Romans 8
Law satisfied in Christ’s sacrificeverses 1-4
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh – BUT after the Spirit
FOR the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from
the law of sin and death
FOR what the law could not do – in that it was weak through the flesh
God sending HIS OWN Son in the likeness of sinful flesh
and for sin – condemned sin in the flesh
that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us
who walk not after the flesh – BUT after the Spirit
Control of mind by the Holy Spirit importantverses 5-11
FOR they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh
BUT they that are after the Spirit – the things of the Spirit
FOR to be carnally minded is death
BUT to be spiritually minded is life and peace
BECAUSE the carnal mind is enmity against God
FOR it is not subject to the law of God – neither indeed can be
so then they that are in the flesh cannot please God
BUT you are not in the flesh – BUT in the Spirit
IF so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you
NOW IF any man have not the Spirit of Christ – he is none of HIS
and if Christ be in you – the body is dead because of sin
BUT the Spirit is life because of righteousness
BUT if the Spirit of HIM that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you
HE that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by HIS Spirit that dwells in you
Power of Holy Spirit transforms believer’s natureverses 12-17
THEREFORE brethren – we are debtors – not to the flesh – to live after the flesh
for if you live after the flesh – you shall die
but if you through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body
you shall live
FOR as many as are led by the Spirit of God – they are the sons of God
for you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear
but you have received the Spirit of adoption
whereby we cry – Abba – Father
The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit – that we are the children of God
and if children – then heirs
heirs of God – and joint-heirs with Christ
if so be that we suffer with HIM
that we may be also glorified together
Present suffering brings future gloryverses 18-25
FOR I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be
compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us
FOR the earnest expectation of the creature wait for the manifestation of the sons of God
FOR the creature was made subject to vanity – not willingly
but by reason of HIM who has subjected the same in hope
BECAUSE the creature itself also shall be delivered from the
bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the
children of God
FOR we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain
together until now and not only they – BUT ourselves also
which have the firstfruits of the Spirit
even we ourselves groan within ourselves
waiting for the adoption – to wit
the redemption of our body
FOR we are saved by hope – BUT hope that is seen is not hope
for what a man sees – why does he yet hope for?
but if we hope for that we see not
then do we with patience wait for it
Holy Spirit helps our prayer lifeverses 26-30
Likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities
for we know not what we should pray for us as we ought
BUT the Spirit himself makes intercession for us
with groanings which cannot be uttered
AND HE that searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit
BECAUSE HE makes intercession for the saints
according to the will of God
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
FOR whom HE did foreknow
HE also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of HIS Son
that HE might be firstborn among many brethren
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
Right standing with Godverses 31-34
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us– who can be against us?
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?
Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifies
Who is HE that condemns? it is Christ that died – yea rather
that is risen again – WHO is even at the right hand of God
WHO also makes intercession for us
Nothing can separate love of Christ from believersverses 35-39
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation – distress
persecution – famine – nakedness – peril – sword? as it is written
For your sake we are killed all the day long
we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter
Nay – in all these things we are more than conquerors through
HIM that loved us
FOR I am persuaded – that neither death – nor life – nor angels – nor principalities
nor powers – nor things present – nor things to come – 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
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit. (2631 “condemnation” [katakrima] means penalty, judgment, decision resulting from an investigation, adverse sentence or doom)
DEVOTION: Before salvation every individual is headed for the lake of fire. They are judged according to their birth into the family of Satan. Christ made it plain that those who chose to not follow HIM were going to spend eternity with their father the devil.
Those who become followers of Christ will not face that judgment. They have moved from the family of the devil to the family of God. Their judgment has been changed. They are part of a group that will receive the blessings of God.
This group is described as walking not after the flesh but after the Spirit. There are two types of walks or directions that a life can take.
One direction is to walk after the flesh. When an individual is born into this world this is the direction he is heading. He is born with a sin nature that leads him to do things that are not pleasing to the LORD. Some of these people can be real moral people and even go to church all their life. The problem is they have never chosen to become a follower of Christ. Their life has never really changed to be a fulltime follower of Christ. They don’t have a desire to read the Bible. They don’t have a desire to pray on a regular basis. Their goal in life is to no hurt other people and hope that is enough to get them into heaven.
