Romans 9:6-9 - Children of the Promise

Romans 9:6-9 - 6 But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; 7 nor are they all children because they are Abraham’s descendants, but: “through Isaac your descendants will be named.” 8 That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants. 9 For this is the word of promise: “At this time I will come, and Sarah shall have a son.”


Message: Children of the Promise; Paul continues to share Christ with his people

Time: Romulus founded ancient Rome about 753 BC. By 600 BC it had become a wealthy, flourishing city with a monarch. Around 500 BC, the monarch was overthrown. A republic resulted and after war, Rome became the only great power in the Mediterranean, succeeding the empire of Alexander the Great. Before and after the birth of Christ, Rome's dominion continued to expand to about two thirds the size of the continental US. At the time Paul wrote, Rome had a population of about 1,000,000. Most were slaves. It was a vast empire, but had many religions present. It is unknown how the church started in Rome, but Gentiles and Jews both were involved. Paul was writing to address a problem, but he wanted to be there and perhaps, make Rome his base for his missionary journey's

What the Lord is Saying:

Outline
Here is another outline I found on biblepilot.com.

1. 9:1-5 Anguish for Israel
1. 9:1-3 Paul’s deep love and grief (Exodus 32:32)
2. 9:4-5 Israel’s extraordinary heritage
2. 9:6-29 God’s sovereign election and mercy
1. 9:6-8 Children of the promise
2. 9:9-13 Election illustrated by Israel and Edom
3. 9:14-18 God’s purpose and mercy illustrated
1. 9:14-16 Mercy on Moses (Exodus 33:19)
2. 9:17-18 Hardened Pharaoh (Exodus 9:34 – 10:1)
4. 9:19-24 The sovereign potter’s preparation
5. 9:25-26 Inclusion of gentiles declared by Hosea
6. 9:27-29 Exclusion of Israel declared by Isaiah
3. 9:30-33 Pursuit of righteousness
1. 9:30-31 Success by faith. Failure by works.
2. 9:32-33 The stumbling stone

In my open Bible, 9:1 - 11:36 is called the vindication of the righteousness of God and it states -- It appears that God has rejected His people, Israel, but it is really Israel who has rejected her Messiah. God's rejection of Israel is only partial (there is a spiritual remnant that has trusted in Christ) and temporary (they will be grafted back, 11:23-27). Paul appropriately quotes from the Old Testament in this section, and he emphasizes that God will be faithful to His covenant promises and restore Israel. 

Thus far, in the first 5 verses, Paul has declared his great love for the people of Israel, his fellow kinsmen, the Jews. As I have seen, Paul is speaking to the church in Rome. He is speaking to gentiles there, but it seems this book is predominantly written to the Jewish Christians there. And though the Jewish Christian is new in Christ, thoughts and questions remain in their life. Throughout Romans, Paul poses and answers these questions that are probably coming from them. He desires to encourage them and help them to understand the questions that they are undoubtedly having. His love for them is great. And his sorrow for them is great as well. He desires them to live fulfilled lives in Christ. He desires them to embrace all of the gospel in their lives. He would rather separate himself from the love of Christ than to see his friends not embrace Christ.

What stands out to me is not just Paul's incredible compassion on people but his deep concern over those that don't express a belief in God. I'm continually amazed in my own life as to how I spend time with people, have conversations about various things in life, work, family, raising children, sports, and yet not bring up, that which I believe to be most important, and that is a new life in Christ.

This is why the message here in Romans is so important because Paul recognizes that the people he is writing to have friendships with those that are unconverted. And he wants to encourage them in their own understanding so that they can then share that with others.

And yet this is a message not just to Jews, but also to Gentiles. The truths are the same. People may be impacted by them differently, but they benefit everyone.

Re-teaching
Much of the message from Paul in Romans is to try to re-teach the Jewish Christian. They have been trained over the years in certain ideas regarding the Law, it's keeping, circumcision, understanding of sin, the Spirit of God, righteousness, and Paul shows them how they have been misinformed. I've always been struck by the principle of training. I often think of I Timothy 4:7-8 that says, "Discipline or train yourself for godliness." It just always reminds me of the importance of training in our lives and the need to train ourselves to be Godly. The reality is people's beliefs and convictions in life are deep. Everyone has been trained throughout life. The convictions that people hold are there because of years of training. We are constantly being trained in life. Habits are constantly being formed. Our perceptions of things are being defined. And we are becoming deeply engrossed in these ideas.

