Salvation Is Irrevocable, Part 2

Your salvation is so intrinsically and intimately tied to the work of Jesus Christ is to be inseparable. He died your death. Heroes that you might walk in newness of life, and he was exalted in the glory of heaven where he will be the firstborn among many other who will be made like God is our focus from morning until night and everything seems to go well but on bad days. We keep God in the background and then feel battered by sin it days and if you're ever going to question the legitimacy of your salvation. Undoubtedly, it's on one of those bad days. But while what we think and feel about salvation may change salvation itself does not. It's irrevocable. That's the theme of John MacArthur's current study on grace to you. It's titled the grip of God. So open your Bible to the book of Romans and here's John well we have the opportunity to turn to the word of God. Romans chapter 8 and were coming to the end of this wonderful chapter. What a glorious time. It's been in studying life in the spirit security in the spirit all the great truths of this monumental section of Scripture we find ourselves in the closing part of the chapter versus 31 to the end which is sort of a doxology that ends the chapter, but at the same time also.

It's a a fitting summation of Paul's argument for the security of the believer. One hymn writer had it right. This is what he wrote in your familiar. I'm sure with this him many of you are. How firm a foundation, the saints of the Lord is laid for your faith in his excellent word. What more can he say than to you he has said, you who to Jesus for refuge have fled.

Fear not, I am with you all. Be not dismayed, for I am thy God and will still give thee aid. I'll strengthen the healthy and costly to stand upheld by my righteous omnipotent hand went through the deep waters I called you to go the rivers of grief shall not be overflow for I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless and sanctify to the thy deepest distress went through fiery trials, thy pathway shall lie. My grace all sufficient shall be thy supply.

The flame shall not hurt the I only designed thy dross to consume and I gold to refine the soul that on Jesus has a lien for repose.

I will not I cannot dessert to its foes that soul though all hell should endeavor to shake.

You never know never know. Never forsake that of course is a him based upon the great truth of Romans eight no never forsake that is the promise of God. Those who are in Christ.

There will never be any condemnation because he anticipates at this point that somebody is going to throw up some objections. Remember we talked about this, somebody is going to say well that's all fine, but what about this possibility and what about that possibility first possibility. There are some persons who can take away our salvation. Second possibility. There are some circumstances which can take away our salvation. Those are hypothetical and Paul knows that they might be raised by someone so he wants to eliminate them altogether. So in verses 31 to 34. He deals with whether or not any person can take away our salvation and in verses 35 to 39. He deals with whether any circumstance can take away our eternal salvation. He does anticipate and well so that there will come people who in spite of this massive argument from verses 1 to 30 will conclude you can lose your salvation.

Somebody can take it away or some circumstance can take it away and rightly did he judge that because even today in the church of Jesus Christ. There are many who teach that you can lose your salvation through the influence of some person or some circumstance some event, so Paul is arguing wisely against the possible arguments against eternal security. He assumes the objections and well he might because indeed they have, now that takes us to verse 31 what then shall we say to these things. What's going to be our response to this.

What is the appropriate response. How do we react to this. Paul's answer is this verse 31. If God is for us, who is against us.

Bottom line, if God is for us who can successfully defeat him. If he is for us and he is making everything in our lives work together for good and he is taking us from being foreknown and predestined to be glorified. If that's his plan and he's God who possibly could overturn that plant.

Answer no one, no one, if God is for us and by the way. Romans 321 to Romans 830 indicates God is for us. Chapter 345678 are all about God being for us.

If God is for us who could be against this actually the Greeks as since God is for us who can successfully be against us because of first John four for greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. God is greater than all the second hypothetical possibility as well. Okay no created person could lead us away from our salvation.

What about God himself could God himself. He's a person of God himself become so disgusted with us.

Could we reach such a point of disobedience in protracted or prolonged or repeated sin that God himself takes away our salvation.

Verse 32 answers that remember this, he who this is one of those typical Jewish arguments from the greater to the lesser.

He who did not spare his own son, but delivered him up for us all. That's talking about God giving Christ to die on the cross to purchase our salvation, how will he not also with him. That is with Christ, freely give us all things. The argument is simply this very simple argument. God delivered up his own son Jesus to die on the cross to provide our salvation. That was the greatest gift the greatest sacrifice. The greatest act, and God will do all the lesser acts necessary to keep us safe.

That's the argument if you gave the greatest gift to save us. He'll do less to keep us the greatest act was God giving Christ and he will do whatever else is necessary to sustain us in Christ, whatever would be done by God to hold onto us would be something less than the greatest act which was the giving of his own son to die on our behalf and if you would do that to save us when we were enemies, what will he do to keep us while we are his children and his friends while somebody says okay God is going to do it and people are going to do it. What about one other personality.

