Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith. If you know Christ as Savior, your bank deposits are safe, where moth and rust cannot corrupt. That bank is not of this world, and as a child of God, neither are you. Today, a look into a Bible chapter listing more blessings than we can ever fathom. From the Moody Church in Chicago, this is Running to Win with Dr.
Erwin Lutzer, whose clear teaching helps us make it across the finish line. Pastor Lutzer, Paul's writing in Romans chapter 8 has been called transcendent. Using lofty language, he sets forth more sublime truth than we can even comprehend. I believe that's why you named your series Children of an Awesome God. Yeah.
Um Dave, you describe that perfectly. When you think of the inheritance that we have in Jesus Christ, it is overwhelming. As a matter of fact, I'd like to ask all of our listeners to call someone on the phone. Send them an email, send them a text, and tell them to listen in during the next couple of weeks because this series of messages lifts our souls to God. It helps us to understand all that God has done for us and is one of the most encouraging passages in all the Bible.
And if you've been blessed as a result of the ministry of running to win, would you consider blessing others? At the end of this message, I'm going to be giving you some contact info because I would like to challenge you to become what we like to call an endurance partner. I'll explain more in a moment, but for now, let us listen.
Okay. I begin today with this question. What does it mean to be a child of God? In the midst of an economy that is in trouble, in the midst of a time when you may not be able to pay your bills, or when you discover, as one woman did this past week, That her husband is cheating on her. What does it really mean to be called a child?
of God. For many years, I've wanted to preach a series of messages on the eighth chapter of the book of Romans, and we begin that series today. It's entitled Children of an Awesome God, and the subtitle is What He's Done to Call You His Own. These messages are not going to focus so much on us as they are on God.
So often when I preach, as other preachers do, we tell congregations what to do. You do this and you do that. These messages are going to be geared to what you should believe. And if you believe them, you will begin to do. It's going to be a series of messages, God willing, that will be absolutely transforming.
Those of you who struggle, for example, with self-hatred, I hope that after these messages, all that is gone. Because we're going to discover that God supremely loves us, even though at times we feel rotten to the core. These are, above all, messages of hope. and transformation.
Someone has said that if the Bible were a ring, the book of Romans would probably be the stone and the eighth chapter would be the top or the tip of the jewel, the eighth chapter of Romans. As a matter of fact, this is so important, and it's always important for you to bring your Bible to church, but It is so critical that you look at the text. I'm going to be showing you statements that are in the Bible. and in this passage that I believe no human being could have ever made. Obviously it was inspired by God.
Its accuracy will absolutely overwhelm you. The eighth chapter, if you didn't bring your Bible today, I think it's on page 900. And forty-four, nine hundred and forty-four in the Bible that is there in the pew. The book of Romans is a very great ocean of Christian doctrine. The Apostle Paul begins in the first chapters by saying that the pagans are sinners.
And he describes them in vivid detail. Then he goes on to say that the self-righteous religious people, they're sinners too. as are all self-righteous ones. And he ends that passage in the third chapter where he says that the whole world is guilty before God. And not only that, That God is going to judge the world, and then Paul says, and we are all without excuse.
What a commentary on what we know to be true intuitively and by reading the newspaper. When you get to chapters 4, 5, and 6, Paul begins to give an explanation as to what God is doing about it. And because some of that is summarized in the eighth chapter, we'll be getting to it. Chapter 7 is very interesting. Paul is talking about any person who's going to live just according to rules.
That's all that you have is rules. You live according to law. I need to read just a few verses to let you know how accurate again the Apostle Paul is. He says in chapter 7, verse 15, I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.
Now, if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law that it is good.
So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is in my flesh. For I have a desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good that I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep doing. A man attended a Bible study.
And when he walked into the room, this passage was being read, and he sat there with cold chills. He didn't know that it was from the Bible. He thought that the leader of the study knew him and had written this just for him. The Apostle Paul ends verse 24, O wretched man that I am, who will deliver me from this body of death? He's saying, Who will deliver me from myself?
I mean well, but I keep falling into the same pit again and again and again.
Now, with that background, you'd think that chapter 8 would open with these words. Condemnation is now guaranteed to everyone, even to those who claim to be Christians, because they are sinners too. But we're shocked. That's not what it says. It begins by saying, there is, therefore, now no condemnation.
to them which are in Christ Jesus. Paul obviously is summarizing the argument not only of chapter seven, our need for grace, but also chapters four, five, and six. And he's giving in effect a new part of his writing and saying that now we are looking at the Christian as being in Christ. And everything changes. Very briefly, three characteristics.
The first is that we are as believers in Christ. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus. A phrase used more than 100 times in the New Testament to describe born-again Christians in Christ.
Now, what does that mean to be in Christ?
Well, remember. In Romans we learn that we are born in Adam. And because Adam was our great-grandfather, we inherit sin, we inherit the consequences of sin, and we are on a journey in the wrong direction all the way to eternal death. That is what the Bible teaches about being in Adam. But now there's a whole different race.
