Romans 8 v 18 – 39
18For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope 21that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
22For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23And 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. 24For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
26Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27And He who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.
29For 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. 30And those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified. (ESV)
The Apostle Paul and even the other Apostles very seldom in Scripture tell us ‘for I am sure‘. They will tell us that they trust and that they believe and that they hope. They very seldom tell us that they are sure. But that’s precisely what the Apostle Paul tells us. I want to start with what we can be sure of:
- What we can be sure of
- The One who brought Salvation to us
a. In His Position
b. In His Prayers
c. In His Power
That’s why we end where we began of what we are sure. What shall we say in a world who doesn’t know what to even think? We say: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” And we live not in the uncertainty of the world – we live in this certainty (verse 38): “I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation…” Listen to me again beloved – that is absolutely nothing – “will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.“