ROMANS, CHAPTER 8
[Verses 31-39]
(11-9-11)
Review:
Romans 8:26-30) [NIV] In the same way, 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.
27) [NIV] 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.
28) [NIV] 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.
29) [NIV] 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.
30) [NIV] And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
Regarding “those God foreknew he also predestined,”
“The only thing predestinated, or foreordained, is that those who love God as revealed in Christ shall become Christlike in life, and like Christ in eternity. This is the only decree in the passage” [PNT].
“That a predetermination of God is clearly stated as accompanying or (humanly speaking) succeeding, and grounded upon the foreknowledge” [Vincent].
QUESTION: What are these verses telling us?
ANSWER: God predestined to conform believers to “the likeness of his Son.”
QUESTION: How does this predestination work?
ANSWER: God “foreknew” who would love Him. He then predestined their glorification.
Also in regards to “those God foreknew he also predestined,”
“That this predetermination is to the end of conformity to the image of the Son of God, and that this is the vital point of the passage” [Vincent].
On To This Week’s Lesson:
Romans 8:31-39) [NIV] What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?
QUESTION: “What, then, shall we say in response” to what?
ANSWER: “What, then, shall we say in response” to the fact that God foreknew us, He predestined us “to be conformed to the likeness of his Son,” He called us to be His children, He justified us, and He already sees us as glorified.
QUESTION: “What, then, shall we say in response” to all of this?
ANSWER: We should say, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Actually, that’s not a statement; it’s a question. But, in a sense it’s a rhetorical question with the understood answer that if God is for us it doesn’t matter who are enemies are.
32) [NIV] 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?
QUESTION: What is Paul’s point here?
ANSWER: Paul is pointing out to us that if God gave His only Son, His greatest treasure, to save us then surely there isn’t anything He will now withhold from us. In other words, if He gave His only Son to save us then He will surely give us all things that are required to finish the process that begins with His foreknowledge and ends with our glorification.
NOTE: Our glorification includes our becoming like His Son. We will receive “things” at that time that are unimaginable to us at this time. Our future reality will exceed our wildest dreams by an infinite amount.
Ephesians 3:20) [GW] Glory belongs to God, whose power is at work in us. By this power he can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine.
33) [NIV] Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.
(GNB) Who will accuse God’s chosen people? God himself declares them not guilty!
QUESTION: What’s the good news revealed in this verse?
ANSWER: The devil might still accuse us before God, but God reminds Satan that He has declared us to be “not guilty” be reason of our faith in the One Who died for us.
QUESTION: What does the devil do in light of this?
ANSWER: He continues to accuse me, but now he accuses me to others, and to myself.
34) [NIV] 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.
QUESTION: Who can condemn us?
ANSWER: Jesus won’t! He died to save us! God, the Father, won’t! Jesus sits at His right hand constantly pleading our cause. Satan can’t! He doesn’t have the authority.
35) [NIV] Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
QUESTION: What is Paul showing us here?
ANSWER: Note:
- God is for us, not against us (vs. 31).
- God has already given us His greatest treasure: His Son (vs. 32).
- God will therefore utilize any, and all of His infinite treasures/abilities to finish the job of our glorification (vs. 32).
- God has already justified us; consequently, He no longer entertains any accusations against us (vs. 33).
- God won’t condemn us because Jesus paid for our sins (vs. 34).
QUESTION: What is the conclusion to the above points?
ANSWER: Nothing can separate us from the God Who loves us!
36) [NIV] As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37) [NIV] No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
QUESTION: What is Paul showing us here?
ANSWER: Paul personally faced trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, nakedness, and danger to his very life; so he identified with the Psalmist. However, he concludes that whatever happens to us in this life we are still “more than conquerors” because of what God has prepared for us in the next life.
38) [NIV] For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,
39) [NIV] 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.
QUESTION: What does Paul conclude to have no ability to separate us from God because of His love for us?
ANSWER: Note:
- Physical death;
- Anything life throws at us;
- Fallen angels;
- Demons;
- Anything we have done up to the present;
- Anything we will do in the future;
- Any natural or supernatural powers;
- Spiritually high powers;
- Spiritual powers from below;
- Anything anywhere in all of creation.
QUESTION: What do I need to know?
ANSWER: God loves me and nothing can ever change that!
NOTE: Let me remind you one more time:
- God has never loved you more that He does right now.
- God will never love you more than He does right now.
In conclusion, God will not love you when you are glorified in Heaven, when you have been clothed in perfection, any more than He loves you right now!