Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church-Friedheim
Celebrating our 167th Year

A 21st Century Parish with a 1st Century Faith
Acts 2:42

Pentecost 11
July 31, 2005
Romans 8:35-39
More than conquerors

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INTRODUCTION: Do you think you have problems? Well, you do! Being a Christian does not make problems go away. We are not immune from strife simply because we bear the name of Christ. However, when problems come our way we have one who will fight for us – our Savior Jesus Christ.

Christ Jesus is our conqueror. Because Jesus suffered the penalties of sin in our place we can be assured of His love and care for us. In our Epistle lesson for today St. Paul calls us to believe that nothing can separate us from Christ and His love. No matter what challenges you may face in this life, no matter what the circumstance; Paul wants us to know today that through Christ we can conquer all of our problems as he reminds us that in Christ we are more than conquerors.

I.          In tribulation or distress we are more than conquerors – St. Paul would remind us of these sure words. “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” {1 Corinthians 10:13}

II.         In persecution we are more than conquerors – Jesus remind us of His sure word. “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” {Matthew 5:10}

III.       In famine or nakedness we are more than conquerors. Jesus assures us. “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon 8in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.” {Matthew 6:28-29} We need not worry about hunger. “The people ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, in addition to women and children.” {Matthew 14:20-21}

IV.       In danger we are more than conquerors. Isaiah of old reminds us of Christ our suffering servant. “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open His mouth; He was lead like a lamb to be slaughtered and as a sheep before her Shearer’s is silent so he did not open His mouth. By oppression and judgment He was taken away. And who can speak of His descendants? For He was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people was He stricken.” {Isaiah 53:7-8}

V.         In death we are more than conquerors. Paul will remind us. “When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death is swallowed up in victory. Where, O death is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the Law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” {1 Corinthians 15:54-57}

VI.       Throughout life we are more than conquers. Listen the Paul’s sure words from our text for today. “Who will bring any change against Christ’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Now Jesus Christ who has died – more then that He was raised to life – He is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No in all these things we are more than conquerors through Christ who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is found in Jesus Christ our Lord.” {Romans 8:33-5; 37-39}

CONCLUSION: Trust these promises of God. God loved us when He had Christ die, rise and sit at His right hand. Christ sits as conqueror over all creation. Therefore, God will always love us, and we are convinced that nothing can separate us from His love. That is why we are also convinced that, despite all our problems, “in all these things we are more than conquerors through Christ who loved us.” (V.37)

 + Soli Deo Gloria +