ROMANS 8:33 -39 “WHO SHALL SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF JESUS”?

 

Romans 8:31 is one of the most comforting verses in the Bible: “If God is for us who can be against us”?   It is a powerful statement on Christian assurance.

Why do we need assurance? 

We need assurance when we are unsure or insecure. Insecurity is a huge human problem. A massive industry has been spawned to help our insecurity or lack of assurance. 

Why?

The Bible says that our identity is derived from God, who has created us in His image (Genesis 1&2). Furthermore, the Bible says that the fall of man into sin (Genesis 3) has severed mankind from their Creator. Like Cain  we have become restless wanderers (Genesis 4). We have become unsure of ourselves, because our true identity, our true purpose, our  true origin is obscured.  We are no longer sure who we are.  Our soul (which is a God-shaped vacuum) cries out, Who am I? What am I here for? Where am I going?  

Our fallenness generally causes us to look for answers in the wrong areas, and while we may find temporary relief in that guru’s teaching, or in various wellness strategies, and in various therapies, the ultimate questions won’t leave us alone. Augustine (AD 354-430)   the North African Church father correctly  concluded , “Oh Lord our hearts are restless until they are found in you[1].”

Ultimate assurance can only come from God, the One who  has made you and I. 

Following Paul’s great exposition on the nature of the fall and the effects of sin upon us (that which produces disconnectedness and ultimately lack of assurance / lack of hope/ purpose), he provides us with the remedy - the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The gospel restores assurance, by restoring us to a God centered view of life.  This is a process called sanctification.  

One great reason (there are others) why many Christians lack assurance is that they do not take the Bible, and the gospel in particular,  to heart. Their  hearts may be saved, but the mind is not engaged, and the  soul is not fed on the richest of foods. They do not meditate on  the  precepts of Scripture. They have not learned to preach the gospel to themselves. The gospel takes us into the arms of  Jesus, and once you are with Jesus, you are safe!  His presence and  His Word is  a balm to our soul.  

If you want to learn about Christian assurance get to terms with Romans 8.  Romans  8:31-39 in particular   is  very affirming.   In summary we learn: 

i.                         8:31 Who can be against  God’s people?  ANSWER: No conceivable power can stand against God

ii.                       8:32 If God gave us His very best – Christ (Is that enough?)  ANSWER: will He not give us all things?  

iii.                    8:33,34 Who can bring any charge against, or condemn God’s people: ANSWER – If you are justified by God no one can bring any charge against you. 

iv.                    8:35-39 Who can separate a believer from the love of Christ? ANSWER: “nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord”. (repeated in 8:39)

By means of these 4 questions and affirmations Paul summarizes the main teachings of his letter and in so doing he is dealing with the doctrine of assurance of salvation.  

If  Romans 8 is that great majestic mountain, called Assurance, then 8:31-40 is the mountain peak.

THE 4TH QUESTION CONSIDERED: WHO SHALL SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF CHRIST?

It is useful to consider the times in which this letter was written. The letter was written in AD 57.  Very soon, in AD 64 (7 years later) these Roman Christians were going to face a severe persecution under the Roman emperor Nero.  

In AD 64 Rome suffered a terrible fire that burned for six days and seven nights, destroying  almost three quarters of the city.  Rome then was densely populated and not prepared to effectively deal with large scale disasters, including fires. Such an event was inevitable. Rumour also had it that Nero may have set fire to the city, because he wanted to rebuild the city.    According to Tacitus[2], a Roman historian, Nero then blamed the Christian community for the fire. This began the first large scale persecution of the Roman state against Christians.  Many Christians were  put to death in the most horrific manner, and even for the amusement of the citizens of Rome.  Their dead bodies were covered in pitch and used as human torches.

You will appreciate that people who suffer such trials need strong assurance that God indeed loves them!

3  ASSURANCES  ABOUT THE LOVE OF GOD IN TIMES OF TRIAL

1.       8:35 No tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, sword will separate us from the love of Christ.

The emphasis here (and in the rest of the text) is on Christ’s love (which is synonymous with God’s love – cf.  8:31,32) for His people.   Truly, if our assurance, or our faith depended on our love to Christ, I should very much doubt whether I could withstand any of those circumstances described here. I remind you that Peter did not manage to withstand the temptation to disown Christ, while He was interrogated by the Sanhedrin (Jn 18:15ff).To his credit, it grieved him bitterly (Matt 26:75; Lk. 22:62; Mk 14:72), and Jesus spend good time with Peter in John 21 to reassure  Peter of His love for him. 

In fact, none of the disciples stood up for Jesus when He was on trial. They all had deserted Him Christ in His hour of trial (Matt. 26:56). But Jesus loved them to the end. 

