Romans 8:37-39 // More Than Conquerers

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 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. (Romans 8:37-39)

In all the trials that come our way we are more than conquerers. A conquerer was one who won a campaign, this would probably require him to not only win several battles but also take a city, which always took a lot of patience, cunning and sacrifice. A conquerer was highly honoured in ancient Rome. There would be a big parade on the streets to honour him and he would be allowed to build a monument to show future generations that he was a conquerer. What is more than a conquerer?

He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city. (Proverbs 16:32)

There is no military feat that makes a man greater than a conquerer, but to be slow to anger and to have your attitude (spirit) under control makes a man greater than a conquerer. Jesus is the one that makes us greater than conquerers. I know Paul may have just meant to emphasise that we can overcome our trials, but I think the parallel here is interesting.

We can be slow to anger, we can control our attitude, we can endure every challenge because nothing can ever separate us from Jesus and his love for us.

A final note. For most of my life I dreamed of military glory, of wounding and being wounded for my country. These dreams cannot be fulfilled in the armed forces, but only by exercising self-control in a crisis for my heavenly country. Only Jesus has the fulfilment of my dreams, only Jesus can fulfil yours.

Why not let him start preparing you to fulfil your dreams by accepting him into your heart right now?

Romans 8:31-36 // Logic of Suffering

What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32 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? 33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. (Romans 8:31-36)

Another Handel's Messiah moment; If God be for us who can be against us? Fond memories of that song.

So here's the point, God the Father is unimaginably powerful, and he let his Son Jesus die for you because he loved you so much. How can anything bad ever happen to you?

Well, it can actually; though as we saw in verse 28, this will be for your ultimate good. God has a way of making things turn out well, no matter how bad they may seem right now. When things are good we do not need to be afraid for the future because God will take care of us, we have peace. When things are bad we do not need to despair for the future because God will take care of us, we have hope.

I have experienced these, you can too, if you submit to Jesus.

Romans 8:28-30 // If you love 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. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 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. (Romans 8:28-30)

What is Paul talking about? He is saying that God has your life under control if you love him.

If you love God, he is making everything in your life contribute to your ultimate happiness.
If you love God, he knew it long ago, and determined long ago to restore you to the image of his Son, to be alike in character.
If you love God, he wants you to be one of Jesus' brothers or sisters.
If you love God, he has pleaded with you to come back to him.
If you love God, he has pardoned your sins (got you off the hook) publicly.
If you love God, he has starting making you an awesome (glorious) person.

Not everybody loves God, it is worthwhile for you and me to love him, and to encourage everyone else to do the same. The place to start is by showing love to those around us.

Romans 8:26-27 // When In Doubt, Just Pray

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:26-27)

Not only will the Spirit of God restore us physically to a perfect state when Jesus returns, but the Holy Spirit helps overcome our weaknesses now. An example is prayer. We often don't know what we should pray about, but if we are simply putting the time in to pray, the Holy Spirit will echo our feelings that we cannot express in words. God, who knows the hearts of all, also knows the thoughts of the Holy Spirit who thus asks God for things on our behalf when we are not able to do it consciously.

I am glad that the Holy Spirit can intercede for me, because I frequently am overwhelmed by the sheer number of things I could pray for. Just to kneel in humility and come before God is enough, even if you can't get words out, prayer is doing you good. It is better to get the words out if you can though, since this helps you to appreciate it a little when God answers your prayer. Sometimes I have had what I felt was an answer to a prayer that I had not even prayed, I think that is an example of this.

If you are not sure how to pray, just pray.

Romans 8:24-25 // Sick of Waiting for a Tree of Life

For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. (Romans 8:24-25)

Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life. (Proverbs 13:12)

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13)

Hope deferred makes the heart sick. This is a true saying. I have had hopes that dragged on without resolution, neither having nor losing. It is a sorry state to be in. When I have something I have the joy of possession. As Christians there are many things that we possess even now: forgiveness of past sins, power over sin and Satan, laws, wisdom and power to live harmoniously with those around us. But there are also things we do not yet have: Immortality, freedom from sorrow, freedom to learn and explore all things. But when Jesus returns in glory we will obtain these things. For this reason we have a hope in Jesus return, because until he returns these things will not be ours. Some wait more patiently than others, for whatever reason. Some expect this return to be very soon, many with this expectation have been bitterly disappointed in the past, their hope was deferred and their hearts made sick. But whether you are sick of waiting or patiently waiting, if you have legitimate hope in Jesus' second coming, when it comes it will be for you a tree of life. Literally and metaphorically.

Romans 8:18-23 // Immortal Animals

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. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23 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. (Romans 8:18-23)

Paul knew a thing or two about suffering. When we witness to people we get upset that they ignore us, when Paul witnessed to people, they tried to kill him (e.g. Acts 14). You could say Paul lost everything for Jesus, but he did not think his losses were worth even comparing to the rewards. Paul imagines all the creatures of our world waiting for the time when we will be restored and this world will be restored with us. Because all creation is suffering under the curse because of us from the fall to this day, but creation will be restored when we are restored. When we were cursed with mortality, animals were also cursed with us, and when we are given immortality, so will the animals. I do not know whether the animals we know today will personally be in the new Earth, but I see no reason that they should not be.

It is not just animals that suffer under creation, but our own physical bodies. Especially as we grow old we begin to feel the effects of the curse, and we look forward to the time when our bodies will be perfect forever.

Confess your Faults

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. (James 5:16)

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. (Philippians 2:3)

Resolve disagreements. Resolve them from a standpoint that I am more at fault, do not be defensive.

What does it mean to confess faults? Is that telling everyone about my sins?

There is a reason why the word faults is used instead of "sins"; in both the Greek and the English sin is deliberate misbehaviour whereas fault is an accidental failure. Confess, in both English and Greek actually means to acknowledge or agree, not to tell someone a secret. So confess your faults does not mean tell people about your specific sins, but rather it means be willing to admit when you are wrong.

That's it, be willing to admit when you are wrong.