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Every so often, the evangelical world is rocked by news of some high-profile leader walking away from the Faith. This past month, it was Joshua Harris (no relation), who first achieved notoriety with his best-selling 1997 book I Kissed Dating Goodbye – published when he was just 19 years of age. It was followed by another best seller, Boy Meets Girl: Say Hello to Courtship. Someone got the idea that being a best-selling author with a huge following qualified Joshua Harris to pastor a church. From 2004 to 2015 he was lead pastor of Covenant Life Church, a mega church in Maryland.
A few weeks ago, Harris announced on Instagram that he and his wife were separating, and then quickly went back on to clarify that they were, in fact, divorcing. Shortly after that, again on Instagram, he announced that he was disavowing Christianity altogether, admitting that what he now believes is incompatible with Yeshua’s teaching. What it is he now believes he hasn’t let on, but he has made it clear he no longer considers himself a Christian. Recently Harris made an impassioned and public apology to the LGBT community for his former views, and participated prominently in a Gay-pride parade.
Now, aside from the deep disappointment and sorrow that such news evokes, what has happened to Joshua Harris (and every other high-profile celebrity-pastor-turned-apostate) is a reminder to us not to imitate the ancient Corinthian error of personality cults. Our loyalty must be firmly placed in Messiah Yeshua, and not in men, no matter how charismatic their personality or exceptional their teaching ability. Let there be no more of this “I am of MacArthur,” or “I am of Stanley,” or “I am of Bell,” or “I am of Hagin,” or “I am of Chan”. Enough, already!
Now, as it happens, this Shabbat falls on Tisha B’Av (the 9th day of the Jewish month of Av). Historically, Tisha B’Av has been regarded as an ominous day among Jewish people; and not without reason: both Temples were destroyed on this day, and other catastrophes for the Jews occurred on this day. Consequently, it is viewed with foreboding by some Jewish people. While we should certainly remember the Temple, and while it has historically been a day of fasting and mourning, we should look beyond circumstances to the One who holds the universe in His hands.
But what are we to think when those who once were followers, and even preachers, of Messiah Yeshua, walk away from the Faith? How do we process it, and how should we think about our own faith? Does this kind of situation make you feel afraid? How vulnerable are we to apostasy? How will you and I finish out our lives? Are we merely hanging on by a thread?
Not at all. In fact, we are in very good hands. This morning, I’d like us to have a fresh look at Romans, chapter eight. We’ll read verses 31 through 39, and then come back and take it a little at a time. My hope is that this morning’s study will greatly encourage you in the Faith.
Romans 8:31-39
What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all – how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Messiah Yeshua, who died – more than that, who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Messiah? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake, we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him 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 in Messiah Yeshua our Lord.
Okay, we can all go home now. I mean, wow – doesn’t that pretty much answer the question once and for all? Does God love you? Yes! How much? Enough that He was willing to sacrifice the One whom He loved supremely in order to rescue you. Are you secure in that love? Yes, because nothing and no one in all Creation can dissolve that bond. Now, let’s go back over this passage a little at a time, compare it with a few others, and really linger over it and take courage from it.
Verses 31-32
What, then, shall we say in response to this?
Naturally, the first question is: in response to what? The word‘this’ refers back to Rabbi Paul’s previous comments about the present suffering, hardship, and trials we go through now, which, in light of the eternal joy, the unimaginable glory that awaits those who faithfully follow Yeshua, should be regarded as nearly inconsequential. He goes on…
If God is for us, who can be against us?
This is, of course, a rhetorical question. At the Thursday evening Bible study (which far more of you should be taking advantage of, but I digress…) we are in the 40’s of the chapters of Isaiah, and the idea is repeated over and over, that there is no one to be compared to the Holy One of Israel. There is none who is His equal. The very idea of trying to compare anyone or anything to Him is laughable. So, if the eternal, all-powerful, all-wise and compassionate God is on your side, then you are quite secure.
To use the boxing expression, God is in your corner. To use the military expression, God has your six. Do you think for one minute I would send any of my three precious kids, whom I love, on a perilous rescue mission for someone I didn’t love? And this is the very idea in the next phrase:
He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all – how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?
Why God loves us at all, let alone to that extent, is beyond me, and it’s beyond you. It is grounded in the very nature of God Himself. He loves perfectly. His love isn’t dependent on reciprocity. He doesn’t need affirmation or validation. He is secure in Himself. Don’t try to fathom His love for you – just revel in the knowledge of it!
If God the Father has gone all out for us – given us Messiah Yeshua the Son – the very best, then naturally He’s inclined to do all kinds of other great things for us. And He has. Look around you; you have a great family here. But beyond the good things, the bigger point here is that God will be with you through thick and thin, in order to bring you safely to the goal of being forever with Him in His eternal Kingdom.