Those who walk after the Spirit of God are those who are willing to change. They are not just moral people or religious people they are people who want to have directions given to them by the Holy Spirit. Each day they ask the LORD for guidance. When they sin they confess it to reestablish their fellowship with the LORD. If they start to go in the wrong direction the LORD sends weakness and sickness to redirect their life back to a place of fellowship with HIM. If that fail HE even takes their life. The LORD wants those who are genuine followers to bring glory to HIS name alone. They are not in it for any glory of their own. They are not preoccupied with pride. They are not ones who condemn others but try to help others return to a proper relationship with their Savior. They do this humbly.
These are two different walks with two different destinations. Hopefully those who are reading these devotional are walking in the right path not counting on their good works to get them to heaven.
CHALLENGE: Being religious and moral will not get you into heaven. Only those who genuinely follow the LORD will. Walk the walk!!
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. (5426 “do mind” [phroneo] means set one’s mind on, to dispose the mind in a certain way, have attitude, ponder, hold a view, think the thoughts of, to have understanding, or have insight)
DEVOTION: How do you think? Our thinking shows who we are in relationship to God. Our desire to learn more about what God wants in our life determines who we are really trying to please with our life.
Those who don’t care about what God wants them to do with their life, think mainly about how to please themselves. They let their motives be very selfish. They also are controlled by laziness which means that they want the shortest way to get their own way in every area of their life. They won’t care about those people around them. They will be like one of my grandchildren who was talking to another one who said “Why are you so sin?” As children get older they sin with more finesse. They also see that the majority of those around them are just as sinful and so grow confident that they are OK.
When we are controlled by the Holy Spirit there is a change in the way we think, we ask ourselves “What would Jesus do?” Also we would ask “What does the Bible say about this issue?” We would even consult a spiritual leader for direction regarding a certain issue. In other words, we would want to please the LORD in our decisions.
Again, it doesn’t mean that those who are trying to be spiritual Christians will never sin. It means they will try to serve the LORD most of the time faithfully.
CHALLENGE: Sin is confessed regularly and sincerely.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man sees, why does he yet hope for? (1680 “hope” [elpis] means expectation, faith, confidence, prospect, faith, joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation or expectation of good)
DEVOTION: This chapter informs the Roman Christians that they are no longer under condemnation from God. HE has given them the Holy Spirit to help them with all of their decisions. HE has given them the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, so that, each day as they make choices, they can ask HIM for wisdom.
Paul tells them and us that we have been adopted into the family of God. We can call HIM Father. We are HIS children because of Christ. We are not only children but heirs to an inheritance in heaven. We have glorious liberty in Christ. Christ is making intercession to the Father for us.
We don’t see God. We don’t see the future. We have to accept what the Bible says about God and the future. Our expectation is based on the Word of God. Our expectation is something we have to anticipate by faith in a promise made by God in HIS word. The Bible tells us that Christ rose from the dead by the power of the Father. Christ promises us a place in heaven for eternity that HE is presently preparing for us. We are expecting eternal life in Heaven because of the forgiveness we received when we followed Christ as our Savior and LORD. Each day we have to say “Even so come Lord Jesus.”
Are we expecting the LORD to return? Are we expecting a place in heaven for us? Are we expecting to receive rewards for our actions here on this earth? Are we working for the day is coming when the trumpet shall sound and we will meet Christ in the air? The only ones who can answer these questions are the ones reading these devotions today. Do we have faith? Do we have confidence in HIS promises?
CHALLENGE: Are we accepting and appreciating all that the LORD has done for us and is going for us and will do for us in the future?
: 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come (3982 “I am persuaded” [peitho] means I am convinced, I am sure of the truthfulness or validity of something, to be certain, to be sure, trust, obey, be a follower, to exhort, I trust in, to induce, or to instigate)
DEVOTION: The old cartoons had a devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other shoulder of a cartoon character. The devil was telling the individual that his actions didn’t matter and that it would be fun. The angel was telling something different. He was telling the individual that it was wrong to do the action in question.
Today we realize that there are two forces in the life of a believer. There is the constant temptation to do wrong. The devil and his advocates are constantly telling a Christian that the LORD really doesn’t love him and that he should just do whatever he feels like. This only happens to believers because those in the devils family don’t need to be told what to do because they are already serving their master the devil.
