TEXT: Rom 8:28-30, 35-39 We know that in everything Elohim works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose. 29. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the first-born among many brethren. 30. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified. ...  35. Who shall separate us from the love of Messiah? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36. As it is written, "For thy sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."  37. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38. For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39. nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of Elohim in Messiah Yahshua our Master.

 

Beloved, we must come to an understanding that we are unconditionally loved and cared for by our Father and his Son. Because Elohim likes us, we can’t be justly condemned by others, and shouldn't condemn ourselves. There is absolutely nothing in creation that can stand between Elohim’s favor and us. Let's explore his deep, deep love of Elohim, a love that will never let us go.

I. All in the Family

 

Rom 8:{28} We know that all things work together for good for those who love Elohim, who are called according to his purpose. {29} For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. {30} And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.

A. What is "the good" that is mentioned here?

 

1. “All things” are not good, but even evil things work for the good when one a) loves Elohim, and b) is living purposefully for Elohim. These are the conditions for the promise that all things will work together for good for us.

2. What Paul means by "good" is found in v 29: the good is that one who a) is "conformed to the image of Elohim's son" and b) thus has been adopted into the universal family of Elohim.  In other words, Paul is saying that all circumstances and events in the believer's life serve Elohim to mold and form the believer into an imitation of Yahshua Messiah, so that we might become family not only in promise but in fact.  It is a good to be a converted member of the household of Yahweh.

3. For those called to the family, Elohim "foreknew" and "predestined" for this good.  He knew each one he was to call before that one was even conceived, and he fitted each one with potential to become a family member; a) that each might be "justified" (justification is "Elohim's pardoning and accepting love made available through belief in the life, death, and resurrection of Yahshua"), and b) that each might be "glorified" ('raised to a new order, level, and dimension of existence').  Paul speaks as though our glorification had already happened!  And in the spiritual sense, it already has.  We are glorified and will be revealed as glorified in the future glory.  c) We are saints; if he gave his son for us "while we were yet sinners," won't he then bless us and protect us all the more as saints?

4. In summary, all things that happen to us in our lives, good and evil, serve to help mold us into the image of Messiah and make us fit for his family. Becoming molded into the image of Messiah a) acquits us of offences against Elohim and b) leads us to be exalted as a son or daughter of Elohim. Then in this life, c) we receive blessing upon blessing as we make doing the will of Elohim top priority in our lives.

B. In the family of Yahweh, we might think of Yahweh as a loving parent, the Holy Spirit as a nurturing mother and Yahshua as elder brother. Yahweh knew his children before we were born, Yahweh called us so that we might know of our sonship  / daughterhood, Yahweh justified us so that we might have full access to the throne of grace, and Yahweh glorified us that we might have power over our difficulties.

C. Family images

 

1. And Yahweh loves as a compassionate father loves:

A Father that I know went through a divorce made more difficult by the existence of a young child. After a court custody battle, the judge determined that that the child would be better off with her mother.  It wasn't long before the daughter, having known her father's closeness and affection, began to doubt his love because of their separation. During visits with her estranged father, the little girl was hostile, saying things like, "You never loved me or you wouldn't have left me!" When she grew older, she would speak with her father at all, but complained to her friends, "He doesn't love me now, and never did." This father's heart was broken over the attitude of his daughter, for he had always loved her. Yet, because of the girl's immaturity and lack of understanding, the relationship was broken, and both suffered for it. The father realized that he could do nothing else but pray for reconciliation. Like this non-custodial father, our Father continues to love despite the attitude of his children

 

2. And Yahweh loves like a nurturing mother loves:

In a seminary class a years ago, there was a discussion going on about the students' mental images of Elohim. Several of the men in the class described their mental images of Elohim as a father figure. One young lady then shocked the class by saying that she could never see Elohim as a father. She said, "I grew up in a church where I was taught to submit to my father’s will and whim. This gave my father a theological basis for being abusive to my mother and myself. My mother protected me as often as she could, taking many blows that were meant for my sisters and me. She was as saintly as my father was devilish. So you can understand why I see Elohim as a loving mother rather than a father. I could never call Elohim 'father.'"

Friends, Is it so hard to imagine Elohim as a loving mother?

 

3. Another family image is the idea of Yahshua as the "Lover of My Soul" or Divine Lover.

For more than 40 years, a shy but persistent man slipped a weekly love letter under the neighbor lady's door because she refused to speak to him.  They’d had a spat and parted years before. The lady didn't believe that her suitor really loved her.

After writing 2,184 love letters without ever getting a spoken or written answer, the single-hearted, 74-year-old man eventually summoned up enough courage to go to her door in person. He knocked on the door and asked her for her hand in marriage. To his amazement, she finally accepted.  Imagine Yahshua as this man. Time and time again he tries to get the message of love through to his lovers, who often don't accept his love because they don't believe in his love! How many love letters have we received?

Have you opened your door to him? If so, you can resonate with the question Paul asks us in verse 35:

II. Who will separate us from Elohim's love? - vss. 35 - 39

 

{35} Who will separate us from the love of Messiah? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? {36} As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered." {37} No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. {38} For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, {39} nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of Elohim in Messiah Yahshua our Master.

 

A. The love, care, and concern of the Father can't be overcome by any obstacle.

What can separate us from the love of Elohim? Hardship (having difficulties), distress (physical or mental illness, or bad attitudes), persecution (others giving you problems), famine (not enough to eat), nakedness (shame), peril (general danger), sword (violence), life or death, demons, governments, any present situation, the future, the stars in the sky, the oceans, or anything in the world?  Nothing has the power to separate us from Elohim's love, not even self-hatred or suicide. His finger always points to love, and if you love him and are called according to his purpose, then all things will work together to your glorification and recreation in his image.  The Father's family-style love is a perfect love. It is the love that dwells and courses through us. It is the force that is sensitive to our needs, and makes us sensitive to the needs of others in need.

 

B. Love is a mighty power

 

"It is a motivating power that enables us to give strength and peace. It is 'you' love before 'me' love. With a child, it says, 'I love you as you grow older; I will constantly be loosening the apron strings so that you can develop into your own person.' With a parent it says, 'I love you and will try to act in a way to make you proud of me.' With a spouse it says, 'I love you and I want you to be happy and achieve the fullest stature of your being.'

"Love is not primarily a result of [Elohim's feelings] toward you, but a cause. It causes people to grow in happiness and produces fulfilled and whole people."

It overcomes incredible barriers. It loves in spite of our capacity to love. And it seems that, if we will open ourselves to it, Elohim's love gets greater the more we need it.

His love is flowing through us [now]

if we love him and are fulfilling his purpose for our lives. And that's the secret to receiving and enjoying perfect love -- developing a personal relationship with our Master and Brother Yahshua Messiah, in whom "the fullness of Elohim lives." And who can separate us from the love of Elohim in Yahshua Messiah?  Friends, absolutely nothing and nobody.

Top    New Century Sermons     Snyder Bible Home