19 Jan 2024

Suffering, groaning, and a sense of our own ignorance surround us. Is there any order in the seeming chaos of life, in the world at large, and in our own lives?

For Christians, during such a time, we need to ‘preach the gospel to ourselves’ again,and reflect on the truths revealed in the gospel – the reality of what the Triune God has done for us who believe and are adopted as children of God, by His love, mercy, and grace.
Firstly, reflect on the INCARNATION:
The Word became flesh (John 1:14) – the Son of God encased himself in a physical body – he took to himself, and entered right into everything that contributes to a fully human experience (including suffering, pain, unjust treatment, forsakenness, and physical death). Because of this, he can now enter sympathetically into all human experiences, those of girls and women, sick folk, the aged and young men, rejection, hate, love, family life etc. He is able to give to all the help toward right living that we all need (Hebrews 2:18; 4:15-16).
The Jesus of the New Testament experienced everything in the unity of his divine-human person, and his experiencing of life was more vivid than ours because his sensitivity had not been dulled at any point.
The Christian knows that the incarnation made direct entry into human frustration and pain possible for the Son of God, who then out of love actually entered in person into the agony of crucifixion and the greater agony of God-forsakenness (Mark 15:34) in order to bear our sins and so redeem us. Let us never forget what the Son of God did for us who believe. When we are ‘lost’ in our pain, frustration, and perplexity, look to the incarnation and the cross and know that He has gone before us; and He has taken our place, He has risen, ascended and now intercedes for us at the right hand of the Father as one who understands and empathises. We are not alone and left in the dark.

In Romans 8, God takes us to eternity-past to show us that before we existed, He knew us as His own. His knowledge initiated the relationship we now have with Him as His children. It is not as though God knew we would choose Him and then fitted in with our choice; to those who were thus known, God gave a destiny that they should be like Jesus (vs 29). Becoming like Jesus is the good for which God works (vs28). It is not our health and comfort and wealth, but our godliness which He promised to achieve. In other words, God’s purpose is to build a family like Jesus. Jesus is the firstborn, the one in unique relationship with the Father, but He is also one of us because He is the firstborn brother.

Sometimes, life is so complex we simply do not know the appropriate things to pray for. However, the down payment, the Holy Spirit, does know. He intercedes effectively for us in a way that is consistent with God’s will when we may not know what God’s will is in the situation (8:27). So our present experience is not one of unrelieved gloom; for through the work of Jesus, God has given us the Holy Spirit. The Spirit strengthens us to be holy (vs13). He revitalises us (vs11). He reminds us that we are God’s children (vs16), and that we are on intimate terms with God (vs15). He is the first fruits (vs23), the guarantee of full salvation to come. He is the informed intercessor who prays for us (vv 26-27).

How do we know that the glory referred to in 817,19,21 and 23 will be ours? The Apostle Paul says in verse 30 that it is as sure as the eternal purposes of God, for just as God has predestined us, called us and justified us, so He will glorify us.
These are comforting truths. We are spiritual rulers; there is nothing we will meet today that we do not reign over. Nothing can come our way that is not ultimately good for the health of our soul. God will be at work in everything we meet today so that it is for our good, making us like Jesus. This is most comforting news for us and most frustrating for our enemies.

The doctrine of election is most humbling: it means that our salvation began with God. Election is a reminder that we should not get big-headed about these blessings in Christ. It is not because of us but because of Him, that we are His and enjoy such blessings.

Romans 8:31-35:

There is no enemy who can effectively defeat us – why? Because God is for us! In giving His own Son, God has shown the extent of His love and support.

There is no lawyer who can effectively make a charge stick against us. God has irrevocably declared us to be in the right with Him!

There is no accuser who can effectively condemn us. Jesus who is constantly at God’s right hand will always silence any accuser.

Is there anyone or any situation that can effectively separate us from God’s love? No, Paul lists all the possibilities: no person in the created order; no situation, no extremity -, nothing can separate us from the blessings of our salvation in Christ and from God’s loving oversight in all these things. We are super conquerors because God loved us (vs 37).

One godly theologian wrote: Romans 28 is my favourite chapter in the Bible. It begins with “There is no condemnation” and ends with “nothing can separate us from the love of God”. No condemnation. No separation. What tremendous and momentous news for us believers in the gospel!!