Unbreakable Love: Conquering Life's Trials Through Christ

### Summary

It's wonderful to be back with you all after a brief time away. Today, we continue our deep dive into Romans 8, a chapter that has been our focus throughout the summer. This chapter is a profound exploration of God's love for us and how He uses every aspect of our lives for our ultimate good and His eternal plan. Despite the challenges and setbacks we face, nothing can separate us from God's love.

I shared a personal story about a bike ride where my GPS failed, illustrating how we often depend on unreliable connections. This led to the central theme: unlike our earthly connections, our connection with God is unbreakable. No suffering or setback can sever this divine bond. This is a truth that the Apostle Paul emphasizes through rhetorical questions, reminding us that if God is for us, who can be against us?

Paul's message is clear: God's love is unshakable. He sacrificed His own Son for us, and if He did that, He will certainly provide for all our needs. This eternal security means that no earthly attack or condemnation can affect our standing with God. Even when we face trials and tribulations, we are more than conquerors through Christ.

Paul also addresses a common misconception: that suffering is a sign of God's disfavor. Instead, he quotes Psalm 44 to affirm that suffering is a part of life in a broken world and does not disqualify us from God's love. In fact, it often draws us closer to Him.

In the final verses of Romans 8, Paul delivers a powerful crescendo, listing all the things that cannot separate us from God's love. This is a reminder that our relationship with God is secure, and we are more than conquerors, not just in the future, but right now. This eternal perspective should shape how we live our lives, finding contentment and purpose in Christ.

For those who are not yet followers of Jesus, the invitation is open. The promises of Romans 8 are available to all who choose to follow Him. Whether you are in distress or feeling on top of the world, the choice is yours to make. God is waiting for you to come to Him or come back to Him.

### Key Takeaways

1. **Unbreakable Connection with God**: Unlike our earthly connections, which can fail us, our connection with God is unbreakable. No suffering or setback can sever this divine bond. This truth is a cornerstone of our faith, reminding us that God's love is constant and unwavering. [26:49]

2. **God's Unshakable Love**: God's love for us is so profound that He sacrificed His own Son. If He did that, He will certainly provide for all our needs. This eternal security means that no earthly attack or condemnation can affect our standing with God. [29:22]

3. **Suffering Does Not Disqualify Us**: Suffering is a part of life in a broken world and does not disqualify us from God's love. In fact, it often draws us closer to Him. This perspective helps us to see our trials as opportunities for growth and deeper connection with God. [42:16]

4. **More Than Conquerors**: Through Christ, we are more than conquerors, not just in the future, but right now. This eternal perspective should shape how we live our lives, finding contentment and purpose in Christ, regardless of our circumstances. [47:51]

5. **Invitation to Follow Jesus**: The promises of Romans 8 are available to all who choose to follow Jesus. Whether you are in distress or feeling on top of the world, the choice is yours to make. God is waiting for you to come to Him or come back to Him. [53:01]

### YouTube Chapters

[0:00] - Welcome
[22:40] - Introduction to Romans 8
[24:04] - Prayer and Reflection
[25:28] - Personal Story: The Failed GPS
[26:49] - Unreliable Earthly Connections
[28:03] - Illustration: CrowdStrike Incident
[29:22] - God's Unshakable Love
[30:59] - Eternal Security in Christ
[32:30] - Greater to Lesser Argument
[33:52] - God's Provision and Relationship
[35:24] - Misconceptions About Suffering
[36:52] - Freedom from Circumstances
[38:14] - Paul's Rhetorical Questions
[40:59] - Earthly vs. Eternal Condemnation
[42:16] - Suffering in a Broken World
[45:07] - More Than Conquerors
[47:51] - Living as Super Conquerors
[50:35] - Identity in Christ
[53:01] - Invitation to Follow Jesus
[55:09] - Closing Prayer

### Bible Reading
1. Romans 8:31-39
2. Psalm 44:22
3. John 3:16

### Observation Questions
1. What does Paul mean when he says, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" in Romans 8:31? How does this rhetorical question set the tone for the rest of the passage?
2. In Romans 8:32, Paul argues from the greater to the lesser. What is the greater thing God has done, and what lesser things does Paul say God will also do for us?
3. According to Romans 8:35-39, what are some of the things that Paul lists that cannot separate us from the love of God? Why is this list significant?
4. How does Psalm 44:22, quoted in Romans 8:36, help to address the misconception that suffering is a sign of God's disfavor? [42:16]

### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of being "more than conquerors" in Romans 8:37 shape our understanding of Christian identity and purpose? What does it mean to be a "super conqueror" as described in the sermon? [47:51]
2. Why is it important to understand that suffering does not disqualify us from God's love, but rather can draw us closer to Him? How does this perspective change the way we view our trials? [42:16]
3. In what ways does the assurance of God's unshakable love and eternal security impact our daily lives and decisions? How can this assurance provide comfort during difficult times? [29:22]
4. How does the invitation to follow Jesus, as mentioned in the sermon, challenge both believers and non-believers in their current life situations? What does it mean to accept this invitation? [53:01]

### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt disconnected from God due to a setback or suffering. How can the truth that "nothing can separate us from God's love" change your perspective on that experience? [26:49]
2. How can you remind yourself daily of God's unshakable love and eternal security, especially when facing challenges? What practical steps can you take to keep this truth at the forefront of your mind? [29:22]
3. Think about a current trial or difficulty you are facing. How can you view this situation as an opportunity for growth and a deeper connection with God, rather than a sign of His disfavor? [42:16]
4. In what ways can you live out the identity of being "more than a conqueror" in your everyday life? Identify specific actions or attitudes that reflect this truth. [47:51]
5. If you are not yet a follower of Jesus, what is holding you back from accepting the invitation to follow Him? How can you explore this decision further and seek guidance from others? [53:01]
6. For those who are already followers of Jesus, how can you support and encourage others in your small group or community who may be struggling with their faith or facing difficult circumstances? [43:34]
7. How can you cultivate a deeper hunger for God beyond just seeking Him in times of trouble? What spiritual practices or disciplines can help you grow in your relationship with Him consistently? [43:34]

Day 1: Unbreakable Connection with God
Our connection with God is unlike any earthly connection we have. Earthly connections can fail us, as illustrated by the story of a failed GPS during a bike ride. This failure serves as a metaphor for how unreliable our earthly connections can be. However, our connection with God is unbreakable. No suffering or setback can sever this divine bond. This truth is a cornerstone of our faith, reminding us that God's love is constant and unwavering. The Apostle Paul emphasizes this through rhetorical questions, asking if God is for us, who can be against us? This eternal security should give us immense comfort and confidence in our daily lives.

Paul's message is clear: God's love is unshakable. He sacrificed His own Son for us, and if He did that, He will certainly provide for all our needs. This eternal security means that no earthly attack or condemnation can affect our standing with God. Even when we face trials and tribulations, we are more than conquerors through Christ. This perspective helps us to see our trials as opportunities for growth and deeper connection with God. [26:49]

Isaiah 41:10 (ESV): "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Reflection: Think of a recent setback or challenge you faced. How did you respond to it? How can you remind yourself of your unbreakable connection with God the next time you face a similar situation?


Day 2: God's Unshakable Love
God's love for us is so profound that He sacrificed His own Son. This act of ultimate love assures us that He will provide for all our needs. This eternal security means that no earthly attack or condemnation can affect our standing with God. The Apostle Paul emphasizes that if God did not spare His own Son, He will certainly give us all things. This truth should fill us with confidence and peace, knowing that our relationship with God is secure.

This eternal security means that no earthly attack or condemnation can affect our standing with God. Even when we face trials and tribulations, we are more than conquerors through Christ. This perspective helps us to see our trials as opportunities for growth and deeper connection with God. [29:22]

Romans 5:8-9 (ESV): "But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God."

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt unworthy of God's love. How does understanding the depth of God's sacrifice for you change your perspective on your worth and His love for you?


Day 3: Suffering Does Not Disqualify Us
Suffering is a part of life in a broken world and does not disqualify us from God's love. In fact, it often draws us closer to Him. The Apostle Paul addresses a common misconception that suffering is a sign of God's disfavor. Instead, he quotes Psalm 44 to affirm that suffering is a part of life in a broken world. This perspective helps us to see our trials as opportunities for growth and deeper connection with God.

Understanding that suffering is a part of life and does not disqualify us from God's love can change how we view our hardships. It can help us to see them as opportunities to grow closer to God and to rely more fully on His strength and love. This eternal perspective should shape how we live our lives, finding contentment and purpose in Christ, regardless of our circumstances. [42:16]

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (ESV): "For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."

Reflection: Think about a current or past suffering you have experienced. How can you see this suffering as an opportunity to grow closer to God and rely on His strength?


Day 4: More Than Conquerors
Through Christ, we are more than conquerors, not just in the future, but right now. This eternal perspective should shape how we live our lives, finding contentment and purpose in Christ, regardless of our circumstances. The Apostle Paul emphasizes that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. This truth should fill us with confidence and peace, knowing that our relationship with God is secure.

Understanding that we are more than conquerors through Christ can change how we view our daily lives. It can help us to find contentment and purpose in Christ, regardless of our circumstances. This eternal perspective should shape how we live our lives, finding contentment and purpose in Christ, regardless of our circumstances. [47:51]

1 John 5:4-5 (ESV): "For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?"

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you feel defeated or overwhelmed? How can you remind yourself that you are more than a conqueror through Christ in these areas?