Paul experienced desertion – see 2 Timothy 4:16. In response to strong opposition to the gospel, probably in Ephesus, Paul says, “At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me… but the Lord stood by me and strengthened me…”.  At that time  Paul received an inner assurance that His Lord was with him in this forsaken moment.

The point is this. We are being kept by virtue of His love for us, and on the basis of this fact we continue; it is on the basis of Christ’s love for us that we are secure.  Nothing   can separate Christ’s sheep from His love (see John 10:27-30 & 17:12). His keeping power is real.     

Paul reminds us here of seven difficult situations in which Christ's love is sufficient to keep us:  tribulation (outward pressures), distress or inner turmoil (inward pressures); persecution; famine, nakedness, danger, sword. Paul himself knew about all these experiences. For a catalogue of his sufferings see 2 Corinthians 11:23ff. 

According to early Christian tradition and historical records, Paul was killed by beheading in Rome during the reign of the Roman Emperor Nero around AD 64.  It is this same Paul that says that none of these things can separate us from the love of God. Even death, our worst enemy cannot do that.  Death will usher the believer into God’s presence. Christ – His love - is ours in life and death. That is the first thing that Paul wants us to understand.

2.           8:36 -37 Christians are more than conquerors in all these things

We begin with 8:36 : “for His sake we are being put to death all day long. Like sheep we are being led to the slaughter."  This is a quotation from Psalm 44:22. This Psalm reminds us that God’s people always have suffered much in every generation.  When Paul wrote in AD 57 this would soon (i.e.  within 7 years) be true of himself and many Christians he was writing to.

I remind you that persecution with death as a consequence is not a past thing for most Christians in our world. According to Open Doors[3], a Christian monitor of current persecution, 1 in 7 Christians experience persecution in the world.1 in 5 Christians in Africa experience persecution!  North Korea, Somalia, Yemen, Sudan and Eritrea are the top 5 persecutors of Christians. Nigeria is #7. Five of 10 persecuting nations are on African soil!  Remember your brothers and sisters who are currently sharing in the fellowship of His sufferings.

Back to Paul. He had been involved in the persecution of Christians. When the ascended Lord Jesus had met him on the road to Damascus, He did not say, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute my Christian people? “He said, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"  The persecution of believers was ultimately a persecution of Christ. Believers are in Christ and therefore they are united to Him. Their sufferings are His sufferings, and His sufferings are our sufferings. Suffering persecution is a result of our union with Christ. Even in countries like ours where we are not physically killed, we suffer when we stand for the truth as it is in Jesus. In my calling as a pastor I  have experienced that, and have suffered in my soul on account of  numerous hard-hearted men and women. 

Be that as it may.  Paul wants us  to know that  in our resisting of sin and temptation and of many adversaries  we are conquerors, in fact,  MORE than conquerors. 

We are not simply survivors.  We are more than conquerors.

Polycarp (69 – 155 AD) the  bishop of Smyrna (now Izmir in Turkey), had been a disciple of the apostle John. In the reign of the Roman Caesar Marcus Aurelius he was arrested for being a Christian.  He was 86 years old. The Roman officials urged him to save his life by denying Christ and confessing Caesar as god. He famously replied, "Eighty-six years I have served him, and he never did me any wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?" He was sentenced to be burned. His death and the surrounding circumstances were a remarkable testimony. His was the death of more than a conqueror.  Like the martyr Stephen in Acts 7 he exhibited the glory of God in death.  It is not  his remarkable courage  in the face of death;  he was  a man in God’s hand and the grace of God worked in His trial. Nothing separated him from the love of Jesus. In death he conquered the grave. He is with Jesus. 

It is true that not every person responds like this.  We know people who have gone through terrible trials, and these trials have made them bitter, angry and cynical.  Trials do not always make us better people. But here is the assurance - for those who rest in Christ, and who keep His word – those He will also keep from (or in)  the hour of trial (Revelation 3:10 – Philadelphia).  He makes them more than conquerors.

3.        8:37-39: Not death nor life, not angels nor rulers etc. can separate us from God’s love. 

No time bound event (death/life), no heavenly powers (angels/rulers/things present/ things to come/ powers) no distance (height/depth), nothing in all creation can separate us from the love of God, which is ours in Jesus Christ.  He repeats what he has said before,  in 8:35. Paul expresses here a strong, unshakable confidence in Christ’s love. He says, “I am sure of it”!  

Dear Christian, 

The Word of God teaches us that there is more to life than meets the eye. 

Looking at life at face value can be intimidating, but it is not reality. Looking at life through the lens of Scripture is reality.  The book of Job confirms that. The book of Daniel and Ezekiel and the book of Revelation confirm that. Jesus confirms that in the gospels.   

