Hyper Nike

June 26, 2016 (013110)   NOTES NOT EDITED.
Text:  Romans 8:26, 28, 31-39

Title: Hyper Nike

SIS:  When we cross the bridge of faith we become “more than conquerors.”

            Some of the most spectacular structures man has ever created are bridges.  One only needs to view the fog-encased Golden Gate Bridge spanning the opening of the great San Francisco Bay to prove my point.  It is a spectacular sight.  Though not the tallest, or the longest bridge in the world it is perhaps the one of the most famous. 

            The Golden Gate (which is actually orange) bridge [SLIDE] is suspended on two great cables consisting of over 80,000 miles of steel wire.  That’s enough to circle the equator of the world three times.  There was enough concrete poured to anchor the towers into the choppy waters of the San Francisco Bay to pave a five-feet wide sidewalk from New York to San Francisco!

            As fantastic as that is, the Golden Gate is small compared to the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge in Japan [SLIDE].  This is the longest suspension bridge in the world.  It stretches almost 3000 feet further than the Golden Gate Bridge to connect the city of Kobe with Awaji-shima Island across the Akashi Strait.  The Akashi Kaikyo Bridge isn't just long -- it's also extremely tall. Its two towers, at 928 feet, soar higher than any other bridge towers in the world.

            Of course, my favorite bridge in all the world is the New River Gorge Bridge [SLIDE] spanning the breathtaking New River Gorge in Southern West Virginia.  Before the bridge was built it took about 40 minutes detour to cross the New River Gorge.  Now, it takes about a minute.

Bridges are fascinating marvels of human ingenuity. 

Bridges serve a very simple purpose: they connect two places that were not connected before.  That’s why a “bridge” perfectly illustrates the biblical concept of faith.  Through faith in Jesus Christ as the Lord of Life, God and man are “connected.”  The Word says:

           

8 For it is by grace you have been saved,
through faith (Eph 2:8)

God in His infinite mercy and abundant grace responds to one’s faith by providing salvation.  Saving faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ bridges the gap of sin that presently separates man from God – and will continue to separate man from God through eternity (if one fails to make the “faith connection in this life”).

A metaphor is a comparison between two objects or ideas that share common traits.  I’d like to show you this morning how “faith in Jesus Christ” is a bridge that connects a person in this world with the God of eternity in what we call, salvation.  This “grace bridge of faith” is the ONLY way that provides for present victory and eternal bliss.  It is faith, and “faith alone” that makes us what Paul calls, “more than conquerors” or “hyper nikes” as we will see later.  There is nothing else long enough, strong enough, or high enough to make the eternal connection between God and man across the impassable gorge of sin but “saving faith.”

Let’s read together Paul’s description of the kind of faith that makes us “More than Conquerors.”  Romans 8:26, 28, 31-39

26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.

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28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,who have been called according to his purpose.

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31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? 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, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died-more than that, who was raised to life-is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered 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 convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Here’s four reasons why faith in Jesus Christ is the only thing that can bridge the gap of sin that separates man from God:

1.  Saving Faith is LONG enough (v.39)

[nothing ] in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God  that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

A bridge that is not long enough simply is not good enough. It is a waste of materials.  There is an old, much beloved hymn based upon The text in the Book of Acts when Paul is making a defense for the gospel before the non-believing King Agrippa I.  Paul’s argument for faith in Christ was almost strong enough to persuade this wicked King.  The King says: "You almost persuade me to become a Christian." Acts 26:28-29

The hymn writer put it like this:

“Almost persuaded” now to believe; 
“Almost persuaded” Christ to receive;

Seems now some soul to say, // “Go, Spirit, go Thy way,

Some more convenient day // On Thee I’ll call.”

“Almost persuaded,” harvest is past!

“Almost persuaded,” doom comes at last!

“Almost” cannot avail; // “Almost” is but to fail!

Sad, sad, that bitter wail— // “Almost,” but lost!

In faith, like bridge-building, almost comes up catastrophically short.

Have you ever been driving down a freeway and come across a new overpass being constructed?  The road rises high above the freeway but seemingly stops in mid-air.  The entrance is blocked off because traveling across such a structure would lead to certain death when one plunged off the unconnected end.

In faith, like bridge-building, almost just isn’t good enough. People try to build all kinds of bridges to cross the gorge of sin.  Some people build bridges of charity and good works – but good works are not good enough.  Some people try to build bridges of wise-sounding philosophy – but even the best philosophy is not good enough to connect man with God.  Some people try to build bridges of religion to span the gulf separating man from God.  Religion is a bridge that is simply NOT LONG ENOUGH to bridge the gap of sin that separates man from God. 

Good works won’t connect you with God.  Great philosophy and high-thinking won’t connect you with God.  The most sincere acts of religion will not connect a person with God.  Only the bridge of faith in Jesus Christ can do that.

The Bible says, (1 Tim 2:4-6) 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all men-the testimony given in its proper time.

The word “mediator” means “someone who stands between two others,” a bridge if you will between two parties.