Day 5: Invitation to Follow Jesus
The promises of Romans 8 are available to all who choose to follow Jesus. Whether you are in distress or feeling on top of the world, the choice is yours to make. God is waiting for you to come to Him or come back to Him. The Apostle Paul emphasizes that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. This truth should fill us with confidence and peace, knowing that our relationship with God is secure.

Understanding that the promises of Romans 8 are available to all who choose to follow Jesus can change how we view our relationship with God. It can help us to see that God is always waiting for us to come to Him or come back to Him, regardless of our circumstances. This eternal perspective should shape how we live our lives, finding contentment and purpose in Christ, regardless of our circumstances. [53:01]

Isaiah 55:6-7 (ESV): "Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."

Reflection: Are you currently following Jesus wholeheartedly, or is there something holding you back? What steps can you take today to draw closer to Him and embrace the promises of Romans 8?

Every year as I go to church, it is great to be back with you after a couple of weeks away. Some of you are like, "Does Phil still work here?" It's like the longest I have actually taken in a month. Thanks so much. It is really such a sweet time for our family.

I want to ask you, at whatever campus you are joining us from, would you give a round of applause as a thanks to your campus pastor for the message they gave last week? Would you say thank you? It was so fun to be able to catch up online as our family was away.

Really, over the weekend, these next couple of weeks, we're in the home stretch of our study in Romans chapter 8. A special welcome to all of our Bay Area campuses in San Mateo, Menlo Park, Mountain View, Saratoga, and those of you joining us online. I've had a chance to spend time with people from each of our campuses this summer, and I'm so thankful for what God is doing in each and every one of them and throughout Menlo.

We believe as a church that we are better as one church in multiple locations, equipped to reach neighborhoods and communities throughout the Bay Area because of it. Now, we have been in a series throughout the summer that we've called Beyond the Basics, where we've been studying Romans 8 verse by verse in hopes of getting a better understanding of God's love for us and the way that He uses all of our life for all of our good and the ultimate plan for all of eternity, even when in the immediate circumstance it can feel like anything but that.

Last week, our campus pastors challenged us with some verses, and full disclosure, I gave them the opportunity to pick a different passage. I gave them an out. That's how hard it was, but they were excited and up for the challenge to be able to dive in. And today, we are going to finish the final few verses in chapter 8, and then next week I'm going to do kind of a wrap-up of the entire series before we launch into our first series of this fall.

But before I get started, I'm going to pray for us. And if you've never been here before or never heard me speak, before I speak, I pray kneeling. And part of the reason that I do that is because of this overwhelming appreciation that I have for the ideas of God's love that show up in passages like these, that remind us of just how incredible the God we serve really is. Would you pray with me?

God, all of us could roll the clock back a week and we would make some different decisions and conversations or areas of our life or maybe even big directions that we chose, and yet you love us anyway. That God, there's nothing we could do or say that would make you love us any more or less. Your love for us reflects your infinite love. And so, God, today, would you help us to walk in greater awareness of that? For some, God, that we would return to that. For others, God, that we would choose it for the first time. And for some of us, that it would inform our week in a brand new way. It's in Jesus' name. Amen.

Over the last couple of weeks, our family has been connecting with Arnold, California, just a few hours away, staying at a lovely cabin at a cute little lake. It was fun and it was restful. And the best part is that there was no cell phone coverage at all, which is like a fun adult feature. You know, you're like, "Oh, this is amazing. I can't be reached," right?

Now, I brought my road bike with us so that I could do a couple of rides in a new place that I had never been before. I use a little cycling computer on my bike that uses GPS. And so, with that, I can do a couple of rides in a new place that I had never been before. And I use a little cycling computer on my bike that uses GPS. And so, with no cell phone signal, my cycling computer and its connection to GPS became very important for these rides.

And so, I got up early one morning to go on a bike ride. I had my bike all set up. My map was loaded. My gear was on. My water bottles were filled up. And I kid you not, the little cycling computer screen said, "Acquiring GPS," which I had seen before. I had seen this screen before, but usually it was only for a few moments before it would eventually click to the screen. I'm used to it. And this one, it took a long time. Like, am I going to be able to go? Long time until eventually the screen just said, "Poor GPS." And that was as good as it got. Like, that was peak experience of it.

And I wasn't actually feeling bad for the GPS. I kind of wanted it to say, "Poor Phil," because it was really hurting me. I was the one suffering. This ride that I had never been in the place before. And I was, you know, I didn't have the comfort of the connection of a phone that I'd come to depend on. Now, nothing that I could depend on with the GPS. And I know I'm being a little dramatic, but those two signals, my cell phone and GPS, they're both ones that I've come to depend on a whole lot.