I see this in the life of my own family members. I watch my children daily get trained. And as their parent, it makes me nervous often to see a path they are going down. Yet, I'm confident in God and He can bring them down His path, as He did with me. But, still it is hard. I've had this conviction since mid-August to have a daily family devotional time in the evening. It started out occurring 4 or 5 times a week, then 3 times, then 2 times, then once and now, in the last week, not at all. It's such a struggle to develop a new habit because no one is accustomed to this in their lives and they already have their lives filled up with other stuff. Every time I initiate it, I feel like I'm disturbing them. Often, when we sit down and talk, the time is great. But, getting to that point is so difficult. Lately, I find myself even talking myself out of bringing it up. So, see, even in something so elementary to faith in this house, there is training that has occurred and it is hard to re-train.

Election
Paul wants so badly for people to understand. This new section, verses 6-29, I believe will begin to bring home the idea of election. Election is a difficult principle in Scripture. It clearly is taught, but it is still hard to unpack. Election is the act of God whereby in eternity past God chose those who will be saved. The definition is clear, but the accomplishment of this and the process of the accomplishment is hard to comprehend.

Back around 2000 or 2001 when we were attending First Baptist Church in Tijeras we saw this truth come full center. It was clear that this was a doctrine that had never really been discussed head on in that church. Our pastor at the time, Mark Waite, felt moved to discuss it, and as he did, their were many in the church that had a really hard time with it. Mark's delivery on all matters was one of authority and conviction and unashamedly convinced of the truths of scripture. Again, I don't think the doctrine was in question, but what that doctrine meant in regards to all of the other church disciplines that we knew to be important. For suddenly, the delivery of the gospel in the pulpit, the work of evangelists, the prayer of the saints, and eventually, the fellowship of those in Christ, really began to be threatened and questioned. It was a big subject and I'm not sure it was unpacked very well. I never believed that Mark was trying to change how we approached those different disciplines but in his dogmatic preaching of these concepts it clearly created a division. And when different ideas are presented, many times people really struggle to give those new ideas the time of day because once they hear a difference they stop listening. It eventually culminated in a church split with two clear sides. It was tragic. My wife and I struggled during this time and yet we believe God had called us to the church and this specific body of believers, so no matter what we thought of the situation, we did not sense God moving us. He moved others obviously and our rapidly growing church suddenly was not just cut in half but probably one-thirds left. There was intense pain that resulted from this. It was a little tragic to see the result of this. In some ways, I'm not sure if that church has ever really recovered.

While I have no problem accepting the doctrine of election, I continue to believe all the other disciplines in the Bible remain. I still pray. I still share the Good news with others. I still speak to others about truth. I guess what I think is election is real but my perspective is not God's. The fact that God chose His people doesn't change my service. 

Word of God has not failed
Paul states in verse 6, "But it is not as though the word of God has failed." See, I think he says this because so many Jews were not Christians. This is true today. So, really, how is it that God chooses a people and then those people don't respond? That's the argument or the question, perhaps, in the background, that is being stated. God set the Jews out to be the carriers of salvation. Yet, this didn't happen. Jewish Christians should have occurred, it would seem, but instead the Gentiles embraced the message and Jews tend to be playing catch up or continue to resist the message. So, how could this be right is the pervading question.

Defining Descendants
Paul points out that God's word has not failed because what we think of the only descendants of Israel are not in fact the only descendants of Israel. Again, as is Paul's continued custom in this book, in his writing, it is to expose the teachings that he know has been passed down over the generations, over the centuries, and retrain God's children. But, these words, had to have created problems in people's thinking. To put forth that the Jews are not the only descendants of Israel must have created some questions. Paul kind of already mentioned something like this back in chapter 2.

