The Lord's Day Bible Message Outlines
July 25, 2010
Pastor Dana Johnson
“Who is he who
condemns? It is Christ who died.…” 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.
1. The question seems
to be rhetorical (meaning the answer is “no one”)
as well as a challenge. Consider some possible examples of
illegitimate "condemnation."
a. The
intelligent skeptic may condemn you for believing
something so foolish.
1
Corinthians 1:18 - For the message of the cross is
foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are
being saved it is the power of God.
b. Your own
conscience may condemn you for your weak struggle against
sin.
1
John 2:1-2 - 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.
2And He Himself is the propitiation for our
sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole
world.
c. The unregenerate
may condemn you for your sinful mistake.
d. The
self-righteous may condemn you for not conforming to
their religion.
Luke
18:11-12 - "The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with
himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men;
extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax
collector. 12I fast twice a week; I give
tithes of all that I possess.'"
e. The beautiful
person with the perfect life may condemn you for your
trials.
Romans
8:28, 35-36 - And we know that all things work together
for good to those who love God, to those who are the
called according to His purpose.35Who shall
separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation,
or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or
peril, or sword? 36As it is written: "For Your
sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as
sheep for the slaughter."
Job
8:1-7 - Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:
2"How long will you speak these things, and
the words of your mouth be like a strong wind?
3Does God subvert judgment? Or does the
Almighty pervert justice? 4If your sons have
sinned against Him, He has cast them away for their
transgression. 5If you would earnestly seek
God And make your supplication to the Almighty,
6if you were pure and upright, surely now He
would awake for you, and prosper your rightful dwelling
place. 7Though your beginning was small, yet
your latter end would increase
abundantly."
2. There is one answer
to all these “condemnations:” Jesus Christ.
a.
Christ’s atoning sacrifice is a part of God’s
eternal purposes for His elect.
Romans
8:28-30 - And we know that all things work together for
good to those who love God, to those who are the called
according to His purpose. 29For whom He
foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the
image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among
many brethren. 30Moreover whom He predestined,
these He also called; whom He called, these He also
justified; and whom He justified, these He also
glorified.
b. When He died
Christ made a completely sufficient atonement for our
sins. For sins of the past, present, and
future.
c. Christ’s
atoning and sanctifying intercession did not end with His
death. With His endless life He continues to intercede
for His people.
3. Thus, it is
God’s will for His people to have a God-centered and
Christ-centered assurance of salvation.
(All
Scripture quoted is from the New King James
Version)
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