How do you evaluate reality - your life events?  A pastor once he talked to a man, and he wanted to see if he had any spiritual realities. They were sitting in a church building.  He asked him:  "What you see in this room?" The man said, "I see hymnals, pews, a communion table, a pulpit." 

"What else do you see?" "I see an organ, windows, a balcony." The pastor asked, "Is that all you see?" And the man said "Yes!".  The pastor said, said, "I’ll tell you what I see. I see powers and principalities and forces in high places at work.  And I see a man  not at peace with his realities..."  In so doing he was reminding the man that there are greater realities at work – and they are as real as the chair you’re sitting on! Many things we do not see do in fact exist.    God's love exists. And this love is able to keep you in all situations, even worst case scenarios, such as Polycarp experienced.  Of that you may be sure.

Dear believer, may God with the help of His Word and the Holy Spirit give you new  eyes to see true reality. That will provide you with a new level of assurance, which you shall need as you face your unique trials in the world. May your confidence be rooted in the love of Christ for you. May you be helped by the Holy Spirit Himself as you look to Jesus. 

Rest in Him.  

Let Him be your ultimate assurance. Amen

 

---

[1] Augustine of Hippo, Confessions, 1,1.5

[2] Publius Cornelius Tacitus,( c. AD 56 – c. 120) was a Roman historian and politician. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest Roman historians by modern scholars. SOURCE – Wikipedia

[3] https://www.opendoors.org/en-US/persecution/countries/

Romans 8:31,32: “IF GOD IS FOR US , WHO CAN BE AGAINST US ?”

 

We now approach the end of Paul’s great exposition on the nature of the doctrine of our salvation, which he began in Romans 1:16.  

In  Romans 9-11  Paul will  address the matter  of the position of the Jews  in the light of this  doctrine, and in Romans 12-16  Paul will  make some  practical applications in the light  of this doctrine i.e.  How then shall we live?

Paul wrote this letter with a very practical and pastoral purpose in mind. He wanted to help the Christians in Rome to understand the profound nature of their salvation.  

A QUICK REVISION OF WHAT WE HAVE COVERED SO FAR IN ROMANS 

• He begins with a thesis statement in 1:16,17 - a statement of confidence in the saving power of the gospel – the good news that God takes care of our  sin through  His Son Jesus Christ.  
• From there he explains why God’s wrath is towards mankind in 1:18- 3:20 is so profound. He shows that the whole world (Jew and Gentile) is guilty of sin. 
• He then makes known the answer to that dilemma: Jesus Christ, the righteousness of God (Rom.3:21-31).  Christ alone can justify us- make us righteous-  in the eyes of a holy God!  To achieve that, God Himself must take the initiative to justify us. We cannot do that.   
• Paul illustrates this by using the example of Abraham (Rom 4) who is the father of the Jews. How did Abraham become a righteous man in the eyes of God?  How was he justified?  It began when Abraham was sovereignly  called by God in Genesis 12. He believed God and the promises of God that foreshadowed Christ, so that Jesus could say in John 8:56, "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; he saw it and was glad" .  
• Believing in God and His promises in Christ produces the peace with God which comes through faith alone in Christ alone (5:1-12). 
• Then in Rom. 5:12-21 Paul explains the nature and pervasiveness of sin which came through Adam and the grace which comes through the Lord Jesus Christ. 
• In Romans 6   Paul addresses some false conclusions that people come to concerning sin and grace. We cannot sin to make grace look better.  
• In 7: 1-6 the purpose of the law is explained. The law defines sin, but law-keeping itself can and will not save us. We MUST appeal to Christ. The struggle with sin is real, and only by looking to Jesus Christ can we deal with the pervasive problem of sin.  
• In Romans 8 Paul then deals with the great theme of Christian assurance: How do I know that I am truly saved? The chapter begins with this assertion: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.” How do we know this? The Holy Spirit (mentioned 20 times in this chapter) helps us.  Paul says that the Holy Spirit confirms this in our spirits, giving us an inner assurance that we are the adopted children of God (8:2-16).
• In 8:18 Paul addresses the problem of suffering. Suffering is one of the greatest temptations to our faith. It easily robs us of our assurance.   How can we stay focused in the midst of suffering?  Paul says, (i) Through considering our heavenly future (8:18-25) (ii) Through the help of the Holy Spirit (8:26,27) and (iii) by understanding that our salvation is rooted in God’s doing. God is the one who saves from first to last - past, present and future (8:28-30). He predestines, calls, justifies and glorifies. Our salvation is all of God!

ROMANS 8:31-39

In 8:31-39 we come to the conclusion of the matter - a summary to the whole letter so far. The summary is provided in the form of 5 questions leading to one affirmation: 

If God is for us who can be against us?  

