I have been pondering Romans 8.
This chapter of Romans is short of 1,000 words—and yet trying to explain it leads to a seemingly exponential expansion!
How do I distill it down to a mere few hundred words, while at the same time unpack it enough to help?
Romans is so full, that as anyone begins to explore it, it naturally expands. I have five broad thoughts regarding chapter 8.
Turing the Corner: I pointed out the phrase “there is therefore” communicates that Paul is turning a corner. The first seven chapters presented in stark language our need for God, and for God’s saving action. We, whether it is by law or something else, cannot live, now or in eternity, without God. Just as the first seven chapters required some climbing, so too will this chapter and the ones beyond.
I find that people are often shocked, even turned off, by the first seven chapters, but don’t take the time to see the absolute joy, peace, and more that are in the remainder of the Letter.
No Condemnation: I also made this point earlier, “there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” “No condemnation” is just as strong as “all have fallen short” (cf. 3:23).
This language is that of the complete security of God’s love found in Jesus Christ. And as I have used the Himalaya metaphor to start our discussion on this Letter, this message of no condemnation should be announced from the mountaintops. This declaration is absolute.
The Spirit & Our Family: A close read of this chapter reveals the overwhelming presence of the Holy Spirit. In verses 14-17 we are referred to four times as either “children” or “sons & daughters” all through the Spirit. The Spirit leads us to holiness, replaces our fear with freedom, prompts us to call God “Father,” and announces our inheritance. So strong is the Holy Spirit’s work in this regard that verse 16 proclaims that it is the Holy Spirit that testifies that we are God’s children.
All Creation: If verses 14-17 proclaim our present situation, then verses 18-27 point us to the future with the Spirit deeply intertwined in Paul’s thought. “I consider the sufferings of this present time...” begins his stream of dialog. Intertwined in it are two ideas. The first is that it is not just humanity that is waiting for God, but rather all creation groans. The birds and fish, the water and earth, all of it is waiting for God. God is redeeming all of his good creation through the work of Christ. The second thought is the use of two words together: suffering and glory.
Suffering and Glory: I do not believe Paul is glorifying suffering, rather he is pointing to his confidence in God. The God who has adopted us will not leave us hopeless and hapless in pointless suffering. No, God is present through his Spirit. The Spirit leads us in our prayers even when we are weak, and even intercedes for us.
We can be so confident in God’s love that we can stand on an amazing promise:
“We know that for those who love God all things work for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Verse 28.)
Think about your suffering, and the suffering in the world. God’s Word is not glorifying it. God’s Word is not saying that God caused it to make you stronger. God’s Word is saying (1) that suffering happens, (2) that it is mysteriously linked to God’s glory, and (3) that both the good and the bad, the joy and the suffering, ALL THINGS will be used by God for good.
The statement or idea that God will take our suffering and use it for good is radical.
Now please hear me: God does not willy-nilly cause suffering, but when it comes, he has the power to use it for good.
Romans 8:28 is a verse to memorize. I have prayed it often as bad things, really bad and hard things, have come upon me and come upon those whom I love. “Lord take this and use it for good” is what I often pray.
How can we be sure? This God is the God of hesed, the God of everlasting love. He does not leave you when you are suffering.
He is the God who through the suffering of the Cross brought redemption to the world and glory to the Son. There are some things I can look back on and see how God has used them for good, and there are some that “His Good” has yet to be revealed.
Hold onto Romans 8, ponder it, chew on it, plant it deeply inside your heart, for when you do, then you will know and indeed be sure.
“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Verses 38-39.)
God’s Word emphatically declares that you, you son, you daughter—are inseparable from God.
Do you believe that God will not let go?