Sunday, July 21, 2013
The Promises of Romans 8
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 that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 8:38-39
God's word makes promises in Romans chapter eight, but to whom are they made?
Are they for everyone in the world, or only for God's people?
Who are "we" and "us" in verse 39 above?
When we read the Bible it helps to know the context of the passage.
Who is the writer, and to whom and about whom is he writing?
**************
When George Bush was president, he once made a speech that included words from
the above passage in Romans eight.
He quoted verse 38, and the first part of verse 39, but left out the words "that is in Christ
Jesus our Lord." His message was that nothing would separate "us" (Americans) from
the love of God.
But is that the true meaning of this passage? President Bush, for whatever reason,
changed the meaning of these verses by leaving off seven very important words - "that is in
Christ Jesus our Lord."
Evidently, being politically correct, and not wanting to offend anyone
who was not a Christian, he decided to edit the passage to suit his own purposes.
Now, he is not the first president to use (or misuse) scripture to score political
points. Bill Clinton and Barack Obama have also misquoted or edited scripture,
but that doesn't mean it's OK to do so.
To determine to whom and about whom the writer, Paul, is referring in this
passage, we can go back to earlier verses in the book of Romans.
Is he referring to everyone, everywhere, or to a particular group of people?
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SAINTS AND THOSE CALLED TO BELONG TO JESUS CHRIST
I. Paul wrote the letter to "all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints"
(Romans 1:7). He included Gentiles (v.5), and "you [who are] are called to belong to
Jesus Christ" (v.6).
In other words, Paul was writing to believers, Christians in Rome.
Obviously, the words in verse 39,
"nothing ... can separate us from the love of
God in Christ Jesus our Lord,"
are salvific, and any promise about salvation applies to all believers everywhere,
not just in Rome. So it also applies to believers today.
UNBELIEVERS AND BELIEVERS
II. Throughout the letter to the Romans, Paul refers to unbelievers or "God-haters"
(Romans 1:30) as "they" (Romans 1:21) and "them" (Romans 1:19).
Though "they" knew God through his revelation in creation, "they" didn't glorify
Him, and therefore God gave "them" over to their sinful desires to worship created things
instead.
Believers are referred to as "we," "us," and "our" (Romans 8:26-27).
" ... the Spirit helps "us" ...
" ... "we" do not know what we ought to pray for ..."
" ... [God] searches our hearts .. and the Spirit intercedes
for "us."
***********
FOREKNOWN, PREDESTINED, CALLED, JUSTIFIED, AND GLORIFIED
III. Paul refers to those who "love God" and "are called according to His purpose"
(Romans 8:28). In other words, he is referring to Christians.
Romans 8:29-30 is often referred to as the "Golden Chain of Redemption,"
and includes several promises of God for His people.
"For those God foreknew He also predestined to be
conformed to the likeness of his Son, that He might
be the firstborn among many brothers.
And those He predestined, He also called; those He
called, He also justified; those He justified, He also
glorified."
"Foreknew" means God had a close, intimate, loving relationship with a
person before he was even born.
"Predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, that He might
be the firstborn among many brothers" means that believers, those chosen by God
to be His people, as God's adopted children, become the brothers and sisters of
Jesus.
"Called" is the effectual calling of God to those He has foreknown and
predestined to belong to Christ, according to His purpose.
"Justified" means to be made right with God through faith in Jesus Christ,
and the work He accomplished on the cross for His people.
"Glorified" is something that happens to the believer in the future,
but Paul refers to it as if it had already happened, so confident is he that God
will keep His promises to His people. Believers will have "glorified" bodies
like that of Jesus.
Each (foreknew, predestined, called, justified, and glorified) is a link
in the Golden Chain of Redemption.
***************
"US" AND "WE" REFER TO GOD'S CHOSEN PEOPLE
IV. In verses 31-32, Paul continues to write about "us" and "us all," referring to
God's chosen people.
" ... If God is for "us," then 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?"
In verses 33-34, Paul shows us who the "us" and "we" refer to in this passage.
33 "Who shall bring any charges against God's elect?
It is God who justifies.
(Who can successfully accuse someone whom God has declared
righteous by the blood of Jesus)?
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' (God's elect)."
John MacArthur writes:
"There are four reasons believers can never be found guilty
(condemned).
1. Christ's death
2. His resurrection
3. His exalted position - at the right hand of God
4. His continual intercession for them."
******************
In verse 35-37 (we're still in Romans 8), Paul stresses for the first time in this chapter
that nothing can separate God's people from the love of Christ (the second time is in
verses 38-39).
"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 (Ps. 44:22).
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors
through Him who loved us."
Romans 8:35-37
Those who are in Christ, overcome all these obstacles (tribulation, distress, etc.)
because of the work of Jesus who loves us.
****************
To summarize, the promises of God for His people found in Romans 8 are:
1. God works all things together for good for those who love Him
and are called according to His purpose (v.28).
2. God foreknew (foreloved) all His people before the foundation of the
world (v.29).
3. God predestined His people to be like Jesus (v.29).
4. Those who were predestined were also called to know and belong
to Jesus (v.30).
5. Those who were called were justified (made right with God) through
the blood of Jesus (v.30).
6. Those who are justified will be glorified (Phil. 3:21) when we get
to heaven (v.30).
7. Nothing can ever separate us, those who are in Christ, from the love of God
(vs. 35,38-39).
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