The  5 questions  are introduced by this leading question: "What shall we say to these things"?  

• Firstly, “If God is for us, who can be against us”? 
• Secondly, “He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will he not also with Him graciously give us all things?” 
• Thirdly, “Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect?” 
• Fourthly, “Who is to condemn?”  
• Fifthly, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ…?”

Following these 5 questions, Paul,  in the last three verses (8:37-39) asserts this glorious truth:  

All true believers will ultimately persevere ! 

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord”.

In summary we learn:  

• 8:31 No conceivable power can stand against God
• 8:32 If God gave us His very best - Christ, will He not give us all things?   
• 8:33,34 No one can bring any charge   against or condemn God’s people. 
• 8:35 Nothing at all can separate a believer from the love of Christ. This glorious assertion is repeated in 8:39 :  “nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord”.

This is one great and powerful statement on Christian assurance –  This is how we may know that we have a right standing with God. 

If  Romans  8 is that great majestic mountain, called Assurance, then 8:31-40 is the mountain peak. 

This we  shall consider now  and  we will only deal with 8:31,32

ROMANS  8:31,32

1.       8:31 No conceivable power can stand against God!

When Paul asks, "If God is for us, who can be against us?", he is not saying that we have no troubles, no opposition and no enemies. In fact, Romans 8 has had a lot to say about Christian suffering.  The list in 8:35-36 leaves us in no doubt about that.

The question is this: Can our salvation hold up under these things? 

• Is there someone or something out there that  can  make us loose our salvation? 
• Is there someone or something out there that can undo the work of Christ on the cross for His people? 

Paul says, NO! No enemy can be against us when God is for us.  And since God is for us, to use the words of  8:28, then it stands to reason that all things work together for our ultimate good, even those things which our enemies  and Satan intend for our harm.

The God who foreknows, predestines, calls, justifies, and glorifies His people, He is for His people.   

And therefore, in ALL THINGS He is the Sovereign God who rules and overrules all things for the sake of His people. He is   their faithful God. He is the God whose love is steadfast.  “Righteousness and justice are the FOUNDATION of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.” (Psalm 89:14). “With Him there is no variation or shadow due to change.” (James 1:17).

• He is the God who said to Isaiah in 46:10,11b, “My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’ calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it.
• He is the God who holds the hearts of all the kings of the earth in His hands: “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever He will (Prov. 21:1).  He does this ultimately for the sake of His people. He does it for the suffering church in Iran and in the Ukraine and in China and in North Korea and in northern Nigeria and in the entire African Sahel region.  The Ayatollahs, Kim Jong Un of North Korea, Boko Haram of Nigeria are on a long leash, while the sovereign God is purifying His church and making the church ready for His presence.
• He  is the God who in Daniel 4:34-35 turned the heart   of that wicked Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar  to  worship him : “I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honoured him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?”.  
• He is the God who hardened the heart of the Egyptian Pharaoh (Ex. 4:21;7:3,13,14 etc.). 
• He is the God who hands people over when they persist in their rebellious ways (Rom.1:24,26,28)
• He is the God of whom David said in 1 Chronicles 29:11-12: “Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honour come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all.    
• He is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, weak and fallible in themselves, but mighty in His hand. He is the God of Daniel and of all the prophets. He is the God who called fishermen, Peter, Andrew, James and John and a tax collector called Levi (Matthew) and sceptics like Nathanael and doubters like Thomas    to become His apostles. Last of all He also called a violent persecutor named Saul to become His apostolic servant to the gentile nations (Acts 9).
• He is the God that opened the eyes of 3000 on the day of Pentecost (2:41). 
• He is the God that enabled a lame beggar to leap and praise God (Acts 3:8); 
• He is the God that made Samaritans turn in great numbers to Him (Acts 8:25). 
• An Ethiopian is converted  as God directs Philip to him (Acts 8:26-40);  
• A Roman centurion  called Cornelius heard the call of God (Acts10); 
• the  heart of Lydia was opened by God  (Acts 16:14,15) and  also that of  the Philippian jailer and his entire family (Acts 16:30-34); 
• Thousands were converted by the power of God  in the various apostolic journeys  undertaken by Peter and Paul and Barnabas  and  their many associates. Churches were planted everywhere. God was in it all, even in the midst of ridicule, rejection, hostility, being disliked, and being killed. 
• Stephen, being stoned by a mob saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God (Acts 7:55,56). Many early witnesses, including most of the apostles died in His service, they were ultimately not lost to death. They were immediately delivered into the hands of their Saviour, for to depart is to be with Christ, (which) is far better” (Phil.1:23).   
• Christians  must  be helped to think like  Hezekiah in 2 Chron. 32:7ff  when  he encouraged his people  with these words in the face of an overwhelming enemy :  "Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, for there is one greater with us than with them . . . with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles". 

