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Grace Bible Church

4000 E. Collins Rd.   P.O. Box #3762   Gillette, WY  82717   (307) 686-1516

 

“Preaching the Living Word through the Written Word (2Tim 4:2)”

 

 

 

THE GRACE AND FAVOR OF GOD

 (Rom 8:30-34)    3/30/08

Grace Bible Church, Gillette, Wyoming

Pastor Daryl Hilbert

 

I.        GOD’S SOVEREIGN WILL IS FROM BEGINNING TO END (30)

 

A.      In speaking of God’s sovereign will, Paul reveals just how sovereign God is. Paul teaches, in what is sometimes called, “the Golden Chain,” that God is sovereign in His redemptive plan from beginning to end.

B.      Paul’s description really begins in vs. 29 when he says, “those whom He foreknew.” So those with whom God entered into a relationship (“foreknew”) He predestined.

C.      Here predestination (vs. 30), though it encompasses the conformity to Christ, would refer to God’s foreordination with respect to salvation. In other words, God ordains whoever He has chosen (Ac 13:48; Ep 1:4).

D.      Logically, if God foreordained the elect, then He would carry out His own foreordained plan. Thus, those He predestined, He also called. Here the calling (kaléō) of God does not refer to a general call to all men, but the efficacious call to the elect (Ro 1:6; 1Co 1:9, 24; 2Pe 1:3). This means when God draws and calls the elect, they will come (Jn 6:37 cp. 6:44).

E.       We know that those who are called will come, because God says that they will be “justified.” Justification is the theme of the book of Romans. Justification means to be declared righteous with Christ’s righteousness. This is in response to faith in Christ’s death on the cross (Ro 4:25). It is clear from this passage that those who have been predestined will exercise their faith and be justified.

F.       The Golden Chain reveals even more. Those who are justified will also be glorified. Salvation is secure because a sovereign God made it secure. The believer’s salvation is so secure that God uses the past tense for “glorified.” In the aorist tense, the believer’s glorification has already taken place in God’s mind. Using a sorites (a series of logical connections), Paul teaches that God is so sovereign that those whom He “foreknew,” He ultimately “glorified.”

 

II.      GOD’S SOVEREIGN GRACE IS IRREVOCABLE (31-34)

 

A.      God’s Favor is upon the Believer (31)

 

1.       Paul now responds to what has been taught in Ro 8:1-30. He asks, “What should we assert (future active indicative - légō - speak or declare) about all that has been taught so far?”

2.       A first class condition (“if” - “ei” & the indicative) is used in the phrase, “If God is for us….” The first class condition is the simple condition of fact. It is generally assumed true. In a case that it is clearly true, it can be translated with the word, “since.” Therefore, this phrase could be translated, “Since God is for us, who is against us?” or “If God is for us (and He is)….”

3.       The point is that God is for the believer. The believer has obtained the Lord’s favor through Christ. Paul has already taught us in Romans that the believer:

a)       Has been justified (Ro 5:1)

b)       Has peace with God (Ro 5:1)

c)       Has obtained grace (Ro 5:2)

d)       Has been saved from wrath (Ro 5:9)

e)       Has been reconciled (Ro 5:10)

f)        Has been removed from Adam (Ro 5:20)

g)       Has been placed “in Christ” (Ro 8:1)

h)       Has died to sin but is alive to God (Ro 6:11)

i)         Has no condemnation (Ro 8:1)

j)        Has received the Spirit of Life (Ro 8:2)

k)       Has been made a son and co-heir with Christ (Ro 8:17)

4.       If God accomplished all these things on the believer’s behalf through Christ, then it is certainly safe to say that God is for us.

5.       Here the word “for” (hupér - with genitive) means “in behalf of,” that is, in the sense of protection and provision. To say, “God is for us” is to say that God’s favor, provision, and protection is upon His child.

6.       The conclusion is that no one can be against us, not human being, or spiritual being. In order for anyone to come against the believer, he must come against God first. This is not to say that God will not allow certain things to happen to the believer, but the point is that nothing can happened to the believer that does not first pass through His loving sovereign hands.

 

B.      God’s Grace is Abundant to the Believer (32)

 

1.       If the believers at Rome did not fully comprehend God’s abundant grace toward them, then Paul has more to share.

2.       The argument is based on what God is willing to give for the believer. God was willing to give His Son on the cross. The Son is God Himself, the second Person of the Godhead. God sacrificed Himself in the Person of the Son. In that sense, God gave everything.

3.       Furthermore, the Scriptures reveal that the Father loved the Son (Mt 3:17; 17:5 cp. 2Pe 1:17; Jn 3:35; 5:20; 17:26). Therefore, God sacrificed that which was most precious to Him.

4.       This a fortiori (greater to lesser) argument follows that if God did not spare (pheídomai - withhold or hold back) His Son, but “handed (Him) over” (“delivered” - paradídōmi) for the believer, then why would He hold anything back?

5.       In fact, our heavenly Father graciously and freely gives (charizomai - show favor, show grace, give freely) believers all things in Christ. The things that the Father gives are greater than any earthly blessing. They are heavenly spiritual blessings (Ep 1:3), everything needed for godliness (2Pe 1:3), and the inheritance of God (Ro 8:17).

 

C.      God’s Grace Has Removed Condemnation from the Believer (33-34)

 

1.       God’s grace is reiterated with two rhetorical questions. In the first one (33), the question is asked, “Who will bring a charge against God’s elect?”

a)       In other words, who is going to bring an accusation or legal complaint that will bring God’s wrath on the believer?

b)       It could not be God because He is the one who justified the believer. Literally, He is the one who continues to justify (ho dikaiṓn). Our message of hope is also for those who have yet to be justified by believing on Christ.

2.       The second rhetorical question is, “Who is the one who condemns the believer (34)?

a)       Who is going to pronounce a sentence and bring down judgment (katakrínō) upon the believer?

b)       It could not be Christ because He is the one who died on the cross to take our sentence and punishment (Isa 53:10; Ga 3:13; 1Pe 2:24 cp. Ro 8:1). Furthermore Christ was raised from the dead as proof of our redemption and justification (Ro 4:25). Further still, He is the believer’s Advocate at the right hand of God (1Jn 2:1).

c)       In addition to all this, Christ is interceding on behalf of the believer. The Scriptures tell us that both the Holy Spirit (Ro 8:27) and Christ are interceding for believers.

 

III.   OBSERVATIONS AND APPLICATIONS

 

A.      Take the message of God’s sovereignty to your life.

1.       God is in complete control of everything that happens in the believer’s life including glorification.

2.       Therefore, believers have no reason to complain about people and situations in their lives.

B.      Take the message of God’s favor to your heart.

1.       God has bestowed His irrevocable favor on the believer.

2.       Therefore, believers have no reason to become dejected or discouraged. After all, the Spirit and the Son are praying for you

C.      Take the message of God’s grace to your world.

1.       God has given all things to the believer in Christ for this life and the next.

2.       Therefore, believers have no reason to become fearful or selfish with the Gospel.