Romans 8:18-39.
Romans 8.18-39
A Wonderful Future for God's People
I am sure that what we are suffering now cannot compare with the glory
that will be shown to us. In fact, all creation is eagerly waiting
for God to show who his children are. Meanwhile, creation is
confused, but not because it wants to be confused. God made it this
way in the hope that creation would be set free from decay and would
share in the glorious freedom of his children. We know that all
creation is still groaning and is in pain, like a woman about to give
birth. The Spirit makes us sure about what we will be in the future.
But now we groan silently, while we wait for God to show that we are
his children. This means that our bodies will also be set free. And
this hope is what saves us. But if we already have what we hope for,
there is no need to keep on hoping. However, we hope for something we
have not yet seen, and we patiently wait for it. In certain ways we
are weak, but the Spirit is here to help us. For example, when we
don't know what to pray for, the Spirit prays for us in ways that
cannot be put into words. All of our thoughts are known to God. He
can understand what is in the mind of the Spirit, as the Spirit prays
for God's people. We know that God is always at work for the good of
everyone who loves him. They are the ones God has chosen for his
purpose, and he has always known who his chosen ones would be. He had
decided to let them become like his own Son, so that his Son would be
the first of many children. God then accepted the people he had
already decided to choose, and he has shared his glory with them.
God's Love
What can we say about all this? If God is on our side, can anyone be
against us? God did not keep back his own Son, but he gave him for
us. If God did this, won't he freely give us everything else? If God
says his chosen ones are acceptable to him, can anyone bring charges
against them? Or can anyone condemn them? No indeed! Christ died and
was raised to life, and now he is at God's right side, speaking to him
for us. Can anything separate us from the love of Christ? Can
trouble, suffering, and hard times, or hunger and nakedness, or danger
and death? It is exactly as the Scriptures say, "For you we face
death all day long. We are like sheep on their way to be butchered."
In everything we have won more than a victory because of Christ who
loves us. I am sure that nothing can separate us from God's love—not
life or death, not angels or spirits, not the present or the future,
and not powers above or powers below. Nothing in all creation can
separate us from God's love for us in Christ Jesus our Lord!
God bless you.
A Wonderful Future for God's People
I am sure that what we are suffering now cannot compare with the glory
that will be shown to us. In fact, all creation is eagerly waiting
for God to show who his children are. Meanwhile, creation is
confused, but not because it wants to be confused. God made it this
way in the hope that creation would be set free from decay and would
share in the glorious freedom of his children. We know that all
creation is still groaning and is in pain, like a woman about to give
birth. The Spirit makes us sure about what we will be in the future.
But now we groan silently, while we wait for God to show that we are
his children. This means that our bodies will also be set free. And
this hope is what saves us. But if we already have what we hope for,
there is no need to keep on hoping. However, we hope for something we
have not yet seen, and we patiently wait for it. In certain ways we
are weak, but the Spirit is here to help us. For example, when we
don't know what to pray for, the Spirit prays for us in ways that
cannot be put into words. All of our thoughts are known to God. He
can understand what is in the mind of the Spirit, as the Spirit prays
for God's people. We know that God is always at work for the good of
everyone who loves him. They are the ones God has chosen for his
purpose, and he has always known who his chosen ones would be. He had
decided to let them become like his own Son, so that his Son would be
the first of many children. God then accepted the people he had
already decided to choose, and he has shared his glory with them.
God's Love
What can we say about all this? If God is on our side, can anyone be
against us? God did not keep back his own Son, but he gave him for
us. If God did this, won't he freely give us everything else? If God
says his chosen ones are acceptable to him, can anyone bring charges
against them? Or can anyone condemn them? No indeed! Christ died and
was raised to life, and now he is at God's right side, speaking to him
for us. Can anything separate us from the love of Christ? Can
trouble, suffering, and hard times, or hunger and nakedness, or danger
and death? It is exactly as the Scriptures say, "For you we face
death all day long. We are like sheep on their way to be butchered."
In everything we have won more than a victory because of Christ who
loves us. I am sure that nothing can separate us from God's love—not
life or death, not angels or spirits, not the present or the future,
and not powers above or powers below. Nothing in all creation can
separate us from God's love for us in Christ Jesus our Lord!
God bless you.
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