No conceivable power can stand against God! If God is for us, who can be against us?

2.       8:32 If God gave us His very best -  Jesus Christ, will He not give us all things?  

"He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will he not also with Him graciously give us all things?”  The second point is powerful. God gave us His very best – His beloved Son (John 3:16). 

How on earth will He then deny you lesser things?   

If God loves you so much that He did not spare to give you His own Son for your sin,  then  how can you doubt that God’s love and providential care may be taken away from you in lesser matters?

·    Are you getting the picture?  What shall we say then? If God is so much for you, who can be against you?  You know the answer! Doesn’t this strengthen your faith with great assurance dear believer? And if you are not  a believer yet- I call you NOW to stop doubting and believe the gospel.

We will end here for now, and pick up  Romans 8: 33ff,  God-willing  on the next Lord’s day.  

ROMANS 8:29-30 THE GOLDEN CHAIN OF SALVATION

 

In Romans 8 Paul has been unpacking the doctrine of Life in the Spirit. 

Being a Christian is no ordinary life. It is a life of miraculous enablement and intervention. It is a life in which God works in a believer, even against our natural sluggishness, our slowness to believe, our humanistic thoughts and responses.  If we are in Christ, Paul points us to the help we receive from the indwelling Holy Spirit as we wrestle against the realities that our flesh (our physical nature) presents. He shows us that we, amid this great battle are wonderfully sustained. 

Above all He points us to the future glory that is our inheritance. The best is yet to be. People  that feel hopeless need to hear this!  Wait a little longer. Your Saviour is near.  He asserts that those who love God (and those alone) - who are called according to His purpose, ALL things ultimately work for good (8:28). 

And from there he proceeds to connect us to God’s great, eternal plan of salvation.

28 “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

We have a massive statement here. This is truly holy ground.  Paul is giving us insight into God’s eternal mind and purpose in terms of His saving purpose for mankind.  Here we find the sequence known as the golden chain of salvation.  Here is a statement outlining the way in which God saves His people. 

• Here we are helped to see that this salvation is all of God, from first to last.  
•  Here we learn that our salvation begins in the mind of God the Father. 
• Here we are reminded  that our salvation is accomplished by Christ’s finished work on the cross.
• Our salvation is applied by the Holy Spirit. He helps us to see and believe in the finished work of Jesus.   
• Our response to God in repentance is the outcome and proof of our salvation.
• Our love for God is the result of a heart set free.
•  We learn that our salvation never came about because we  made a decision for God or  by being born into a Christian home.  

Augustine of Hippo said, "God elected believers in order that they might believe, not because they already believed."[1] God's choice of us precedes our choice of Him. If the Lord had not chosen us, we never would have chosen to believe in Him.

THE FOUNDATION OF  ROMANS  8:28   – A SURE SALVATION

The First Link of the Chain: Foreknowledge

“For those whom he foreknew …” The Greek word for "foreknew" [2]  literally means to know beforehand.  It is more than simply to be aware of a future event – a passive foresight of human actions, like, “God foreknew that Robert Good was going to choose to become a Christian”. That is not it!

God’s foreknowledge is not passive. It is active. It is loaded with love for His people (see Romans 5:8). He lovingly foreknows them before they are born (Jer. 1:5; Gal 1:15). There is an active  intimacy in that foreknowledge. 

Let’s look at this in another way:  In Matthew 7:23 in context of His future judgement Jesus says to false believers, “I never knew you, depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.”  Jesus obviously “knew” who these people were and what they had done. So, when Jesus says, “I never knew you”, He means, “I have never been in a loving, saving, covenant-love relationship with you, and you show it by the lawlessness (lack of love for me) of your lives.”

To foreknow is to fore-love. We shall see this again in Romans 11:2 where Paul mentions God’s eternal, covenant love for Israel: “God has not rejected his people whom He foreknew” (Rom. 11:2).  There is profound substance to God’s foreknowledge.

The Second Link: Predestination

8:29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.   Predestination[3] is not synonymous with foreknowledge. Predestination follows foreknowledge.  Foreknowledge is what is in God’s heart concerning His people right from the very beginning. What is in God’s heart? Love for His people! Predestination follows from that. It points to God’s eternal decree to bring something to pass in time.  God’s ultimate purpose is the establishment of the church – the sum total of His adopted sons and daughters (8:15) consisting of OT (before the cross) and NT (after the cross) believers.

