God’s Word for Today

27 Dec 2023

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;

    we are regarded 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 sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

-Rom 8:35-39 ESV

WHO SHALL SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF CHRIST?

Our spiritual journey isn’t an easy ride, is it? We’re groaning for the completeness of our redemption when we see Christ face to face. We may undergo suffering. Are these hardships evidences of the lack or absence of God’s love? Absolutely not!

Nothing we do can keep Christ from loving us, and nothing that happens to us can mean that Christ no longer loves us. The worst things that can happen in this life, include trials, hardship, persecution for our faith in Him, hunger, lack of clothing or shelter, physical threats, or death by violence. Yet, this doesn’t mean God has stopped loving us during difficult times. His love isn’t a pampering one but a filtering love. [john 16:33, Heb 12:6]. 

Paul would be more familiar than almost anyone else. He himself experienced most, if not all, of those hardships and remained convinced of Christ's love for him (see 2 Cor 11:23–29). By quoting Psa 44:22, Paul is showing that God's people have faced persecution and hardship for generations. Thus, we should not equate hardships as an absence of God’s love.

In fact, we are more than conquerors in Christ. We conquer those terrible things in the sense that Christ has already won the most important victory for us. That is, our place in God's family, our share in the inheritance of His glory, could never be taken from us by any means. We conquer in the sense that none of these things can overcome what God's love has gained for us. Paul covers virtually everything anyone might think of to challenge God's love for His elect (Rom 8:29–30).

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Text: Romans 8:33-34 (ESV)

33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

IT IS GOD WHO JUSTIFIES

Believers are God’s elect. They’re foreknown, predestined to be like Christ, called, justified and glorified.[v.29-30] Here, the emphasis is our justification.

Our justification implies that we have the problem of sins. Men are guilty, unjust and unpure before the holy court of God. They deserved condemnation. The holy Judge would not cover our sins under the carpet, would He? Holiness demands perfection and purity. Thus, men, as soon as they are conceived, are considered sinners and has the sentence of condemnation already.[John 3:18]

The worst nemesis of God is Satan. He is described in Rev 12:10 as the accuser who stands before God night and day bringing accusations against "our brothers and sisters." He always accuses us of sin in order to convince God of our unworthiness to be in His family. He taunts us, hinting our hearts with much thought that God could never forgive, love and accept us.

But, God stepped in to our rescue. He justifies us in Christ. Christ has ‘imputed unto us’ His righteousness.Paul said, “ For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”[2 Cor 5:21] As verse 34 says, “Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.”

As the devil rlentlessly bombards us with much accusations, Christ is interceding us. As the apostle John writes, “But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.”[1 John 2:1,2] Christ is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. [Heb 7:25]

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Text: Luke 2:8-14 (ESV)

8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

THE GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY

The spirit of Christmas should be of spiritual joy. In contrast to the revelry of the world, we must focus on what the bible’s account is. Under Roman rule, the shepherds felt the pinch of life. They had to spend countless sleepless nights to watch their sheep. “Is there a way out from this rut?”, they may have asked. Since the fall, man’s life has been walking through a dark tunnel.

Unexpectedly, the glory of the Lord shone around them. The good news of great joy came during the time they needed it most. The grace of salvation appeared to them first, then to all men. [Tit 2:11] In the ‘fulness of time’ Jesus was born as the fulfillment of God’s prophecy.[Gal 4:4] The angel announced what Isaiah had written 700 years earlier, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”[ see Isa 9:6]

Quite different than everyone has expected, the sign or sight of the King’s birth is to be wrapped in swaddling clothes in a manger. Blessings in life may come at seemingly wrong times and wrong places to wrong people. Why Jesus has to be revealed in such a fashion does continue to boggle our minds. As Paul expressed, “ For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.”[2 Cor 8:9]

This Christmas we’ll celebrate our spiritual riches in Him. Let’s not be carried away by the momentary glitters of this world. We have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will. [Eph 1:11] Like Paul, let us ‘look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.’[2 Cor 4:18] And, as Moses, let us cherish ‘Christ’s greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt.’ [Heb 11:26]

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Text: Romans 8:31-32 ESV

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

-Rom 8:31-32 ESV

GOD GAVE HIM UP FOR US ALL

Christmas season has been one of the most abused festivities of the year. Sadly as a tradition, it has evolved into a time of indulgence and selfishness to a lot of people. More people are becoming self-centered - expecting good towards themselves. This is contrary to God, whose generosity is incomprehensible.

Paul first says, “God is for us.” How come a holy God would side with sinners like us? The reason is His unfathomable love. “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”[Rom 5:8] if the God of the universe is on our side, who among His creatures could dare to go against us? Nothing!

He did not spare Jesus for Himself. His love prompted Him to give Jesus unto us.[John 3:16]. Even Jesus did not think of staying in His state of glory but emptied Himself by humbling to be born as a man, a servant. [Phil 2:5-7] This generosity of the Godhead should revolutionize our lives. In Christ, we should not feel the lack in life.

