The last nine verses of Romans 8 contain the great chain of salvation.
What would have to take place for this chain to be broken? What would
have to happen for us to lose the grace of God and in turn, our
justification? I'm addressing this as a type of game, but a serious one, that leads to a celebration of grace.
To lose our salvation:
For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. Psalm 96:4
To lose our salvation:
To lose our salvation:
Paul points out that if God gave his Son as our substitute on the Cross, we also receive all of the benefits of that sacrifice. The phrase all things refers to all the benefits in the ensuing verses.
To lose our salvation:
The death of Christ is implied here as fully sufficient. It is not just a mere man who died for us but the Messiah, the Christ, the Anointed of God.
To lose our salvation:
To illustrate let's say Satan accuses a believer before God's throne. In a court of law, no one can be condemned without a trial. The trial cannot take place until the court receives an accusation. This is referred to as the indictment. If the judge refuses to accept the indictment, no trial occurs. God is that Judge and He accepts no charge against His elect.
To lose our salvation:
Justified means, declared to be righteous. According to the Bible, believers have the righteousness of Christ attributed to them.
... and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith Philippians 3:9
To lose our salvation:
To lose our salvation:
The ministry of Christ did not end with his ascension. It continues right now on our behalf.
What is he praying? Read about it in John 17:24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me.
Jesus is praying
To lose our salvation:
Do you ever fear that you will not be able to go through severe persecution? Scholars tell us that more than 40 million martyrs have given their lives for Christ during the last 2000 years. Do you think all of those where better Christians than us? More valiant?
You don't have to worry about not having the strength to go through such things. Good news! You don't. God does.
The grace of God will be there for us if such times come. We do not preserve ourselves. God does.
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. verse 37
A pastor once told me that if he preached this sort of security in Christ, many of his people would consider it a license to sin. I replied, At least that would reveal who are Christians and who are merely religious.
Sincere Christians do not want a license to sin. They see their former life as slavery, and want nothing more to do with it. What they want is purity.
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. verses 38, 39
This is the anchor of grace.
To lose our salvation:
- We would have to find somebody against us who is greater than God
For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. Psalm 96:4
To lose our salvation:
- We would have to find a better gift than Jesus.
To lose our salvation:
- We would also have to find a better sacrifice than Christ.
Paul points out that if God gave his Son as our substitute on the Cross, we also receive all of the benefits of that sacrifice. The phrase all things refers to all the benefits in the ensuing verses.
To lose our salvation:
- God would have to decide that the work of Christ on the Cross is insufficient.
- or that someone else than Jesus should have been there.
The death of Christ is implied here as fully sufficient. It is not just a mere man who died for us but the Messiah, the Christ, the Anointed of God.
To lose our salvation:
- God the Father would have to accept accusations against His elect
To illustrate let's say Satan accuses a believer before God's throne. In a court of law, no one can be condemned without a trial. The trial cannot take place until the court receives an accusation. This is referred to as the indictment. If the judge refuses to accept the indictment, no trial occurs. God is that Judge and He accepts no charge against His elect.
To lose our salvation:
- God would have to remove from us the righteousness of Christ.
Justified means, declared to be righteous. According to the Bible, believers have the righteousness of Christ attributed to them.
... and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith Philippians 3:9
To lose our salvation:
- Christ would have to return to the grave.
To lose our salvation:
- Christ would have to stop interceding for us.
- God the Father would have to stop listening to the prayers of Jesus on our behalf.
The ministry of Christ did not end with his ascension. It continues right now on our behalf.
What is he praying? Read about it in John 17:24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me.
Jesus is praying
- for our preservation.
- That our sins and failings not be held against us.
- That his elect will persevere.
- That his own will be with him forever.
- That they will rule and reign with Him over the coming new creation.
- That all the benefits of his inheritance will accrue to them also.
- We would have to be separated from the love of God.
To lose our salvation:
- We would have to depend on our own strength in times of persecution
Do you ever fear that you will not be able to go through severe persecution? Scholars tell us that more than 40 million martyrs have given their lives for Christ during the last 2000 years. Do you think all of those where better Christians than us? More valiant?
You don't have to worry about not having the strength to go through such things. Good news! You don't. God does.
The grace of God will be there for us if such times come. We do not preserve ourselves. God does.
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. verse 37
A pastor once told me that if he preached this sort of security in Christ, many of his people would consider it a license to sin. I replied, At least that would reveal who are Christians and who are merely religious.
Sincere Christians do not want a license to sin. They see their former life as slavery, and want nothing more to do with it. What they want is purity.
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. verses 38, 39
This is the anchor of grace.
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