Predestined to which end? Now, notice how Paul completes that thought, “predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son”. The ultimate purpose of salvation is not just to obtain forgiveness from sins (we must and we do!), but to be conformed into Christ's likeness. Remember? We are called to be God’s holy people (1 Pet.2:9,10).  That is what it means to be a Christian!  Those in Matt 7:23, whom Jesus did not know, even though they said that they acted in His Name, did not actually act like Him!  They did not portray family likeness in what they did.  Christians are predestined to become like Jesus - spiritually, morally, and eventually physically as we inherit a resurrection body.

This is what it means “to be conformed” to his “image”.

Also note that Jesus is the firstborn among many brothers (and sisters). The term ‘firstborn’  refers to the fact that our Lord Jesus was the first human to have escaped the bondage of death (cf. 1 Cor. 15:20-23). In that sense He is the firstborn brother (the new Adam) of the new human race (see also Col. 1:15,18). We are predestined  to be imitators of Christ.

The Third Link: Calling

8:30a “And those whom he predestined he also called…”.  This is the “effectual call“. This is the powerful work of the Holy Spirit in the heart of one that is foreknown and predestined.  It comes in time, and the drawing power is unmistakable. It some that calling works in an instant; in others, over time.  But the point is that this call is effective.  

There may be two people who sit under the same gospel message: Both are called, both are invited to come to Christ – one responds and the other doesn’t.  How does that work?  In one sense God calls everyone, in that the gospel is freely and indiscriminately preached to all, BUT in the end only those who will effectively hear will experience that calling as a strong drawing to trust in Jesus.  In that sense “Many are called but few are chosen” (Matt. 22:14).  In 1 Thess1:5  we read that the gospel came to the Thessalonians “not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.”  The gospel landed on fruitful soil. They heard the gospel call, they believed and they became fruitful, but it is all due to the sovereign grace and mercy of God. In Romans 1:6-7, Paul refers to those “called to belong to Jesus Christ”… “loved by God and called to be saints”

We proclaim the gospel indiscriminately and universally to all people. That is a general call, but hearts are dead to the truth of the gospel. Unless God by His Spirit  supernaturally calls people from  the state to spiritual death to spiritual life, they will and cannot hear the life giving Word.  

The Fourth Link: Justification

8:30b “…and those whom he called he also justified…”  We have spent considerable time on this doctrine in earlier chapters. We will make this point in summary form:  When God calls someone, He justifies them, meaning that He forgives their sins and imparts the righteousness of Jesus to them, removing all charges against them. Their legal status before God the Great Judge of all has changed, and we return to Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation…”

The Fifth Link: Glorification

8:30c “…and those whom he justified he also glorified.”  We have also deliberated on the subject of glorification (see 8:17,18,21,23).  Glorification is the final step in God’s saving work. This is the future transformation of believers into the perfect, sinless likeness of Jesus Christ, both physically and spiritually. It occurs at Christ's return, resulting in resurrected, immortal bodies, the total eradication of sin, and eternal communion with God. It is interesting to note here that Paul uses the past tense to describe our glorification. This is odd, since our glorification is a future event, but clearly Paul sees this here as good as done – he speaks of it as having already occurred. This is the so-called   cherry on the top of the doctrine of salvation. When that has happened our salvation is accomplished and fully applied

CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS OF THIS DOCTRINE

Here we have the golden chain of salvation, from eternity past to eternity future. 

It leaves us breathless doesn’t it?

1.       8: 29-30 provides the foundation for the promise found in   8:28. Based on this promise we have confidence that God will truly work in all things for our ultimate good.  Even our strange providences, those difficult, strange things that happen to Christians along life’s highway, will ultimately work out for our good. In these experiences, God sanctifies us, and in that process, He draws even nearer to us. Thank God that there will be an end to all this testing when He finally calls us home, frees us from the presence of sin and equips us with bodies fit for heaven and His presence.

2.       Nothing ultimately will hinder His eternal good purpose for His foreknown, predestined, called, justified ones. They will all reach glory! God cannot fail.

3.       He will lose no one in the process!  All whom God foreknows will ultimately be glorified.  Your salvation is utterly secure.  The conclusion of chapter 8 makes that very clear.

4.       Make sure that you are indeed in Christ. Make sure that you know Him and are known by Him (2 Cor.13:5). Again, be reminded that the proof of the life of Christ in the soul is that you bear fruit. At the heart of this text is the ultimate goal: God wants you to be conformed to the image of His Son.  Right now that may look very different for all of us.

·       Some of you are young Christians. You are barely out of starting blocks- you are beginning to blossom and look like Jesus.

·       Others have walked with Jesus for many years. Your godliness is seen, felt and appreciated.

·       Some of you may be backslidden or stagnant or joyless.  Get back to your first love. Deal with the idols. Smash them!

·       A word to the unconverted. Conversion is not mere morality, education, or baptism. Don’t rely on superficial religion. You must have   a thorough change of heart, mind, and life brought by the Holy Spirit. This is the heartbeat of Romans 8. The Holy Spirit makes the difference.

