Romans 8 Three Ways
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be
against us? 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? Who shall bring any
charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 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. Who shall separate us from the
love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or
nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to
be slaughtered.”
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, 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.
Romans 8:31-39
ROMANS 8, IN JESUS’
WORDS
I picture Jesus, kneeling in the Garden of Gethsemane, the cross before him. Might he have had the sentiments of Romans 8 in his mind?
What then shall I say to the conflict with the Pharisees, my
disciples’ betrayal, the anguish of the cross? If God is for me, who can be
against me? Not even the power of death and the Prince of Death, the Devil!
(Heb. 2:14) Father, you will not spare me, and for love, do not spare me. Let this cup pass from me--but your will. I trust you, if there were any other way, you would, but oh Father! (Mt. 26:39). Now
is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’?
But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name (Jn.
12:27-28). I do this in trust, for you will graciously
give me all things (Col. 1:16, 18; Jn. 6:37; 10:29; 17:24) and in my name you will
graciously give them all you have given me, for their sakes do I become poor
that they might be rich with every spiritual blessing (2 Cor. 8:9; Eph. 1:3). Who
shall bring any charge against God's elect—I am perfectly righteous! And they
are in me, with my righteousness (2. Cor. 5:21). Who is to condemn? “But the
Lord GOD help me; therefore I have not been disgraced; He who vindicates me is
near…Behold, the Lord God helps me; who will declare me guilty” as Isaiah
prophesied of me (Isa. 50:7-9). Father, before the cross, before I come to you
again raised, I intercede for my brothers and sisters. Nothing can separate me
from your love—and through this, nothing will separate them for they will be
one in me and you will love them with the same love that you have loved me (Jn.
17:23). Who shall separate my brothers
and sisters from my love? Not even my own death, suffering, cross. Shall
tribulation, or distress, or persecution by Pharisees and Romans, or thirst on
the cross, or nakedness of the cross, or danger, or sword piercing my side? As
it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are
regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” And like a lamb, I will be silent before
the shearers (Isa. 53:7; Mt. 27:12-14). No, in all these things I am more than a
conqueror through my Father who loves me. For I am sure that neither death nor
life, nor angels nor rulers earthly or heavenly, nor things present nor things
to come, nor the greatest powers of the prince of this age, nor height nor
depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate me from the
love of God, and thus not from those who call on my name either. Father, this
is my prayer, this is my heart.
I picture a young slave, ducking furtively down the alleys of Rome to the little house church. Heart heavy--his friend in prison. Awaiting the lions. Fear and faith fought--he was tempted to stay at home tonight. The risk was high. But he heard that the great apostle Paul had sent a letter. He needed to hear from God. He needed to. Might God speak to him?
To you, my dear brothers and sisters in Rome, what then shall we say to the persecution, the temples to the emperor and Roman gods all around? The threat of death and the lions in the arena? Rejection by friends, family, and religiously? Losing jobs since you can’t participate in the trade guilds? If God is for us, who can be against us—whether it be the most powerful emperor in the world, your own parents or husband? 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? You see the threat Christianity poses to your children by poverty and persecution and death; you would spare them. You see your own life, and would spare it. But this is the great love of God—he did not spare his own Son from the same death threats that encroach you. Who shall bring any charge against God's elect, even if you stand before Roman courts? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? His hope of justification is for this life and the future. 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 even now. He prayed for Peter that his faith would not fail; he will intercede for you (L. 22:32). He promised that those who seek first his kingdom would have all else added (Mat. 6:33); do you think he will fail you even now? Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? They may loom over you; you may know friends who are separated from you by these. As it is written, “For your sake we, the righteous, are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” God has been faithful to the righteous sufferers in that psalm; he will be faithful to you. He cared so much he recorded those words long ago, and he still hears your cries and records them (Rev. 6:9-11). No, in all these things, these very real, very tangible threats, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers in the heavens and earthly emperors, nor things present nor things to come and all the what-ifs and threats and fears, 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.
What then shall I say to the conflict with the Pharisees, my
disciples’ betrayal, the anguish of the cross? If God is for me, who can be
against me? Not even the power of death and the Prince of Death, the Devil!
(Heb. 2:14) Father, you will not spare me, and for love, do not spare me. Let this cup pass from me--but your will. I trust you, if there were any other way, you would, but oh Father! (Mt. 26:39). Now
is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’?
But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name (Jn.
12:27-28). I do this in trust, for you will graciously
give me all things (Col. 1:16, 18; Jn. 6:37; 10:29; 17:24) and in my name you will
graciously give them all you have given me, for their sakes do I become poor
that they might be rich with every spiritual blessing (2 Cor. 8:9; Eph. 1:3). Who
shall bring any charge against God's elect—I am perfectly righteous! And they
are in me, with my righteousness (2. Cor. 5:21). Who is to condemn? “But the
Lord GOD help me; therefore I have not been disgraced; He who vindicates me is
near…Behold, the Lord God helps me; who will declare me guilty” as Isaiah
prophesied of me (Isa. 50:7-9). Father, before the cross, before I come to you
again raised, I intercede for my brothers and sisters. Nothing can separate me
from your love—and through this, nothing will separate them for they will be
one in me and you will love them with the same love that you have loved me (Jn.