In chapter 2, verses 25-29 Paul addresses circumcision and what it really means. It is an outward sign of an inward decision and what Paul mentions is important here is the inward decision, and not necessarily the outward sign. In verse 26, he states, "So if the uncircumcised man keeps the requirements of the Law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?" That's really a bold statement.

However, Paul is not saying here that all believers in Christ are descendants of Israel. I don't think that is what he is referring to, but I'm sure this is an interpretation people could have from this text. Instead, I think what he is saying is being physically born a Jew does not mean you are spiritually God's chosen.

He continues this thought in verse 7 in saying, "nor are they all children because they are Abraham’s descendants." Galatians 3:29 states, "And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise." Paul is focusing here not on physical descendants, but instead spiritual descendants. I remember Chapter 2, verse 13, when Paul communicated that the Jew does not somehow receive a free pass and will escape God's judgment just because they are born a Jew. He says in 2:13, "for it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified." I don't think that most people who walk around in life really think they are saved by their good deeds, but I do think they believe that because of their affiliation with a church, a denomination, or what they have been born into, that they do think this gives them a free pass into the kingdom of God.

And yet, Paul is really taking the Jews here down a different sort of course. In the next phrase he states, "through Isaac your descendants will be named." This is a quote of Genesis 21:12, - But God said to Abraham, “Do not be distressed because of the lad and your maid; whatever Sarah tells you, listen to her, for through Isaac your descendants shall be named. Here he is setting up that not all descendants of Abraham are part of the chosen line. Ishmael, born from Hagar and Abraham, is not part of the line. And not even all the descendants of Isaac.

Children of the Promise
In verse 8, Paul reiterates that, for each person, the focus is not on your affiliation, how you were born, the flesh that makes you a true descendant. I can see how this could be confusing. Paul mentioned in Romans 5:13-17 that being a descendant of Adam exposed all people to sin (and death) when Adam sinned. One sin resulted in sin to all. All men are condemned. But, not all are descendants here.

This idea of the promise is interwoven throughout scripture. I'm not sure I ever realized how much this word is used. The 1828 Webster definition of promise is, "In a general sense, a declaration, written or verbal made by one person to another, which binds the person who makes it, either in honor, conscience or law, to do or forbear a certain act specified."

In scripture, promise refers to blessing. It is simply listening to God and what He says and then having the confidence that He will do it. And it will be carried out. The onus is not on the faithfulness of man, though, but all of the onus is on God. Once the promise is made, we can have the assurance that it will be carried out.

Verse 9 states the promise, "“At this time I will come, and Sarah shall have a son.” The promise has been given. Now, will people listen? Sarah didn't listen and got Abraham to be intimate with Hagar in order to have a child. This is a quote of Genesis 18:10 that states,  He said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door, which was behind him. 

This is really, right here, the crux of our faith. Will I believe God? There are volumes of sermons that have been preached, books that have been written, and it all comes down to one easy question, "Will I believe God?"

Promise: Salvation comes to us only through faith, and it is only for those who believe in Christ.

Romans 9:4-5 - The Privileges of Israel

Romans 9:4-5 - 4 who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises, 5 whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.

Message: The Privileges of Israel

Time: Romulus founded ancient Rome about 753 BC. By 600 BC it had become a wealthy, flourishing city with a monarch. Around 500 BC, the monarch was overthrown. A republic resulted and after war, Rome became the only great power in the Mediterranean, succeeding the empire of Alexander the Great. Before and after the birth of Christ, Rome's dominion continued to expand to about two thirds the size of the continental US. At the time Paul wrote, Rome had a population of about 1,000,000. Most were slaves. It was a vast empire, but had many religions present. It is unknown how the church started in Rome, but Gentiles and Jews both were involved. Paul was writing to address a problem, but he wanted to be there and perhaps, make Rome his base for his missionary journey's

What the Lord is Saying:

Verse 4

...who are Israelites – descendants of Abraham through Joseph. God changed their name, as recorded in Genesis 32:28, He said, “Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed.” Paul identifies himself as an Israelite as well in Romans 11:1. - I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He? May it never be! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

to whom belongs the adoption as sons. –Adoption here is not a new term. Paul previously used this word in the last chapter, as an encouragement to believers in Christ, to affirm their place with God. They were regenerate, born again individuals. Romans 8:15 - For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” However, I don’t think this is how this word is being used here for Paul does not refer to the Jews as adopted Sons of God or children of God, but instead simply ‘sons.’ It is simply a statement that refers to God selecting the entire nation of Israel to receive His special calling, covenants, and blessings. Exodus 19:6 - and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel.” 