 

 

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[1] "On the Predestination of the Saints" Book I, Chapter 17. In this work, written around A.D. 428–429 near the end of his life, Augustine was defending his doctrine of grace and unconditional election against the teachings of Pelagius.  He cited John 15:16, "You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you".

[2] προέγνω (proegnō), - aorist active indicative form of the verb proginōskō.

[3] Proorizō -  to determine beforehand, foreordain; There are six texts in the NT where this verb is used. Two of them are here in Romans 8:29-30. The other four are these: Acts 4:27-28; 1 Corinthians 2:7; Eph. 1:3-6; Eph. 1:11-12

ROMANS 8:28-30 DO ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD?

 

Dr Martyn Lloyd Jones (1899-1980), the great Welsh Preacher,  is probably best known for his lengthy sermon series on the  epistle to the  Romans. It has been  published in 14 volumes.  He preached 72 sermons on Romans 8 alone. In his commentary on the 8^th chapter of Romans, he says that this chapter is “the brightest gems of all”[1]. It is a great chapter on Christian assurance. This  subject  and chapter is a tonic for our souls, and that is why we are taking our time to savour its contents. 

Assurance (Jesus loves me this I know!) is a vital component of spiritual health for all Christians. When you are secure in your faith and in God's love for you  it moves you from fear-driven performance to joyful obedience. 

Assurance is important when you experience the inevitable  attacks of the devil and when you go through personal struggles,  because  your faith is rooted  in Christ who has overcome the world.  

 REVIEW

This chapter begins with, “no condemnation” and ends with “no separation.”   God is so good!

·       Rom. 8:1-4. Here we find the governing thought of this chapter: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus.”  In Romans 7 Paul showed us the real struggle between the righteous demands of the law and our inability to keep it.  This can be a very depressing problem. It  easily robs us of joy and assurance.  Who will deliver us from our sin? Thanks be to God – Jesus our Lord!  Therefore, we must learn to  look to Him- continually!  In this we are  helped also by the  indwelling Holy Spirit  by reminding us of the work of Christ: “the law of the Spirit of life has set us free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death”.  When this has happened we can grow in  the grace and the knowledge of God, even though we still must contend with indwelling sin.

·        Rom. 8: 5-11 shows the difference between the Christian and non-Christian. A Christian has their mind set on the things of the Spirit. The product is life and peace and the hope of eternal life. The non-Christian has their mind on the things of the flesh. They are hostile to God; they do not and cannot submit to God’s law.

·       Rom. 8:12 – 17   shows us that Christians, by the help of the Holy  Spirit can live differently to the world. A Christian  is  an  adopted son/ daughter of God. Belonging to a new  family they are not dominated by the spirit of slavery that makes them fall back into fear, but they are enabled by the Spirit of adoption to lean on God, their heavenly Father in the inevitable  trials of life.  

·       Rom 8:18 – 30 reminds   us   of the reality of suffering in a fallen world.  Our focus must not be on the suffering . It must be on the glory to be revealed.  In this, Christians in their weakness have the help of the Holy Spirit. He  intercedes for them with groanings too deep for words. And His prayers on their behalf are understood and heard by the Father –  A wonderful assurance!   

This brings us to 8:28-30. These three verses provide us with profound encouragement.  This is one of the most quoted passages in Romans. 

ROMANS  8:28-30    

1.       8:28a  Everything is ordered by God for our good

Even our sufferings! This is our context.  “ALL things work together for good!” All things?  Yes, everything!  Before we consider this strong assertion, we need to understand what Paul is not saying.

•  Paul is not saying that all things which happen to believers are good in themselves.  There are things that happen to us which are not good. There are evil things that others do to us which are not good. There are choices we make that are not good!   
• What Paul is saying is that God can use the evil things done to us, even our own poor choices,  for our ultimate good.  
• The comforting thought is this: We are not in the hands of an almighty devil; we are not in the hands of an evil world; we are not even finally in our own hands and of our bad choices, which can be very painful.  We are in the hands of a good God. He  is able  to work all things for good in the life of the believer. 

This needs to be seen in context of Rom. 8:26,27. 

What has Paul just said?  

He has said that the Holy Spirit helps us in our times of weakness.  These are times when you have no words to pray.  If you are in that position, then Paul has another word of comfort for you!  

1. Not only do you have a certain future hope when this difficult life is over 
2. Not only does the Holy Spirit intercede for you when you can’t pray 
3. But it is also true that God uses every event (even the messy ones) in your life to work for your ultimate good.  

