Romans 8 Bible Study (4)

Introduction

Romans 8:28–39 CSB

28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified. 31 What, then, are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He did not even spare his own Son but gave him up for us all. How will he not also with him grant us everything? 33 Who can bring an accusation against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies. 34 Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us. 35 Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: Because of you we are being put to death all day long; we are counted 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 persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, 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 that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

NT331 Book Study: Paul’s Letter to the Romans Providence

Providence

Romans 8:28, of course, is one of the famous verses of the Bible [and] rightly so. Here Paul talks about the providence of the God—that He is constantly working for the good of those who love Him, who have been called by Him. We do have to be careful we understand just what this promise is here. It is not a promise that God will always make things right in a worldly sense. For instance, I’ve heard people say, “Well, Romans 8:28 promises that if you lose this job, God will make sure you get a better one.” That’s not necessarily so. The good here has to be defined from the standpoint of God’s kingdom and values—the good of our coming closer to Christ, of knowing Him better, of being more effective servants of His. Sometimes God uses difficult circumstances in our lives to accomplish that ultimate good. Having said that though, let’s hang onto this tremendous promise of God’s providence. In whatever touches our lives, God promises He is working for our ultimate good in conformity to Christ and glory for His name.

Predestination

The third “p” is predestination (verses 29–30). Paul uses a series of five verbs here to make the point: “God foreknows us, He predestines us, calls us, justifies us, and glorifies us.” See, again, that “glorify” is at the end of the sequence and is the key point Paul is wanting to make. But we shouldn’t say just a word about the beginning part of the process because there is a lot of controversy about this verb “foreknow” here. Whom God foreknew, He predestined. So everything starts with this foreknowledge.

NT331 Book Study: Paul’s Letter to the Romans Predestination

In a sense Paul just sort of stands back and says, “Look at the awesome things God has done. Let’s together celebrate what He’s done.”

God is using all things to make us more like Jesus. Good and bad things aren’t purposeless for a purposeful God. God is like an artist using a chisel on a slab of marble. He’s chiseling away things that don’t need to be present in the finished piece. He’s chiseling away things in our lives that we don’t truly need to hold on to. Sometimes this is easy and enjoyable but other times it’s painful and difficult. The promise of Romans 8:28 is simply that God is at work at all times in the lives of Christians and that He is working all things for our ultimate good. Whenever we rest in this promise we can rejoice even in hard times, just as we’ve seen from Paul in the book of Philippians during our Sunday morning sermon series.

Look at Romans 8 today and be reminded of God’s great love for His children. If you’re a Christian here are a few promises from this glorious chapter!

There is no condemnation - you’re in Christ

There is no alienation - you’re adopted into God’s family

There is no miscommunication - God hears and see’s it all

There is no humiliation - all things work for your good

There is no separation - God has you in His hand

If you’re a follower of Jesus Christ, Romans 8 shares with you that God loves you and has always loved you and will always love you… Not because of the good stuff that you do but because He simply chose to. This golden chain of redemption in Romans 8 tells us that our salvation is secure in Christ. Just as Philippians 1:6 told us a couple weeks ago that God finishes what He starts, Romans 8:28-39 tells us that God has a perfect plan and we are a part of that plan. God works out His plan and God will complete His plan. It’s humbling to be a part of God’s eternal plan and that should give us all the assurance in the world, even in difficult days and seasons like the one that we are in today.

It’s not ideal to be in a world where we’re having to change our plans on a regular basis. We’ve been living this way for 2 years now and we’re still having complications! Romans 8 and the book of Philippians serve as an oasis of encouragement in a desert of despair. I encourage you today to take some time to read this entire chapter - all 39 verses! It will take you a couple of minutes, but I pray that it would provide you with reason to rejoice as a Christian as you remember God’s great love for you, His child. Although we won’t be physically meeting together tonight, take some time today to read Scripture and lift one another up in prayer. Reach out if you’re sick and in need of help!

We’re excited to worship with you on Sunday as we study from Philippians 2:12-17 and look at how we as Christians stand out from the world around us.

Love you guys and am praying for you all - stay safe - God bless!