And so as sons, Paul lists what belongs to them:

• The Glory
• The Covenants
• The Giving of the Law
• The Temple Services
• The Promises 

1. The Glory of God expresses all that God is in His being, nature, character, power and acts. It repeatedly speaks of a presence of God that is unique. Exodus 24:17 - And to the eyes of the sons of Israel the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a consuming fire on the mountain top. And so it is the Israelites that have been given that glory.

2. And they have also received covenants. Covenants were made with Israel because they were to be the channel used by God to bring about salvation to the human race. The thing about the Jewish people that has always surprised me is they seem to be this secret club and they often have this persona of "just leave us alone and let us be." Maybe that is because they have been the butt of so many people's joke and assaults over the years, but there doesn't seem to be any desire on their part to convert society. But, the covenant was meant to be an agreement between God and man. And what God did here was based upon His character not on the individual receiving the covenant promise.

3. And the giving of the law that Paul has already expressed so many times in this book. The law is expressed so many times in the chapter 2 and 3, but always in the context of it not being a means to salvation. And yet later on in chapter 7 the idea is conveyed that we are to fulfill the Law. The bottom line is that the Jews "were entrusted with the oracles of God (Romans 3:2)." And Nehemiah 9:13,14, "13  “Then You came down on Mount Sinai, and spoke with them from heaven; You gave them just ordinances and true laws, good statutes and commandments. “So You made known to them Your holy sabbath, and laid down for them commandments, statutes and law, through Your servant Moses."

4. And they were given the privilege of temple service, however, the word temple is not in the original Greek. So, it is really to perform service. But, Paul is referring to the service as seen in the tabernacles, offerings and priesthood.

5. And promises. Promises were made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Verse 5
Obviously, much has been written about the translation of verse 5 since it brings together the idea that Jesus is God. Many have played around with the punctuation in this verse.

The conclusion of these two verses is really to express that the Jews have been given special privileges. Paul is clearly wanting to show that they are special. The Lord has granted great blessings to Israel.

Promise: From Tabletalk, July 8, 2014, "If we have faith in Jesus, the blessings of adoption, glory, covenants, the law, worship, promises, patriarchs and Christ are all ours as well." 

Romans 9:1-3 - Paul's Love for his Kinsmen

Romans 9:1-3 1 I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit, 2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh,

Message: Paul's Love for the Jews, his kinsmen

Time: Romulus founded ancient Rome about 753 BC. By 600 BC it had become a wealthy, flourishing city with a monarch. Around 500 BC, the monarch was overthrown. A republic resulted and after war, Rome became the only great power in the Mediterranean, succeeding the empire of Alexander the Great. Before and after the birth of Christ, Rome's dominion continued to expand to about two thirds the size of the continental US. At the time Paul wrote, Rome had a population of about 1,000,000. Most were slaves. It was a vast empire, but had many religions present. It is unknown how the church started in Rome, but Gentiles and Jews both were involved. Paul was writing to address a problem, but he wanted to be there and perhaps, make Rome his base for his missionary journey's

What the Lord is Saying:

Chapter 9, ball most definitely turns a corner and begins to express to the Jews, who he is primarily writing, God's righteousness. He wants to be clear and be honest. He even starts with a threefold expression of honesty in verse 1: I am telling the truth; I am not lying; my conscience testifies.  It is interesting that he ended chapter 8 with the relational part of sanctification, the encouragement that throughout all of life's struggles the love of God, because of our union in Christ, God is always there. He has given promises to these Christians that God will always be there and now in these verses he expresses the great sorrow and compassion that he has for them and what they are undoubtedly experiencing.

He has sorrow for the nation of Israel, God's chosen people. He understands them better than others, but he also sees that they are not embracing God as their Savior and Lord. 