You know, we think about our overall normal day-to-day life, how long and often we typically depend on those things. Isn't it interesting how little it can take sometimes to throw off our routine or put us in a bad mood from the path that we are expecting? Sometimes it's a longer than normal wait. It's a flight delay or it's a self-checkout machine that isn't working. So, God forbid, you have to talk to a human being, right? Like, uh-oh, this is going to be a tough day. Maybe it's that Siri or Alexa are not recognizing what you're saying one too many times. And so, you're letting them know about it.

There are all these connections around us that we depend on that are not always so reliable. But how many of us take for granted a connection that will never be broken and can always be accessed, no matter how long it takes? And so, I'm going to our circumstances. That's what we are going to look at today, that actually there is no suffering or setback that can separate you from God. I know that can feel trite, but I hope you've been with us for some of where we've been over the course of the summer and how the Apostle Paul, who wrote the letter that we've been reading, gets to where we're headed in the following verses.

Now, there are some illustrations and examples that I can use at Menlo that I love that I get to use because they're so important to me. And so, I'm going to take a moment and I'm going to probably wouldn't work or they wouldn't work as quickly in most places around the country. And one of those recently happened just a couple of weeks ago when there was a company called CrowdStrike that had kind of an event. And I know that for some of you, I actually don't even need to continue the example. You know everything I'm about to say, and I love that.

But CrowdStrike is a company that provides security software for nearly 300 of the top Fortune 500 companies in America. And so, a couple of weeks ago, when a single line of mistaken code made it into a software update, people were seeing the blue screen of death everywhere. Like in places they didn't know the blue screen was available. People were, by the way, not amused at the irony of a system built to keep companies running, releasing code that brought many of them down. That was like not funny for people, right? It was kind of ironic, but not funny.

If you're in technology, you know how easy it is for an attack like that to cause problems or to even render a system entirely and completely destroyed. But what we'll see in the Apostle Paul's first point for us today about our connection with God is that no attacks are successful. It doesn't mean that they don't exist. It doesn't mean that they don't sting or hurt. It doesn't mean that they don't even leave a mark. But in the grand scheme of eternity, there is nothing that can happen to you that will take God's eternity from you. And that's way different.

As a matter of fact, as we begin our time together today, the Apostle Paul, he says, "What shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own son, but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies."

Now, we've been looking at these passages throughout the entire summer and talking about the fact that when we see words like this, it's referencing something else that we've already studied. This is pointing backwards to the verses that we just studied last week. And then he's making a couple of sort of foundational claims that will inform the rest of our study today, right? This is if God is for us, really since God is for us, who can be against us? And that's the first of several rhetorical questions that we see that Paul begins our time together today.

Looking back at chapter 8 entirely, and specifically verses 28 through 30 from last week, he's talking about God's unshakable love for us and the kind of eternal relationship that we have with him as a result. That even when attacks happen, and they will happen, God can use them for our good and his glory. Even when it feels like all hope is lost, even when it feels completely irredeemable, nothing can be done. God is for us, who can be against us, who can be for all of eternity, including in your life.

Last week, Paul, he gives us this sequence that we walked through, these like kind of $5 words of foreknowledge, which just means know before, predestined, determined before, that you've been called, you've been set aside by the God of the universe, that you've been justified, that your legal standing for your and my wrongdoing individually and as the human species, God has made right because of Jesus and glorified that one day, not only will you be made right, but all of the universe will be made right forever, that every ache and pain will be gone forever. Isn't that great news?

There are no attacks on you and me that can take us off of what has been called the highway of salvation. That's such good news, that if you're a follower of Jesus, your relationship with him is secured forever. Over the course of the series, we've been talking about the fact that we've been made right, we've been trying to highlight approaches and concepts to how we study the Bible that will hopefully help you as you continue to study the Bible on your own, even if it's not on a giant touchscreen.

And here, Paul makes an argument that's known as the greater to the lesser. He makes this case, right here you see it, he says, basically, "He who did not spare his own son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also?" Like, because of this, he is, of course, going to grant all things in our life. What an important idea. What an amazing thing that because of God's permanent and perfect relationship extended to you and me, because of what Jesus has done, what in your life could God possibly hold out on from us, right? That's the case that Paul is trying to make. If he's willing to do this, of course he'll do this.

Our first week on vacation last month was back in Colorado, seeing some old friends and family members, and I was like, friends. And we stayed with the family that we know very well. And they were so kind. They were extremely gracious in hosting us. And I wonder how weird would it have been if every time I needed something, I asked them for it. If I was like, "Hey, I know we're staying with you. Thanks so much. I don't want to inconvenience you. Is it okay if I use water from your sink? Like, you know, I can Venmo you, like whatever. I know this is a lot. Can I use a glass to put that water in? Or you know what? I know this is going to come out of nowhere. We're staying with you for a week. But is it okay if I use some of your toilet paper?" Right? They would have felt like, "That is so weird. Why are you asking those things?"

