(Continued from Page 1)
Romans 8:28-32
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to {His} purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined {to become} conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God {is} for us, who {is} against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?
Romans 8:35-39
Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, "FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED." But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
If there is one verse in this glorious chapter that stands out even above all the rest, it would be for me verse 32: “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” Hear those words and leap for joy. John 15:13 tells us that, “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends,” and we know from Romans 5:8-10 that Christ’s love transcends even this standard because He died for us while we were yet His enemies. What Romans 8:32 tells us, then, is that since God has already paid the absolute highest price possible to redeem us from bondage to sin, He will, therefore, also pay all of the lesser prices to keep us. Eternal glory is guaranteed for those who are in Christ because there is nothing that can separate or steal us from God’s hand!
Such glorious promises are not unusual in Paul’s writings. They are littered throughout his epistles, and he holds them out to help spur the church on towards an ever fuller delight in all that God is for them in Christ Jesus. Those of us who have been going through Closer Walk this month, can attest to the fact that what Paul commends in his letters, he lives out in Acts. Paul preached reward, and Paul pursued reward. In Acts 20:22 we read,
Now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
He tells us in the next chapter that he is ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of his Lord (21:13), and yet he goes forth with joy! How is this possible? It’s simple. For Paul, to live is Christ to die is gain (Philippians 1:21). He moved towards reward and knew that even if he lost everything that he had in this world, including his life, he was on his way to receiving something infinitely greater (Philippians 3:8)! In fact, the only thing on earth that Paul would likely miss was the opportunity to minister to and strengthen the saints, but even as this ministry came to a close, Paul is not without hope for those he leaves behind. He says in chapter 20, verse 32:
So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
We no longer have Paul or the apostles, but we do have the word of God’s grace, the Bible, which is able to build us up and give us an inheritance among those who are sanctified! Paul commends to us God’s Word as that which is able to give us an eternal and glorious inheritance (through the gift of sanctification). We learned last week that sanctification is the only path that leads to heaven, and Paul reminds us this morning that this is the only authoritative book which can direct us on that path. So let’s go there with a view to the promises of reward, promises that should serve as an ever-present lighthouse on the often dark and dangerous seas of sanctification.
Genesis 15:1
After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I [am] thy shield, [and] thy exceeding great reward.
Psalm 19:9-11
The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether. They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them Your servant is warned; In keeping them there is great reward.
Psalm 58:11
And men will say, "Surely there is a reward for the righteous; Surely there is a God who judges on earth!"
Proverbs 11:18
The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness [shall be] a sure reward.
Proverbs 24:14
So [shall] the knowledge of wisdom [be] unto thy soul: when thou hast found [it], then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.
Phillipians 3:13, 14
Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
