God in Us
God in Us
Romans 8 some say is the greatest chapter in the bible. Some refer to it as the golden chain of scripture. It is truly a dynamic piece of scripture that Paul uses to explain how one-sided our salvation is. Embracing these truths and living by them will truly bring life and peace to the believer.
Romans 8:28 has deep meaning and can give many much comfort but it is one that may not be understood fully. You have heard it said that all things work out in the end. To be honest, a lot of times they do in this world. Struggles may plague people for a while with positive things coming from them. The reality of Romans 8:28 is that good ultimately wins out for the children of God.
Romans 8 is mainly about being led by God’s Spirit. The death and resurrection of Jesus did purchase for us a future reality but also a present one. Romans 8:11 says, “But 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.” Paul is talking about right now when he refers to mortal bodies. We will be given immortal bodies when Jesus returns but because of God’s love for us we can begin to enjoy life now in these sin ravaged mortal bodies.
The greatest command in scripture is to love God with all of our heart, with all of our mind, with all of our strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves – Mark 12:30-31. This is a selfless love that looks to give others the best good for their lives as God has given us. Love in relation to God is trusting that He is compassionate towards us and will provide us our good. Romans 8:15 describes how we believers who know this begin cry out to God as our, “Abba, Father.” Abba can also be known as Daddy or Poppa. Romans 8:17 talks about suffering with Christ and this can be understood in sharing and growing in the same affections for God and others that Christ has. Romans 8:23-26 illustrates how we believers groan within us and wait eagerly to be united with our Father without sin. These growing affections for God are examples of how the Spirit of God is creating life within our mortal bodies.
Where Romans 8:28 is misunderstood often in that Paul is not speaking of every living person. In fact, all things do not lead to the good for every human. Hell awaits those who do not turn to God and trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Hell is basically a place of existence where there is no good produced by God. Romans 8:28 is for those who have the Spirit of God residing within them producing love for God and others that God produces by His Spirit through His Word. God in us believers is the good in us!
Life is not easy. In fact, it may become harder when God’s Spirit takes up residence within us because He enlightens us to our poverty and we see ourselves for who we really are. Romans 8:28 is the promise that we Spirit produced lovers of God can cling to in that all things are working together for our good. That good is to be conformed to the image of Jesus in which we will be able to enjoy God as our Father forever.
Just as a side note; Romans chapter 8 is completely one-sided. Yes, there are descriptions of actions taken by us but it is 100% God who produces everything that is described in Romans 8. If it was not so, we should be really worried because there is no good in us without God. Romans 8 is our comfort that God is 100% for us and nothing can separate us from His love for us found in Jesus Christ, including us – Romans 8:39. If you desire to know God more in this way, take the recommendation of Jesus in Luke 11:13, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?” (hint, hint for this coming Sunday’s ABF)