One of the temptations that the devil and his angels try to convince a believer to be true is that they have committed a sin that the LORD can’t forgive so they might as well give up trying to lead a Christian life.
Paul states here that he believes and it is true that NOTHING separates those who are genuine believers from the LOVE of God. We have the witness of the Holy Spirit in our life to help us when we pray. We have a guardian angel watching over us. We have access to our Savior through our prayer life. We have directions regarding living the Christian life in the Word of God. When the Bible says NOTHING can separate us from the LOVE of God we need to believe it no matter what the enemy is whispering in our ears.
CHALLENGE: We receive the LOVE of God the Father because of what Jesus Christ did on the cross. HE shed HIS blood for the remission of sin in our life!!
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Intercession of Spirit for believers verse 26
Intercession of Christ for believers verses 27, 34
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Righteousness of Law verse 4
Law of God verse 7
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
God verses 3, 7-9, 14, 16, 17, 19, 21, 27, 28, 31, 33, 34, 39
Sending HIS Son verse 3
Law of God verse 7, 39
Raised Christ from dead verse 11
Spirit of God verse 14
Abba verse 15
Father verse 15
Creator verses 20-22
Will of God verse 27
Purpose of God verse 28
Calls believers verses 28, 30
God foreknew believers verse 29
God predestined believers verses 29, 30
Justified believers verses 30, 33
Glorifies believers verse 30
God is for believers verse 31
Spared not Son verse 32
Freely gives believers verse 32
Son at right hand of God verse 34
Love of believers verses 37-39
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
Christ verses 1, 2, 9-11, 17, 34, 35, 39
Jesus verses 1, 2, 11, 39
Christ Jesus verses 1, 2
Son verses 3, 29, 32
Sent of the Father verse 3
In likeness of sinful flesh verse 3
Resurrected verses 11, 34
Suffered verse 17
Died verse 34
Right hand of God verse 34
Intercession of believers verse 34
Love of Christ verses 35, 37
Lord verse 39
Christ Jesus our Lord verse 39
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Spirit verses 1, 2, 4, 5, 9-11, 13-16, 23, 26, 27
Walk after the Spirit verse 1
Law of the Spirit of life verse 2
Spirit of God verses 9, 11, 14
Spirit of Christ verse 9
Spirit is life verse 10
Spirit dwells in believers verse 11
Spirit leads believers verse 14
Spirit of adoption verse 15
Spirit bears witness verse 16
Firstfruits of the Spirit verse 23
Helps with believers infirmities verse 26
Spirit makes intercession for believers verses 26, 34
Spirit searches the heart of believers verse 27
Mind of the Spirit verse 27
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Angels verse 38
Principalities verse 38
Powers verse 38
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
In the flesh verses 5, 8, 12, 13
Mortal body verse 11
Human spirit verse 16
Creation verse 20
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Condemnation verses 1, 3, 34
Walk after the flesh verses 1, 4, 5
Sin verses 2, 3, 10
Law of sin and death verse 2
Flesh verses 3-5, 8, 9
Sinful flesh verse 3
Walk after the flesh verses 4, 5
Carnally minded verses 6, 7
Enmity against God verse 7
Cannot please God verse 8
Have NOT Spirit of Christ verse 9
Live after flesh verses 12, 13
spirit of bondage verse 15
Fear verse 15
Vanity verse 20
Bondage of corruption verse 21
Pain in creation verse 22
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
No condemnation verse 1
Walk after the Spirit verses 1, 4, 5, 9
Free from the law of sin and death verse 2
Righteousness of the law verse 4
Walk not after the flesh verse 4
Walk after the Spirit verse 4
Walk after the things of Spirit verse 5
Spiritually minded verse 6
Life verse 6
Peace verse 6
Please God verse 8
Not in the flesh verses 9, 12, 13
Indwelling of the Holy Spirit verses 9, 11, 16