Because to them, they're like, "You're already in the house. You have the garage code. You have a room. The rest of the provision flows from our relationship." And the same thing is true with you and God. That's Paul's point. See, God's durable relationship with us. If Paul was willing to sacrifice his own son, if he didn't hold back the cost that was necessary to win you back to a permanent and perfect relationship with him, what would God withhold?

But I think sometimes when we experience setbacks in our life, when we face suffering in our life, when we feel disappointed with the circumstances of our life, here's what we sometimes think. We think God was willing to die for me, but that's it. That was the most of it. Paul is saying, how could we think that an attack could take us out when God allowed Jesus to be taken out so that we could always be in perfect relationship connected to the provision of God? Not for the American dream, but for the calling on our lives to become the men and women that God designed us to be, a part of this greater plan to redeem all of mankind for all of eternity.

Over the course of this passage today, Paul uses five rhetorical questions, and he's highlighting something that maybe you've heard before. As a matter of fact, it's maybe the most famous verse in the entire Bible. I bet you can finish it with me. Ready? "For God so loved that he gave his only son that whoever would not perish but have..." Right. I could have put it underneath my eyes today, but I would have had to dress a lot more sporty, you know? That verse, John 3:16, points to this amazing truth of what God was willing to do for us. And it's a very important verse. It's a very important verse. Out of this expression of his love for all of mankind. God already gave us his son. Do you really think he's holding something back? Do you really think he's going, "Well, I could help, but you know what? I've done a lot already. How much more can I really do?"

Paul says that it's God who is the one who justifies. So because of that, who could attack you and me and bring a credible claim that would make a difference for our eternity? And that's such good news. Now, it doesn't mean that losing your job doesn't hurt. It doesn't mean that facing infertility can't be overwhelming. It doesn't mean that breaking up with that person or facing that health setback isn't painful.

It's just saying that when you and I live in light of a future that isn't just the present, we can understand that even God can use the hardest and most difficult things. Paul will go on to describe a little bit more of that in just a few verses, but he's making this point, right, that there is no suffering. There is no setback that can separate you from God. Even if God feels distant, he has never been closer. Your soul is not at stake with the stock market or the size of your bank account. God is giving us what we need for an eternal inheritance, that everything you have this side of eternity apart from Jesus, you're not taking with you anyway.

In the next section of our passage, Paul shows us the work that Jesus did on our behalf and how it frees us from bondage to our circumstances. And as a result, that who I am and how I am are different. That's such good news. We all lead conversations with kind of icebreaker questions. How do we just dispense pleasantries? And if we're not careful, we will ask this question, "How are you doing?" without really wanting to know the answer. Have you ever noticed in people's faces that we ask, "How are you doing?" Or they'll ask us, "How are you doing?" And past about 10, you just see someone's face glaze over, right? Oh, they actually didn't want to know.

But if we stick around for an answer, it often reveals how much we are each facing in our lives. One of the things that I think can take place is that we're all kind of the main character in our story. And so everybody else in our life, we perceive as supporting characters, but they are the main character in their own story. They are facing huge obstacles. They have massive things in their life that they're walking through.

And without an anchoring philosophy or deeper identity, it can leave all of us feeling like we are just the result of our past and present circumstances, that you will never be better than what's happening in your life in any given moment. And God just has something so much bigger for you and me than that. That's actually Paul's point in the next part of our passage today. He says it this way. He says, "Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died. More than that, who was raised? Who is at the right hand of God? Who is interceding for us? Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?"

And then he goes on to this list that we've seen kind of pieces of over the course of our series, right? "Shall tribulation or distress or persecution or famine, nakedness, danger, sword? As it is written, for your sake, we are being killed all day long. We are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."

I mean, when we think about words like these, maybe for you, you go, well, there's a lot of... There's a lot of people in my life that actually exist, it seems like, to condemn me. If I say the wrong thing online, if I do the wrong thing in that relationship, it feels like condemnation actually is sitting pretty close to the surface. Paul knew what it was to be condemned. He actually knew what it was like for condemnation on both sides of the ledger. He was kind of a condemnation expert. Earlier in his life, he had been the one doing the condemning. This idea of trying to stop this early movement of Jesus' followers.

But then once he became a Jesus follower, he experienced it on the other side. So why would he say this? Like, he knew what it was to be condemned. He was likely thinking about the future condemnation that would take his life as it took a lot of the lives of early followers of Jesus just for being followers of Jesus. Well, the reason he could say it is because earthly condemnation isn't what he is concerned about. Quite the opposite, actually.

