Bible Study - Stand (5) - GOD'S Promise of Victory - Romans 8:28-39 - October 4, 2015

Bible Study – Stand (5) – GOD’S Promise of Victory – October 4, 2015

This is lesson five (5) in our series entitled “Stand Strong: Building Your Life on GOD’S Promises.”

Our focus scripture is Romans 8:28-39.

GOD’S goodness and love overcome life’s difficulties.

The Book of Romans was written by the Apostle Paul to the Christians in Rome near the end of his third missionary journey. It was likely used as a circular letter and sent to other churches in the area. Paul had not visited Rome at the time he wrote his letter to the church in Rome. The Christian church had already been established in Rome likely by some Jews who were in Jerusalem at Pentecost and became Christians. Paul’s desire was for the Christians in Rome to know exactly the doctrine Paul preached regarding CHRIST and they would have a basis for understanding the gospel he preached and lived by.

In Romans Chapters 1-8, the Apostle Paul presented the foundation regarding the righteousness of GOD and then he expounded on those who are unrighteous. Righteousness can only come from GOD. Righteousness cannot be earned. Christians are to grow in righteousness. Ground zero is found in 2 Corinthians 5:21:

21 He (GOD) made the One (JESUS) who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

We see in Romans 7:21-25 the frustration of Paul when he examined his Spiritual life based upon strictly obeying the Law. Let’s read Romans 7:21-25:

21 So I discover this principle: when I want to do good, evil is with me. 

22 For in my inner self I joyfully agree with God's law. 

23But I see a different law in the parts of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner to the law of sin in the parts of my body.

24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 

25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I myself am a slave to the law of God, but with my flesh, to the law of sin.

Our focus scripture is Romans Chapter 8 which is rich in Spiritual truths regarding the love and care GOD has for HIS children. Let’s explore!

Let’s read Romans 8:28-30:

28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose. 

29 For those He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. 

30 And those He predestined, He also called; and those He called, He also justified; and those He justified, He also glorified.

The statement “we know” suggests knowledge that comes from experience. “We know” something because we have experienced it and it has been proven to be true. “We know” that since we have made a profession of faith or will make a profession of faith that GOD is involved in all things in our lives to bring about the best end result to accomplish HIS will, plan and purpose in our lives.

This is why all who are to receive salvation have guardian angels assigned by GOD to care for them. Otherwise Satan would take out every human before they become a child of GOD before he or she experienced salvation.

Does this mean that GOD forces us to follow a specific path or make specific decisions? NO! GOD is omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent HE is in the position of knowing everything about each of us and the decisions we will make. Foreknowledge does not predestine.

GOD made each person with the freedom to choose. Knowing how a person will choose gives GOD the opportunity to ensure that a person gets to the point of salvation through faith in CHRIST. Things do not drive our lives but GOD is in “all things” bringing about the best result according to HIS will, plan and purpose.

Pay special attention to the statement “for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.” All people are called but it is left to each person whether or not he or she accepts the free gift of salvation through faith in CHRIST.

So why do Christians experience bad things? Paul reveals the reason in 2 Corinthians: 3-4:

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. 

4 He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

In verse 29, we see the words “foreknew” and “predestined.” GOD’S foreknowledge gives HIM the opportunity to “predestine” a person to receive salvation through faith in CHRIST. Thus to “predestine” the person who loves GOD allows him or her to be “called according to HIS purpose.”

What is the will and purpose for those HE foreknew? It is for them to be made into the image of HIS firstborn Son, JESUS. JESUS being the firstborn among all the men and women who will be born into the family of GOD through the miracle of rebirth gives JESUS a position of honor, supremacy and privilege. JESUS is our oldest Brother and not only our Brother but also our Savior. HE gave HIS life just for you and for me to pay, in full, the penalty for our sin. All who place their faith in HIM experience the miracle of rebirth and eternal life based upon HIS obedience to HIS Father, GOD. HE intercedes in our behalf before our Father. HE gave HIS life for all who place their faith in HIM and they will have eternal life. Christians owe it all to their eldest Brother and Savior, JESUS.

Those HE predestined “HE called.” What does Paul mean by a person being called? Keep in mind that GOD calls all people to salvation but not all will accept HIS invitation. GOD has a plan and purpose for the lives of those who accept HIS call to salvation. Those “called” have been divinely chosen and appointed by GOD to be made into the image of HIS Son, JESUS. That is the desire of GOD for every Christian. Christians still have the right to choose.

So what do I need to do? JESUS said it best in John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches.” We are to abide in CHRIST. Christians are to yield their will to the control of GOD by allowing the Holy Spirit to lead and guide their lives. Christians are to stop trying to be something they are not and allow GOD to continue the sanctification process by abiding in CHRIST.

There is a special “calling” into a specific place or area for service. This could be a certain secular career or ministry. Ministry does not have to be serving a religious institution. It could be for Christians to be a loving Godly person, husband, wife and the list goes on. All Christians are chosen to minister by reflecting the love of GOD in their lives.

This is impossible without the fullness of the Holy Spirit flowing through us and bringing balance and direction into our lives.

In verse 30 “And those He predestined, He also called; and those He called, He also justified; and those He justified, He also glorified” Paul gave us a list of absolutes.

GOD calls every person to repent of his or her sins and place his or her faith in the One and Only Person Who paid, in full, the price for sin, the LORD JESUS. Those who accept GOD’S call, GOD justifies. Justifies is a term of law which means “to be declared righteous and to be given right standing” in the presence of GOD. One can also think of justification as just-as-if-I-never-sinned. Justification is only possible through faith in CHRIST because of HIS shed blood. Christians are declared righteous before GOD. Those GOD justifies, HE also “glorifies.” Glorification is the final act of salvation as Christians enter into heaven. I believe stepping out of our earth suits, our human body, into our heavenly body is seamless. The heavenly body of a Christian is fashioned by GOD.