Spirit of Christ verses 9, 10
Righteousness verse 10
Brethren verse 12
Debtors verse 12
Live through the Spirit verse 13
Mortify the deeds of the body verse 13
Led by the Spirit of God verse 14
Sons of God verses 14, 19
Adoption verses 15, 23
Cry Abba Father verse 15
Children of God verses 16, 21
Heirs of God verse 17
Joint-heirs with Christ verse 17
Suffer with Christ verses 17, 18
Glorified with Christ verse 17, 18
Earnest expectation verse 19
Sons of God verse 19
Hope verses 20, 24, 25
Delivered from bondage of corruption verse 21
Glorious liberty verse 21
Firstfruits of Spirit verse 23
Redemption of our body verse 23
Patience wait verse 25
Helped with infirmities verse 26
Spirit makes intercession for us verse 26
Mind of the Spirit verse 27
Saints verse 27
All things together for good verse 28
Love God verse 28
Called verses 28, 30
Foreknown verse 29
Predestinate verses 29, 30
Conformed to the image of HIS Son verse 29
Justified verses 30, 33
Glorified verse 30
Freely given believers all things verse 32
God’s elect verse 33
Christ makes intercession for us verse 34
Love of Christ verses 35, 37
Nothing separates believers from Christ verse 35
Tribulation
Distress
Persecution
Famine
Nakedness
Peril
Sword
Accounted as sheep verse 36
More than conquerors verse 37
No separation from love of God verse 39
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Church (New Testament people of God)
Brethren verses 12, 29
Children of God verse 21
Saints verse 27
Firstborn of many believers verse 29
Last Things (Future Events)
Death verses 6, 13, 38
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QUOTES regarding passage
8:35–37. Paul’s final questions are in verse 35: Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? The context (vv. 37, 39) shows that “the love of Christ” is His love for believers (not their love for Him; cf. 5:5). The apostle suggested seven things a believer might experience (Paul experienced all of them; 2 Cor. 11:23–28) that some might think could come between a believer and Christ’s love—trouble (thilpsis, “pressure or distress”; mentioned frequently by Paul in 2 Cor.) or hardship (stenochōria, lit., “narrowness,” i.e., being pressed in, hemmed in, crowded) or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword. These things—stated in increasing intensity—do not separate Christians from Christ; instead they are part of the “all things” (Rom. 8:28) God uses to bring them to conformity to His Son. Then Paul quoted Psalm 44:22 to remind his readers that in this life the people of God must face much affliction (cf. John 16:33) including even martyrdom for some. In the early days of the church one or more Christians were martyred every day, or faced the possibility of it. Their persecutors valued Christians’ lives as nothing more than animals to be butchered.
In all these adversities (cf. “all things” in Rom. 8:28 and “all things” in v. 32 with all these things in v. 37), rather than being separated from Christ’s love, believers are more than conquerors (pres. tense, hypernikōmen, “keep on being conquerors to a greater degree” or “keep on winning a glorious victory”) through Him who loved us. Jesus Christ and His love for believers enable them to triumph (cf. 2 Cor. 2:14). (Witmer, J. A. (1985). Romans. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 475). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books)
Furthermore, He gives us the power to conquer (Rom. 8:37). We are “more than conquerors,” literally, “we are superconquerors” through Jesus Christ! He gives us victory and more victory! We need not fear life or death, things present or things to come, because Jesus Christ loves us and gives us the victory. This is not a promise with conditions attached: “If you do this, God will do that.” This security in Christ is an established fact, and we claim it for ourselves because we are in Christ. Nothing can separate you from His love! Believe it—and rejoice in it!