In fact, Paul also expressed the benevolence of God in Eph 3:20-21. He writes, “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Moreover, Paul also writes, “Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God.”[2 Cor 3:5].

Let’s be encouraged to depend and wait upon God in every circumstance. Let’s bring unto God everything in prayer. [Phil 4:6,7]

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Text: Romans 8:28-30 ESV

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

-Rom 8:28-30 ESV

ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD

Let’s take note that Paul has been describing the life of Christians on this side of heaven. We are groaning as we long to escape the suffering of this life and to be with our Father God in person (v.18–23). We wait in the sure hope of the day our bodies will be resurrected and we will share in God's glory (v.24–25) through the intercession of the Spirit [v.26-27]. Hence, we could be joyful, hopeful, and even thankful because of His promise.

This promise is exclusive to those who are saved. Non-believers are excluded. To the saved ‘all things will indeed work together for good. It’s inclusive too. It includes all things. "All things" should be taken to mean each and every circumstance one might experience, even in pain or suffering. Moreover, it’s cohesive. The word "Work," or "work together," must be understood in light of God taking action in the world. He is the one who causes all things to work together in and through all circumstances toward a specific end. What is that end?

That end goal is "good." God’s plan is also superb. The ‘good’ does not necessarily mean happy painless or financially successful or our idea of the best possible outcome on any given day. God's ultimate good for us is to glorify us in eternity (Rev 21:1–4). As Paul expounded, “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.” [v.29,30]

Hence, we say ‘God is good all the time; all the time God is good”

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God’s Word for Today

21 Dec 2023

22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

-Rom 8:22-25 ESV

A LIFE OF HOPE

In this present moment, all of creation continues to groan together in the pains of childbirth. Clearly, this suffering from bondage to decay has been going on since sin entered the world. Is there hope? Yes! Paul describes our hope as the pains of childbirth. In other words, the pain is real, vivid, and intense, but it leads to a moment of "birth" when life will come and all the pain will be forgotten.

As Jesus said, “When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.”[John 16:22] 

The truly saved Christians are those who have the "firstfruits of the Spirit" or "the Spirit as a first result of being in Christ.” They do groan inwardly in this waiting, don’t they? Christianity does not dismiss the reality of pain and suffering. Indeed, God's children through faith in Christ (Rom 3:26) can experience love, joy, peace, and hope in the power of the Holy Spirit. Yet, we should also expect to experience suffering (John 16:33), not just the suffering of persecution (2 Cor 5:1–5).

Christians wait eagerly for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. We have already been adopted and have become the full children of God through faith in Christ. But, we have yet to meet our Father in person. Our bodies continue to experience the temporary consequence of sin, that is decay unto death.

Then what are waiting for? That our bodies are to be redeemed after we die physically and resurrected as Christ was. Then, our adoption could be considered complete when we will be united with the Father eternally. We’re not home yet but it is guaranteed. Our hope is certain, but it has not materialized as yet. We can't see it but it’s sure to happen. If we could see, it would not be hope as Paul argues. Therefore, the life of a Christian should be marked with anticipation. A life of hope. Thus, a Christian should wait with patience, should he not? 

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God’s Word for Today

20 Dec 2023

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

-Rom 8:18-21 ESV

PRESENT SUFFERINGS AND FUTURE GLORY

If you’re a Christian, you share in Christ’s sufferings.[v.17, Phil 1:29] How did Paul view sufferings? Paul's perspective is that our present sufferings are not even worth holding up in comparison with the glories that will be revealed in us. Is he glossing over or sugarcoating the pain and anguish due to suffering? Definitely not!

He argues that all of our suffering cannot compare to the glories that will be revealed at some time in the future to us,  saved believers. We are God's heirs with Christ, are we not? Indeed, those endless glories must be wonderful, fulfilling, and meaningful beyond comprehension. We’ve fallen short of God’s glory because of sin[Rom 3:23] and without Christ, we would never have a glimpse of that glory.

Interestingly, we are not the only ones who long for the moment when suffering will be replaced by glory but also creation. More specifically, the creation waits for the revealing of the sons of God. What does this mean?

Interestingly, Paul describes creation as experiencing a degree of awareness that something better is coming in the future. By "creation," Paul seems to refer to all that God has made – plants, animals, and everything else. The creation is full of expectation for redemption, not in the way the ‘Save the Earth’ enthusiasts think today. God did not design creation to suffer, did He? That hardship came after all that was meaningful and "very good" was affected by the curse.  God cursed all of creation as a result of human sin (Gen 3:14, 17–19).

What does Paul have in mind when saying that the children of God are "revealed"? Of course, it should be made clear that those in Christ are already the children of God. We accept this about ourselves although, on the surface, we appear the same as everyone else. But, John says we will be like Christ when He appears. In 1 John 3;2, he says, “Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.”

