God is For Us!

Good News! For all those who are “for Jesus” as their Lord and Savior, God is working for them and fighting for them with all of His heart and with that He is, every moment, all of the time, because of their union with His beloved Son.

One person with God is a majority -quoted by R. C. Sproul

Faith embraces all that God promises to be for us in Jesus. – John Piper

Yet those that be against us so far are they from thwarting us at all, that even without their will they become to us the causes of crowns and procurers of countless blessings in that God’s wisdom turns their plots unto our salvation and glory. See how really no one is against us! – Chrysostom

They that seem to devise mischief are no less of service to him than benefactors. - Chrysostom

What then shall we say to these things? (Romans 8:31) The only conclusion we can come to is that ‘God is for us’ because of Jesus. Another way to translate this part of verse 31 would be to say, “What is the necessary conclusion we must come to in light of all that I have said up to this point?” What is the conclusion he draws? That God is for us. What are the “things” that he has said that he is “adding up” in order to come to this necessary inference? Romans 5:1-5 appears to be what Paul has been expounding for the last 4 chapters and what he is summing up again so let’s go there again. Paul lays it out and adds it up something like this in light of the whole book of Romans:

— Sin is the Issue (between us and God)

— All-Sufficient Savior from sin (Jesus)

— Faith alone (all we need to benefit from the cross)

— Grace alone (all that comes our way as believers)

— No condemnation ever (nothing can change this)

— Suffering gives birth to good (pregnancy of joy) +

— God is For Us!

We need to “argue” our way to peace. In what sense are we ‘to say something’ in response to these things? Do you add up the truth in your own mind? (thinking) Do you pray over the truth you read and hear? (prayer) Do you talk about the truth with others? (fellowship) Do you fight with the truth in times of temptation and trial? (warfare) Do you bring up the truth in conversation with others? (witness) There needs to be a cooperation between our hearts and our mouths in our Christian lives. (Romans 10:9-10)

If God is for us (Romans 8:31) The “God” who is for us is more than sufficient to overcome those who aren’t and whatever isn’t. (Psalm 19:1-3) The book of Isaiah has been called the “gospel of the OT” and gives us a great description of who the God is who saves. Let’s just look at one passage in this book (Isaiah 40:9-10, 12-18, 21-26, 28-31). In Isaiah, God reveals that He is:

• Our Sovereign (controlling all things for our good and His glory)
• Our Savior (rescuing us from all ultimate danger)
• Our Sufficiency (providing for all our real needs)
• Our Satisfaction (giving us full and lasting happiness)

If God is who He says He is, then: There is no one greater than God who can take away our no condemnation status (MacArthur). God is for us in that He has committed all that He is to do us good. (Jeremiah 32:38-41) If God is for us, then we are truly in a happy state! We need to “write on our hands and forehead and doorposts” all that God has promised to be for us, all the time. Do you often think about all that God has promised to be for you in Jesus? Can there be anything more important than meditating on all that God has promised to be for us? (2 Peter 1:2-4) We need to trust that God is “at work” for us and “on our side” all the time, no matter what. The word “for” means “for, in behalf of, for the sake of, concerning, in reference to; for someone, be on someone’s side.” (1) God is “working for us”! (Psalm 92:4; Ephesians 1:11; Romans 8:28; Philippians 2:12-13) The washing of the disciples’ feet by Jesus profoundly illustrates this with an ultimate reference to the cross. (2) God is “on our side”! (Psalm 124:1-6; see also 118:1-29; also Psalm 27, 46, 56; Isaiah 64:1-4) In the OT, we see God fighting for His people at the Red Sea against the Egyptians. (Exodus 14:13-14) We need to be thankful for His service to us, moment by moment, day by day. Are you able to thank God for everything and in everything? Why not? (Luke 22:27)

Who is against us? (Romans 8:31) We don’t have any real enemies any more. Paul seems to be saying that the believer has no more enemies – no one who is still ‘against’ us. The word for “against” means “against in the hostile sense; down upon, toward, against someone or something.” And yet, in a few verses, Paul will talk about very real and very hostile enemies. (Romans 8:35-36) Paul is obviously recognizing the reality of “enemies” (those who are ‘against’ us, even against us in very hostile ways) but indicating that those “enemies” have been transformed into “friends” because they will not prevail over us and they will actually serve our greater good! These enemies include the world, the devil and his demons, our own flesh (indwelling sin), temptations and trials, and even death itself. We can see this “no one will prevail against us with God on our side” attitude reflected in these verses as well: (Psalm 121:1-8; Isaiah 54:17) We can see that the Lord Jesus considered His enemy, Judas, a “friend” in some sense. (Matthew 26:49-50) Joseph also saw the evil of his brothers as overruled by the good God meant their evil “for.” (Isaiah 50:20) We need to fight the fear that gives our enemies more power than they have. What do you fear most? Why does it cause you to be afraid? (Luke 12:4-6; 21:16-18)

Who is God for? God is for the one who is for Him, who has turned to Him. (Leviticus 26:21-24) God is for those who are for Jesus. What does it mean to be ‘for’ Jesus? It means that we receive Him for who He is. (John 14:6) If I am “for Jesus” in the sense of having turned to Him for life and righteousness and obedience, then God is “for me” regardless of experiences in my life. Turn to God for life. Trust in Jesus for righteousness. Obey God’s Word for love. And the peace of God be with you.

(audio can be found at www.coastcommunitychurch.com)