We are plumbing the depths of the gospel, and we are not finding bottom anywhere close. In fact, this side of eternity we will never touch bottom of the depths of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. The same gospel that saved us is the gospel that keeps us. Romans 8 has been called the Gospel according to Paul.
The Eternal Security of the Gospel | Sermon by Dr. Jack Graham
Romans 8
Introduction
We are plumbing the depths of the gospel, and we are not finding bottom anywhere close. In fact, this side of eternity we will never touch bottom of the depths of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. The same gospel that saved us is the gospel that keeps us. Romans 8 has been called the Gospel according to Paul.
This great chapter clearly proclaims the gospel from beginning to end. This gospel that we believe guarantees our future with Him, and it guarantees our glory because we are in the grip of this gospel. I want to show you four securities that I believe guarantee our salvation forever in Christ, the eternal security of the gospel.
The Sufficiency of God’s Son
First, we believe in the eternal security of the gospel because of the sufficiency of God’s Son (Rom. 8:1–4). This is the description of the justification that we have in Christ now, taken from the hymn, The Solid Rock: “we stand in His righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne.” We are no longer living under the condemnation of the sentence of sin and the death that goes with it, but we are now alive, and by the Spirit of life, we are now empowered by God Himself.
We are secure. We can never be severed from the presence of Christ in our lives. We are in a place of protection where God’s judgment will never touch us, where the wrath of judgment can never reach us! Therefore, that same love that saves us keeps us. We are loved eternally. We are secure in Christ.
It is a provision of Christ. It is what Christ has done. We are now in Christ, just as Jesus said, “No man is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand” (John 10:29 ESV).
The Sanctification of God’s Spirit
Second, our eternal security rests in the sanctification of God’s Spirit (Rom. 8:5). Sanctification means that we’re being made more like Christ. We are being more set apart from the world and like Christ. We are made holy even as God is holy. We are now righteously living in Christ. But how does that happen? Have you made the discovery that the Christian life is not hard, but impossible? There’s no good thing in us.
We can’t do this ourselves. We’ve concluded, as the apostle did, “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” (Rom. 7:24 ESV). And then in the eighth chapter he tells us the wonderful discovery that we are now no longer living under the dominion and power of sin, but now we can live in the freedom of the Spirit; that is, we have life and power in the Spirit to overcome.
Sin no longer controls our attitudes, appetites, ambitions, assets, or actions. You see, it’s not that we can’t sin; it’s that we cannot now live in sin. We are brand new. We are born again. We have a new nature now. Allow God’s Spirit to continuously control your life: think as he thinks, do what he does, and he will dominate your life!
The Sovereignty of God’s Purposes
Third, you’re eternally secure in this gospel because of the sovereignty of God’s purposes (Rom. 8:18–30). Paul is dealing with the problem of pain. He mentions the problem of pain in creation; all creation groans.
In the beginning God’s creation was perfect, but now because of sin, it is scarred and stained by a curse, and so the earth and everything and everyone in it are impacted by suffering and groaning. But not only does creation groan, but the Christian groans.
The question we need to answer is this: to what purpose and for what purpose do we suffer? We may not know this side of eternity but that’s the question. But we have a hope in a Savior that we have not yet seen except by faith. And one day we will see him and that hope is a blessed hope.
We will see Him face to face. The future return of Christ, what Paul describes here in Romans 8 as the resolution, is the redemption of our bodies. These aching bodies, these bodies that are being torn down, will be immortalized in the presence of God. Forever we shall be like Christ.
Therefore, our pain is only temporary. And you can’t compare it to the glory and the greatness. And in the meantime God’s Spirit guarantees to pray us through. He interprets our very heart to God, he feels our pain, and he sustains us and strengthens us when we hurt.
And then, to what purpose? If you’re going through a dark time, remember, God is changing you and conforming you. We’re not here just so God can make us comfortable, but so he may conform us to His will and to His dear Son.
The Steadfastness of God’s Love
Finally, we believe in the eternal security of the gospel because of the steadfastness of God’s love (Rom. 8:35). It’s a great hymn of praise closing Romans 8. When God works in your life in this way, He gives you a greater capacity to experience His love and to express His love. Your heart opens up to Him in times like these and, therefore, to others as well. God will never stop loving you because of His steadfast love.
Conclusion
Therefore, we exclaim: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31 ESV). The gospel assures us that we can live in confidence and that life can defeat death, that faith will conquer fear, that hope will destroy despair, that love will crush hate, and that joy will overcome depression and defeat! Thanks be unto God, who gives us the victory in Jesus Christ! We cannot lose! We are totally secure in Christ now and forever! We are more than conquerors! Thanks be unto God for this victory (Rom. 8:31–37).