Daily Scripture Reading Romans 8:28 - 9:13
We humans like to think we have power and are in charge of our destiny. In some ways that is true. We have the ability to control animals and make them serve us. We have harnessed the laws of science to create machines that make life easier and safer. It is possible to amass wealth and reap certain benefits from the ability to buy what we want. We have the ability to make decisions and choices.
On the other hand, God created us. Those who have the ability to amass wealth do so because God gave them that ability. Any human that harnesses an animal or the laws of science is using talent given to them by God. Some people submit to God and some reject Him. That inclination toward one or the other is due to how God created them.
Today’s passage reminds us that since God created everything and made us who we are, everything is predestined, including our eternal destiny.
In yesterday’s passage, Paul contrasted the sufferings of the present time with the glory that is to be revealed in the future. Life on earth is difficult. In many ways it is futile and empty. However, Christians have hope because someday we will be delivered from this futile, earthly existence.
Rom. 8:28 ¶ And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.
Rom. 8:29 Because those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers;
Look at the word “foreknew”. In the beginning, when God created the universe and everything in it, He knew every person who would ever live. He knew whether or not they would believe in Jesus or reject Him.
Now look at the word “predestined”. Based on His knowledge of everything that would ever happen on earth, God predestined some to become believers. Since God knew in advance everything that would ever happen, it is not possible for any human to do other than what God knew in advance would happen. Thus, everything is predestined.
Rom. 8:30 and those whom He predestined, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified; and those whom He justified, He also glorified.
Look at the word “called”. Based on His prior knowledge of everything that would happen, God called those who He knew in advance would believe in Jesus. Then He justified them, which means He acquitted them and counted them as righteous.
Rom. 8:31 ¶ What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?
While the reality of everything being predestined can be discouraging and make us feel like helpless pawns, it is also reassuring because it means God is for us. If the most powerful force in the universe is for us, then it doesn’t matter if everything else is against us.
Rom. 8:32 He who indeed did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?
Rom. 8:33 Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies;
As humans we are often bothered by criticism from other humans. Sometimes, it is good to take criticism seriously and evaluate ourselves. On the other hand, if someone unjustly criticizes us, or if we are punished by the judicial system because of our Christian beliefs, we should not be bothered by it because God justified us, meaning He declared us righteous and innocent.
Furthermore, Revelation 12:10 tells us Satan accuses the brethren before God day and night. Even that doesn’t matter because God justified us.
Rom. 8:34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.
Notice the word “intercedes”. Jesus intercedes for us.
Rom. 8:35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will affliction, or turmoil, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Rom. 8:36 Just as it is written,
“FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG;
WE WERE COUNTED AS SHEEP FOR the SLAUGHTER.”
This is a quote from Psalm 44:22. The Psalmist listed all the bad things that were happening to Israel even though they had not forgotten the name of Yahweh.
Likewise, many bad things will happen to Christians who faithfully serve Jesus. None of the trials of life will separate us from the love of Christ. We should not stop loving Christ during our tribulations, nor will Christ stop loving us.
Rom. 8:37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.
Rom. 8:38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
Rom. 8:39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Life on earth is difficult. There are many forces trying to corrupt us and get us to sin. Our flesh is prone to evil. However, since God knew in advance everything that would happen and predestined those whom He knew would believe in Him, nothing can come between God and those who believe in Jesus.
Rom. 9:1 ¶ I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit,
Rom. 9:2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart.
Rom. 9:3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh,
Rom. 9:4 who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises,
Rom. 9:5 whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.
Paul was grieved because the Israelites had the Law and temple. They are God’s chosen people. Therefore, they should all be saved. However, they are not.
Rom. 9:6 ¶ But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel;
Rom. 9:7 nor are they all children because they are Abraham’s seed, but: “THROUGH ISAAC YOUR SEED WILL BE NAMED.”
Rom. 9:8 That is, the children of the flesh are not the children of God, but the children of the promise are considered as seed.
Rom. 9:9 For this is the word of promise: “AT THIS TIME I WILL COME, AND SARAH SHALL HAVE A SON.”
Rom. 9:10 And not only this, but there was Rebekah also, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac;
Rom. 9:11 for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that the purpose of God according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls,
Rom. 9:12 it was said to her, “THE OLDER SHALL SERVE THE YOUNGER.”
Look at the word “choice” in verse 11. God created the twins. He is the one who created how they would make decisions. It was God’s choice to make people such that eventually the older twin would serve the younger twin. The twins had the ability to make decisions, but their decision making process was created by God.
Rom. 9:13 Just as it is written, “JACOB I LOVED, BUT ESAU I HATED.”
This is a quote from Malachi 1. Yahweh told Israel that he loved them and the proof was His decision to give Israel a land of milk and honey while Esau had a desolate land in which to live.
We humans like to think we have power and are in charge of our destiny. In some ways that is true. We have the ability to make decisions and choices. On the other hand, God created us. When we achieve things and make good and wise decisions, we do so because God gave us that ability. He didn’t have to give us that ability. He chose to do so.
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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”