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Future Glory

Read: Romans 8:18-25 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (v. 18) Paul knew all about suffering, firsthand. The Christians who received his letter knew the pain of persecution at the hands of oppressive emperors in Rome. We who […]

The Spirit’s Help

Read: Romans 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how to pray as we ought. (v. 26) When we pray, we never pray alone. Even when praying privately we do not pray by ourselves. The Spirit prays both in us and for us. So much of the attention on […]

The Spirit of Adoption

Read: Romans 8:12-17 You have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” (v. 15) One of the great confessions of the Christian faith is that Jesus Christ is the only Son of God. The Apostles’ Creed states, “We believe . . . in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord.” When God established […]

Life in the Spirit

Read: Romans 8:1-8 Those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. (v. 5) The word “spirit” is used no less than twenty-two times in Romans 8, though not always in the same sense. We can distinguish three different spirits here: the Spirit of God, the human spirit, and […]

Only Christ

Read: Romans 8:31-35 Who is to condemn? (v. 34) One of the great challenges of the Christian faith is to affirm the reality of a judgment while keeping ourselves from the temptation of trying to judge. Paul reminds us early in the book of Romans, “He will judge everyone according to what they have done” (Rom. […]

Condemnation

Read: Romans 8:1-8 By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh. (v. 3) The word “condemnation” appears three times in Romans 8. First, as the assurance of our faith: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (v. 1). Last, […]

No Condemnation

Read: Romans 8:1-8 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (v. 1) Romans 8 is wallpapered in gospel promises. They begin where the assurance of our faith begins: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Condemnation has to do with the penalty that follows […]

In Christ

Read: Romans 8 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. . . . [Nothing] will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (vv. 1, 39) As it begins and as it ends Romans 8 leaves us in the same location: “in Christ.” “In Christ” is […]

A Living Community

Read: Ephesians 2:11-22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. (v. 22) Carol was grocery shopping for Thanksgiving, looking forward to having kids and grandkids in town. Her usually quiet home would become a crowded, busy, wonderful place for a few days. Then her mind wandered […]