Redemption Hill Church

This Sunday we continue our series with Romans 8:28-30. In the context of suffering, Paul makes the strong statement that God works all things for our good. How can that be? And what does that mean? This is an often quoted and misapplied verse. The context is key for us to understand it. The assurance we have that it can be true that all things work together for our good lies in what many have called the golden chain of our salvation. This passage is timely and hope-filled.

Suffering is one of the only universal human experiences, and it messes us up. Even more than suffering personally, it's hard to know how to make sense of the world around us. God's Word doesn't ignore the reality of suffering. It makes sense of the world and helps us to see that all of creation is groaning, but redemption is coming.

This week we continue through Romans 8 with verses 12-17. In this timely passage, we see the highest privilege of the gospel – that in Christ we are adopted through the Spirit to be children of God, all calling out to one Father together. We will spend time working out how this powerful theological foundation impacts our lives practically as we approach others as brothers and sisters in Christ.

This week we continue through Romans 8 with verses 9-11. This is a deeply comforting passage at a time that we all need great comfort. For all who are in Christ, we are promised that the Spirit of God dwells within us. This Sunday we will look at who the Holy Spirit is, and what it means for us to be indwelt by God’s Spirit.

This week we continue through Romans 8 with verses 5-8. A major characteristic for all who are in Jesus Christ, having now no condemnation, who are walking in the Spirit, is that we will experience transformation to a spiritual mindset. We need to be careful not to get this backward, as we so often do, thinking that it is our minds and right thinking that will lead to transformation in our hearts. Rather, it is God’s work by His Spirit to transform our hearts that will show up in a changed mindset in our lives.

This week we continue through Romans 8 with verses 3-4. If you missed last week, it would be worth going back to listen and get caught up in this powerful chapter. Last week we saw that there is no condemnation for anyone who is in Christ. This week gives an explanation for that, showing us what God has done to set us free, by Jesus’ work accomplished for us, and to walk in the Spirit.

This Sunday we continue our series with Romans 8:1-2. That’s right, one week after covering a whole chapter, we are slowing things down to two verses. Lord willing, we will take about eight weeks to walk through Romans 8 together. God’s Word powerfully meets us where we are, and brings rays of light to the darkest of times and places.

This incredible passage shows the struggle within us between our desires, and the good and right things we want in life, and the sin that still lurks within us. It is a powerful look at the battle within and shows how victory is won.

Writing from prison, Paul made a striking claim that death would be better than life and suffering can bring rejoicing. For him, to live was all about Jesus, and to die was to be present with Jesus. He was torn between obligation to the people he loved, and desire to be with the Savior who loved him. This is the freedom that hope in the gospel can provide. To live is Christ, to die is gain.

As we gather from scattered places this Sunday, we will continue in our series with Romans 6:12-23. This passage is focused on our emancipation from slavery to sin. It’s a timely theme for us, having celebrated Emancipation Day in DC just Thursday. We will look together at what it means to be freed from sin and bound to Christ.