1. “Love Beyond Degree” Romans 8:31-39 RCF Large Group Fri, 4/17/09

2. Passage 31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all, how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died - more than that, who was raised to life - is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

3. Passage 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.“ 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

4. Passage 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

5. Initial Question “What, then, shall we say in response to all this?”

6. Questions in Response 1. Who can be against us? 2. Will we lack anything? 3. Who can accuse/condemn us? 4. Who can separate us from God’s love?

7. Question #1 Question: Who can be against us? Truth: God is for us. If God is for us, who can be against us? Answer: Nobody.

8. Question #2 Question: Will we lack anything? Truth: God did not spare His own son but gave Him up. He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? Answer: He always will.

9. Question #3 Question: Who can accuse/condemn us? Truth: God has justified us, and Christ is interceding for us. Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? Who is he that condemns? Answer to both: NOBODY

10. Question #4 Question: Who can separate us from God’s love? Truth: We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Answer: NOTHING in all of creation.

11. John Stott This is the love of God which was supremely displayed on the cross, which has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, which has drawn out from us our responsive love, and which in its essential steadfastness will never let us go, since it is committed to bringing us safe home to glory in the end. Our confidence is not in our love for Him, which is frail, fickle, and faltering, but in His love for us, which is steadfastness, faithful, and persevering…

12. John Stott The doctrine of the “perseverance of the saints” needs to be re-named. It is the doctrine of the “perseverance of God with the saints.”

13. Our response tonight 1. Pour out your worship before the Lord your God. 2. Go and sin no more.