We are in Christ and to be in Christ means that Adam isn't our grandfather anymore.
Now Jesus is the head of this new race and because we are in Christ, Which would be a separate series of messages. From there, all kinds of blessings flow. Let me very quickly just give you a few of them that are here right in the text. There is, therefore, now no condemnation. To them who are in Christ Jesus.
You know what that means? God has said that we are pardoned for all crimes that have been done against him. No condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.
Now The question you're asking is, does this mean forgiveness? And the answer is: yes, of course it means forgiveness, but it means so much more than forgiveness.
Now, in this series of messages, we all have to concentrate. And we have to think. And in the process, I promise you will be transformed. But think with me. If it only meant forgiveness, that would mean that I confess my sins and then I sin again and I'd be going from the sphere of condemnation to no condemnation.
I'd be going back and forth. What kind of a life would that be? Would I have assurance of eternal life? Of course not, because I don't know at what state I would be in when I died. It would be a life of uncertainty.
It would not be good news at all. No, God says no condemnation does not only mean that you're forgiven, but it means something else. You are credited with the righteousness of Jesus Christ, and that righteousness is credited to you 24 hours a day and will take you all the way to heaven. Because you are in Christ. Good illustration.
is the Ark. You know, when Noah built the ark, God says, take and line it with pitch, in and out.
Now pitch was like thick tar. And God said this so that it would be waterproof. Would you be surprised if I were to tell you that the word atonement in the Old Testament and the word pitch? Are essentially the same thing. And you say, well, what's the connection?
Well, the idea is this, that the pitch that was used to cover the ark insulated the ark from God's judgment, namely the flood. And atonement means that we are insulated from God's judgment. That's what atonement means. And the ark is a wonderful representation of what it means to be in Christ. There you are, the judgment is outside, the wrath of God is falling, God is judging the world, but you are exempt.
You are exempt. Your Bible is open. If you were to read this in the Greek text, as I did yesterday, at least the opening lines, you'd discover that the word no, uthen, is the very first word of the chapter. Paul is emphasizing that. He begins this chapter by saying, no.
condemnation. to those who are in Christ. No condemnation, none. Let me give you some news. If you are in Christ, that means that your sin nature.
Is no longer condemned by God because there is no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus. What it means is that your past sins no longer condemn you because God has acquitted you of all crimes and you're covered with the righteousness of Jesus Christ. That means that the future sins that you haven't committed yet, those future sins are also you've received legal acquittal from them because you are in Christ and there is no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus. You say, well, Pastor Luther, that's unbelievable. Let me ask you a question: How many of your sins were future when Christ died?
Well, the answer: of course, all of them. All of them were future when He died. Died 2,000 years ago. When Jesus died, the Bible says in the book of Hebrews, by one offering he put away sin forever. There is no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus.
You are out of range of the wrath and the anger of God because you are in Christ Jesus.
Now, some of you say, old Pastor Lutzer, don't preach that because. That's dangerous. Because there's going to be somebody who's going to say, well, isn't that nice? You get in Christ and then you can live however you like. If you're thinking that, I have two responses.
First, thank you for thinking that. Because that means I've actually preached the gospel and I've preached grace. That's proof. The natural mind always says, Oh, well, that means, you know, like somebody told me, Oh, so you're teaching that you can just believe on Jesus and then live however you like. All right.
And I say, Praise God, He's understood the gospel. Because the natural mind always goes there. That's the first thing I want to say: thank you. I hope you were thinking that. The second thing I'd like to say is that if you are looking for an out for yourself, Saying that you can live however you like, very probably you are not in Christ.
but you are still in Adam because people who are in Christ don't think that way. Visualize, for example, a young woman. And she is engaged to a man who has promised her. He's promised her. That he would marry her no matter what she'd do.
Does she say, hey, You know, he gave me a ring, and I know that he's a person of integrity, and he promised me that he would marry me no matter what I did.
So now that gives me permission to sleep around. I suppose that's happened. That's not the normal response. God does not save us in order that we might please ourselves. He gives us a nature that desires now to please Him.
So you see, the Apostle Paul here is saying there is no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus. Could I say also that He is saying there is no obligation. to those who are in Christ. I'm in verse 2. He says In verse 2, for the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ.
from the law of sin and death. And in the process, Paul is saying this: Look, he's going to contrast in the next verses Adam, those who are in Adam, and those who are in Christ. That's what's going to follow. But what he's saying is that the law of sin and death keeps dragging you down. If you are in Adam, you are subject to the law of sin and death.
That means that no matter how physically alive you are. You are disconnected from God, there is no personal relationship with God, and furthermore, there is within you a certain kind of emptiness and death. And you will love yourself always more than you love God. That's true of everybody who is in Adam. Paul is going to say, and if you're in Adam, you cannot, you cannot.
Please God. But he says that there is another law, and here he's talking about a principle. There is another law, he says, and that is the law of the Spirit of life in Jesus that frees me. From the law of sin and death. Gravity, we know, always drags things down.