What about Satan.

Satan is a person. Satan is a created personality, created by God.

When God created all the angels who later fell in with him. 1/3 of the angels and became known as demons. What about Satan.

He's a very powerful being. Obviously, he was a supreme Angel in the hierarchy of angelic hosts a very powerful and influential angel. Is it not possible that Satan can rest us, as it were out of the arms of Christ.

If we fall into patterns of sin and end are guilty, isn't it possible that Satan can can work to affect the loss of our salvation is a will. How would it work well. We sin we sin we sin and Satan keeps the record of our sin and as he likes to do goes before the throne of God and accuses us is not what he does is known as the accuser of the brother and his and who Nitin days before the throne of God accusing believers. He is relentless. Folks, he is absolutely relentless. He is before the throne of God.

Revelation 1210 accusing believers before God day and night all the time all the time not remember this, Satan is not omnipresent. Those people who think Satan is everywhere in the world at the same time a wrong. He's in heaven. Day and night accusing the brethren. It's much more important to him. Listen, it's much more important to Satan to get God to release his grip on us. That's the only hope he has to get us back then. It is for him to work on us.

The idea that Satan is running around working on you personally. It may be that there are times when Satan deals with a specific human being. I wouldn't say that's not the case because we know in the case of Peter Jesus said to him, why is Satan filled your heart.

A lot of the Holy Spirit right so for his own purposes. There may be times when Satan is engaged and actually involved in the life of an individual but for the most part he has his minions concocting lies to confuse people, and damn their souls and keep them from coming to the true gospel and he works on believers simply by concocting a wicked world system that comes tempting to them through the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life when one of his major enterprises relentlessly is to go before the throne of God with a litany of our iniquities and tell God to let us go because were not worthy to be held by him probably uses some of the things that he did with Job telling God the only reason Job's faithful use because you bless them. They're not worthy of you. He's not worthy of you know your people are worthy of you look at them. They sin, they only are true to you because of all the blessings you give them goes to heaven to lay all of his accusations against us.

Verse 33 answers that who will bring a charge against God's elect what I just told you who tries who is Satan's going to be successful at it.

Verse 34 who is the one who condemns well it could be Satan. He lays a charge and Colletta literally to bring a legal charge against somebody. It's a long-term it's a courtroom term.

It's a it's a legal term. Satan literally goes before God with a list of accusations to ask God to condemn us personality primarily in view here. Satan, if God won't cause us to be lost in other people can't cause us to be lost can Satan cause us to be lost. Could he go successfully before God and get God to turn his back on us. Listen to Zachariah the great prophet Zechariah chapter 3 verses 1 to 3. He showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord. Here is Joshua the high priest in this vision he standing before the angel Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him.

Here is this faithful high priest in this vision, standing before the angel of the Lord, and of course the angel of the Lord is the defender of Israel and the defender of the priests of Israel. This is one of the priest not to be confused with Joshua, who led the children of Israel, but this is Joshua the high priest and there is Satan right there, right in the presence of the angel of the Lord, then he is accusing Joshua and the Lord said to Satan, the Lord rebuke you Satan, the Lord rebuke you Satan can we be legitimately accused and condemned. Can we be damned. Will God hear such accusations back to verse 33 here's the answer.

Who will bring a charge against God's elect.

God is the one who justifies literally shall God the justifying one is God going to listen to such an accusation who has justified us.

Can God listen carefully. Can God at the same time condemn us and justify us if he has declared us righteous. Kenny, at the same time condemn us if he has made us righteous in Christ. If he is granted us the righteousness of Christ. Kenny, at the same time hold us guilty answer no, you did it would be to negate the work of Christ would it would be to depreciate the work of Christ. You see, the reason that we can stand before God is not because we are righteous, accusing us of sin. It is not going to get it done. Satan may try to do that he does try to do that sucking to get it done because our salvation is not predicated on our righteousness is its predicated on the righteousness of Christ imputed to us on the cross, Jesus bore all of our sins took the full wrath of God.