Jesus Christ is God’s bridge to man – the only bridge long enough to span the gorge of sin and save a person for eternity.

God, Himself, provides the only bridge long enough to connect man with Him for all eternity – it is the bridge of “faith” in Jesus Christ.  He alone is long enough.

2.  Saving Faith in Jesus Christ is also  STRONG enough (26, 31)

26 in the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.

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31 What, then, shall we say in response to this?

If God is for us, who can be against us?

Let me turn verse 31 around a little to get at its meaning. “If God is for us, who can be against us” is our response to this.”

That begs the question, “what is the ‘this’ Paul is talking about.” Look at verse 18 which really opens the section we are studying. Paul says,

18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

Go down the page a few more passages and you will get an even clearer message of “who, or what comes against us”–or the “this.”  Paul says declares in  35-36:

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."

Trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger or sword. These are the foes that come against us as we try to live for Jesus in this world.  I’ll say more about living above life’s circumstances in a minute, but here I want to consider the question: “is faith in Jesus Christ strong enough to withstand the storms that come against our lives?”  The answer is “yes!”  Nothing can overcome us if we are firmly connected to God across the bridge of faith in Jesus Christ.  NOTHING.  NADA. ZIP. ZILCH!  The “this” is outlined in verses 1-30 under the general principle of “living the spiritual life.”  Living a life in Christ is living a life in victory, strong enough to withstand whatever may come one’s way.

Some people have the mistaken notion that a person becomes saved by the grace of God through simple faith in Jesus Christ but STAYS SAVED by right living or religious ritual.  Friend, that is a schizophrenic faith that ain’t never going to allow you to become “more than a conqueror in Christ.”

The bridge of faith in Jesus Christ is strong enough because it is a bridge built with the material of God’s promises in the Bible.

For example, listen to Phil. 1:6: being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Friend, there is no need to doubt your faith if your faith is in Jesus Christ. It is strong enough to stand against any storm that comes into your life.

Robert Louis Dabney was an outstanding Presbyterian theologian during the mid-19th century. He served as a minister, as a chaplain, as chief of staff to General Stonewall Jackson, and as a seminary professor. He also helped establish a seminary in Austin, Texas. As he aged, Dabney began to worry about his impending death, and he expressed his fears in a letter to a former student and theologian, C.R. Vaughan.  Dabney wondered about his ability to die honorably and to hold on to his Christian faith. Vaughan replied: "Dear friend, let me advise you now as you often have me. If you were about to cross a deep chasm, and there were a bridge over it, would you stand there looking in at yourself, wondering if you trusted enough in bridges to be able to cross? Or would you not rather go and examine the beams and timbers of the bridge and the quality of its construction, and determine whether the bridge was trustworthy, and then pass over it in confidence? Our faith is in Christ; spend yourself focusing on Him and His sufficiency, rather than on your own strengths or merits."

Faith is simply taking one more step and trusting the “beams and timbers” of God’s providence to protect you along life's path. We simply keep taking one more step trusting that God will provide the way.  Our trust – our faith – is in God, not our goodness or abilities. When we have faith, God always makes a way for us to become "more than conquerors." Faith is not trusting in our beliefs but believing the One that is trustworthy.  Don’t confuse the two.

The Bible says in Col 2:6, as ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: (KJV)

We receive salvation by grace through faith, so we must continue our walk by grace through faith.  The weakest bridge we can build in our lives is a bridge built on good works.  That will never get us to heaven.  Good works are not strong enough to “help us in our weakenesses.”  Only God can do that.

And, “If God is for us, who (or what)  can be against us!”  The answer is nothing or no one.

3.  The bridge of faith is not only long enough and strong enough, but it is HIGH ENOUGH (v 38, 39)

38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

In my studies this week I came across something that pricked my heart.  After describing the beauty and awe-inspiring elegance of the Golden Gate Bridge, a man sadly pointed out that the glorious bridge across the bay is also a final stop for many who commit suicide by jumping from the bridge.

If you stand on the Golden Gate Bridge and look down into the choppy waters of the San Francisco Bay 245 feet or so below, it can be a scary sight.  Death awaits anyone who plunges into the chilly, choppy, shark infested waters.

My point is this: the bridge of faith is designed by God to keep us ABOVE the choppy, chilly waters of sin.  Faith is a bridge that is not only long enough and strong enough, faith is a bridge HIGH enough to allow us to be “more than conquerors” through Christ Jesus.  God didn’t save us just to get “by” in the world, but to get “ahead.” 

Many, perhaps most people, in church seem to think that the goal of salvation is to meet some “minimum” standard in order to get into heaven.  Salvation is like a “fire insurance policy.”  No, no, no.  God didn’t save us to simply get us out of this world, but to get the world out of us—faith requires holiness, and holiness requires living “above” the sin-stained pattern of the world.

As I said a minute ago, we are saved by grace and we are kept by grace, but we still have much work to do to become the quality of disciple that God has purposed us to be.  In other words, if we truly have faith in Jesus Christ, we have the power to live above the sin of the world—to be “more” than just saved, but to be pursuing holiness.   We may not work to gain our salvation, and we certainly cannot work enough to keep our salvation, but if we truly have faith in Jesus Christ, we will certainly work to live high above the choppy waters of sin.