He begins with this statement, "And we know that for those who love God ALL THINGS work together for good”.  We know!  We may not like to know this, but if you love God, then you know that He is with you in whatever happens …  a death; a severe illness of a loved one; the reality of recurring marital problems; problems with rebellious children; job retrenchment, and even some worse things.   

How can God be in this? How can these things be for good?  We don’t always know, and often it is very hard to see…even for a long time. But we know that God is not the Originator of sin. We also know that God is able to bring good out of evil. Just think what God did on the cross.  God turned a cruel cross into victory. 

Can He turn your cross into victory?  It is often hard to see…

This is where faith in the Word of God and the God of the Word becomes a Christian’s source of hope. A Christian is one who is loved by God (we shall see this now in 8:29,30) and who loves God., even in suffering and  times of trial. In God's  economy there is no wasted suffering.  It may be painful, and it may appear meaningless at face value, but it isn’t, because God remains your Father and you His beloved adopted child, and  as such He is committed to your  welfare,   even in the valleys of life.  

2.        8:28b This is a promise for believers alone!  

“For those who love God…”.  This is a word of comfort for Christians. We cannot use these words to an unbeliever whom you are visiting in hospital.  It belongs to those who love God… those who are called according to His purpose (the same thing).  And the reason they love Him is because He has called them. 

3.       8:29,30 God’s persistent love for His children

This is so big! Our life in Christ is in the hands of omnipotent love- whatever our experience!  

1. Paul says that there is no event in life that God doesn’t use for the good of believers (8:28a).                       
2. God’s promise is for believers alone (8:28b)
3. And now Paul shows us God’s glorious saving purpose from the beginning to the end (8:29,30). His involvement in the life of His children is all encompassing. It extends through their life in this fallen world with all its trials and tribulations. It continues until they are glorified, and back with Him in heaven.  This is so big!  This is the golden chain of salvation - an unbreakable, five-link sequence of God’s redemptive work.  And Paul  put’s it like this: Those God foreknows and predestines, these he  also calls, justifies, and ultimately glorifies - this is the golden chain of salvation. What mighty  assurance  we find here! 

THE GOLDEN CHAIN OF SALVATION 

a.        God foreknows His children. "For those whom He foreknew…". Some have thought that God foresaw that we would choose Him, and therefore, based on our choice, He chose us. That is not biblical. God’s choice of us never rested on our love, our works, or our decision. God‘s choice of us rests in His love for Jesus, His Son, to whom He has given a people, a church (ekklesia),a bride.  As such Jesus dies for those that the Father has given Him out of the world (John 17:2,6,9,10,24).  IN HIM  we  are loved by the Father.  We are  blessed  in the beloved. (Eph 1:6) 

b.      God has predestined His children to be conformed to the image of His Son.  God’s foreknowledge forms the basis of our predestination. Christians are predestined to be  conformed to the image of His Son.  They want to be like Jesus in His moral perfections.  They want to be holy as He is holy.  They want to share in His glory.  Paul also says here that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. We will share in the glory of our older brother! He is the first fruit of the resurrection. When He appears we will be like Him! (1 Jn 3:2) 

c.        Predestination is followed by the calling: While our predestination occurs before the beginning of time, our calling happens in time.  When you become a Christian, you hear the call of Jesus to come and follow (e.g. Matt. 1:18-22; Lk. 5:27,28). This call is irresistible, because it is the voice of the Good Shepherd. It is the voice of Home.

d.      Calling is followed by justification:  Justification is the legal declaration by God that a sinner is righteous i.e. not guilty. God does this by imputing the blood of His Son Jesus to  the sinner's  account.  Jesus our Lord was delivered up for our trespasses and raised  for our justification (Rom. 4:25).  There is now no condemnation (Rom. 8:1)  Who will bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies (Rom. 8:3)

e.       Justification is followed by glorification.  This happens after death, when we, like Jesus following His death, will be clothed in our resurrection bodies.  The text here reads in the past tense, "And you have been glorified."  He speaks of it as if it has already happened. It is as good as done.

CONCLUSION

When we consider the big picture, then all our losses and crosses, all suffering, all unfairness, all our bad decisions, all sin against us, everything.... becomes bearable. Therefore we must persevere. We must be patient.  We must know that this temporary life, with all its hardships and sufferings is just that: temporary. And in the meantime, we must know  that  our Father in heaven is not going to exempt us from doing life with all its complexities.  But He will make sure that we have more than sufficient grace to manage our challenges- many of which will be expressed in groanings, which the Holy Spirit bears on our behalf to the throne of grace.  

But, everything will ultimately work for good,  and  we know this  finally and especially  when we  shall  stand in His presence clothed in our glorified bodies!

 

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[1]  Martyn Lloyd Jones, ROMANS 7:1-8:4, p.258f, Banner of Truth,1973