He bore our sins in his own body on the cross, Peter says he was made sin for us, Paul says God poured out all the fury of his wrath against Jesus Christ as our substitute. Put all our sins on Christ and then took the righteous life of Christ and covered us with imputed to us what we said before, God treated Jesus as if you committed all our sins so we can treat us as if we only live Jesus perfect life doesn't do any good for Satan to go before God, because in accuse us of sin, because all that sin has been paid for and we are not justified were not righteous were not holy before God because of our own righteousness, but because of the righteousness of Christ imputed to us. So, if God were to take away that righteousness. Then he would be demeaning the work of Christ, which is imputed to us. You don't have to hang on your own sound salvation by your own righteousness. And that's the fallacy of the kind of theology that says you can lose your salvation. Its predicated on the idea that something you do creates salvation and nothing you do can save you. And nothing you do or don't do can keep you saved is purely the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ and look at it again. Verse 33 who will bring a charge against God's elect. There it is again only for no he predestined, whom he predestined he called, whom he called he justified, whom he justified he glorified. There is that theme of election again. We were chosen before the foundation of the world to be granted the righteousness of Jesus Christ.

It is imputed to us at the point of faith. Those then who stand at the bar of God are not outlaws there. God's elect. What great safety there is an election.

John 1028 where hid with Christ in God were placed in the father's hand. Who's going to take us out of the father's hand. God will never condemn us, we are his elect.

He will never condemn us. He is imputed to us the righteousness of Jesus Christ.

If you were ever to turn against us and take away our salvation under the accusations of Satan. It would mean the Jesus Christ righteousness was inadequate.

That's impossible because he was wholly harmless and undefiled, separate from sinners, and it was his perfect righteousness imputed to us. I will take that even further is only perhaps one other possibility.

If no human being can remove us from our salvation. If God can't remove us from our salvation. If Satan can't remove us from our salvation.

What about Christ. After all, if he's the lawyer for our defense and he's our advocate.

What if he turns against us was Christ. You brought a sin.

It can it be Christ who sends us back out. God can't justify us and condemn us at the same time and neither can Christ listen. Neither can Christ intercede for us and condemn us at the same time. Verse 34 who is the one who condemns Christ Jesus is he who died, yes rather who was raised who was at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. You think the one who died and rose and was exalted and is interceding for us is going to all of a sudden negate all of that reversed the whole thing and condemn us. The thought is ludicrous. He who is our Savior, who is our resurrection life, who is our exalted king and his who is are mediating high priest cannot be our condemn her.

Paul demonstrates that Christ provides a fourfold protection. This is a great, great verse, verse 34. It is a summation of the of the work of Christ.

Let's take those for full protections. Christ Jesus is he who died you think Christ died for you would condemn you. The point is that when Christ died, he paid the penalty for your sin he received your condemnation, certainly not his own because he was without sin.

He died on the cross he was being punished for your sin and my sin. He did all that was necessary to satisfy the justice of God, he took the full force of judgment.

He died on the cross for you and for me, his death, listen is the only condemnation we will ever know, and it's something we only know praise God and own experiences you think he would undo his cross you think when he went into the garden and said father if there's any way possible, let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless, thy will be done. And with that resolution went directly to the cross to bear our sins.

You think he would reverse that whole horrible sin bearing that entirely undeserved crushing judgment of God that made them cry out my God my God why have you forsaken me you think you would do all of that for sinners and then undo that on the basis of what not only did he die for us.

Secondly, verse 34 says yes.

Rather, who was raised, or literally, what is more, that he was raised again. Christ death blotted out our sins and this was affirmed by his resurrection. The fact that God raised him from the dead was indicating that God was satisfied with the sacrifice God was saying.

That's enough, the sacrifices paid and he took them right out of the grave because he had paid sufficiently. The penalty for our sins and God therefore raised him from the dead as affirmation that the penalty had been paid. Romans 425 he was delivered up to the cross.

Because of our transgressions, and was raised because he had accomplished our justification by the way their myriad of scriptures in the book of Romans and Ephesians, Colossians, in Hebrews that point to the importance of his resurrection.

The resurrection proves that he accomplished sin bearing when God raised Jesus from the dead he showed he was satisfied with his sacrifice. Every demand of his holy law was met and we were justified his resurrection guarantees that we will be raised to eternal glory would Jesus undo his death would Jesus undo his resurrection. Thirdly, in verse 34. Paul tells us he is at the right hand of God is at the right hand of God is referring to his coronation to his ascension to his exaltation.

It wasn't that God was mildly satisfied when he raised him from the dead. It was that God was completely satisfied so much was he satisfied that he lifted up Jesus Christ and set them on his own throne at his right hand's an echo of this is an echo of the ancient text of Psalm 110 one the Lord said to my Lord, sit thou at my right hand Hebrews depicts Jesus Christ the exalted high priest sitting at their the right hand of the throne of God and there is the place of exaltation.

Hebrews 13 after he had made purification of sins on the cross he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high and he had a Keck inherited a more excellent name than angels.

