Could this be the best chapter in the whole Bible?! Romans 8 begins with “no condemnation” and ends with the confidence that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. It’s a chapter that fills us with confidence of the total security for the believer in Christ Jesus.
Who are the blessings of this chapter for? They are for all who are “in Christ” – v1 tells us there is “no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.” Those “in Christ Jesus” means all those who have put their trust in Jesus. All those who recognise the truth of Romans 3 – that we deserve God’s wrath for our sin, but Christ Jesus took that for us! If you have put your trust in Jesus Christ, then there is no condemnation for you. What an amazing truth! How can there be any condemnation for you, if Christ Jesus has taken it for you? What confidence this should give us, not in ourselves, but in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1 is a great verse to learn so that when you are struggling with guilt, you can remind yourself there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. God has done everything for you, v3-4 tells us that Jesus took our sin on himself and offers us His righteousness. If you trust in Jesus, you can see yourself clothed with Jesus’ righteousness.
If this has happened for you then you will start to live differently, you will start saying ‘no’ to sinful desires because you are now led by the Spirit of God and are an adopted child of God (v12-17).
It doesn’t mean that life will always be easy now, in fact Paul says there will be suffering. But the suffering now is not worth comparing to the glory that is to come (v18)! It’s light and momentary by comparison. We will suffer the normal things that come from living in a fallen world, and we will suffer from the extra hostility that the world has to those who are “in Christ” but it’s not worth comparing with the glory that is ahead.
Think about all the suffering you have faced in this life. Now think how great the future must be for those “in Christ” if that suffering and the suffering of every Christian is not worth comparing with the future glory!
The future is so good that the whole creation is longing for it! The whole creation has been effected by our sin, and the Bible tells us that when Jesus returns He will renew the whole creation. Creation is longing for this day when it will be how it is meant to be.
While we wait for that day, we have a couple of helps – (1) God’s Holy Spirit who groans with us and prays for us (v26-27). And (2) and incredible promise that even among the pain God is at work for the good of those who love Him (v28). God is in control of every single detail and is using it for our good, and that good is being made more like Jesus (v29).
The chapter ends with the reminder that God has done the hardest thing – He’s given His own Son for us, so He can and will definitely do the rest (v32). He will get us there! He won’t fail. If you belong to Jesus, then there is absolutely nothing that can separate you from the love of God! What an amazing truth to face the day with. He’s with you, He loves you, He’s got you!
Light and Momentary Troubles 
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