Made Just through Christ’s Blood because of Grace by Faith Offers Victorious Life

Liz Anderson

Romans Nigeria • Sermon • Submitted 6 years ago

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Homiletical idea for Chapters 1-4

(ESV)

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

Main Passage for Chapters 1-4

(ESV)

21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Homiletical idea for chapters 5-8

Through Christ and we then can be more than conquerors; nothing can separate us from the Love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Main passage for Chapters 5-8

(ESV)

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.

God’s Everlasting Love

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 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? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;

we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 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.

The gospel is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes.

Homiletical idea for Chapters 1-4

We are called to be holy people, saints, who belong to Christ Jesus. 1:1-6

PAUL UNDERSTANDS HIS MISSION:

(ESV)

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

PAUL KNOWS WHO HE IS:

All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and are justified by his grace as a gift through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood to be received by faith.

(ESV)

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh

Paul KNOWS that he has been CALLED. He makes no apology. He didn’t stop to wait for approval from a denominational board or the church elders. He didn’t attend seminary, though we know he went away for three years studied the scriptures.

He knew that he had heard the voice of Jesus though that was many years before, many imprisonments before, some stoning’s, a few beatings and a lot of stuff that would have made US question our call but Paul became more firm in his resolve to live out his call to proclaim the good news to all who would listen.

Main points:

“Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,” (, ESV)

Paul calls himself a servant. A servant of Christ Jesus. The word is actually the word (Doulos) δοῦλος. It means “slave,” the property of an owner. Paul claim to belong to someone else-he is not his own man. He is a slave, one who works without pay. Being called a slave of the king was actually a title of some honor and for Paul it seems to be taken as such.

Paul claims to have been called. In , the letter to the church at Corinth, Paul says he was, “Called by the will of God.” . The word “called” in means: Called, invited, welcomed, appointed. Originally it was used to designate those invited to a banquet[1]

Paul says he is called as an apostle. (apostolos) ἀπόστολος meaning one who is sent; an ambassador. Jesus called his twelve disciples apostles () because they were his ambassadors. An ambassador has some authority as one sent by his master to bear a message.

Paul says he is set apart for the gospel of God. Again, in the Greek the word is the same word we get Pharisee from (aphorízō) ἀφορίζω. Paul was a Pharisee before, one set apart for the law. Now he is set apart, not for the law but for the gospel-the GOOD NEWS.

A. The gospel is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes, and it reveals God’s righteousness which is by faith from first to last.

Paul is SURE he is called. In no uncertain terms Paul tells us he is a slave who has been called, sent, and set apart to tell others the good news of God.

PAUL IS WRITING TO ROME:

(ESV)

7 To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1. We are called to be holy people, saints, who belong to Christ Jesus. 1:1-6

BACKGROUND ON PAUL’S WRITING OF THIS BOOK:

Paul wrote to the Christian churches in Rome. Paul has not been there yet. We can assume these were churches that met in homes on the first day of the week, Sunday. (As opposed to the Sabbath Saturday.)

Romans was probably written in Corinth around A.D. 57 (before Philippians). We think this is true from some of the internal evidence. First, in (NIV) I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon, of the church in Cenchreae. 2 I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of his people and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been the benefactor of many people, including me.

3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus. 4 They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them.

Phoebe is probably carrying this letter from her home to Rome. Her home, Cenchrae, is near Corinth as we see in (ESV) 18 After this, Paul stayed many days longer and then took leave of the brothers and set sail for Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila. At Cenchreae he had cut his hair, for he was under a vow. You will note that Priscilla and Aquilla who host a church in their home and who are known for their excellent Bible teaching are now in Rome.

PAUL UNDERSTANDS HIS MISSION:

Secondly, we believe this is written from Corinth because Paul says: (NIV) 23 Gaius, whose hospitality I and the whole church here enjoy, sends you his greetings. And this is likely the same Gaius who lived in Corinth and was baptized by Paul, he also traveled with Paul.

This book is the fullest expression of Christian theology in the Bible. But, it also focuses on a tension that existed in the Christian church at this time, particularly in Rome. Because the church started as Jewish. Jesus and his disciples and Paul were all Jewish and the first Christians were Jewish. But over time Gentiles began to become Christians.