You know what the excellent name is Lord sovereign Hebrews emphasizes this not only in chapter 1 verse three but throughout the book of Hebrews chapter 2 verse nine he was for a little while made lower than the angels, but then after that he was exalted just temporarily was he made lower than the angels, then because of the suffering of death, he was lifted up and crowned with glory and honor because by the grace of God. He had tasted death for everyone. Hebrews 7 says it Hebrews 8 Hebrews 10 Hebrews 12 even once in chapter 4 in verse 14 with the father undo that honor with the sun undo that place of Majesty's absolutely unthinkable. Absolutely inconceivable that the Lord Jesus Christ would accomplished all of that would undo it that his death would become meaningless is resurrection meaningless is exaltation meaningless. You see folks your salvation and my salvation is so intrinsically and intimately tied to the work of Jesus Christ is to be inseparable. He died your death. Heroes that you might walk in newness of life, and he was exalted in the glory of heaven where he will be the firstborn among many brethren who will be made like unto him in eternal glory we are crucified with Christ we are risen with Christ, and we are exalted with Christ, we have died with him. We are risen with him and we would be lifted to sit on his throne with him. He finished his work and someday we will be exalted and be made like him in glory.

The new sanctuary for us is heaven and were headed there for eternal glory in the fourth component and really where his argument is going here who also intercedes for us, Christ died.

He rose, he ascended and he intercedes, there is a summation of Christ's great work. This is the high point he keeps on making intercession for us. This is just the marvelous, marvelous reality. Satan is there night and day accusing the brother and but we have an indefatigable and indefeasible lawyer for our defense. The Lord Jesus Christ. This is grace to you with John MacArthur. Thanks for being with us. Our current study is showing you why all believers are safely in the grip of God. John throughout the study.

You've talked about how suffering drives us to God's word and of course being strengthened and led by God's word means you have to understand it and that gets to the reason grace to you exists, we are here to help people dig into biblical truth and to process it and to apply it to their lives and in keeping with that purpose were introducing actually were reintroducing a line of study tools that for decades have helped God's people understand the Bible in a deep way yeah you referring to the study guides that we developed. Burning them about 25 years ago and there like treasures whenever I meet somebody who's got study guys there like gold or hang onto them.

You know, we do verse by verse teaching obviously and that shows up in the commentaries that are written in the New Testament, but the study guides were built around subjects the way you approach the Bible is really twofold.

You can approach the Scripture that a book start with the beginning of the book and go through book verse by verse, which is what we do or you can approach the Bible on the subject.

Let's say you're looking for the subject of God's omniscience or God's omnipresence are God's omnipotence, and you can go to the Bible and find everything the Bible says about that subject. So will this study guides are built around those kinds of themes they are expositions of scriptures, but expositions of scriptures related to those themes so we produced about 150 of them on key themes in the Bible we are going to resurrect that material because it's so vital and because it specifically relates to subjects that people need to know and need to understand the new series.

However, the new addition of the study guys going to be called verse by verse with John MacArthur and it's verse by verse looking at a specific subject.

These are going to be a tremendous benefit as they roll out and were going to start with one titled spiritual boot camp. It covers for subjects that basic level of Christian life, how to study Scripture how to pray how to witness the gospel how to function in the church spiritual boot camp is the good news this first new copy of verse by verse with John MacArthur, titled spiritual boot camp we are going to be able to send it to anyone who is never contacted us before as a free gift.

Okay, it's our introductory gift to you the spiritual boot camp series the audio series will air on the radio late next month so request your verse by verse study guide on spiritual boot camp and you can follow along when you listen to the series. Yes, call us or go to our website and we will send you the spiritual boot camp study guide for free. If you've never contacted us before get in touch today. Our toll-free number 855 grace or go to GT Y.org as John mentioned the spiritual boot camp study guide shows you what Scripture says about Bible reading, prayer evangelism and serving the church. It will answer questions might have about those subjects and show you how those spiritual disciplines can transform your life again. The spiritual boot camp study guide is our gift to you. If you've never contacted us before to request a copy. Call 855 grace or go to GT Y.org.

Also, we would simply love to hear from you if something John said today has encouraged you. If today's lesson help you understand the permanence of your salvation. Will you let us know. Send your letter to Grace to you. Box 4000 panorama city, CA 91412 or you can email us@lettersgty.org. What's more, that's letters@gty.org now for John MacArthur and the entire staff. I'm Phil Johnson. Thanks for tuning in today and be here tomorrow when John continues his study from the book of Romans: grip of God. It's another half hour of unleashing God's true one verse at a time on grace to you