SCRIPTURE: ROMANS 8
MEMORY VERSES:
“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.” (Romans 8:28)
“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 Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)
LIFE THROUGH THE SPIRIT (vs. 1-17)
God sent his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. All those who are in Christ Jesus are set free from the law of sin and death because they do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires. But those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace. The sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.
If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of God is living in you, He will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit.
Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. Being his children, we are heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ. We share his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
FUTURE GLORY (vs. 18-27)
Paul considers that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. As we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies, we have this saving hope.
The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.
MORE THAN CONQUERORS (vs. 28-39)
“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. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.”
If God is for us, who can be against us? Since God gave us his own Son for us, how will he not graciously give us all things? Christ was raised to life. He is now at the right hand of God interceding for us.
Trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, sword, death, life, present, future, any powers, height, depth, anything in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (vss. 33-39)
THOUGHTS:
Paul divided people into two categories: Those who let themselves be controlled by their sinful nature and those who follow after the Holy Spirit. If Jesus had not died for us, we all belong to the first category. But after his sacrifice, he has declared us not guilty and has offered us freedom from sin and power to do his will through the Holy Spirit. But we have to acknowledge Christ as Lord and trust his salvation, then the Holy Spirit lives within you.
The Holy Spirit is God’s guarantee of eternal life for those who believe in Him. The Spirit that is within us by faith enables us the power to resist temptation. As we are being adopted as his children, we have all the privileges and responsibilities of a child in God’s family.
Privileges and Price of being a Christian:
- The Holy Spirit is with us and will lead us.
- We become God’s children and share in great treasures as co-heirs of his inheritance.
- Our sins are being forgiven.
- We have the assurance of eternal life.
- We can ask whatever we need.
- We have hope for the future glory.
- We will be resurrected with glorified bodies like Christ
- We have to endure sufferings.
Paul affirmed that nothing (hardships, trouble, danger, famine, persecution, illness, imprisonment, and even death) can separate us from God’s presence. God assures us of his love and protection. That is why we are more than conquerors against the forces of Satan.