IT'S GREAT TO BE A LOSER!

It's great to be a loser! It sounds strange in this generation when the term "loser" is equated with the worst kind of failure, but in a real sense, every Christian is a born-again LOSER!

The Bible speaks of the great benefits and blessings one receives when he yields his life to Christ. That person who believes in Christ becomes a new person, a spiritual millionaire, to enjoy all the benefits that are recorded in God's Word. Not only does one receive new life and tremendous blessings, one also loses some things that are sapping the joy out of life.

Before one can begin to enjoy life, there are some things he must lose. There are some heavy burdens that need to be taken away, some spiritual tumors that need to be removed.

A longtime friend of mine recently lost twenty-five pounds, and he was elated. He no longer had to carry around that excess baggage of weight in his body. It was great for him to be a loser.

Imagine a man goes to a doctor with a severe pain in his side. The doctor examines him thoroughly and reports that he has a malignant tumor, and it could be fatal. He tells him of a new drug on the market that he'd like to try. The patient agrees, and a highly radioactive substance is injected into the tumor. He leaves to return home. Several weeks later, he returns to the doctor's office. Again, extensive tests are made, including x-rays and cat-scans. After what seems like an eternity, the doctor comes to patient and says: "It's gone! The tumor is gone!" What a wonderful loss. That life-robbing tumor is gone, now he can live!

When one turns to Christ, repenting of his sins, believing in and committing his life to Jesus Christ, the fatal tumor of sin is removed, it is gone. The excess weight and burden of guilt and sin are gone. It is truly great to be a loser.

In the eighth chapter of Romans, Paul mentions three things that disappear when one comes to Christ. One Loses These Things:

I. The Christian Loses Condemnation for Sin.

Romans 8:1. There is therefore now, no condemnation to those who are in Christ...

Condemnation means living under the sentence of death, awaiting with fear the final judgment.

1. Without Christ - Condemnation.

Jesus said in John 3:18 "He that believeth not is condemned already because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."

"Condemned already." Until one comes to Christ in faith believing on Him, that person is on "Spiritual Death Row". He is condemned already. Sentenced to die. "For the wages of sin is death." The only thing that separates the unbeliever from the judgment of hell is the waiting period, waiting for the body to stop its normal functions. Life for many is Spiritual Death Row.

#Imagine a man on death row. If you could visit him in his isolated cellblock, you might ask him: "What are your plans for the future?" He might reply: "All I've got to do is wait. I have no more appeals. I am just waiting to die."

The human race is under condemnation. "The wages of sin is death.." (Romans 6:23). When a person commits a crime, he takes the risk of "doing time" in prison. Every human has committed crimes against the Heavenly Father and deserves to spend an eternity in God's prison called hell. This is the reason a person has that nagging uneasiness when he thinks about death. One knows that out there beyond the grave, there is a judgment to face and a penalty to pay. This is the meaning of "condemnation. He is on spiritual death row, waiting for the body to die and the facing of the penalty for sin.

This is the spiritual condition of a person outside of a relationship with Christ...Just waiting to die. What does it take to make such a person joyful and content? Remove the condemnation, take him off of death row, and he can begin to live. This happens to one who receives Christ as Lord and Savior.

Have you received your reprieve, your pardon? It is available for you the moment you come to Christ.

2. In Christ, Freedom from Condemnation - which are in Christ Jesus.

Christ Jesus went to the cross to suffer our condemnation. He went to the place of execution, the gallows, the electric chair, the lethal injection of that day - for that was the meaning of the cross. A place where the worst of criminals died. He died as your substitute. He was condemned on your behalf. When one receives Him as Lord and Savior, His death is put on your account, and your judgment is over, never to be repeated.

When you repent of your sins, surrender your life to the control of Christ, the record is cleared, the Judgment is past. In God's reckoning, you were judged and executed with Christ. What freedom! The Judgment is over, the burden is lifted. No Condemnation in Christ!

II. The Believer Loses The Complication of Life.

Romans 8: 28. —And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.

Life can become pretty complicated. So many things happen that we cannot understand. Christians suffer along with the rest of the world. There are teardrops in every life, trials come which are beyond our understanding.

The Word promises that nothing can touch a believer, but that God can turn it around and work it out for our good and His glory. There is a meaning in life. Life begins to make sense when we discover we are in God's hands, He will never let go and will work everything together for our good!

1. Certainty of the promise -we know- Glorious assurance! We know God is in control!

The Bible is filled with assurances of things we can know for sure. We can know we are saved: "These things are written that ye might know that ye have eternal life" (I John 5:13). We can know we have a home in heaven: "We know if this earthly tabernacle be dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands." (2 Corinthians 3:1)

We can be assured that God is working in the life of the true believer. No coincidences, everything is being used of God to make us what He longs for us to become.

2. Clarity of the promise. What does it mean?

Not everything is good. There are "bad things" in every life that hurt and wound us. It does not teach that everything will work itself out. Instead it says that nothing can touch the believer, but that God can turn it around for their good.

Though afflictions in themselves are evil, yet in their effects as overruled and directed by God, they are useful. Yes, all things, of every kind, that happen to the Christian, are overruled by God for his good!