We live in a country where there is an appeals process. And eventually, even if you don't understand the mechanics of all of it, a case gets appealed up to the Supreme. Right. So we know that when a decision gets made at the Supreme Court, that that decision is permanent and legally binding. And I think sometimes we can get in this headspace where if you're a follower of Jesus, you forget that the Supreme Court is not the most supreme thing.

See, Paul is aiming higher than the Supreme Court. He's talking about the supreme ruler, that there are no appeals or judgments beyond him, that the judgments are not just binding, they're eternally binding. So if Jesus came back from the grave and is personally interceding for you and me, what charges could stick? Great news. None of them.

At times in chapter 8, the Apostle Paul, a guy who had personally persecuted Jesus' followers until he became one, he talks about the kind of pain that we can experience. He talks about the kind of pain that we can experience as a result of following Jesus, that literally just you choosing to follow Jesus, you can face rejection and you can face obstacles and you can face challenges in your life. And some of you know that. But actually, when we look at this list from the Apostle Paul, this isn't just what we experience as a result of following Jesus. This is what we experience just as a result of living life in a broken world as fallen people.

He quotes in the second half of that screen, Psalm 44, in this final verse of the section. And what he's doing is he's countering a false teaching that existed in that day and in Jesus' day and sometimes can get believed today, where the only reason you experience difficulty in your life is sort of this karma, what have you done, what are the results of it? And if you make bad choices, you have bad circumstances in your life.

And it doesn't feel like a giant leap to believe that if you do enough bad things, that God will give up on you. You know, Phil, you don't know what I've been through. You don't know what I've done. You don't know the choices that I've made and the people that I've let down. But Paul, he's quoting a passage in Psalms that affirms the idea that when we live life, we will all face pain in a broken and hurting world. It's absolutely unavoidable.

And it doesn't disqualify us from God's love. As a matter of fact, it reminds us of our need for it. I have a friend who's going through a major life transition right now, and he reached out to me recently. It's kind of a confessional kind of way that you do to a pastor that you know. And he was admitting that he basically only cares about God when his life is a mess.

I know none of you would do it that way, right? But that was him. And he feels like maybe that means he shouldn't ever pursue God because he is personally aware that he's just using God to get what he wants, which is like a very honest reflection. And I tried to express like, man, I would love for you to have a deeper hunger for God than just changing your circumstances. But I also said that if one of my kids only came to me when they needed me, well, I would want them to desire a deeper relationship than that. I wouldn't turn them away. If the choice was no relationship or that kind of relationship, I would hope that it could lead to something more. And that's just me as an imperfect human father.

See, we are facing huge headwinds in our lives. Some of you, you are headed to a school you've never been to in a matter of days. You're starting a job that feels really intimidating. For some of you, the stock market volatility has had a direct impact on your personal stability. But don't forget the God that we serve. Don't forget that no matter who wins an election in just a few months, that the King of kings and Lord of lords reigns and rules and always will. It doesn't mean that we don't care. It just means we don't grieve. We don't panic like the world around us that has no hope does.

If you're a follower, there is no suffering. There is no setback that can separate you from God. And that means that God wants you to talk with him. Even if you are only talking with him when pain comes into your life. I wonder sometimes if that's why God has allowed the pain in our life in the first place to prompt the conversation.

The last three verses of Romans 8, they can feel really hard to believe on two different levels that we're going to look at, especially if you're doing well mentally, but you don't have faith or your own faith yet. Paul says that actually we are only conquerors in Christ. It doesn't mean that there is no success outside of Jesus. Some of you, you have incredible success, unbelievable personal wealth, tremendous influence, great education. You are making a tremendous difference. But apart from Jesus, I'm telling you, none of that is going to radiate into eternity. None of it goes with you. None of that conquering will last.

There are plenty of adjustments that our family has had to make when we've moved to California a year and a half, two years ago. And one of those things that gets accentuated in the summertime is that as Midwesterners, that's where Alyssa and I both grew up, we had a very high affinity towards and looked forward to fireworks. And if you're like, "We have fireworks." No, you don't. And I get it. I know why. You don't need to send me the emails. I know why. It's fine.

But when you experience fireworks in the Midwest, it's like a whole thing. And as a little kid, it's like, "Hey, you're up past your bedtime. You're eating tons of sugar. It's dark and there's explosions everywhere." Like what's not to like, right? And at the end of the firework show, there is the finale. And it's this overwhelming sky-consuming crescendo. And honestly, it's a little bit of the picture that we get in Paul's final words of this passage today.

He says it this way. He says, "And just like he talked about these categories of obstacles, he says, 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."

You get this sense at times when Paul is writing Romans, or you get this sense when you're reading letters that Paul has written, that he just is like, "I can't help but go off here for just a minute." And what we see first, right, is he's answering these five rhetorical questions that we've seen throughout our passage today. He's saying like, if you didn't get it, the answer to all those questions is no. No one can condemn you. You are not disqualified from God's love. No one can separate you from that. That's really, really good news.