If I were to drop my Bible, gravity would make sure that it falls. But there is another law, and that is the law of my hand and my arm that is right now stronger than the law of gravity as it relates to this Bible. Tuesday, God willing, I will be flying to Dallas, Texas. And the law of the plane. Is going to supersede the law of gravity.
I hope that that'll be true all the way to Dallas. You see, what God is saying is, is that when you are in Christ, there is a new law that delivers you from all of the things that the folks who are in Adam have to do. You do not have to give in to the devil. You do not have to fall into the same temptation over and over again. There are resources that have been given to you.
Now, it is true that when we are Christians, God disciplines us and deals with us. You know, when the sons of Noah were there in the ark, Did that mean that they were perfect? No. Did that mean that they always got along? No, they probably had to ask forgiveness for themselves and perhaps in relationship to their father.
It could well be that even God was disciplining them in the ark. But they were saved from the wrath of God. They were saved so far as God's anger was concerned. We could say that in that ark, there was no condemnation. because they were there by God's good hand.
My friend, today, if you've been encouraged as a result of running to win, I want you to know that the message that you have just heard goes around the world. It's in 50 different countries in seven different languages. How can we do that? It's because of people just like you who support this ministry. Would you consider joining what I like to call the Running to Win family?
You say, Well, Pastor Lutzer, what's that all about? Would you at least investigate what it is all about? Here's what you do. You can go to rtwoffer.com. That's rtwoffer.com and when you're there you click on the Endurance Partner button.
Or if you prefer, you can call us at 1-888-288-888-888-8. Yeah. ninety three thirty seven.
Now, because we are dependent upon people just like you, I'm going to be giving you that contact info again. And for those of you who pray for this ministry, who support this ministry, from the bottom of my heart I want to say thank you, thank you. you are really a part of all that we are doing to invest in the gospel of Jesus Christ, which in turn leads people to saving faith in Christ, and that, of course, is an eternal reward. Here's that contact info again. Go to rtwoffer.com.
Of course, rtwoffer is all one word. rtwoffer.com or pick up the phone and call us at 1-888-218-9337. Time now for another chance for you to ask Pastor Lutzer a question about the Bible or the Christian life. Dr. Lutzer, a listener named Amy, has been hearing your series on the armor of God from the book of Ephesians.
She's having some trouble, though, putting what you said into practice. Here's what she wrote. I've heard and been told to put on the full armor of God each day. but I have not heard an explanation of what this really means. I've been a Christian for four years now, and have never been given a full understanding of this by any one I have asked.
I understand what each piece is for, and that it is a representation of spiritual armor, because we are in a spiritual battle. But what does it mean to put it on? I have heard Say it like a prayer each day, or Imagine in your mind putting each piece of armour on your physical body, and say to yourself what each piece represents. I even asked my pastor, and he couldn't give me a solid answer. The answers I'm getting don't make complete sense to me.
How can your words alone, or your imagination, protect you? Amy, I think that you've asked an excellent question, and I'm very sorry that in my series on the seven pieces of armor I probably might not have answered it as well as I should have. I really do believe that putting on the armour isn't simply saying a prayer, though God knows that that may be very necessary. I think that putting on the armor of God is really a lifestyle. For example, when it talks about the belt of truth, what it means is that we live lives of integrity and truth.
Righteousness, the breastplate of righteousness, we receive the righteousness of Jesus Christ most assuredly. But I think that also what this involves is living a life of righteousness.
so that righteousness becomes characteristic of your conduct and your daily relationships. You know, faith, the shield of faith Well, of course it's not simply getting up in the morning and saying, Well, I've prayed and so I have my shield on now. What it means is that you live a whole life of faith. As you go through your day, you're totally dependent upon God. You are saying that.
Your dependence is complete as you have situations come up.
So think of these more as characteristics. of a person whose lifestyle is really reflecting these pieces of armor. And I think that when you do that and by the way, when they are all on, it says also, praying. Praying. And that is part of it.
then I think we're really equipped to stand against the wiles of the devil. I pray for you, Amy, and I pray for myself that God will grant us the grace to be able to put on these pieces of armour. By our lifestyle, that we might be successful in our walk with God. Thank you, Amy, for your obvious concern to live a life pleasing to the Lord. Thank you, doctor Lutzer, for your answer to her questions.
If you'd like to hear your question answered, you can go to our website at rtwoffer.com and click on Ask Pastor Lutzer or call us at 1-888-218-9337. That's 1-888-218-9337. You can write to us at RunningTowin 1635 North LaSalle Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois, 60614. Believers in Christ have a whole new life, a life with new desires that God satisfies deeply as we walk in His light.
Next time on Running to Win, more reasons why Christians are indeed children of an awesome God. From Romans chapter 8, you'll hear more about the divine calling all believers share, a calling that frees us from sin's tyranny to serve God. Thanks for listening. For Pastor Erwin Lutzer, this is Dave McAllister. Running to Win is sponsored by the Moody Church.