The Jews were expelled from Rome by Roman Emperor Claudius in Ad 49 because of strife over “Chrestos” which probably means that the Jews who were not becoming Christians and those who were had issues with one another.

So while the Jews were gone from Rome the church continued to grow by bringing in new Gentile Greek converts. The Gentiles did not have a bibilical background and they did not know the Old Testament law. They only knew the gospel and they were learning the Old Testament as adults.

(ESV)

As the Jews began to return to Rome there must have been problems between the Jews and the Gentiles so Paul explains the gospel to them both. Sometimes speaking to one group, sometimes speaking to the other, and sometimes speaking to both.

He uses a technique of arguing by asking questions called “diatribe.” He asks the questions you are about to ask before you do and then he gives the answer. Paul quotes a lot of Old Testament texts from memory. His hope is that the church will be unified and will preach the gospel and exhibit Christ’s love to Rome.

Rome is a very wealthy capital. There were many monuments, theaters, temples to various gods, and grand buildings. It was the capital of the Roman empire. There were aquaducts that carried water into the city and sewers that carried waste out. The rich families lived in beautiful villas, the poor families lived in apartment houses above the shops. Authors from the time said it was a severely overcrowded, loud, and smelly city that provided every virtue and vice known to mankind. (According to the ESV Study Bible introduction to Romans which you’ve been given.)

We can be grateful for the strife in these churches because it caused Paul to spell out the whole of the gospel for us to study. In this book we will see why God called Gentiles, of which Paul was the Apostle.

PAUL IS ALSO WRITING TO US

The Romans, and by extentsion you and I, are also loved by God and called to be saints. the word is hagios, ἅγιος. Holy, set apart, consecrated, saints, someone devoted to the service of a deity.

Tell the story of the arcade machine that chooses things. It is arbitrary. We sometimes feel like God chooses people to be his servants arbitrarily like that.

This letter is not only addressed to the Romans but to you and I because we are loved, called, and set apart for service to a deity-our Lord Jesus Christ.

Are we waiting to be chosen? Waiting for a call on our lives? We already have it and it is our place to live it out.

We all deserve God’s wrath.

PAUL KNOWS WHO HE IS:

1. All are responsible for breaking the law, even those who have never heard (they have seen Him in nature), even Gentiles who do not know the law (the law is written on their hearts), Jews (they have the law and the prophets.

(ESV)

19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

(ESV)

26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.

28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.

In Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis calls these rules “laws of human nature.” We see them when people “say things like, “How’d you like it if [someone] did [that] to you?” “That’s my seat, I was there first,” “Leave him alone; he isn’t doing you any harm,” “Why should you [go] first?”, “Give me [some of your sandwich]; I gave you [some] of mine,” or “Come on, you promised.”5 Lewis believed—I am sure he is right—that statements like this show that all people everywhere recognize a standard of behavior to which they and others are supposed to measure up.[1]

5 C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (New York: MacMillan, 1958), p. 3.

[1] James Montgomery Boice, Romans: The Reign of Grace, vol. 2 (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1991–), 718.

No one is without sin.

Hiltosis story

(ESV)

29 T[We are] filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. [We are] are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. [We] are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.

(ESV)

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

No one can judge another because we are all sinners.

(ESV)

Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. 2 We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. 3 Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God?

In prison, the inmates punish and terrorize one another, forming hierarchies of power. Do we ever look down on our neighbor and the addict and the weak among us rather than seeing them through the eyes of Jesus Christ?

ILLUSTRATION: THE PARABLE OF THE UNMERCIFUL SERVANT

Jesus put it this way for his disciples one afternoon while he was holding a little child on his lap. He said that it was not his will that any of these little ones should perish. () Then he went on in answer to a question from Peter:

““Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him. In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. He couldn’t pay, so his master ordered that he be sold—along with his wife, his children, and everything he owned—to pay the debt. “But the man fell down before his master and begged him, ‘Please, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.’ Then his master was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt.

“But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars. He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment. “His fellow servant fell down before him and begged for a little more time. ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it,’ he pleaded. But his creditor wouldn’t wait. He had the man arrested and put in prison until the debt could be paid in full.

