MORE THAN
CONQUERORS (ROM
A. In Rom.
B. I want to consider this statement from three
different angles.
C. I want to explore where Christians have been
(were), where we are, and where we are going.
D. Many of the passages I will be using will not be
read.
E. In thinking about where Christians have been we may
start with Eph. 2:1.
F. Paul said that prior to becoming a Christian we were
dead.
G. We had no spiritual life. We were separated from God.
H. We were lifeless.
I. Our spiritual condition was so pathetic that our understanding
was darkened (Eph.
J. Eph.
K. We were estranged and separated from eternal life.
L. Jn. 3:3 says we were barred from heaven.
M. We were banned from the presence of God.
N. Prior to becoming a Christian we were destined to
die in our sins, Jn. 8:21.
O. If we would have left this life without coming to
Jesus we would have died without God.
P. God looked at us prior to conversion and said we
were unrighteous, Rom.
Q. Prior to being saved we were wicked, Rom.
R. We were immoral and evil.
S. According to
T. We were sinners, Rom. 5:8.
U. God said that we were disobedient to Him,
Rom. 11:30.
V. We were wayward and rebellious.
W. Our disobedience to God resulted in things like…
X. Fornication, theft, covetousness, drunkenness,
reviling, and extortion (1 Cor. 6:9-11).
Y. To use the words of Col. 3:7 we lived in sin.
Z. Our minds were vain (Eph.
AA. We committed evil works (Col. 1:21).
BB. According to Tit. 3:3, we were foolish, disobedient,
and served many lusts.
CC. Tit. 3:3 also says we lived in malice and envy. We were guilty of hate.
DD. We lived as Satan wanted, Eph. 2:2.
EE. As human beings we had no hope, Eph. 2:12.
2. THERE ARE PROBABLY SOME REFERENCES I DID NOT INCLUDE BUT THE ONES I HAVE CITED GIVE US A PRETTY GOOD IDEA AS TO OUR SPIRITUAL CONDITION BEFORE CONVERSION. WE WERE LOST, WITHOUT HOPE, AND ENEMIES OF GOD.
A. How could a person so weighed down by wrongdoing
have any hope?
B. How could a person so blackened and damaged by sin
be cured?
C. The condition of the unsaved is so bad that it
almost defies description.
D. The New Testament’s description of sin makes people
reel in shock.
E. People come face to face with a mirror that says to
the non-Christian, “This is you.”
F. Sin makes a mess out of life. Sin turns us into a hideous figure.
G. Sin is so revolting God says, “I cannot be with
you.”
H. As horrible as the sin of the unsaved is, the New
Testament opens with these words.
I. The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, Mt. 1:1.
J. Someone named Jesus came into the world.
K. The Bible says that other people were named Jesus.
L. Another “Jesus” is found in Col. 4:11.
M. Why should we pay attention to the Jesus introduced
in Mt. 1:1?
N. Listen to Mt. 1:21.
O. The Jesus described by Matthew would save people
from their sins.
P. This Jesus wouldn’t make the people look a little
better.
Q. His mission was not to make people somewhat
presentable.
R. He didn’t come to wash away some or most of the
black marks made by sin.
S. The Lord came to save people in the sense of
making them spotless.
T. Listen to Rev. 1:5 – READ.
3. In Rom. 8:35 Paul asked a stirring question.
4. He said, “Who shall separate us from the love of
Christ?”
5. Notice the word separate.
6. This is the same word that is used in Mt. 19:6.
7. At least one version translates this word divorce
in Mt. 19:6.
8. In Rom. 8:35 Paul used this same word.
9. Mentally substitute the word divorce in Rom.
8:35.
10. Paul was asking, “Who shall divorce us from
the love of God?”
A. To appreciate this question we must think of where
we were prior to conversion.
B. We were barred from heaven, banned from the presence
of God, and destined to die in sin.
C. We were unrighteous, immoral, and evil. We were weak and ungodly.
D. We were wayward and rebellious sinners.
E. Yet, while we were weak and ungodly, the Bible says,
Christ died for us!
F. According to Isa. 59:2 God’s face was hidden from
the human race.
