SERMON TITLE: Christ is Interceding for Us
TEXT: Romans 8:31-39 (ESV)
SPEAKER: Josh Hanson
DATE: 5-16-21
You can watch the sermon here.
You can find the sermon notes here.
As always it’s a joy to be with all of you this weekend at Gateway Church. And the one thing I always want you to know — and this is true if you’re worshipping with us in person at our North Main campus or are joining us online — the one thing I want you to know is that God loves you and that I love you too.
We’re returning to our series in the book of Romans today — specifically — the eighth chapter. We’ve been in this chapter for two years and our goal is to finish it in the next few weeks. So let’s turn to our passage for today.
If you have your Bible please turn with me to Romans chapter 8. We’ll be looking at verses 31-39. And — as you probably remember — if you’ve been with us in previous weeks — you know that we’re looking at these final nine verses a total of six weeks — this being our fourth week.
So here our verses in Romans chapter 8. Beginning in verse 31.
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 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? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 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 indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your 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 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 God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:31-39 ESV)
Have you ever had someone come to your defense? Or maybe you were the person who came to the defense of someone else. Maybe the kids at school were picking on another kid and you stood up to the bullies. Maybe you were the one being bullied and someone stood up for you — or maybe no one did.
Maybe your experience wasn’t at school, but in a church. The church was heavy on truth and light on grace and you found yourself leaving the church feeling condemned. You came with a pretty simple hope — to hear some Good News — news unlike what you hear from the world — you had hoped for a better word and needed to hear it from someone else.
Here’s the tension. We live in a culture that — in many ways — thrives on condemnation. And it’s interesting to see how culture thrives on condemnation. For starters, we’re told to rise up against the evil condemners — the bullies, the racists, the bigots, the homophobes, people on the wrong side of history, and so on. And we’re told to come to the defense of those who are being condemned by those people.
Yet — and this is where a different kind of thriving on condemnation occurs — culture tells us that — not only is it OK to condemn those evil people — the racists, bigots, homophobes, and so on — but culture is trying to persuade us that we have a moral obligation to do so. Thus we cancel them out — or try to — and the cancel culture justifies itself by saying it’s just standing up for the marginalized and oppressed in society.
Now — the Bible says quite a bit about speaking and standing up for the defenseless and those who are marginalized. In fact, you can’t help but notice Jesus doing this during his life as we see recorded in the gospels. So — there’s something we can all agree on — Christian or not — there are times when people need others to step up and intercede on their behalf.
Yet — where the Christian faith and our culture part ways — is in how culture — in an effort to eliminate condemnation towards those who it views as the marginalized — culture ignores moral truth. Culture sacrifices truth and justifies doing so in the name of being inclusive.
And what this has resulted in — as we see throughout our country — and I don’t want to get political here — but what we see all over our country is that there’s no end to inclusivity. As soon as one group finds acceptance or gets laws changed — another group comes along demanding their inclusion and acceptance. And — now — our nation finds itself excluding or penalizing groups that it previously fought to include — as it opens itself up to the inclusion of new groups. And I’m sure you feel it — this feeling of mass moral chaos and confusion that’s going on in our nation as we’ve abandoned moral truth in the name of being inclusive.
But — as I said — the Christian faith departs from our culture in that it stresses the importance of both absolute moral truth and that we’re to intercede on behalf of the marginalized. What’s the absolute moral truth that the Bible emphasizes? Well — for example — the reality of sin and its effect on every single person. And — though it’s not popular — sometimes the very people our culture is demanding inclusive rights for — are groups whose identity and values are so influenced by sin that we can’t — in good conscience as Christians — support. We can’t be jerks about it — but we must be careful to not get so caught up in the culture of inclusion that we ignore what God has called sin. And this is true no matter your political party of choice.