A review of this wonderful chapter shows that the Christian is completely victorious. We are free from judgment because Christ died for us and we have His righteousness. We are free from defeat because Christ lives in us by His Spirit and we share His life. We are free from discouragement because Christ is coming for us and we shall share His glory. We are free from fear because Christ intercedes for us and we cannot be separated from His love. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 543). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
We may view this beautiful, hymn-like celebration of our security in Christ as a response to what Paul has just said (28–30, or 18–30 or even 1–30), but it is better to see it as a concluding reflection of chs. 5–8 as a whole. It falls into two parts. In the first (31–34) Paul reminds us that God is for us: in giving his Son, he has at the same time secured for us all that we need to get through this life and attain final salvation. No-one, then, is able successfully to bring any charge against us, to cause us to be condemned in the judgment. For it is God who has chosen us and justified us and his own Son who answers any indictment brought against us. The second part of the hymn (35–39) celebrates the love of God in Christ for us. It is as impossible to separate us from that love as it is to bring a charge against us. No earthly peril or disaster can do so (35b–36). Though such suffering can be expected, as Paul reminds us with his quotation of Ps. 44:22, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Nor can any spiritual power separate us from God’s love (angels, demons and powers in v 38). Indeed, there is nothing in all creation that can remove us from the new regime in which God’s love in Christ reigns over us. (Moo, D. J. (1994). Romans. In D. A. Carson, R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, & G. J. Wenham (Eds.), New Bible commentary: 21st century edition (4th ed., p. 1142). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press)
8:37 overwhelmingly conquer. A compound Gr. word, which means to over-conquer, to conquer completely, without any real threat to personal life or health. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Ro 8:37). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
Ver. 37. Nay, in all these things, &c.] The former words being inserted in a parenthesis, these are an answer to the question in ver. 35 who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation? &c. nay: it shall not, nor any of the other things mentioned: in all these things; afflictions, distresses, persecutions, famine, nakedness, sword, or any other thing of the same kind: we are more than conquerors; not only over sin and Satan, but the world, the reproaches, afflictions, and persecutions of it; which they cheerfully and courageously undergo, insomuch that they are not only conquerors, but more than conquerors; they have above overcome, they have exceedingly the better of it; for they not only patiently bear afflictions and persecutions, but they glory in them; their experience, faith, and joy, are often increased by them; they have sometime solicited, and even wearied their persecutors; they have got the victory with ease, over Satan and his hellish emissaries, by the blood of the Lamb, and the word of their testimony: but this is not owing to themselves, or through their own strength, but through him that loved us; meaning either God the father, whose love is mentioned in the following verses, or rather the Lord Jesus Christ; and so some copies express it, through Christ that loved us: through him, who has got the victory over all his and his people’s enemies, and makes them sharers in his conquests; through him, who is able to help them, and has strength sufficient to carry them through, and brings them off more than conquerors; who has loved them, still loves them, and whose love engages his power to stand by them and protect them against all their enemies. (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 2, p. 498). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
8: 26-27. In the same way that hope sustains believers when they suffer, so also the Spirit helps their weakness when they pray (v.26), the weakness being found in ignorance concerning how one ought to pray. Groanings too deep for words is an oxymoron, but describes the Spirit’s “wordless prayer groaning” on behalf of God’s children. Too deep for words means “unspoken,” “unspeakable,” “unuttered,” “unutterable,” but in any case, these groans are inaudible and therefore do not refer to speaking in tongues. In addition, the Spirit Himself performs this intercessory ministry, but speaking in tongues involves the participation of the believer (cf. I Co 14:14), and while every believer speaks in tongues (1 Co 12:30), every believer can be confident of this prayer ministry of the Sprit. If God knows every thought of every person, then He is quite capable of understanding the Spirit’s prayers for His children (v.27). He [Spirit] intercedes … according to the will of God provides the basis for what Paul will say in v.28. If the Spirit prays for believers, then God’s loving purposes will come to them. Not only does the Spirit intercede, but the Son does as well (v.34), and the intercessory work of two member of the Godhead are what guarantees that “nothing will separate us from the love of God,” and that believers will never lose their salvation. (p. 1758, The Moody Bible Commentary by Michael Rydelnik and Michael Vanlaningham)
FROM MY READING:
A SEED OF LIFE
Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. The change in my disposition does not mean that I have a greater intellect now than I had before. No, I have exactly the same intellect, the same mind. But because the disposition governing it is changed, my mind is operating in a different realm and in a different way, and it seems to be a new mind. And it is exactly the same with the feelings. A man who used to hate the Gospel now loves it. A woman who hated the Lord Jesus Christ now loves Him. And likewise with the will: The will earlier resisted, it was obstinate and rebellious; but now it desires, it is anxious, it is concerned about the Gospel.
The next thing that we say is that it is a change that is instantaneous. Now do you see the importance of differentiating between generation and coming to birth? Generation, by definition, is always an instantaneous act. There is a moment, a flash, in which the germ of life enters, impregnates; that is one instantaneous action. In other words, there are no intermediate stages in regeneration. Life is either implanted or it is not; it cannot be partly implanted. It is not gradual. When I say that it is instantaneous, I am not referring to our consciousness of it, but to the thing itself, as it is done by God. The consciousness, of course, comes into the realm of time, whereas this act of germination is timeless, and that is why it is immediate.