Think about what we read in verses 38-39.  Below our bridge of faith is the choppy of waters of death, demons, and worry about the future.  There are the heights of pride and the depths of depravity.  In short, all around us as we stand on the bridge of faith are opportunities to cave in to sin and worldliness.  Paul says that the bridge of faith is HIGH enough to keep us above a life of sin and the dangers of depraved living:

But, we can jump off the bridge of faith into the chilly waters of worldliness anytime we have a mind to do so.  If we are truly saved, we will not lose our salvation by participating in sin – but we will certainly lose our testimony and effectiveness as believers.  And . . . we may even lose our life and health.

In confronting the Church at Corinth about their worldliness and sin Paul said, That is why many of you are weak and sick, and some have even died.  (1Cor. 11:30, TLB)

As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are to exercise our faith by living high above the immorality of the world.  The Word tells us that we are to avoid even “the appearance of evil” (1Thess. 5:22).

In a word, the bridge of faith gives us the power to be “holy.” In regard to man, that doesn’t mean we are perfect, but that we live our lives in such a way that we “set aside” exclusively for service to God – that’s the meaning of holiness.

When Jesus commended the two servants in the Parable of the Talents who faithfully invested their talents in the Kingdom He called them, "good and faithful." (Mt. 25:21).  We can be "good," and we can be "faithful." Christians can live above the level of worldliness.

Without a doubt the bridge of faith in Jesus Christ spans the chilly, choppy danger-ridden sea of worldliness.  On the bridge we are high above the dangers of sin. But . . . if we leap from the faith that God has given us, death in one way or another is sure to be the result—death of the body, and/or death of our witness and testimony.

The bridge of faith in Jesus Christ is HIGH enough to keep us above the powers of sin.  By accepting Christ as our Lord and Savior we are released from the penalty.  By living the HIGH life of a disciplined life of holiness, we constantly exercise power over sin.  One day, when we are in heaven with Jesus we will even be released from the very presence of sin. 

But for now, we must travel on the Bridge of Faith that is HIGH enough to allow us to be “more than conquerors” in the battle against worldliness.

It is a lie of the Devil that says a saint in Christ cannot live a disciplined, holy life living far above and beyond the allure of the spirit of this world.  The Bible says,

“Be holy for I am holy” (1Pet 1:16) and,  . . . "Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.”  (2 Cor 7:1)

The Bridge of Faith is definitely HIGH enough to keep us far above and beyond any threat from death, demons, or doubts about the future.

There is a fourth characteristic of the bridge of faith that summarizes the other three.  Because the bridge of faith is LONG enough, STRONG enough, and HIGH enough, it is a Bridge that WORKS.  Look back at v 28

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,  who have been called according to his purpose.

Underline those words: “God works.”

Sanctification, that is the process of becoming holy, is not a matter of "good" works, but "God works."Oh, what a difference an “o” makes!

Everything else in life will fail you.  Family will fail you.  Friends will fail you. Finances will fail you.  But, faith in God will NEVER fail you.  It works the first time and every time for all time [REPEAT]

Everyone is looking for something that will give them assurance and confidence for the future.  People buy lottery tickets, look for hope in a bottle, try to make life work with drugs or illicit sex.  But, when crunch time comes, none of that works.  What DOES work every time for all time is: faith.  It is a bridge that connects you to the All-powerful, all-knowing, all-loving God of the universe.  If that doesn’t excite you and make you want to throw yourself at the feet of Jesus, then . . . I don’t know what else to tell you.

Becoming “more than a conqueror” only happens when we step out in faith and God through Jesus Christ.  He's the Bridge that connects man with God.

The words “more than conquerors” is a translation of a single word in the original Greek.  That word is “hupernikomen.”  Most of you are familiar with part of that word, “Nike.”  It is the brand name for a sporting goods company.  It is also the name of the Greek god of victory.  But, Paul has no patience with the petty gods of the pagan Greeks.  Paul supes-up the word Nike like they supe-up cars on “Pimp My Ride.”  He says, “We are not just victors – we are hyper-victors!  We are super-victors!  We are “more than conquerors” when we cross the bridge of faith in the Jesus Christ.

No truer words have been spoken in an action movie, perhaps, than those spoken by Indiana Jones as he takes his first step into what appears to be certain death.  He says, “It must be a leap of faith.”  That was the key to the bridge connecting Indiana Jones with the other side across an impassable gulf. 

[PLAY VIDEO CLIP of bridge appearing as he walked]

Friends, God has provided the bridge through Jesus Christ.  Now, it is a matter of exercising your faith.

Whether it is exercising your faith for the first time in salvation.  Or to follow in baptism . . . or, to become a minister of the gospel through this church . . . or, to overcome some difficult situation in your life.  The Bridge is available.  You can "cross that bridge of faith and become more than a conqueror."

Would you consider crossing that bridge today, by putting your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.