“When some of the other servants saw this, they were very upset. They went to the king and told him everything that had happened. Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’ Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt. “That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.”” (, NLT)

Even those who are very religious and knowledgeable about the Bible are guilty before God.

(ESV)

“Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,” (, ESV)

17 But if you call yourself a Jew [or a Christian] and rely on the law [following the Bible] and boast in God 18 and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law; 19 and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— 21 you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal [in hidden ways]? 22 You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery [in your heart or mind]? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples [or support the church and missions less than you should]? 23 You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law [the Spirit of the law as Jesus spelled it out in ]. 24 For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles [or the Muslims or the unbelievers] because of you.”

The wages of sin is death.

The wages of sin is death in this world:

(ESV)

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.

The wages of sin is death and the next

(ESV)

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Righteousness is given to us as a free gift.

(ESV)

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

(ESV)

4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,

When we don’t appreciate the gravity of our sin we presume on God’s grace.

Tell the story of Thedwick the Moose (Which is like a giant wild Bull) whose horns became so full he couldn’t put his head down to eat and nearly starved because everyone presumed on his gracious hospitality.

(ESV)

2 We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things [any sin]. 3 Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things [see vs. 19-28] and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

Paul is not speaking to the world here, he is speaking to the people in the church. That is his audience, the believers in Rome.

I’m convinced, that ultimately, there are only three kinds of people, unrighteous, righteous, and self-righteous. We all fall into one of those three camps. Probably, we may fall into several depending on our day. Though in God’s eyes we may be righteous, if we don’t admit our guilt and our need for Christ’s sacrifice, if we don’t remember our unrighteousness we quickly become self-righteous.

Though we stand convicted by God the righteous judge we, like the convicts in the prison ignore our own handcuffs and look down on the other prisoners. Because our kind, forbearing, and patient God has commuted our sentence by hanging his own Son, his own Son, on a cross; giving him the death penalty in our place. Putting Jesus to death in order to commute our deserved death sentence. And then we stand on the brink of the pit and spit in on the other prisoners.

Righteousness comes apart from keeping the law but through faith. This is true for both Jew and Gentile.

(ESV)

4 Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a giftx but as an obligation. 5 However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.y [2]

Paul is SURE he is called. In no uncertain terms Paul tells us he is a slave who has been called, sent, and set apart to tell others the good news of God.

Faith is being fully persuaded that God has the power to do what he has promised.

Abraham had that kind of faith. Abraham’s faith was counted as righteousness for him even though he lived before the cross, even before the giving of the law. Abraham is the father of all who believe.

D. The Old Testament “promise” was that God would send a savior.

The prophet Isaiah wrote:

(ESV)

PAUL IS WRITING TO ROME:

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions;

he was crushed for our iniquities;

upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,

and with his wounds we are healed.

(ESV)

6 All we like sheep have gone astray;

we have turned—every one—to his own way;

and the LORD has laid on him

the iniquity of us all.

Jesus Christ was promised by the prophets. The promise is also eternal life. The promise is also the gift of the Holy Spirit (, ). (All God’s promises are “yes” in Jesus Christ. )

7 To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints:

(ESV)

20 For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. 21 And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, 22 and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

Christ’s blood that atoned for all sins, both those in the past before the cross and those after.-

All still receive it only by faith, not possible to get it by trying to be righteous.

This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

justification, justification by faith

A forensic (legal) term related to the idea of acquittal of guilt in a trial. Justification refers to the divine act whereby God makes humans, who are sinful and therefore worthy of condemnation, acceptable before a God who is holy and righteous. JUST AS IF YOU NEVER SINNED[3]

grace

A favor done without expectation of return; the absolutely free expression of the loving kindness of God to men finding its only motive in the bounty and benevolence of the Giver; unearned and unmerited favor.[4]

redemption

BACKGROUND ON PAUL’S WRITING OF THIS BOOK:

