A) Can I Make It Through? (Rom 8:26 27)

Oakland International FellowshipPaul J. Bucknell

Conquerors Through Christ

Romans 8:26-39Handout

By understanding how God’s truth applies to questions of suffering, we can prepare ourselves for life’s hardships, distress and persecution, whether our own or others. Paul answers three basic life questions on suffering!

A) Can I make it through? (Rom 8:26–27)

✦Problem of doubtingyourendurance

•“Satan’s voice: “You can’t make it!” “He’s left you alone!” “You may as well give up.”

8:26 And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; 27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.(NASB used unless noted)

✦Strength: The Lord understands our needs and helps us pray through the Spirit (Rom 8:26-27)

• The Spirit helps us in our weaknesses (26).

• We are limited even in our prayer life: “Do not know how to pray” (26). We need help.

• The Spirit sides with us (for us) and according to God’s will intercedes for us (26).

• We must not undermine the way the Spirit helps us pray. He will only pray according to the will of God. Precaution: always make sure your life is clear of sin and doubt (27).

B) Is God really in control? (Rom 8:28-30)

✦Problem of questioningGod’s power

•“Satan’s voice: “God is not doing a very good job taking care of things is He?” “He doesn’t involve Himself in such matters.”

28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren; 30 and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

✦Confidence: The Lord works out everything for the good of His people (Rom 8:28)

Romans 8:28, along with the former verses on adoption and the latter ones on calling, all form the believer’s spiritual backbone. God can and will work out all things for a higher good. No matter what sickness, shortness of life, poverty, persecution, difficulty in life, family rejection or even horrible physical features we might have, we can fully trust God to bring about a greater good.
• His design for our lives confirms He is fully involved in our lives.

• His plan (causes) assures us that He perfectly oversees all that happens in our lives (28).

• His design (God works together) reminds us of His great work already done on our behalf (28).

• His purpose (for good) reminds us of where we are headed, our goal (28).

•Personal~Prepared ~Powerful~Purposeful

•What a comfort knowing nothing can go wrong!

✦The Overall Design of Our Salvation (Rom 8:29-30)

•Foreknew is not that God knows that you will choose Him but describes His love and choice of you before you were created!

•Predestinationis not fatalism, but God’s delight to graciously help many, not a few, out of their sin into His wonderful redemptive plan.Though often maligned,God is most merciful and compassionate.

•‘Called’ describes the specific way God draws His people to Himself.

•‘Justified’ is the special way God has through faith in Christ declared us righteous and restored us with Him.

•‘Glorified’ describes the special eternal state genuine believers experience in God’s presence doing His will.

•Summary: There are no accidents. The thread of God’s grace weavesyour full lives into Hisredemptive history.

C) Does God really love me? (Rom 8:31-39)

✦Problem of suspecting one’s assurance

•“Satan’s voice: “If He really loved you, He wouldn’t have you go through these things.”

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 up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? 33Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; 34who 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. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 Just as it is written, “FOR THY 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. 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, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

✦Love: The Lord has assured us nothing can separate us from His love in Christ (Rom 8:31-32).

•God’s proof of His love: sent His only Son to die for you (31-32)!

•Our security: If He“did not spare His own Son, …will He not freely give us all things”?(32) His previous commitment assures us that we will never slip from His full attention.

✦Security forever: Two lists (8:33-39)

1. Who will bring a charge against us (33)? – God made us righteous in Christ!

2. Who will condemn us (34)? – Christ was condemned for us! Effective to free us.

3. Who can separate us from Christ (35)? – Nothing, No one, Never!

•Two lists of enemies of our security:

(1) Temporal threats (35-36): tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, sword. “A single word covers oceans of dangers and reveals to us all the evils which people encounter in life.”[1] –Chrysostom

(2) Intangible threats (37-39): see chart. Nothing can or wil separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus!

Summary

Allow the clear assurance of God’s Word and love shape your perspectives even during difficult experiences. God’s love is made evident through His Son’s suffering in our place (in the past), promised to help us during all the dire circumstances we could ever face.Praise Him!

Application questions

1)What perspective should we have when our experiences do not go as planned?

2)What is one lesson you learned from these verses that you could share with a friendwho might be going through a very difficult time?

3)What are the things that make you question God’s love? How does this passage help us resolve that conflict?

Romans 1:1-7 A Sneak Preview1/3

[1]Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture, Vol VI, (IVP) p. 241.