They do not work thus of themselves: it is God that turns all things to the good of His children. He is in control of the life of the believer.

Years ago, when the doctor prescribed a certain powerful medicine, the trained pharmacist would carefully measure a small amount of a very powerful poison and add to it other ingredients that were life sustaining medicines. Together the mixture brought healing. God is the Master Pharmacist. He is able to take the poisons of life; the hurts, wounds, insults, illness, loneliness, disappointments; then he mixes in His gracious loving kindness, His sweet Holy Spirit, the joy of the Lord, the warmth of His presence, His mighty power, and there ushers forth an inner healing. The believer comes forth from his trials stronger, maturer, more like the Master! That is the meaning of "working together for good."

3. The subjects of this promise.

It is for those...that love God, who are the called. — What is said of all things working together for good is here limited to those who love God. This is characteristic of a Christian. All true believers love God. It is therefore only through faith in Christ that we can love God. Until our faith gives us some assurance of reconciliation with God, we cannot have the confidence which is essential to loving God. Till then we dread God as our enemy, and fear that He will punish us for our sins.

To those who are the called according to His purpose. —When one receives Christ as Lord by faith he/she steps right into the eternal plan of God.

III. The Believer Loses Separation from God's Love.

Verse 35. — Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Thank God! There is nothing on earth, in heaven or hell that can separate us from the love of Christ.

1. The experiences of life cannot separate us from God's love. v. 38,39.

The troubles and trials of life, no matter how harsh and hurtful cannot make the flow of God's love for us cease. He will never stop loving His children. On the most trying day of your life, you may look up, and He is there, to flood your heart with peace and to restore your joy.

2. God is on our side. If God be for us, who can be against us? Do you have a friend or loved one who has stood with you during a trying time and indicated to you: "I'm on your side. If you need me, I am here." This is what the Word states: God is for us. The expression "if", does not denote doubt, but is a conclusion, signifying since; as if he had said, Since we see by all these things that God is for us, who shall be against us?

Although we have many enemies, and are ourselves very weak, yet, if God be for us, nothing can be so against us as finally to do us injury.

Take a look at the opposition the Christian faces: There is arrayed against them a formidable host composed of many powerful enemies. There are Satan and his spiritual army; there is the world, with its temptations; there is the weakness of the human nature; there are all sufferings; then there is death itself.

How could believers themselves withstand the power of such antagonists? Take a look at the powerful Ally Who stands with His people and will never forsake them.

Who is for us? God, says He, is for us! God is the shield of His people: He holds them in His hand, and none can pluck them out of it. ‘The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms!’ - Deuteronomy 33:27

3. Evidence that God is for us.Ver. 32. — He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

No stronger argument could be offered in proof of His favor to them than the gift of His own Son.

How shall He not with Him freely give us all things? — This is the most conclusive reasoning. If He has given us the greatest gift, He will not refuse the lesser. His Son is the greatest gift that could be given, — plainly, then, nothing will be withheld from those for whom He has given His Son.

God has invested too much in us to let us go. Imagine a person purchases a home with a twenty year note. He pays for 19 1/2 years, and the plumbing goes bad. Would he say: "I'm tired of this house. I'm not going to spend another dime to fix it. I'll let it go. The bank can have it!" No. He would think: "I've invested so much, and soon it will all be paid for. I must invest what is needed to keep the house in good repair."

When the believer fails his Lord, God does not banish the believer. He has invested too much to let him go. He may chasten His child, but He will not desert him.

God Himself has justified the believer. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.(verse 33) God is represented as the Justifier.

In our court systems, there are levels of power. The most influential and highest court is the Supreme Court. Suppose someone is arrested for a crime he did not commit. He appeals to the highest court and is acquitted. Suppose the local Justice of the Peace comes by and says: "I think you are guilty and I'm going to see you are locked up in jail!" The acquitted man shows the document that states he has been acquitted by the highest court. The accuser leaves in defeat. The Christian has been to the highest court, the Court of the Eternal Creator of the Universe. The Great Judge has declared him acquitted, pardoned, the penalty laid upon His Son. Christ Himself Intercedes for Us. Ver.34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

It is Christ that died for us. (verse 34a — By His death He paid the penalty of the holy law, was executed, and satisfaction made to Divine justice.

Christ is risen again for us (verse 34b)— The resurrection of Christ, is the proof of His victory, and of the entire payment for His people’s sins.

Christ is at the right hand of God, Interceding for us. (verse 34c) Jesus Christ, then, has also ascended into heaven, and is possessed of all power and glory, and is there to defend His people. Christ intercedes for us. We have such a Friend at the Right Hand of God, making intercession for us.

The lady that led me to Christ has reminded me many times: "Bill, I pray for you every day." How blessed I am to have a dear friend, whom I greatly respect, praying for me daily, but there is something better than this. The Son of the Living God, my Savior and Redeemer, prays for me and every Christian, constantly, and His prayers are heard. He stands with us and supports us in prayer.

Because God is on our side; He has invested His Son for our salvation; His Son Who died and rose again on our behalf is now praying for us constantly; therefore, we are safe evermore. There is no separation for those who are trusting Christ.