Paul makes it clear that these things – calling, justification and glorification – are not something that is going to happen but happened at the instant we place our faith in JESUS CHRIST.

In essence, at the instant of salvation we are in heaven. Our citizenship is in heaven. We are the light and salt of the earth. Salvation is not something yet to be obtained, salvation has already taken place. Christians remain on earth to carry out the plan and purpose of GOD as we are being made into the image of CHRIST. We are GOD’S Sons and Daughters.

We know about the metamorphosis of a butterfly. It struggles in the cocoon and as it does it is being transformed into a beautiful butterfly. It is the struggle to break free from its cocoon that is the very thing that helps it to develop into a butterfly.  Christians struggle to break free from the body of flesh to live in the Spirit. That comes about through the process of sanctification.

How do we know that all of this is true? It is the witness of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Romans 8:12-17:

12 So then, brothers, we are not obligated to the flesh to live according to the flesh, 

13 for if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 

14 All those led by God's Spirit are God's sons. 

15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father!" 

16 The Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God's children, 

17 and if children, also heirs-heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ-seeing that we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

Let’s read Romans 8:31-34:

The Believer's Triumph

31 What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 

32 He did not even spare His own Son, but offered Him up for us all; how will He not also with Him grant us everything? 

33 Who can bring an accusation against God's elect? God is the One who justifies. 

34 Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the One who died, but even more, has been raised; He also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us.

How much does GOD love us? HE loved us so much that HE allowed HIS only Son to come to earth, live as a human, live a sinless life, agree for HIM to suffer and give HIS life to pay the penalty for sin, in full, so that all who place their faith in HIM will be born-again into HIS family for eternity.

How much did CHRIST love us? HE loved us so much that HE left HIS home in Heaven to come to earth to live and give HIS life for those who will place their faith in HIM to receive forgiveness from sin and its consequence death. When we place our faith in CHRIST we have all the rights and privileges of being a child of GOD and experiencing the abundant life upon earth until we enter into our true and eternal home, heaven.

If you have lost a loved one in death, especially a young person, most every parent, if they could, would likely give his or her life to restore life to their loved one. That is why we can call GOD, Father and His only Son our Brother because JESUS gave HIS Life for all who place their faith in HIM to receive eternal life.

The statement “how will He not also with Him grant us everything” carries the idea of “GOD’S Grace.” The NIV translation renders verse 32:

³² He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him (JESUS), graciously give us all things?

Since GOD gave HIS Only Son to give HIS life just for you and, in turn, JESUS willingly gave HIS life just for you, GOD will not withhold the free gift of salvation to any person who asks. Would JESUS give HIS life just for you and you accepted HIM as your Savior, would either GOD or JESUS then turn around and condemn you? NO! Would HE make available to each Christian what he or she needs to live according to HIS plan and purpose upon earth? YES! All Spiritual provisions are available to every Christian.

Christians are in a spiritual battle. Doubt is a powerful tool Satan uses in the lives of many Christians to make them think they are not worthy of salvation or have lost their salvation. The fact is once a person has asked CHRIST to forgive him or her and for CHRIST to come into his or her life, HE does and never leaves. Those born of the Spirit never become unborn. But Christians are to confess their sins and stop committing those sins. GOD forgives cleanses and restores.

As a Christian, what if I die before I confess my sin or sins? GOD’S grace is sufficient. So why do Christians have to confess their sin or sins? To maintain fellowship with GOD and to be fully equipped for spiritual battle each moment of each day. Paul wanted Christians to know the assurance they have in CHRIST.

What person, power, principality, Satan, demon, evil-spirit, anything seen or unseen can bring an accusation against Christians because we are the elect and GOD is the ONE WHO JUSTIFIES US AND MADE US RIGHTEOUS! CHRISTIANS CAN CALL HIM DADDY OR PAPA!

Who can condemn Christians because GOD gave those who place their faith in CHRIST the power to become SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF GOD? JESUS gave HIS life for all who will place their faith in HIM and HIS proof did not stop there. GOD raised JESUS from the dead as the firstfruits to prove that JESUS had conquered both sin and death.

Further, JESUS ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of GOD HIS Father and intercedes for us. The accuser approaches GOD every time one of HIS children sins but JESUS comes to our rescue to simply say, (Your Name) is covered by MY Shed Blood and his or her sins are forgiven.

The love of GOD is everlasting. Can Christians ever be separated from GOD? Let’s read on.

Let’s read Romans 8:35-39:

35 Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or anguish or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 

36 As it is written: Because of You we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered. 

37 No, in all these things we are more than victorious through Him who loved us. 

38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 

39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will have the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!

GOD’S children are eternally safe and secure in CHRIST and in GOD, our Father. Let’s read John 17:21:

21 May they all be one, as You, Father, are in Me and I am in You. May they also be one in Us, so the world may believe You sent Me.

Christians are ONE IN CHRIST AND GOD! Now that is Good News. Nothing can snatch a Christian out of the hands of CHRIST, our Savior and GOD, our Father! Do you believe it? Or has Satan convinced you that your sins are greater than the ability of the cleansing blood of CHRIST to wash them away and make you whiter than snow? Satan is a liar and the father of lies. DON’T YOU BELIEVE his LIES! CHRIST gave HIS life for the vilest of sinners, of which I am chief.

1 Peter 5:7:

7 casting all your care upon Him, because He cares about you.

JESUS gave HIS life for all regardless of the depth of their sin. Ask JESUS to forgive you and for HIM to come into your life. Salvation is just the beginning of a dynamic relationship with GOD through JESUS!

Blessings!!!