In verse three he states a heartfelt burden for these people by expressing that he could wish that he was not in Christ...and they were instead. This is his great love for them. I remember chapter 1 when Paul stated that he was under obligation both to the wise and the foolish.

If there is one thing that Paul has is a burden or great desire to not only preach the gospel, but to see lives changed. Chapter 1 expresses this and starts the message that this is his number one goal in writing. He wants to see lives changed. And his love for people is so great, he'd rather see his life separated from God that to see them not know God.

Promise: July 7, 2014 Tabletalk, "Paul's love for the Jews models the love of Christ for us, in that He was willing to be rejected Himself so that His people could be saved. "

Romans 8:38-39 - No Separation from God's Love

Romans 8:38-39 - 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Message: Nothing can separate us from the love of God

Time: This book was probably written between 56 and 57 B.C. Paul was in Greece, probably Corinth when he wrote. It was sent to Gentile believers, but also believers with a strong Jewish element.

What the Lord is Saying:

Today's passage is really a continuation of yesterday, continuing to describe the relational aspect of the promise of God, And the encouragement we have when we face obstacles; there was a list of many types of adverse situations that can occur in the life of a Christian. And through them all is the confidence that Christ and his love is with us.

Verse 39 offers the reason why we have this hope. It is because the love of God reigns in us because of Jesus Christ. When we make him Lord, we usher in an acceptance and approval from God no matter the circumstance.

• Death - physical separation from the soul (spiritual part) to the body (material part).  
• Life - a vital and functioning being, living, with trials, as aliens and strangers, amongst all the forces that oppose us as believers,
• Angels - messengers, those who are sent in place of one who has sent them; but this could be in reference to fallen angels or angel worship 
• Principalities - speaks of those first in leadership, but here it also refers to those demonic forces that assist Satan in his warfare against God and His children. 
• Things present - present circumstances that believers encounter; the sense of troubles present
• Things to come -  what is about to be; the fear of troubles to come
• Powers - has reference evidently to those uncanny and horrible workings of Satan and his host seen in spiritism, theosophy, and all kinds of magic
• Height - something that is lifted high or elevated; 
• Depth - Wherever they were, or whatever other power might inhabit heaven above, or hell beneath, if either a part of them, or the whole in combination, were to assail those whom Jesus loves, it would be of no avail.
• Any other created being - Paul wants us to know that if he has missed anything, anything that may be construed as beyond what he has already mentioned; it is reasonable because the human heart can conjure up other possible trouble and disaster. 

In all of these aspects, the child of God is more than a conqueror. Time will not separate us from the love of God, nor will the future. No dimensions of any kind can separate us from the love of God.

Nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing can separate us from the love of God.

Promise: RC Sproul, "We may feel at times that God has departed from us, but that is when we have to believe his Word rather than our feelings."

Romans 8:35-37 - More Than Conquerors

Romans 8:35-37 - 35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 Just as it is written,“For Your sake we are being put to death all day long;We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.

Message: The Love of Christ sets us apart and we are more than conquerors in Christ

Time: This book was probably written between 56 and 57 B.C. Paul was in Greece, probably Corinth when he wrote. It was sent to Gentile believers, but also believers with a strong Jewish element.

What the Lord is Saying:


In chapter 3, Paul started asking questions and this is continued throughout the book. The questions are meant to possibly come from an imaginary person or maybe an individual that could possibly raise a question as Paul is speaking.

Paul continues in these verses to offer encouragement to the Christian as a face trials in their life, once again while they are in Christ. The Christian is saved at the end of chapter 3, the imputation of righteousness is confirmed by our father Abraham in chapter 4, and the believers death to sin is declared in chapter 5. In 6, 7 and 8, the believers life of sanctification is described. And through this process of being made holy by the Spirit of God a Christian will undoubtedly have questions, and come under attack and have trials. Paul wants to assure the believer that nothing can come against them. Yesterday, we had the reminder that no charge can come against us. There is nothing that can condemn us.

