Friday, October 22, 2010

Romans 8

Romans 8 is a very familiar chapter to me, filled with promises. The first one being:
"Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.' v.1

But the explanation for that is in v.2:
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death."

The Spirit has replaced the law, the law that only condemned us. The replacement is a new simple law, and that is the law of faith, that will give us life. There is even more explanation if you continue reading into verses 3 and 4.
"He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you." v. 8

Praise You, Abba Father!

"...you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, 'Abba! Father!'. The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ..." v.15-17

Have you ever heard the explanation an adoptive parents gives their child - that the child is even more special than the natural born because he was chosen. Wow. An amazing promise! But the last part of the verse is a reminder:

"...if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him."

"Suffer" is a relative term...especially here in America.
....to come to a knowledge of (something) by living through it - see experience

...to feel deep sadness or mental pain - see grieve

I liked both these synonyms, especially the second one. I do grieve that I can not always be faithful to my God or obey or be everything He would like me to be.

"For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eager; we wait eagerly for it." v. 24-25
"My hope is in You, God; My strength is in You Lord; My life is in You, Jesus!"

"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." ..."He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God." v. 26-27
I make use of this verse often, when I just don't know how to pray.

Starting in v. 31 to the end of the chapter, John MacArthur calls, "A hymn of security". I thought that very appropriate. It is a reminder of our security in walking with Christ.

"But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, or any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." v. 37-39

And all God's children say, AMEN!

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