G. Sin had created a huge barrier between man and God.
H. Jesus bridged that barrier.
I. If Jesus bridged this barrier while we were dead in
sin, what is true after conversion?
11. IF WE HAVE BEEN BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF OUR SINS, AND WE HAVE BECOME PART OF HIS BODY, WHAT MUST WE SAY?
A. If God loved us when we were blackened by sin, He
certainly loves us now.
B. Because He loves us and holds us in His hand Paul
asked some questions.
C. Notice Rom. 8:32.
D. Paul’s point is just as I have explained.
E. If God loved us while we were separated from Him,
what about now?
F. Sometimes Christians can feel like God is far away.
G. Difficult times cause some to wonder where God is.
H. Hardships sometimes tempt people to leave God.
I. Paul responded to these temptations with the words
in Rom. 8:35-39.
J. If God cared for us when we were unsaved, He will
certainly not let us down now.
12. The point made by Paul may be compared and
contrasted with some current events.
13. Last Wednesday a pilot of a US airways flight stepped from the plane’s cockpit.
14. This pilot appeared before the passengers with an ax in his hand.
15. He said, “These are extraordinary times.”
16. When the passengers got quiet he began to speak about terrorism in the air.
17. He said that if someone claimed they had a bomb they were lying.
18. He said if someone claimed to be an air marshal that was also a lie.
19. He then said if anyone threatened to release a biological agent the passengers should not worry.
20. The pilots would land the plane before lasting harm could be done.
21. If anyone created problems on the flight (and this is the part that got my attention) the pilot said,
22. “Throw your shoes at them. A couple of you get up and tackle him.
23. Beat the snot out of him. I don’t care.”
24. The pilot then made reference to the ax that he was holding.
25. He said, “It’s very sharp. I can shave with it.
26. Breaking into this cockpit would be a very bad idea.” Now “enjoy the trip.”
A. This flight apparently went as planned.
B. To my knowledge there was nothing unusual about this trip.
C. Perhaps those who were on board felt a sense of victory.
D. We live in a time when people have changed and cheapened the meaning of victory.
E. This term and related words are being used very loosely.
F. If people are not exposed to danger they feel victorious.
G. If people escape danger they have feelings of triumph.
H. If our nation brings a lesser nation to its knees we feel like we have won.
27. Victories come in all shapes and sizes.
28. Is it not fair to say that some victories are not really victories?.
A. What if an 18 year old track star races his 85 year old grandmother?
B. At the end of the race the young athlete shouts, “I won! I beat grandma!” Big surprise.
C. Perhaps there will come a report that the forces in Afghanistan have surrendered.
D. Will we be surprised?
29. When we consider where God’s people have been (in a spiritual sewer—dead);
30. And were they are (Rom. 8:35 – in situations that are sometimes difficult and dangerous);
31. And where they are going (heaven, eternity with God), Rom. 8:37 makes perfect sense.
32. We are not just conquerors. We are more than conquerors.
33. Some Bible characters realized where they had been, where they were, and where they were going.
34. Listen to what they said.
35. Mary: Lk. 1:46-55. Another passage is 2 Cor. 2:14:
37. If you like to study take some time to look up words like, “praise, honor,” and “glory.”
38. Again and again the Bible writers praised, honored, and glorified God.
39. You see, Bible characters knew where they had been.
40. They knew that they had previously had no hope.
41. They knew that they had no hope without help from God.
42. After being saved they knew that God would be with them whatever happened.
43. They also knew where they were going.
44. Where they were going was so important they tried to take others with them.
45. Maybe you know where you are. You are not a Christian.
46. As a non-Christian you are in place that is both dangerous and deadly.
47. The Lord said that staying in this condition will lead to spiritual death; eternity without God.
48. You can change your relationship with God.
49. You can enter into Christ through baptism and be in a state where you cannot be divorced from Jesus.
50. The Lord will not leave you. You can leave Him and return to the world but He will not forsake you.
51. Those who stay faithful have the glorious promise of eternity with God.
52. We know where we have been and where we are right now.
53. Have we made up our mind as to where we will spend eternity?