Another moral truth Christianity stresses is that — without the intercession of Jesus — we all deserve God’s condemnation for our sin — God’s perfect, just, judgement against us due to our sin. Yet Christ — on the cross — experienced condemnation on behalf of all who turn to him in faith as they turn from their sin in repentance. Thus — we must be careful as a church — to resist the pressure to be inclusive — when being inclusive means we ignore God’s call to repent of sin and turn to Christ in faith and to proclaim this truth to others.
Why? Because the gospel — the Good News — says, “Though I — and you and all people — deserve to be condemned forever by God because of my sin, on the cross Christ took on my condemnation — and the guilt and shame that come with it. And — instead of canceling me out — Jesus allowed himself to be cancelled on the cross — so that I might be made right with God through faith in his Son. And in doing so I’m given assurance in knowing that there’s no condemnation for me because of what Christ has done.”
And now — Jesus is interceding for his people — interceding on our behalf before God, before Satan, and even before others who may try to condemn us.
So let’s look at this promised victory that we’ve been given over condemnation. And how this victory over condemnation comes through the death and resurrection of Christ, his ascension to Heaven, and his intercession on our behalf.
Let’s begin where we left off last time — by briefly looking at condemnation. Paul begins by asking, “Who is to condemn?” (Romans 8:34a ESV)
Who’s to condemn? Now — remember — this is a rhetorical question that Paul’s asking. Meaning — the seven questions that Paul asks — in our verses — don’t have debatable answers. Paul has specific — definitive answers — in mind. And — as we saw last time — this question is related to the question that comes before it.
Now — it’s been a few weeks — so let’s remind ourselves of the question Paul asked. Back to verse 33. “Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? (And — remember — the implied answer is “no one!” No one will bring a charge against God’s elect. Why? Because...) It is God who justifies.” (Romans 8:33 ESV)
You may remember that Paul’s using legal terms here — think of a courtroom setting. And he continues using legal language as he asks, “Who is to condemn?” And the implied answer — again — is “no one!” And — Paul’s point — as we saw a few weeks ago — is that the only one who has a right to condemn us — God — has declared us not guilty. The one we offended — by our sin — has released us from our punishment. And — since God is for us — why would he condemn us? In fact — and this is some incredible “get you on the edge of your seat” news — for those who’ve put their faith in Christ — it’s impossible for God to ever condemn you. (See Leon Morris, The Epistle to the Romans (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1988), 337.) Why? Because the reason Jesus hung on the cross was to free you from condemnation. And he said, “It is finished. It’s done. No more condemnation for my people.”
So what does all of this mean? Well — if God is the only one who can eternally condemn you — and he’s chosen to forgive you through Christ — well think of how insignificant this makes the condemnation of others. Do you see how this wonderful gospel truth strips culture of its condemning power? I mean, who cares if culture cancels you when God has promised to never cancel you? Our culture moves on anyway — it’s hungry for more — someone else to cancel. But think of the assurance we’ve been offered in Christ. Freedom from the only condemnation that anyone should ever be concerned with — God’s eternal condemnation.
Which leads us to the reasons why God does not condemn us. Back to our verse.
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 indeed is interceding for us. (Romans 8:34 ESV)
Why doesn’t God condemn us? Because of the death, resurrection, and ascension of his Son. Let’s look at all three of these.
The first reason why God doesn’t condemn us is because Christ died for us. Why send Jesus to die for those you’re going to punish for all eternity anyway? That doesn’t make sense. In dying for us — in our place — Christ removed our sin and guilt and the condemnation we deserve. We looked at some of the blessings that are ours through the death of Christ a few weeks ago. And these wonderful blessings make no sense for God to give to us if he’s going to condemn us in the end.
The second reason why God doesn’t condemn us is because Jesus rose from the dead. For — as Paul told us earlier in Romans — we were raised with Christ in his resurrection. His death is our death. And his resurrection is our resurrection. Thus we have great hope and assurance that we will not be condemned, but have been raised to a new life — an eternal life — in the presence — not of the condemnation of God — but will live forever in the presence of the eternal love of our God.
