Dear Student of the Word,
It's time to send you the next installment from my study of Paul's letter to the Romans. In this part, we look at most of the verses in one of my favorite chapters in the New Testament, Romans 8. Since I have added so many subscribers since my study seven, let me make some comments about this study in general.
I first did this study years ago as a weekly devotional, choosing 4-5 verses every day and writing a paragraph or two about each verse. In doing this, I was able to complete the verse-by-verse study of the entire New Testament in nine years! Now I am going back and editing every study for eventual publication, and don't send them out to you on a weekly basis, but generally twice every month. Right now we are looking at Romans together.
Some people sit down and read the study attached below, which is divided into seven parts, in one sitting (seven parts because it was formerly a weekly study). Some take their time and read and study it over a two-week period. Some have told me they use it for group devotions in their small group Bible study. You will notice that I have put the questions I pose to help you apply the verses in bold, so you can quickly see them and determine if that verse's study is relevant to you.
In this week's study, we look at the many wonderful truths in Romans 8. To give you a sample of what you will download below, here is what I wrote in part seven of this seven-part installment:
Study Eight, Park Seven
34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died-more than that, who was raised to life-is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
8:34 – We learned in verses 26 and 27 that the Spirit intercedes for us. Now we see that Jesus intercedes for us at God’s right hand. We cannot find two better prayer partners. Not only is the Spirit interceding, but He is also helping us pray according to the will of God. Armed with that truth, there is no one who can condemn us. If God be for us, who can be against us? The answer of course is “no one.”
We saw earlier that there will be occupations in heaven and this verse bears this out. Jesus is not in heaven singing; He is in heaven praying. He is continuing His purpose, which was described in Luke 19:10 as to “seek and save the lost.” Jesus is continuing His purpose from his heavenly perch and we are the beneficiaries.
So if Jesus has a purpose and is still fulfilling it, what is your purpose? What will you do for all eternity?
8:35&36 – What shall separate us from God? Certainly not persecution, and Paul was familiar with everything that he listed in these verses. He lived in constant danger, but that only brought him closer to God, not further away. Paul quoted Psalm 44:22 as prophetic proof that persecution and tribulation are a predictable and God-ordained part of the salvation experience. There are some who would say that if any of the things listed in verse 35 befall a saint, it is because the saint lacks faith. I say that is nonsense and is contrary to the historic teaching of the church and contrary to the teaching of Scripture. Even famine is on Paul’s list of difficulties to be faced (see the list of Greek words used in this verse below).
8:37 – I am more than a conqueror? If it were only I by myself facing these issues, I would be a miserable failure. But I am more than a conqueror because Jesus was and is more than a conqueror. If I rest in Him and His works, I share in what He has done and can do. Are you more than a conqueror? You say, “no.” Well, maybe it’s time you saw yourself in a new light!
8:38&39 – The only thing not on this list is you! You can choose to separate yourself from the love of God by maintaining a stubborn attitude or trying to do what you could never do to earn God’s love. Are you tired of striving to earn God’s love? Then give up and rest in His love. Are you weary of failure? Then rise above your failure by taking your place in Christ. Are you weary of your efforts to understand God and His ways? Then surrender your need to understand and trust in the truths of these verses. Nothing shall separate you from God’s love, period. That truly is the best news that anyone can receive at any time.
As always, I welcome your comments to this week's study. For additional Bible studies, check out my website archive, which contains a complete collection of all my verse-by-verse New Testament studies, along with the unpublished volume of The Faith Files.
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NEW DAILY DEVOTIONAL: As I complete my 2012 daily devotional, What Would Jesus Ask You Today?, I began a new one on January 1 called Purpose Pearls. If you would like to receive this automatically every day, just subscribe on my blog site and make sure you pay attention to the confirmation email you will receive once you do subscribe.
PURPOSECOACH: On January 1, I reintroduced my program called PurposeCoach, bigger and better than ever. This time, it will all be online and digitized, and on sale for $99, half off the normal price of $198. If you are interested, let me know and I will send you some info and the link through which you can pay.
ISRAEL 2013: I am returning to Israel in September, 2013 and I am inviting you to come with me. The
brochure is attached, so read up and then let me know you are coming with me.
GIVE A GIFT TO AN ORPHAN: I have updated my website page that describes what I am doing in Kenya and how you can help. I depart on January 31, and I still need funds to feed, clothe and care for an orphan like Obed (click to enlarge). Please check out the new page and then give generously to the cause through PayPal on that page or by sending a tax-deductible check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsbugh, PA 15221-0882. But hurry, I leave in a week!
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