So the next thing is that generation, the implanting of this seed of life and the change of the disposition, happens in the subconscious, or, if you prefer, in the unconscious. Our Lord explained that fully to Nicodemus (John 3). It is a secret, inscrutable operation that cannot be directly perceived by us; indeed, we cannot even fully understand it. The first thing we know about it is that it has happened, because we are conscious of something different, but that means that we do not understand it and that we really cannot arrive at its secret.
A Thought to Ponder: The will earlier resisted, it was obstinate and rebellious;
but now it is concerned about the Gospel.
(From God the Holy Spirit, p. 81, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
The Holy Spirit’s Ministry: God Himself Is For Us
“What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)
This stunning statement is founded on the unalterable attributes of the triune God (Romans 8:31-35). God Himself secures our salvation; who then can possibly undo His work?
- “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1).
- “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).
- “In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me” (Psalm 56:11).
God Himself is the giver and the protector of our salvation.
- “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:24).
- “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand” (John 10:28).
- “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
What can possibly undo the work of the omnipotent and omniscient triune Godhead and Creator of all things? It is utter foolishness to yield our eternity to the Savior and then conclude that our feeble efforts could somehow thwart a work of eternity.
(HMM III, The Institute for Creation Research)
Genesis 28
Jacob dreams of angels and heaven.
INSIGHT
Jacob’s dream — in which he sees the angels ascending and descending the ladder to heaven — seems to be a turning point in his life. It appears to be the point at which he receives a personal relationship with the Lord. Jacob’s life after this encounter was not flawless. But God was able to use him in a central role to fulfill ancient promises.
So, too, we must have a personal relationship with God through Jesus, His Son, and our Savior, before we can experience the work of God in us and through us. Do you know Jesus personally? If not, why not receive Him as your Savior and Lord now? (Quiet Walk)
A few years ago, Planned Parenthood released an upbeat, even triumphant sounding annual report for the 2018-19 fiscal year. Despite the increased legal and political “challenges” they face, the organization claims to have met these challenges with “resolve.”
This kind of “spin” is pretty standard fare for annual reports, so it should be taken with a large grain of salt. Still, it prompts an obvious question: If Planned Parenthood is going from strength to strength as it says it is, why does it still need our taxpayer support?
According the report, Planned Parenthood performed 345,000 abortions during the 2018-19 fiscal year. That’s approximately 40 percent of the approximately 862,000 abortions performed in the United States.
In other words, Planned Parenthood performed a record number of abortions at a time when the overall number of abortions is declining. Put differently, we might say that Planned Parenthood is cornering the abortion “market.” The report sounds so upbeat because business is good.
In fact, it’s so good that Planned Parenthood could turn down millions of dollars in federal grants rather than comply with new Trump Administration rules that bar recipients from referring clients to abortion providers.
With that kind of financial flexibility, why are American taxpayers still forced to fund the organization to the tune of $617 million a year? More to the point, why was the most recent funding approved without the slightest consideration that things could be different?
At least part of the answer to those questions lie in the pages of the annual report. Planned Parenthood claims that it provided “9.8 million services” in its last fiscal year. Half of these were what it called “STI Services & Treatment.” The rest were “Birth Control Information & Services” and “Breast Exams & Pap Tests.”
This is, of course, Planned Parenthood’s continual, and still bogus, argument that abortion is “less than four percent” of what the organization does. I have explained on several occasions why that number just isn’t true. Apparently, enough elected officials—Congressional Republicans included—either believe Planned Parenthood, don’t care enough to learn the facts, or are unwilling to risk their political careers to do anything about it.
And so, the omnibus spending bill passed and signed into law late last year directs $550 million in federal funding for Planned Parenthood in this fiscal year. That’s an increase of $20 million over last fiscal year. (BreakPoint)
The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything. Albert Einstein
The whole of our salvation can be summed up with reference to this reality, Union with Christ is not a single specific blessing we receive in our salvation. Rather it is the best phrase to describe all the blessings of salvation, whether in eternity past (election), in history (redemption), in the present (effectual calling, justification, and sanctification), or in the future (glorification).
So while it’s appropriate for theologians to talk about an “order of salvation” (ordo salutis), whereby we are called by the Spirit, born again, moved to faith and repentance, justified, adopted, sanctified, preserved, and glorified, we must never separate these benefits from the Benefactor. (p. 94, The Hole In Our Holiness by Keven DeYoung)
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