And I just wonder how many of us, what would be helpful is to just take a picture of this and every day read it and remind yourself that no matter what obstacle is in front of you this week, no matter what skeleton is in your closet, no matter what happens or doesn't happen at work, no matter what happens or doesn't happen geopolitically, in Jesus, you have a relationship that is inseparable. That in all these things, you don't just endure it. You don't just make it through. You don't just survive the week. It's better than that.

Paul says that because of Jesus, we are more than conquerors. Not someday, today. In his incredible book that we've used throughout the summer, scholar N.T. Wright, he describes us as super conquerors. Because Jesus' supernatural work on the cross for us, we can do more than make it through. We are tapping into a power that makes us redemptive agents in the world right now. It doesn't mean that it doesn't hurt. It doesn't mean that it's not hard. It doesn't mean that we pretend that it's not painful.

It just means that we grieve and experience pain, not as people without hope, but as people with future hope. It's so incredibly important. Now, the thing is, sometimes when we look at passages like this, we see things that Paul is kind of famous for building on in other parts of the scripture as well. And sometimes those scriptures get taken out of context. We just pull a verse because it's convenient.

And this actually gives us one of those examples from the book of Philippians chapter 4, where Paul says that this, he says, "Not that I am speaking of being in need for, he says, I have learned in whatever situation I'm in to be content. I know how to be brought low and I know how to abound in any and every circumstance. I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need."

And then here's the verse that maybe you're familiar with. "I can do all things through him who strengthens me." And I think maybe because it's the one that seems to fit on the coffee cup, we just use this part, right? And what we've talked about is that context really matters. So actually all of this is feeding into this. And if you really want to get technical, this is chapter 4. So you've got a whole bunch that Paul is trying to land the plane right there.

We get to this verse and we put it on a coffee cup or we like we crochet it maybe. That's great. But here's what I want to make sure we don't think. We don't. Okay, God, give me the S on my chest. Give me the cape that whatever I want to do, if I say the right thing or I do my devotions the right way or I give you money at certain times, then you are indebted to me and I can do whatever I want because you give me Jesus' superpower.

It just takes a few verses to see that that's not what Paul's talking about. That actually the way that you and I are more than conquerors is that we endure circumstances and more than that, we find contentment in circumstances and more than that, we experience this identity in him in a way that is so foreign to the world around us because of Jesus. That's what he wanted to communicate.

See, he builds on that in Romans 8 by looking at this long-term trajectory that we have in Jesus. He isn't saying that we will be conquerors in the future. We will be. He's saying that if you are a follower of Jesus, you already are. It's a matter of believing it and living according to that identity in your life.

Author and speaker Jo Saxton, she did a great job pointing this hope out this way. She says, "It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he put his eyes on us, had designs on us for glorious living. Part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone."

See, God has a plan for you and he's trying to do something in you, but not just in you and for you. But for this bigger plan, for this greater promise that affects everyone for all time. God has an incredible plan for our world and the universe. Some of you, you're beginning to realize that for the very first time.

So I want to finish with something that may be kind of uncomfortable, but I hope you'll stick with me. If you are here today and you aren't a follower of Jesus, God loves you. There's nothing you could do that would ever make him love you any less or any more. You're an image bearer of the creator. You're an image bearer of the universe with infinite dignity, value, and worth.

But these verses that we've been studying, they don't apply to you. Not yet. See, Paul's been talking about what could separate us from God if we are followers of Jesus. But you don't separate something that's not united. God loves all of humanity, but he is only in relationship with those who follow his son, Jesus.

There's a powerful moment in Jesus' earthly ministry where one of his closest followers, John, records what's called the high priestly prayer, where God the Son is praying to God the Father. And in it, Jesus says this. He says, "For I have given them the words that you, my Father, gave to me. And they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you. And they believe that you sent me."

This is the uncomfortable part. "I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those whom you have given me. For they are yours." Now, this doesn't mean that Jesus never prayed for the world or doesn't care about anyone beyond those who follow him. That's not true at all. But this relationship, the one we've been talking about, the one we've been studying, the one Paul's been building on, that we've been talking about is exclusively for people who choose to follow Jesus with their lives.

Early followers of Jesus, they were not called Christians. They called themselves followers of the way. And it was a narrow way. Few were on it. And so today, even now, 2,000 years later, we offer the widest welcome to the narrow way. That the promises of Scripture and Romans 8 in particular are available to everyone who believes.

Some of you, you came in today or you logged on today and you were in great distress. There's something that's happening in your life and you're not a follower of Jesus. You're going, "I wish my circumstances were different." And you're not sure how to change that. Some of you are followers. Some of you are followers of Jesus. And the standard that you've put on whether or not God shows up for you is whether or not your circumstances get better. That's the only way that God can show up in your life when actually God may want to make you better through the circumstances not getting better.