The third reason why God doesn’t condemn us is because Jesus has ascended into Heaven and is seated at the right hand of God. Now the previous two reasons we’ve looked at in earlier sermons. But this reason — Jesus’ ascension to Heaven and being seated at the right hand of God — is something we haven’t yet come across in Romans.
So what does Jesus — being seated next to his Father in Heaven — what does his ascension have to do with God not condemning us? To begin with, there’s significance in the fact that Jesus is described as sitting. But we must first go back to the priesthood in the Old Testament — the priests were those whose ministry included that of interceding on behalf of the people of Israel.
As Donald Barnhouse observes, “What’s so important about Christ being seated in Heaven? Simply this: the great difference between the priesthood of Christ and that of Aaron and his successors is that Christ sat down when he entered Heaven. The tabernacle of Israel in the wilderness was ornamented with gold worth...millions [of] dollars today, and yet there was not a chair in the tabernacle, nor in the temple which was later built in Jerusalem. There was no provision for a priest to sit. The reason that the priests...could never sit down was that their work was never done. But when Jesus Christ finished his work on the cross as God’s high priest, he arose from the dead and ascended into Heaven where he sat down at the right hand of God.” (Donald G. Barnhouse, Romans: God’s Heirs (reprint; Philadelphia: Evangelical, 1963), 185.)
In being seated — in Heaven — Jesus is demonstrating that the work he was sent to do is finished. The work needed to accomplish our salvation is complete. And now he sits and intercedes on our behalf to his Father.
Which leads us to Christ’s intercession for us. Back to our verse once again.
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 indeed is interceding for us. (Romans 8:34 ESV)
Earlier — in Romans — we saw that the Holy Spirit is interceding for us. When we don’t know how or what to pray — the Spirit of God prays on our behalf perfectly according to the will of God — glorious news! And — now — we see that Jesus is also interceding for us. Glorious news on top of glorious news!
But we find a theme — throughout Scripture — of people needing someone else to intercede on their behalf.
For example, after Adam and Eve sinned, they were naked and ashamed. They tried to cover their guilt and shame with fig leaves. Yet their covering was inadequate. Thus “the Lord God made clothing from animal skins for Adam and his wife.” (Genesis 3:21 NLT)
Now more than just clothing is happening here. Here we see God interceding on behalf of Adam and Eve. An animal was sacrificed — blood was spilled in order to cover the guilt and shame of Adam and Eve because of their sin. And this is a foreshadow of Jesus — the Lamb of God — who would be slain for the sins of the world.
Later in Genesis — there’s an interesting story from Abraham’s life. A time when he intercedes on behalf of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. This is what we read in Genesis chapter 18.
““Should I hide my plan from Abraham?” the Lord asked. 18 “For Abraham will certainly become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him. 19 I have singled him out so that he will direct his sons and their families to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just. Then I will do for Abraham all that I have promised.” 20 So the Lord told Abraham, “I have heard a great outcry from Sodom and Gomorrah, because their sin is so flagrant. 21 I am going down to see if their actions are as wicked as I have heard. If not, I want to know.” 22 The other men turned and headed toward Sodom, but the Lord remained with Abraham. 23 Abraham approached him and said, “Will you sweep away both the righteous and the wicked? 24 Suppose you find fifty righteous people living there in the city—will you still sweep it away and not spare it for their sakes? 25 Surely you wouldn’t do such a thing, destroying the righteous along with the wicked. Why, you would be treating the righteous and the wicked exactly the same! Surely you wouldn’t do that! Should not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?” 26 And the Lord replied, “If I find fifty righteous people in Sodom, I will spare the entire city for their sake.” 27 Then Abraham spoke again. “Since I have begun, let me speak further to my Lord, even though I am but dust and ashes. 28 Suppose there are only forty-five righteous people rather than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?” And the Lord said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five righteous people there.” 29 Then Abraham pressed his request further. “Suppose there are only forty?” And the Lord replied, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the forty.” 30 “Please don’t be angry, my Lord,” Abraham pleaded. “Let me speak—suppose only thirty righteous people are found?” And the Lord replied, “I will not destroy it if I find thirty.” 31 Then Abraham said, “Since I have dared to speak to the Lord, let me continue—suppose there are only twenty?” And the Lord replied, “Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the twenty.” 32 Finally, Abraham said, “Lord, please don’t be angry with me if I speak one more time. Suppose only ten are found there?” And the Lord replied, “Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten.” 33 When the Lord had finished his conversation with Abraham, he went on his way, and Abraham returned to his tent.” (Genesis 18:17-33 NLT)
Here’s what’s going on. The Lord shares his plan with Abraham — to destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah — and Abraham does this bargaining kind of deal with God as he intercedes on behalf of the cities. And why is he interceding? Well — we know of at least one reason — his nephew Lot is living in the area. But think of the scenario. The people in the cities have no idea that God’s just judgement is about to come upon them. They have no idea that Abraham is interceding on their behalf. Lot isn’t even aware.
