Part 10 Life in the Spirit Romans 8

Bible Engagement

Part 10: Romans 8: 31-32

31 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? KJV

Nothing can separate us from God’s love!

What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? Rom. 8:31

What shall we then say—

• How should we respond
• We need to say something
• What shall we say
• We need to make declarations

To these things?

• What are ‘these’ ‘things’?
• At first I thought these things must be the things that prove God’s love for us since nothing can separate us from the love of God. Then I thought Romans 8:1 says there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus. This led me to think, well what are some things that had/has the potential to try and make us feel condemned?
• Or should we be provoked to reflect: What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Upon reflection we realize that we have assurance, we are reassured, our faith is strengthened, we are encouraged. And we can respond to any of life’s challenges accordingly.
• Things-–Romans 8:5 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.
  • For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. ESV
  • Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. NIV
  • Those who live following their sinful selves think only about things that their sinful selves want. But those who live following the Spirit are thinking about the things the Spirit wants them to do. NCV

“WHAT YOU WORKING WITH”?

• What are ‘You’ as an individual, make it personal, What are you working with? What type of things? What are you saying? How are you responding?

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Galatians 5:1 KJV

Gal. 5: 13–For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. (Caution: But if you bite and devour one another [in bickering and strife], watch out that you [along with your entire fellowship] are not consumed by one another AMP).

• Bickering is arguing about petty and trivial matters; arguing about things that are not important
• Consumed (my hands are on fire—I feel God strongly-I don’t want to cry this is very important)> it’s so important. We tend to think in terms of the here and now. But what about eternity. Our decisions, attitudes, feelings, have the potential to affect eternity both good and bad. Imagine if my feelings get in the way and cause a domino effect. What if I constantly oppose my brother or sister in such a way they decide—I’m done. I don’t need this. Let me just get out of their way. They don’t have to worry about me being an issue. Let them handle it. But what if, God was planning on using that same person to bring souls into the kingdom. What if while I am opposing you, and you are opposing me, we are consuming each other, losing focus; distracted. And we ultimately find ourselves in opposition to God Himself. Will God forgive us, Yes. We are not condemned but there are consequences that can have a negative domino effect; eternal consequences.

Pray. Father in the name of Jesus, God we repent we change our way of thinking about this and ask you to forgive us. Father we thank you for the forgiveness of sin. Thank you for forgiving us of sins of omission and commission. Help us God to do what is pleasing to you. Holy Spirit help us to serve each other in love. Strengthen our resolve God that your will is done. In the name of Jesus. Father let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight. O Lord you are our strength and our redeemer. Father let the peace of Christ rest, rule and abide in our hearts, we need your peace. Father help us to do it all for your glory and in the name of Jesus.

Hallelujah. Thank you. Thank you Lord. Thank you for the opportunity, thank you for the privilege, Father we honor you. What a mighty God you are. We give you all the glory, the honor and the praise in the name of Jesus. You are so worthy; holy holy holy holy holy God. You are worthy, worthy worthy worthy—worthy is the Lamb. Thank you Lord in the name of Jesus.

Please take a minute and pray in the Spirit; pray in your heavenly language

Continuing Romans 8:31 “These things”:

Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

Galatians 5:16-26 for more on ‘these things’

Galatians 5:16 But I say, walk habitually in the [Holy] Spirit [seek Him and be responsive to His guidance], and then you will certainly not carry out the desire of the sinful nature [which responds impulsively without regard for God and His precepts]. 17 For the sinful nature has its desire which is opposed to the Spirit, and the [desire of the] Spirit opposes the sinful nature; for these [two, the sinful nature and the Spirit] are in direct opposition to each other [continually in conflict], so that you [as believers] do not [always] do whatever [good things] you want to do. 18 But if you are guided and led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the Law. 19 Now the practices of the sinful nature are clearly evident: they are sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality (total irresponsibility, lack of self-control), 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions [that promote heresies], 21 envy, drunkenness, riotous behavior, and other things like these.

I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature together with its passions and appetites. 25 If we [claim to] live by the [Holy] Spirit, we must also walk by the Spirit [with personal integrity, godly character, and moral courage—our conduct empowered by the Holy Spirit]. 26 We must not become conceited, challenging or provoking one another, envying one another. AMP

Reference Scripture for Rom. 8:31: Psalm 118:6-The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?

You know the saying, ‘Ain’t no ifs ands and buts about it’! It’s called an idiom? Grammarly.com says, An idiom is a phrase that, when taken as a whole, has a meaning you wouldn’t be able to deduce from the meanings of the individual words. Dictionary.com describes an idiom as a traditional way of saying something.

Romans 8:31b…….If God is for us, who can be successful against us?(AMP)

If —–(‘Ain’t no ifs ands and buts about it’). God is for us!!!

We make this declaration: God is for me-nothing can be successful against me in the name of Jesus.

Have you every prayed and asked the Lord to keep you. Lord even keep me from myself.

We further declare:

• No weapon that is formed against us shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against us in judgment we condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord. Isaiah 54:17
• This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. Psalm 34:6
  • I called on the Lord in distress and he hear me and answered me..
• My enemies will turn back when I call for help. By this I will know that God is for me.” Psalm 56:9
• I called upon the Lord in distress: the Lord answered me, and set me in a large place. The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? Psalm 118:5-6
• And I know that all things work together for my good…….

2 Corinthians 2:14:

• Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. KJV
• But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us spreads and makes evident everywhere the sweet fragrance of the knowledge of Him. AMP
• But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s victory parade. God uses us to spread his knowledge everywhere like a sweet-smelling perfume. NCV

31 What then shall we say to all these things? If God is for us, who can be [successful] against us? 32 He who did not spare [even] His own Son, but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?

• Colossians Chapter 3

1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

5 Mortify (kill it, put to death; take away), therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies (compassion), kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness (gentleness), longsuffering (patience);

13 Forbearing (bearing with) one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

14 And above all these things put on charity (love), which is the bond of perfectness (perfect bond of unity).

15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.

19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.

20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.

21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God;

23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

Romans 8:32 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?

Reference Scriptures to Romans 8:32:

• John 3:16-For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
• Romans 4:25-Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
• Romans 5:8-But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Notes for Romans 8:31-34 from Life Application Study Bible

• Do you ever think that because you aren’t good enough for God, he will not save you? Do you ever feel as if salvation is for everyone else but you?
  • No I don’t. But some people may until they are introduced to the truth of the gospel and delivered. Philippians 2: 4-5 says, Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
• Then these verses are especially for you: If God gave his Son for you, he isn’t going to hold back the gift of salvation!
• If Christ gave his life for you, he isn’t going to turn around and condemn you
• He will not withhold anything you need to live for him.
• The book of Romans is more than a theological explanation of God‘s redeeming grace-it is a letter of comfort and confidence addressed to you.

Settled!

It is finished!

For Romans 8:32 let’s reflect on the Cross.

Take a seat, and reflect on what you know about the Cross

If you are able to remain seated, take some slow deep breaths and really pause, take the time to reflect. To think it over. If you haven’t thought about intently in a while; rest with it. Picture details. The Cross of Christ.

The Crucifixion

The death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

The finished work of the Cross