The love of God
Now in verse 35, Paul shows us how the love of Christ will never cease. [I wonder why love is mentioned here and not earlier. Paul has talked about the Lord being with us in prayer, that no charge can come against us, that God is there for those He chooses, and now, he culminates this with talk of the Love of Christ. Just interesting. It could just be a shift from the legal relationship we have in Christ, versus now in these verses the relational aspect of that relationship in Christ.]

Nothing

It is interesting then the list that Paul gives us of struggles to face. He had mentioned tribulation in chapter 5 reminding us that we can exult in our tribulations for they produce hope. Yet in this verse tribulations is the beginning point of struggles in our lives. Tribulations are something that we experience every day in some form or another. They can be small and they can be large.

Distress can occur because of a loss, like a job or a close friend or family member dying to soon.

Famine is something I rarely experience. I don't even know if I can say I have ever experienced famine. Can I say that I've had to go without food for a long period of time? Maybe, but it was probably my own choice.

Nakedness is also something that I've only experienced in a dream. And even in that dream it was humiliating and stressful, but in real life I never have. I guess it could also mean to be exposed or to be humiliated.I have been embarrassed many times but I'm not sure if I've ever really been humiliated.

In peril, I think that would be if I was scared of my life. I think I have experienced this a couple of times, But it has only been momentary, driving in the car, narrow narrowly missing a crash, on my bike, but never anything that lasted longer than a few moments.

And finally death or a sword. Definitely not on that one.

I think what this all is trying to say is that no matter how difficult the situation, even if it might end up in death, the love of God is not absent and remains with us, with me.

In verse 36, Paul quotes from Psalm 44 where the psalmist cries out to God for the alleviation of the suffering he endures for the sake of his faithfulness to the Lord. It is a stark reminder that suffering is not something that will be avoided or not present in the life of the believer in Christ. It should not take us by surprise. It is real and it will occur. And it has the potential of occurring in many forms, but no matter how or when or why, we can rest assure that the love of Christ remains with us. 

Not simply withstanding, but conquering
Verse 37 expresses that we don't simply put up with these difficulties in life, but we overcome them and work through them and eventually conquered them. The strongest sentiment here is that we conquer death.

Promise:  From Tabletalk, July 3, 2014, "Let our enemies do their worst---they cannot overpower our living and loving God."

Romans 8:33-34 - None Can Condemn

Romans 8:33-34 33 Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; 34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.

Message: Encouragement, no one can really charge anything against when we are in Christ

Time: This book was probably written between 56 and 57 B.C. Paul was in Greece, probably Corinth when he wrote. It was sent to Gentile believers, but also believers with a strong Jewish element.

What the Lord is Saying:

Review
Starting in verse 26, Paul seems to be offering an encouragement to me and other Christians. Through these verses he is confirming who I am in Christ so that I can rest on these objective (not subjective) promises.

When I struggle in prayer, as I do often, I can be reminded that God is there, providing his Spirit to intercede on my behalf for me. So God is my help in prayer. And even more so I can have the assurance, in verse 28, that He is working everything out in my life for good. He is using everything and working it all together for good.

Why would He do this? Because He chose me, as it says in verse 28, "that I am called according to his purposes." My life therefore is lived for His purposes. He knew me before there was me. He has a purpose in my life and that is to conform me to the image of His son. It is like the Degarmo & Key song, "Perfect Reflection."

Like a perfect reflection of You
In the heart of me
A perfect reflection of You
Is what I want to be

Make my life a portrait like a work of art
A living revelation of Your Heart

He is growing me and working things together in my life so that I will reflect Jesus in a perfect way on this earth and for all time.

When He justified me, He glorified me. So naturally through sanctification, He will make me holy.

I can't help but think that the audience that he is speaking to, these Roman Christians, though they are knee-deep in preaching the gospel, they are also knee-deep in struggles and trials and difficult times because Paul in these words of Romans 8, now specifically, continues to re-affirm that God is on their side. The Spirit is with them. They are chosen. God is for them. Paul speaks to them in many different ways, repeatedly reminding them that God is there, He cares.

No charge against us
Though it feels at times people or events are leveling blows at me, I can rest assure that there is no lasting charge (verse 33) that can be made against me because I am God's elect. This should produce in me all kinds of comfort.

