GOLDEN TEXT:
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The Apostle Paul closes this chapter by encouraging us that no matter what comes our way, the love of Christ will still abound and give us strength to stand. He has decided a life for us from the beginning of time. In this decision he will call us to his side to keep us in relationship and complete his desires. If we abide and keep our trust in Him we will understand that nothing can separate us from Him.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
…….All things=every single thing.
Every good and every bad! What a thought. He may not have chosen certain paths for us, but he can sure make a mistake into a masterpiece!
29 For whom he did foreknow (know beforehand), he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
…….”whom he did foreknow”
I can only believe that there is not one person on the face of this Earth that has slipped away or bypassed the knowledge of God. With that said, he has always had a predetermined plan for every single life. The first step in walking in his plan is to become, and remain in salvation!
Salvation will always be followed by conforming to the image of the character of Christ.
30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
……Predestinate: to predetermine, decide beforehand.
God has a predetermined plan for every single person on the face of the earth. It was God’s will from the very beginning for all mankind to have a relationship with him. With this predestination, He also gave us free will.
What greater joy can a father have of his children than to see them perform the instructions given by Him.
…….He also called. Jesus said this in John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
As soon as a child reaches the age of understanding, God begins to call to him/her to relationship. When the call takes place, there is a compelling by the creator to it’s creature like a magnet. At one time there is a focus and attention towards the one calling, and at that point (and there may or may not be many) the decision must be made. Either I’m going to cling to this salvation and submit to the path, or I will continue to serve self. What a sense of perfect security when we do submit to the arms if his will!
…….The meaning of glorified literally means to be praised for. God praises us for being faithful followers of him. This is not to be mistaken with worshiped.
One thing we have missed in the midst of our praise is our worship. Many of the church today have learned how to praise but have completely missed the meaning of worship. Worshipping is acknowledging the deepest considerations that he is who he is. God is the “I am”, the creator of all good things, the author and finisher of our faith and life itself. He could have spoke absolutely nothing into our hearts and restricted his Spirit from all of mankind and he would still be worthy of our worship. While we are not worthy of any worship he credits us by praising our faithfulness. He is worthy of All worship, and in worshipping him he glorifies his children.
31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
…….There is not one person or demonic oppression that can come against us with the ability to ruin us. If God is our foundation, he will cause us to stand firm on every ground we walk.
32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
…….”He”=God, really did give up his only Son for the love of his creation.
It was not merely for the apostles; not only for the rich, and the great; but for the most humble and unknown of the flock of Christ. For them he endured as severe pangs, and expressed as much love, as for the rich and the great that shall be redeemed. The most humble and unknown believer may receive comfort from the fact that Christ died for him, and that God has expressed the highest love for him which we can understand to be possible.
With this in knowledge, why would we ever think he would make us go without anything we would ever need. He said in his word, “ask and you shall receive”.
……. One of our setbacks and lack of receiving comes from asking with the wrong intentions. So many people want Ministry, but don’t want accountability. Many people want boldness, but don’t can’t handle humility. Many people want joy, but don’t want temperance or self control. Many people want to be blessed with things, but they won’t bless others who are in need. Many people want a closer relationship with God, but could care less for him to receive anything from us. So many people want to be glorified by God, but have the lack of understanding that he doesn’t share His glory with us. God won’t give you an attribute that’s going to ruin his testimony or yours.
33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.
…….There is no one that can ever come Against us in accusations of the past, present or future. If you continue in his will he will protect you and guide you in the steps absent if failure.
The Christian, therefore, is secure.
34 Who is he that condemneth? (the following is not to be mistaken with the answer) It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
……. He doesn’t follow the question with an answer, he simply gives the answer to the opposite. “Who is he that justifies?” Christ died to redeem us and in that redemption is the escape from all sin and Condemnation!
…….If we ever feel the oppression of Condemnation, like we are guilty of transgression, it is not of God as long as we abide with him.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
……. There is no person or situation that can come in and separate Christ’s love from us. Even those who walk astray will always be loved by the father.
Only we who have been saved can fully understand the impossibility of Christ withdrawing his love.
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
……. What a testimony it is that the Apostle Paul gives of the extents that Christ’s disciples and other apostles have reached in sharing and spreading the gospel to the world!
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors (winners) through him that loved us.
…….Even in prison, beatings and death, the ultimate goal was reached; to spread the gospel to the world! 2000 years later, we are reading and following the instructions that were paved by Christ and his Apostles.
In all this they will still say, it was not of our own strength.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
……. He will never leave us nor forsake us, He will be with us to and through the end of time.