The process by which sinful humans are “bought back” from the bondage of sin into relationship with God through grace by the “payment” of Jesus’ death.[5]

sacrifice of atonement

Propitiation, mercy. The lid or covering of the ark of the covenant made of pure gold, on and before which the high priest was to sprinkle the blood of the expiatory sacrifices on the Day of Atonement, and where the Lord promised to meet His people (, ; , , ). Paul, by applying this name to Christ in , assures us that Christ was the true mercy seat, the reality typified by the cover on the ark of the covenant (). He is designated not only as the place where the sinner deposits his sin, but He Himself is the means of expiation.[6]

righteous

BACKGROUND

That which is right, conformable to right, pertaining to right, that which is just. This is expected by the one who sets the rules and regulations whereby man must live, whether that be society or God. Therefore, it means that which is expected as duty and which is claimed as a right because of one’s conformity to the rules of God or society.[7]

The application of Redemption is Reconciliation

When we believe Christ is the son of God and accept Him as the one to save us from God’s wrath we have peace with God (reconciliation) and we live daily in his grace.

What does being reconciled look like? It looks like a child with their father. It is like being a brother or sister with Jesus Christ. There is no fear. There is a personal relationship like God had with Adam and Eve in the garden. There is shalom, peace, between us.

(ESV)

6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

We are made just by Jesus blood. Since we are now just we are saved from God’s wrath

(ESV)

9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

The Theology of Sin says that all humans are sinners from conception since the day Adam and Eve first sinned in the garden

We all die since then.

We are all at enmity with God since then.

B. We are all at enmity with God since then.

Sin came through one man BUT grace and reconciliation also came through one man, Jesus Christ.

3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus. 4 They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them.

If we are forgiven already does it matter if we keep sinning? No, because we have died to sin with Christ.

When we believe in Christ for our righteousness then we die with Christ and are raised free from sin. Sin is no longer in control of us.

Baptism is a picture of this, we go under the water to signify our death to sin and we are raised again to signify the hope of resurrection and eternal life.

Thought we still fall into sin, sin is no longer our master, we ae no longer its slaves to our passions.

We were under the authority of the law until we died with Christ and now we are free to belong to Christ (In Revelation, the church is the bride of Christ)

a. The law is good and right and holy but it never could stop us from sinning. The law just made it clear that we did sin and that we are guilty.

b. However, thought we are now alive in the Spirit, we sometimes do what we do not want to do. Sin can sometimes take control of us and evil is right there with us trying to enslave us again.

But we are no longer condemned to die when we sin because Jesus paid the price for us-he was our sin offering. The punishment due has already been paid.

Through sin, all of creation was cursed and brought into bondage and decay.

(ESV)

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

We can boast only in the Hope of Glory-of Heaven and eternal life

(ESV)

2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

We boast also in our sufferings because, in the power of the Holy Spirit, they produce hope instead of despair.

(ESV)

3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Life in the Spirit means we are no longer condemned.

(ESV)

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

No fear in death

(ESV)

38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 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.

Access to the Father through Prayer by the intercession of the Spirit and because Jesus Christ knows our hearts.

(ESV)

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

We are at peace with God when our mind is set on Him.

(ESV)

5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Life in the Spirit, unlike life in the flesh, is eternal and the glory we will one day have far surpasses any suffering we might have on earth.

(ESV)

We have hope.

(ESV)

23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

God is for us, no one can be against us.

Under sin’s curse we saw tribulation

(ESV)

9 There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek,

Under grace we see that tribulation can no longer separate us from God’s love.

(ESV)

He did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all and he will graciously give us all things.

No one can bring a charge against us or condemn us. Nothing on earth can separate us from the love of God.

Nothing can separate us from God’s love

We are more than conquerors.

(ESV)

PAUL IS ALSO WRITING TO US

y ver 3, 9, 22; See

This letter is not only addressed to the Romans but to you and I because we are loved, called, and set apart for service to a deity-our Lord Jesus Christ.

[3] Stanley Grenz, David Guretzki, and Cherith Fee Nordling, Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1999), 69.

[4] Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2000).

[5] Stanley Grenz, David Guretzki, and Cherith Fee Nordling, Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1999), 100–101.

Are we waiting to be chosen? Waiting for a call on our lives? We already have it and it is our place to live it out.

[7] Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2000)..

[1] Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2000).

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