TOPIC:‌“The Conquering Christian”

                  by Rev. Dr. Reg Dunlap

 

TEXT:‌Romans 8:28-39

 

“Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us” (Romans 8:37)

 

‌Without doubt the Apostle Paul was the greatest missionary in the history of the Christian Church. That's why I like to preach upon the man, his message and his ministry. He walked more miles, witnessed to more people, wrote more Epistles, and worked more diligently than all other Christians of the first century. He turned down being a professor at the University of Tarsus to become a missionary of the cross sharing the greatest piece of news ever to fall on human ear.

 

‌Adventuring upon unknown territory Paul went into towns, into synagogues, into cities preaching a message not only to the meaning of life, but also to the mastery of living. As he traveled across the Roman Empire on three missionary journeys Paul preached a message of victory in Christ. He was totally persuaded that no matter whatever he was called upon to go through, victory belonged to him.

 

‌I ask: Have you experienced that kind of victory in your life? Victory no matter what the circumstances you may be going through at this very moment. If not, you can. Such victory can be your daily experience. Let us trace out together the victory that Paul is writing about here in the text.

 

I.

 

‌Think, to begin with, of the MAGNITUDE of our victory. In verse 37 we read: “Nay, in all these things…” Now in thinking of the magnitude of our victory I want you to note two important truths.

 

‌First of all, there is something here we can't DENY. Notice again Paul's words in verse 37: “Nay, in all these things.” Paul makes a list in verse 35 of seven things we as believers might experience in this world as we pass through it. We can't deny them: “What shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” Phillips is excellent here: “Can anything separate us from the love of Christ? Can trouble, pain or persecution? Can lack of clothes and food, danger to life and limb, the threat of force of arms?”

 

‌So here are the things in this world that we can't deny - pain, trouble, sickness, persecution, famine, starvation, lack of clothes, war and even death itself as Paul mentions in verse 38. Even Jesus stated: “In the world ye shall have tribulation” (John 16:33). The NIV renders it: "In this . . .