Sermon Notes – Pastor Milton Vincent
March 18, 2012 – Cornerstone Fellowship Bible Church

Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died–more than that, who was raised–who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.  Romans 8:33-34

Paul has already affirmed that we are delivered from the reality of condemnation (Rom 8:1) to every charge- NOT GUILTY. This is the objective fact. Yet subjectively we may say we have not been delivered from condemnation because of the fears and forebodings, thoughts we often have regarding condemnation from God.

Courtroom in in . The Classical Revival courthouse was built in 1890, and is listed in the . (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

We are objectively delivered from condemnation on the day of our salvation, but subjectively we often don’t feel that way. Why?

OUR ACCUSERS:
-Satan: Rev. 12:10
-Others: Others pile condemnation on us and we slip “into the septic infection of condemnation.” (Dave Harvey, When Sinners Say ‘I Do’)
-Our own hearts: 1 John 3:20

No one can ever step forward and bring a legitimate charge against us that has not already been covered by Christ’s blood.

FIVE RESPONSES TO ANYONE (INCLUDING OURSELVES) WHO WOULD ACCUSE OR CONDEMN US BEFORE GOD

1. It is God who justifies us. (v. 33)
-God decides to think of our sins as forgiven and Christ’s righteousness as belonging to us.
-He declares us righteous in His sight.
-God does this! We cannot justify ourselves.
-Paul would say he doesn’t look to others or even himself, it is God who justifies. (1 Cor. 4:3-5)
-A Christian knows that he cannot justify himself. We would agree with all charges against us.

2. It is Christ who died for us. (v. 34)
-When we have a true encounter with the cross of Christ we realize that we have already been accused of the worst sin.
-The cross is a blunt instrument that God uses to show us our sin.
-We are violators of the 6th commandment (“You shall not murder.”). We killed Jesus. We are murderers of the Son of God.
-The essence of all sin ever committed is the murder of God.

“We finally see the very thing we dreaded to discover. At last we find out who we are. The cross brings us out of hiding. It breaks our denial but only in the very instant that it shows us the possibility of forgiveness.” -Becky Pippert

3. It is Christ who was raised from the dead after dying for us. (v. 34)
-The death of Christ is the purchase of our justification. The resurrection is the receipt. (See Rom. 4:25)
-God looked at His Son’s death and then at all of your sin and said (in a manner of speaking), “This death atones for all that sin.” We know this because Jesus rose from the dead.
-The resurrection proves and validates that His death was sufficient.

4. It is Christ who is at the right hand of God for us. (v.34)
-This One who died for me, who was raised for me, is the One that God has elevated to His very right hand. An incredible reality!
-The One who loved me so much He was willing to die for me is right now at the right Hand of God.
-The right hand of God is a:
Position of highest reward
Position of absolute Lordship and power over all.
Position of highest access to and influence with the Father.
-Feel the weight and blessing that the One who loved us more than anyone else could, God has elevated to His right hand!

5. It is Christ who intercedes for us. (v. 34)
-We have an advocate (lit.) ”toward” the Father. (1 John 2:1)
-We need to appreciate that when we sin, our righteousness is in heaven-Jesus is at the right hand of the Father.

“If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear ten-thousand enemies who come against me. Nevertheless, distance makes no difference. ‘He ever liveth to make intercession for us.’” -Robert Murray McCheyne

-Appreciate that Paul is imagining people coming forward to condemn him before God. He does not look at his accusers but at God, and Christ who died, was buried, and rose again.
-For every look at yourself, give ten looks at God.
-LOOK TO HIM!
-Directed toward accusers who would cause us to think that God has changed His mind about our justification.

Romans 8:31 asks, “What then shall we say to these things…?” Don’t just read this, speak these truths out loud. Say these things along with the Apostle Paul.