It's leaning into that identity of who we are in Jesus that makes the ultimate difference. For others today, you came in feeling like you were on top of the world. And you've been faced maybe over the course of today or this series with this choice of the kind of inheritance you want to have. Or the kind of thing that you want to live for. And an inheritance that lasts forever even if it doesn't bring you what you want today. Or the kind of thing that you want today but you sacrifice forever to get it.

Jesus is waiting for your decision. And the fact that you are still here today, the fact that there is still breath in your lungs is an act of grace from the God of the universe giving you and me time to come to him or to come back to him. We'll talk about more of that next week.

Can I pray for you?

God, thank you so much. Thank you for these words that you've preserved over the course of thousands of years that we might even just for a moment in the midst of whatever we're facing be reminded that nothing in this world can separate us from your love. For followers of you, nothing in this world can disqualify us from relationship with you. Thank you for that great news this morning. No matter what cloud has been hanging over us. No matter what thing maybe has made us feel disqualified or discounted.

God, would you help us to lean into a deeper relationship with you? And for some today, God, that they would actually choose relationship with you as a result of seeing the promises available to those who follow you. God, there's nothing that we can do that really lasts and that really matters without you. And so God, today, would you help us all to stay closer to you than we ever have before. By you, for the days ahead. It's in Jesus' name. Amen.

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "There are all these connections around us that we depend on that are not always so reliable. But how many of us, we take for granted a connection that will never be broken and can always be accessed, no matter how long it takes. And so, I'm going to our circumstances. That's what we are going to look at today, that actually there is no suffering or setback that can separate you from God." [26:49] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


2. "If you're a follower of Jesus, your relationship with him is secured forever. Over the course of the series, we've been talking about the fact that we've been made right, we've been trying to highlight approaches and concepts to how we study the Bible that will hopefully help you as you continue to study the Bible on your own, even if it's not on a giant touchscreen." [30:59] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


3. "See, God's durable relationship with us. If Paul was willing to sacrifice his own son, if he didn't hold back the cost that was necessary to win you back to a permanent and perfect relationship with him, what would God withhold? But I think sometimes when we experience setbacks in our life, when we face suffering in our life, when we feel disappointed with the circumstances of our life, here's what we sometimes think. We think God was willing to die for me, but that's it." [33:52] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


4. "Don't forget the God that we serve. Don't forget that no matter who wins an election in just a few months, that the King of kings and Lord of lords reigns and rules and always will. It doesn't mean that we don't care. It just means we don't grieve. We don't panic like the world around us that has no hope does. If you're a follower, there is no suffering. There is no setback that can separate you from God." [43:34] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


5. "You get this sense at times when Paul is writing Romans, or you get this sense when you're reading letters that Paul has written, that he just is like, I can't help but go off here for just a minute. And what we see first, right, is he's answering these five rhetorical questions that we've seen throughout our passage today. He's saying like, if you didn't get it, the answer to all those questions is no. No one can condemn you. You are not disqualified from God's love. No one can separate you from that. That's really, really good news." [46:32] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


### Quotes for Members

1. "Even when attacks happen, and they will happen, God can use them for our good and his glory. Even when it feels like all hope is lost, even when it feels completely irredeemable, nothing can be done. God is for us, who can be against us, who can be For all of eternity, including in your life." [30:59] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


2. "Paul says that it's God who is the one who justifies. So because of that, who could attack you and me and bring a credible claim that would make a difference for our eternity? And that's such good news. Now, it doesn't mean that losing your job doesn't hurt. It doesn't mean that facing infertility can't be overwhelming. It doesn't mean that breaking up with that person or facing that health setback isn't painful." [35:24] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


3. "Paul will go on to describe a little bit more of that in just a few verses, but he's making this point, right, that there is no suffering. There is no setback that can separate you from God. Even if God feels distant, he has never been closer. Your soul is not at stake with the stock market or the size of your bank account. God is giving us what we need for an eternal inheritance, that everything you have this side of eternity apart from Jesus, you're not taking with you anyway." [36:52] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


4. "Paul knew what it was to be condemned. He actually knew what it was like for condemnation on both sides of the ledger. He was kind of a condemnation expert. Earlier in his life, he had been the one doing the condemning. This idea of trying to stop this early movement of Jesus' followers. But then once he became a Jesus follower, he experienced it on the other side." [39:29] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


5. "See, he builds on that in Romans 8 by looking at this long-term trajectory that we have in Jesus. He isn't saying that we will be conquerors in the future. We will be. He's saying that if you are a follower of Jesus, you already are. It's a matter of believing it and living according to that identity in your life." [50:35] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)