in prayer with groaning
we cannot understand. “Agonizing longings
which never find words” – J.B.
Phillips
C. Jesus is at the right hand of God
interceding for us (Heb. 12:2). The Spirit dwells
within us assisting us and helping us as
we pray.
V. ASSURANCE (vs. 28).
A. “And we know that God causes all things
to work together for good to those who
love God, to those who are called
according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). This
verse brings great comfort for God’s
people. There are some things this verse
is not saying.
1. It is not saying that everything that
happens is good. We know that there is evil in
the world. There is sin. Bad things
happen. Tragedy befalls us.
2. Nor is the verse saying that we will
understand everything that happens to us in
life.
B. What Paul is saying is that there is a
cumulative effect of the things that occur in
our life that produces good.
1. A machine may have parts that move in
different directions but the result is a
singular purpose.
2. God sees the big picture. He has the
ability to take negative things and turn them
into positives. A good example is
Genesis 50:20 – “You intended to harm me, but
God intended it for good to
accomplish what is now being done, the saving of
many lives.”
CONCLUSION:
A. What
makes you “more than a conqueror?”
1. It is not your talent or ability?
2. It is not your physique or good looks?
3. It is not your wealth.
4. It is not your personal righteousness.
B.
Paul gives the answer in Romans 8:38-39, “For I am convinced that neither
death,
nor life, nor angels, nor principalities,
nor things present, nor things to come, nor
powers, 39 nor height, nor
depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate
us from the love of God, which is in Christ
Jesus our Lord.”
C.
Come to Christ today. Accept Him by faith, repent of your sins, confess His
name
and be baptized into His death. We welcome
you.