17:23). Who shall separate my brothers
and sisters from my love? Not even my own death, suffering, cross. Shall
tribulation, or distress, or persecution by Pharisees and Romans, or thirst on
the cross, or nakedness of the cross, or danger, or sword piercing my side? As
it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are
regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” And like a lamb, I will be silent before
the shearers (Isa. 53:7; Mt. 27:12-14). No, in all these things I am more than a
conqueror through my Father who loves me. For I am sure that neither death nor
life, nor angels nor rulers earthly or heavenly, nor things present nor things
to come, nor the greatest powers of the prince of this age, nor height nor
depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate me from the
love of God, and thus not from those who call on my name either. Father, this
is my prayer, this is my heart.
ROMANS 8, IN THE ROMANS’ WORDS
I picture a young slave, ducking furtively down the alleys of Rome to the little house church. Heart heavy--his friend in prison. Awaiting the lions. Fear and faith fought--he was tempted to stay at home tonight. The risk was high. But he heard that the great apostle Paul had sent a letter. He needed to hear from God. He needed to. Might God speak to him?
To you, my dear brothers and sisters in Rome, what then shall we say to the persecution, the temples to the emperor and Roman gods all around? The threat of death and the lions in the arena? Rejection by friends, family, and religiously? Losing jobs since you can’t participate in the trade guilds? If God is for us, who can be against us—whether it be the most powerful emperor in the world, your own parents or husband? 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? You see the threat Christianity poses to your children by poverty and persecution and death; you would spare them. You see your own life, and would spare it. But this is the great love of God—he did not spare his own Son from the same death threats that encroach you. Who shall bring any charge against God's elect, even if you stand before Roman courts? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? His hope of justification is for this life and the future. 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 even now. He prayed for Peter that his faith would not fail; he will intercede for you (L. 22:32). He promised that those who seek first his kingdom would have all else added (Mat. 6:33); do you think he will fail you even now? Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? They may loom over you; you may know friends who are separated from you by these. As it is written, “For your sake we, the righteous, are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” God has been faithful to the righteous sufferers in that psalm; he will be faithful to you. He cared so much he recorded those words long ago, and he still hears your cries and records them (Rev. 6:9-11). No, in all these things, these very real, very tangible threats, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers in the heavens and earthly emperors, nor things present nor things to come and all the what-ifs and threats and fears, 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.
ROMANS 8, IN OUR
WORDS
A couple thousand years later, we still read and echo....
What then shall we say to these things—the lies of the Accuser, the shame, failure, guilt? If God is for us, who can be against us? 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? How will the Father not provide, love, forgive, fulfill all his promises? (2 Cor. 1:20-21) Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? Even if our past speaks up, the Accuser, others throw names at us, our own emotions, they are silenced for it is God who justifies. Even if our own hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts (1 Jn. 3:20). 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. He himself is our high priest, tempted in the same way as we are, who knows our weaknesses and gives us his strength (Heb. 2:17-18; Heb. 4:15-16). Who shall separate us from the love of Christ, a love that is active on our behalf in sending his Son, in provision (1 Jn. 4:9-10; Mat. 6:25-34). A love that sees where we are at, and meets us there. A love that is sufficient for all our needs. Shall tribulation, finances, our guilt, past, shame, names, cancer, illness, a broken marriage, lost dreams, our sin and self-righteousness and outright rebellion? As it is written, “For your sake we are being tossed and attacked by the evil one, under the futility and curse of this world; we are innocent ones following in the steps of our master, for the world hated him and it will hate us too, as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things—in the very real things we are facing in a very real world—we are more than conquerors through him who loved us, through him who fights for us and we need only to be still (Exo. 14:14). For we can be more than confident—and Spirit, breathe confidence in us!—that neither death nor life, nothing in the past and the what-ifs and fears of the future, nor anything we can think, anything in our daily lives, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
What then shall we say to these things—the lies of the Accuser, the shame, failure, guilt? If God is for us, who can be against us? 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? How will the Father not provide, love, forgive, fulfill all his promises? (2 Cor. 1:20-21) Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? Even if our past speaks up, the Accuser, others throw names at us, our own emotions, they are silenced for it is God who justifies. Even if our own hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts (1 Jn. 3:20). 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. He himself is our high priest, tempted in the same way as we are, who knows our weaknesses and gives us his strength (Heb. 2:17-18; Heb. 4:15-16). Who shall separate us from the love of Christ, a love that is active on our behalf in sending his Son, in provision (1 Jn. 4:9-10; Mat. 6:25-34). A love that sees where we are at, and meets us there. A love that is sufficient for all our needs. Shall tribulation, finances, our guilt, past, shame, names, cancer, illness, a broken marriage, lost dreams, our sin and self-righteousness and outright rebellion? As it is written, “For your sake we are being tossed and attacked by the evil one, under the futility and curse of this world; we are innocent ones following in the steps of our master, for the world hated him and it will hate us too, as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things—in the very real things we are facing in a very real world—we are more than conquerors through him who loved us, through him who fights for us and we need only to be still (Exo. 14:14). For we can be more than confident—and Spirit, breathe confidence in us!—that neither death nor life, nothing in the past and the what-ifs and fears of the future, nor anything we can think, anything in our daily lives, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Comments
Post a Comment