Paul says that every believer should hope for God’s glory. Creation is looking forward to be healed. All suffering will end. All will be made right (Rev 21:1–4). How does this truth encourage you today?

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Text: Romans 8:12-17 (ESV)

12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

WE ARE CHILDREN OF GOD

Christians have no obligation to do what their sinful nature urges them to do. [v.12] It is not who we are as Christians anymore. In fact, God specifically calls us to abandon that lifestyle and to live in the power of God's Spirit. Christians aren't meant for sin and selfishness any more. Living according to the flesh is a life without Christ. This is a worldly life of serving self, first and always. And, they can not submit to God's law and please God (Rom 8:7,8).

Conversely, Christians through the power of the Spirit will put to death the deeds of their sinful nature. Thus, they will live. Not to obtain eternal live, but to appropriate or actualize the life given to them. This life is from the Spirit. ‘For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.’[v.14, NLT]

We are children of God. We have not received a spirit that makes us fearful slaves. Instead, we received God’s Spirit when he adopted us as his own children. [v.15] He did not free us from slavery to sin simply to add us to His pool of servants. He rescued us from sin to make us His children.

Now we call him, 'Abba, Father.' He is the Spirit of adoption, allowing us to cry out to God as little children call out to a loving father. The word ‘Abba’ is a Greek and English adaptation of the Aramaic word for father. It was often the word used by young children to address their father as "papa" or "daddy." That's the relationship God wants with us, and He has made it possible through the Spirit.

Moreover, God initiates to affirm from His Spirit to our spirit that we are His children. His Spirit "bears witness," That is, He keeps communicating to us over and over that we belong in God's family now that we are in Christ. He confirms to us what is true on some deep and unspoken level. And as His legal children, we have become God's heirs. Paul said in Eph 1:11, “In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will”

Although, as His true children we suffer for we bear His name util He will take us into His glory. Our sufferings doesn’t make us heirs but because we are heirs we sufffer with Him. [Phil 1:29] As Paul said later, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”[Rom 8:18]

If you’re a Christian, how do you value this privilege as His child? How would you respond to your sufferings?

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Text: Romans 8:9-11 (ESV)

9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

THE SPIRIT OF GOD DWELLS IN YOU

Paul makes it clear that non-Christians only live by the flesh, serving themselves [Rom 7:25]. Paul leaves no room for anyone who claims that he can live both by the flesh and live by Spirit, simultaneously. It’s not possible. Christians live by the Spirit, even if we are sometimes distracted by sin. A true believer in Christ can sin (1 John 1:9–10). But, sin is not the normal pattern of behavior for someone who is in Christ (1 John 3:4–6). Why? Believers belong to God because God gives His Holy Spirit to them. The ‘Spirit of God’ dwells in them. Without the Spirit, we are not Christians (1 Cor 3:16; 2 Tim 1:14).

“And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God.”[v.10, NLT] The idea is that having Christ in us means that we are spiritually alive, in the Spirit, even though our sin-ridden bodies are still dying because of sin. Without Christ, without the Holy Spirit, we should be spiritually dead. There is no inherent spiritual life in us. This spiritual life in us is credited because of righteousness, not ours but Christ's righteousness (Romans 5:21).

Moreover, the Spirit guarantees our resurrection. As Paul argues, “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.”[v.11 NIV] Resurrection is a work of the Holy Spirit of God. That's one of the things He does. He raised Jesus from the dead, and He will do the same for all who are in Christ when the time comes.

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Text: Romans 8:5-8 ESV

5 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.

6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot.

8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

-Rom 8:5-8 ESV

SET YOUR MIND ON THE THINGS OF THE SPIRIT

Christians do not walk or live according to the flesh but according to the Holy Spirit. It is no longer our path, our nature, to walk by the flesh. What is the difference between walking by the Spirit and walking by the flesh as we used to do before we were Christians?

The difference is in our minds. Those who are not Christians, who are living by the flesh, think only of things of the flesh. The flesh refers to the wants and needs driven by the physical body, and the desires of the fallen world. The flesh is hooked to selfish wants and needs, moment by moment.

Setting our minds on one or the other leads in two different directions. A focus on our sinful, selfish desires—the flesh—leads to death. This is the law of death. Whereas, focusing on the things of the Spirit leads to life and peace. That's the law of the Spirit of life.

Christians have not just changed their status from "death to life." We have changed roads from "the road to death to the path of life." Paul’s idea is that true believers will keep going down this road. They keep their minds focused on the Spirit's things because that's the way we're going. That's who we are now. We have left the death way behind. He has a different pursuit in life.

This has been Paul’s injunction in Col 3:1-4, that is, “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your[a] life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”

The mindset on serving self only cannot submit to God's law. He is not capable of obeying God, no matter how pious he or she might be. It’s anti-God and must serve self above all, including God. This is the mindset that says, "I would submit to God's law only if that does not keep me from getting what I want?" Hence, This way of thinking could not please God.

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