Romans 8

Continued (Vs. 29-39)

Earlene Davis

V. 29 – As believers we can boast in our family tree, God is our Father and the Son of God is our Brother. It all started in eternity past when God chose a new Creation – Eph. 1:4-5. He predetermined that one day we would be like His Son. Predestination applies only to saved people. No where are we taught that God predestines people to be eternally condemned. People are only condemned because they refuse Christ – Jn. 3:18-21.

V. 30 – To those that responded to His call He justified and He also glorified them – II Thes. 2:13-14. The believer has already been glorified in Christ. Did not Jesus said in prayer to the Father (Jn. 17:21), “the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one.” The revelation of this glory awaits the coming of the Lord. This is marvelous, in God’s foreknowledge the elect, a new creation in Christ were identified in eternity past. He purposed their justification and to be glorified in His Son.  Christ is the head of this New Creation making Him the firstborn among many brethren. Just think, before there were none of us living. God’s sovereign purposes for us are in Christ and they have been fulfilled to Him and are sure to all who believe.

V. 31 – The second question answers the first question. God has put Himself on record in absolute sovereignty in man’s salvation, what can anyone do to hurt us? We read last time V. 28, He is working everything together for our good to fulfill His purposes.

V. 32 – The Father is for us and proved it by giving His Son. If when we were sinners, God gave us His best, now that we are His children, God gives all things to his own. God gave the all things in giving His Son. He was a Gift. II Cor. 9:15, “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable Gift.” In Christ are all the blessings of His salvation. The love of God is the basis of it all. What can He withhold from His sons. All things are ours in Christ.

V. 33 – God Himself has cleared all charges, for Christ is their Representative and head. In Christ all were provisionally justified. When we believe and receive Christ, we inter into our provision rights. They have been waiting for us and all the New Creation since Christ arose from the dead. Our Christian experience changes from day to day, but justification never changes. God will never take us to court and accuse us. Jesus has already paid the penalty and we are secure in Him.

V. 34 – Christ was raised again for our justification. So to condemn the believer is to condemn Christ. And now, He is our Advocate and pleads our cause before His Father. The Father beholds His Son’s nail-pierced hands and vindicates us. God is satisfied and puts Himself on record as being on our side. Christ alone has the right to condemn and He also is on our side. We have a dual intercession that keeps us secure in Christ. The Spirit intercedes – Vs. 26-27 – and the Son intercedes. As our High Priest, Christ can give us the grace we need to over-come temptations (Heb. 4:15-16). Also as our Advocate, He can forgive our sins and restore our fellowship with God (I Jn. 1:9). He intercedes for each of us, a ministry that assures us that we are secure.

Vs. 35-36 – The Holy  Spirit is the uniting bond between THE Son and sons. Nothing can break this divine unity. The Trinity of God is involved in man’s salvation. It is not a maybe, but a confident “shall” of assurance. Romans chapter 8 begins with “no condemnation” and ends with “no separation.” Mans plans and way are unstable, vacillating. Even when strong willed, his power is limited. But God’s will is changeless. It is perfect from the beginning and by His almighty power, His purposes will be consummated without failure or delay. Those who love God and are led of the Spirit, enters into His plan that embraces all circumstances. God is for us, and there can be no successful opposition from any thing, or any person. For divine wisdom and foreknowledge are behind all things. God will not fail of His purposes. Tribulation is a fierce opposer, but God uses it to refine us from dross. Distress is allowed to draw us closer to the Lord. Persecution tests our love to God. Famine, nakedness, peril and sword only teach us our need and dependence upon God and that our satisfaction and rest is in Him.

V. 36 – Death is the way to life. Jesus went this way, His life was poured out daily in service to His Father and to others. Lk. 9:24, Jesus said, “Whosoever will save his life, shall lose it; but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, shall save it.” A continuous dying, yet that dying is a continuous victory – a gain not a loss. A life poured out for God finds more abundant life. The trials and temptations are a means in a final perfection. God’s ways are awesome, He allows Satan to buffet us, but God uses those instruments to work blessings. His strength being made perfect in our weakness. As we count or reckon with God, they cause thanksgiving from us for His work of grace in us.

V. 37 – The Diaglott renders this, “we do more than overcome.” Who is this more than conqueror? It is the one who reigns over every circumstance. The one who lets Christ, the true overcomer, rule in their live, abanding self-effort and trusting God.

Vs. 38-39 – Paul was persuaded, confident in God’s faithfulness and in His perfect union with Christ. He declares, not one of these nor all of them together, can come between the believer and the love of God, displayed in His love Gift to us in Christ Jesus. Death will not separate us, for to die is to be with Him. Life cannot separate us, for us to live is Christ. Angels, principalities and powers, celestial or terrestrial cannot separate us, they are all subject to Him who is over all. 

At times we may become perplex and dread the future until we remind ourselves that nothing can move us from our place in Christ, THE CONQUEROR. Nothing above or beneath, nothing at all has power to break the union between the believer and the living God. 

The Holy Spirit has put us into Christ and cemented us there. This is a good persuasion and leads us to peace in our hearts and lives. How could there ever be a question as to the eternal security of the believer. May we be persuaded and believe God’s Word. “That neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”