Verses 33-34
Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Messiah Yeshua, who died – more than that, who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
The one Person in all the universe who has the right to condemn you, instead sent His Son to take the punishment you deserved. He is not condemning you. Like that woman caught in adultery, and surrounded by accusers, and in all of it, the only One there who had the moral right to condemn her instead forgave her and sent her away in peace, with the simple admonition to turn from her sin.
That isn’t to say you won’t be accused. And that isn’t to say you won’t deserve some of that accusation. You and I do sin and miss the mark. Satan, being the adversary, will seize upon any weakness of ours, and entice us to sin. Then, because he is also the devil, the Accuser, will point a finger at us and attempt to condemn us. Just one little problem: once you confess that sin to God in the name of Yeshua, and put it under His blood – the atonement, the evil one has no basis for condemnation.
Likewise, people will try to condemn you – sometimes falsely, and without any justification. But Rabbi Paul tells us that God is the One who justifies, and that the risen Messiah Himself, standing victoriously at the right hand of God, is at this very hour acting as our Advocate, our Heavenly Defense Attorney, interceding for us. A better Jewish lawyer you couldn’t ask for!
Verses 35-37
Who shall separate us from the love of Messiah? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “FOR YOUR SAKE, WE FACE DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE ARE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
Paul asks another rhetorical question: Who shall separate us from the love of Messiah? Rhetorical, because as far as the inspired writer is concerned, there is nothing that can separate us from Messiah’s love; and we shouldn’t interpret our momentarily difficult circumstances as our having been forsaken.
But when you consider what he himself had to endure on account of his loyalty to Yeshua (and here he quotes Psalm 44:22), and when you consider the hardship, persecution and danger our brothers and sisters in Messiah in Islamic and Communist countries are having to endure at this very hour, we here in the West have nothing whatsoever to complain about. “Trouble” to us is when our microwave oven breaks down, or coming downstairs this morning to discover that one of the dogs peed on the floor – again. And I’ll admit to you, I was really upset. No, I didn’t yell at the dogs, but I made a bigger deal of it than I really needed to. And so far I haven’t faced death for being a Jew who loves Jesus. “Hardship” for us today amounts to little more than someone insulting us for our faith. But the Scriptures promise that much more difficult days are ahead for Yeshua’s people, leading up to His triumphant return.
But not only will our adverse circumstances not separate us from Messiah’s love, but Paul says that through God’s work in our lives, we are more than conquerors! Is there something even better than conquest? Yes, there is. After all, as satisfying as victory is, conquest happens in a moment; but our future with Adonai is for all eternity!
Verses 38-39
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 in Messiah Yeshua our Lord.
Rabbi Paul is convinced of this, and he was inspired by the Holy Spirit as he wrote. Death can’t separate us from the love of God that is in Messiah Yeshua. Neither can anything in this life. Neither can angelic or demonic beings (which includes Satan). Neither can the fabric of time or space itself. You can be certain that nothing in all the universe can separate you from His love.
If all you had to reinforce your faith in Messiah was Romans 8:31-39, still, dayenu – it would be enough. This is a very powerful, biblical promise to you.
But wait, there’s more… If you act now, we’ll throw in at no additional cost, the following passages that reinforce this truth:
John 10:27-30
“My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
2 Corinthians 1:21-22
Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Messiah. He anointed us, set His seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
Philippians 1:6
For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you, will carry it on to completion until the day of Messiah Yeshua.
1 John 5:4
For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.
And let me remind you that the One who faithfully and powerfully watches over Israel is watching over you. If you are joined to Messiah Yeshua, you are in a covenant relationship with the Creator of the universe. He has a highly vested interest in your ultimate well-being, and has given you everything you need to continue in the Faith.
Those who, like Joshua Harris (or Rob Bell or Frank Schaeffer), turn from Yeshua and fall away (apostasize) rarely do so suddenly and out of the blue. And let’s not give up on the hope, and let’s pray, that Joshua and others like him will return home to the Father while they still live. But understand this, that disaffection from the Faith almost always comes over time through a series of smaller but unwise decisions. So, make wise decisions about how you arrange your life – the kinds of decisions that will strengthen your faith, instead of diminishing it. Think about how you spend your time. Think about what you take into your soul through your eyes and ears. Be smart about this. Think about spending more time in Scripture than on Netflix. More time in prayer than in idle chatter. More time in serving; less in the pursuit of trivialities.
But if you were thinking that persevering in the faith was all about you holding on for dear life, you’ve got it backwards. God is holding you – and that’s a very secure place. Ours is an enduring faith, because the One in whom we believe is mighty; and nothing in all the universe can diminish His love for you.
The eternal God is a dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms (Deuteronomy 33:27).