Unit: Romans (Part 2)
Theme: Justified
Lesson Text: Romans 8:28-39
Supplemental Text: Colossians 3:1-3; Ephesians 1:17-19; Philippians 2:12-15
Aim: Praise God for the glorious hope that we share as those whom he has called and justified.
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By Mark Scott
God is in the salvation business, and salvation accomplishes the forgiveness of our sins. But salvation is not limited to forgiveness alone. Much more is involved. Among the larger items: the whole outworking of the plan (mystery) of God, the calling out of a people for his purpose, the efficacy of salvation through justification, the sanctification of those who have been justified, the reconciliation of the entire universe, and the future reality of experiencing God’s glory.
Paul’s argument about this salvation for both Jew and Gentile advances to another level in chapters 6–8. In part he was answering the issue of how to handle post-baptismal sin (i.e., sanctification). To that issue, Paul made three affirmations: (1) Remember our baptism (chapter 6); this alone will help us live a cut above the world. (2) Remember that we are not “home” yet (chapter 7); the struggle with sin is not completely gone. (3) Remember to live by the empowerment of the Spirit (chapter 8); this will help us deal with the sufferings and groanings of this present world. In fact, if we want to know where the hurts of the world are, listen for the groans. In Romans 8, everyone and everything is groaning—creation, believers, and the Holy Spirit. But through all the groans, believers know they were called, are being justified, and will be glorified.
What We Know
Romans 8:28-30
Christians know some things intuitively. Believers know God is always working for the good of them, even amid their sufferings. [Some “decent” manuscripts do say “all things work together for good.” The difference matters, but the sovereignty of God seems to settle those differences.]
God called us to accept the gospel according to his purpose. In God’s omniscience, he knew who would respond to that call (foreknew means to “know before the fact”). And those who God foreknew would respond to that call he predestined (occurring twice in this text; it means “to see before the horizon”). But do not stop reading. He predestined these to be conformed to the image of his Son. Is God predestining individuals to be saved or is he predestining a believing community to look like Jesus? In light of the next phrase, which completes the sentence, it would seem the latter. Jesus is the firstborn (the one who has the place of supremacy, as in Colossians 1:18) of the brothers and sisters that look like him. This believing community (Acts tells how to get into that community) has accepted the call, has experienced justification, and someday will be glorified in the presence of the One who called them.
What We Say
Romans 8:31-34
In response to these things, we essentially say nothing, for there is nothing to say, except perhaps, “Praise the Lord!” God has acted on our behalf. He is for (on behalf of) us. He did not spare his own Son, but he gave him up for us all. He graciously gives us all things. He defends us (no one can bring any charge against us) and does not condemn us. Jesus was raised to life for us following his death for us, and now he intercedes for us.
What can we say to all of that? Nothing, as there is nothing to say. Maybe the largest objection to it all is that it seems too good to be true. Paul asked seven questions in this section (when we include v. 35). The answers to all those questions are obvious. There is everything to say and nothing to say.
What We Experience
Romans 8:35-39
At this point in this glorious text, it is as if Paul challenges anything in the universe to try to separate him from the love of Christ. Nothing can. In similar form to his seven questions, Paul next offered seven potential things that could separate God from his people—trouble (being pressed down from without), hardship (stresses from within), persecution (being hunted down), famine, nakedness, danger, or sword (war). But we experience victory even during these difficulties. The quote from Psalm 44:22 and other texts, such as John 16:33, underline this.
We experience not just victory, but “hyper” victory (for we are more than conquerors). Paul was convinced (persuaded) that the physical world, the spiritual world, the world of time, the world of power, and the dimensional world could not separate him from the love of God. When one is called, justified, and glorified it is hard to imagine what could undo us.
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