Later in Genesis — when Jacob’s sons plot to kill their brother Joseph — Reuben intercedes on Joseph’s behalf. “But when Reuben heard of their scheme, he came to Joseph’s rescue. “Let’s not kill him,” he said. 22 “Why should we shed any blood? Let’s just throw him into this empty cistern here in the wilderness. Then he’ll die without our laying a hand on him.” Reuben was secretly planning to rescue Joseph and return him to his father.” (Genesis 37:21-22 NLT)
Joseph has no idea that his brothers are out to kill him — he has no idea that Reuben saved his life by getting him thrown into the cistern. Yet Joseph was in need of an intercessor — someone to stand up for him against those who wanted to condemn him. And this is what Reuben did on Joseph’s behalf.
We don’t have time to look at Moses interceding on behalf of the Israelites when God was ready to wipe them out due to them worshipping the golden calf.
We don’t have time to look at Samuel interceding on behalf of the Israelites when they rejected God as their King and demanded an earthly king. The people needed someone to intercede on their behalf — due to their rebellion and sin against God — and Samuel was their intercessor.
There are many biblical examples of intercession that we don’t have time to look at, but I do want us to look at a few examples of Christ’s intercession on behalf of others — including us — and I hope this will give sweet assurance to your souls.
While having a discussion with Peter — about how Peter will betray him three times before a rooster crows in the morning — Jesus tells Peter these words. ““Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. 32 But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.”” (Luke 22:31-32 NLT)
Though Peter didn’t appreciate Jesus’ words at the time — “Jesus, I won’t betray you. I’ll die for you!” Though he didn’t appreciate Jesus’ words in the moment, one can only imagine how often Peter reflected back on the fact that — if it wasn’t for Jesus’ intercession on his behalf — he would’ve been taken out by the devil. I wonder how many of us can look back on our lives and see those moments when — if it weren’t for Jesus’ intercession on our behalf — we would’ve been taken out by the devil.
And though that’s a remarkable example of Christ’s intercession — more astonishing is that he intercedes on behalf of those murdering him — while he hung on the cross. “Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”” (Luke 23:34a NLT)
Here we see Jesus interceding on behalf of his executioners — asking his Father to forgive them — while in great pain and nearing death. Again — I wonder — how thankful we are for the many times Jesus has said to his Father, “Dad, forgive him — forgive her — they just don’t know what they’re doing right now.”
And Jesus intercedes for his followers today. Just before being betrayed by Judas — Jesus intercedes for us. In John 17, he prays, ““I am praying not only for these disciples (meaning those present with him at the time) but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. 21 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one — as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. 22 “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. 23 I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.” (John 17:20-23 NLT)
Here we see Jesus interceding on our behalf — praying that we would be one — perfectly unified — just as he and his Father are perfectly unified. And why does Jesus pray for our unity? So the world would know that he was sent by his Father. He prays for our unity because — through it — our unity — the world will know of God’s love.