In life, I am so well trained in responding to difficult situations or attacks or charges in an unwholesome manner. I am so quick to react rather than to respond. I want could be slow to anger or slow to react.

Only God condemns
In verse 34, it is God who justifies or it is God who is the one that makes people right and acceptable and true and worthy to receive honor and blessing.then also he is the one who condemns, so please be reminded and hear this, Christian, no one can bring a charge against you.

A God who intercedes for us
It seems that in these last few verses of Romans 8,we have a Father that intercedes for us, Jesus who intercedes for us, the Spirit intercedes for us. We have God in three persons interceding for us. God is once again on our side. We don't need to fret with the struggles that we are experiencing.

Promise For those in Christ, the verdict of righteousness is already occurred and nothing can hurt us.

Romans 8:31-32 - Sparing Not His Son

Romans 8:31-32 - 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?

Message: Sparing Not His Son; God is for us.

Time: This book was probably written between 56 and 57 B.C. Paul was in Greece, probably Corinth when he wrote. It was sent to Gentile believers, but also believers with a strong Jewish element.

What the Lord is Saying:

Review
Returning briefly to the outline I started looking at for the Romans 8:18 entry.
  
8:31-39 God makes Christians victorious

1. 8:31-33 God is on our side
2. 8:34-36 Christ intercedes for us
3. 8:37-39 We are more than conquerors

It seems, thus far, that in Romans 8 the message that 'God is in charge' seems to be communicated.  Paul lets us know that the Spirit is with us, indwelled in us, and giving us life. No matter what sins we may experience or the war that we often have with our flesh, the Spirit is there giving us strength and ministering to us. We also are confirmed as children of God, part of God's family. Once again, because of our connection with God, the Spirit is always with us, giving us life and moving us to holiness. And I have the comfort of knowing that, though I suffer now, it in no way compares with the glory I will experience in the future.

And then I have the assurance that everything in my life will work together for good. But that good is defined by God, not me and I can be confident that He is in control. I am not a mistake but my fellowship with Him He foreknew.

God is for us
So God gives me a special promise in verse 31 and confirmation that, no matter what, God is for me. Whether it is my flesh waging war against me or weakness is praying, God is there and for me. I should rest on that promise and be comforted by that. How I wish I could take that promise with me everywhere I went. How I should not get focused on my suffering.

A Son offering
Verse 32 mentions that God did not spare even His Son for His people, His called ones. I understand this, but I must admit, personally, this has always been a hard thing for me to comprehend since Jesus is God. But, he lived in the likeness of sinful flesh (Romans 8:3). But maybe, the focus is really more on God and what He would sacrifice as a father of a son. The father would have to watch his son suffer. Just as in Abraham who made the decision to not even spare his own son. The focus then is how great a love or rather, how great a devotion one has to a people that the father would do anything for His God or with God, for us.

Delivered Him up for us all
This phrase in verse 32 has the idea of delivering someone over to the police. The other night in our home group the husband and wife mentioned they had to kick their daughter out of the house because she no longer chose to abide by their rules. It was the hardest thing they had ever done. It is turning your child out to society. In a way, the idea is this here, to deliver someone over to the police. Jesus was delivered over to His accusers and the Father had to wait to see what would be done to Jesus and what was done was unimaginable.

He freely gives us all things
We are the benefactor of all that God has given up. Freely gives is the Greek word charizomai. In the New American Standard, this is how the word charizomai is translated: bestowed(1), forgave(2), forgive(3), forgiven(4), forgiving(2), freely give(1), given(1),graciously forgave(1), granted(5), hand(2), things freely given(1).

He forgives us all things. He is gracious to us. He has grace on us. He gives us something we don't deserve. Jesus is the ransom, we are the benefactor. Could it be that God forgives everything? We already have the promise that all things work together for good (v. 28) so it is fitting that God forgives everything we do because we already know there is no condemnation (v. 1) for the things we do that aren't in sync with our new life in Christ (7:14-25).

Promise: From Tabletalk, July 1, 2014, "What looks like our loss and the victory of our enemies over us is only temporary, for the final victory is assuredly ours in Christ."