And listen to these words of assurance offered to us — in the book of Hebrews. “But because Jesus lives forever, his priesthood lasts forever. 25 Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.” (Hebrews 7:24-25 NLT)
As one Bible scholar has noted, “The complete salvation of his (Jesus’) people turns on the [effectiveness] of his [never-ending] intercession, and the [effectiveness] of his [never-ending] intercession turns on the once-for-all sacrifice he has offered, and on his everlasting life.” (D.A. Carson, “Jesus Ever Lives Above, for You to intercede,” w/ Gavin Ortlund)
And — in our verse — which see that “Christ...is indeed interceding for us…” — which tells us that Christ’s intercession for us is presently happening. It’s a continuous work on his part. Though he said, “It is finished” on the cross — for the work needed to accomplish our salvation was complete — there is a work that Christ isn’t finished with yet. A work he’s still doing on our behalf. Interceding for us — praying for you.
So what does this mean for you — and for us — that Jesus is interceding for us? First, it means that we can be assured that Jesus will always forgive us of our sins. Why? Because he forgives us based on his death and resurrection.” (Ibid.) Did you know that there’s not a future sin you can commit — if you believe in Jesus — that his death on the cross on your behalf did not take care of? This is why he won’t stop praying on your behalf, “Father, forgive him — forgive her. I paid for this sin on the cross.” How about that for assurance?
But you may wonder, “Well won’t this give people permission to sin and sin and sin — because Josh — you’ve told them that their sins will always be forgiven?” Not at all. That’s not the response of someone who’s really grasped what it means that Jesus paid for their sins in full. To think, “Well if I’ll always be forgiven, why not sin as much as I can” is to demonstrate that living for sin — and not Christ — is the desire of your heart. And the only people who think “Let’s sin more and more and more because I’ll always be forgiven” are those who have not turned to Christ for the forgiveness of their sins.
Second — in the words of Robert Murray M’Cheyne — Jesus’ intercession means that “If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million enemies. Yet distance makes no difference. He is praying for me.”
What might you do if you really believed that Jesus is interceding for you? What might we do — as a church — if we really believed that Jesus is interceding for us as we’ve seen today?
At the very least — this assuring promise — that Christ is interceding for his people — should lead all of his people to be intercessors on behalf of others. Like Abraham and Reuben, Moses and Samuel — we’re to intercede on behalf of others.
We heed Paul’s words of “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.” (1 Timothy 2:1 NLT
Or Jesus’ words, “But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! 45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:44-45a NLT)
As Oswald Chambers has said, “Jesus Christ carries on intercession for us in Heaven; the Holy Ghost carries on intercession in us on earth; and we the saints are to carry on intercession for all men.”
Those for whom Christ is interceding — become intercessors on behalf of others — on behalf of all people — even their enemies. And they do so — with great assurance — knowing that Jesus — the one who is interceding on their behalf — will not stop doing so until the day of his return. Be assured — Christ is interceding for you — he’s praying for you now and always. Let’s pray.
Heavenly Father, once again you’ve given us sweet, soul lifting news to our ears. Your Son — who you sent to take away the condemnation we deserve for our sins — is now praying for us. And you hear his prayers for us. And you answer his prayers. What comfort. What assurance. What hope.
Jesus, thank you for praying on our behalf. So often we don’t even think about you praying for us. But — today — we want to thank you for your prayers. For your prayers when the devil wanted to take us out. For your prayers asking your Father to forgive us. For your prayers that we would be unified. And we thank you that you won’t ever stop praying on our behalf. Again, what assurance you’ve given to us.
And Spirit of God, help us to live in awareness of both yours and Jesus’ prayers on our behalf. An awareness that increases our thankfulness for all that you are doing for us. An awareness that inspires us to intercede on behalf of others. An awareness that helps us to live in such a way that the world can’t help but see your great love for them. And we pray all of these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.
May you go with the sweet assurance of knowing that Jesus is interceding for you. Amen.
God loves you. I love you. You are sent.
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