Welcome back again to another podcast of Struggling. Well, we've been in the book of Romans, particular ular chapters 7 and 8. We're going to take one more look at chapter 8. Suzi said this the last week. we use a lot of different resources and the two realities are this. God's given us his spirit who teaches us all things. So as you open God's word the ultimate teacher is the Holy Spirit. But God has given to men and women down through the ages the ability to understand and to write about scripture. And so There are a lot of resources out there. Don't be afraid to as you study God's word, use some of those resources and we do and we find it helpful to be able to realize that there have been godly men and women who've gone before us, some who are even alive to still today who are able to put things in such a way that we go, "Wow, that says it so well." So, it's just a plug for resources that I hope you're willing to use
as we finish up the eth chapter. And again, this is just a flyby that we've given you all. it's certainly worth your own more in-depth study. the verse verses 28 and 29 are ones that we like and we and yet I'm not sure we always really understand. He says, "And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good. For those who are called according to his purpose, for those he forneew, he predestined." And there's where we're not going to get into what all that means cuz that's a lengthier one than Oh my god. Just throw me. Wait a second. Let me hear the sound of the bus backing up over the top of me. But all of that. Yeah.
All my gosh.
And all of that is because we're to be conformed to the image of his son.
Right?
So, however you understand that, and I hope you do understand that, and I hope you spend time looking at that, it's for a purpose of being conformed to the image of his son so that you and I walk more and more like Jesus every day.
You know, we can get I'm joking about that. it's a tough passage, but often times with passages like that in scripture, we get so stuck on it that we miss what he's saying. And Jimmy just said it, that we were predestined to be conformed to the image of his son in order that he might be that he would stand first in the line of humanity restored. He was restored humanly and of course then ascended to the father. So, we get kind of crazy over stuff like that and there's a lot of material written and a lot of different views on what that means. But let's not miss that part that we were predestined to be conformed to the image of the sun.
Yeah. And so in the verses that follow he comes with I think one of the great conclusions of this part of his of the book of Romans. He says, "What then shall we say in verse 31 to these things?" And here's the part I love. If God is for us, who can be against us,
you know. So, I can face every day of my life knowing that as a truth that is bedded deep in the bedrock of the gospel that God is for me. And at times we may not always live that way.
You know, it also reminds me of times in the Psalms when David was on the run and all he had was God. I mean, which is enough. more than enough. It is he is enough. But just the many times where David cried out for God because his enemies were pursuing him. But then he refers to God as his refuge, his rock, his strength, his you know all these attributes of God that he refers to that's where he takes his hope. So for us as we're going through and I think we're going to see more in culture in our culture today where as a bold believer speaking the gospel out that We're going to probably be persecuted in ways like we haven't before. And I don't mean that for everybody to get all crazy scared. I mean, it's the truth that when you speak up for what you believe, and we believe that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, then there are going to be people that are going to try to tear that down. And to know that if God is for us, who can be against us? That's solid. That's rock solid,
right? And he goes on and says, cuz God didn't spare his own son. So, you think of the cost that it was and is it was for God to send his son, his only son in the form of a human being and to die. He didn't spare Jesus from the ultimate of suffering and he took on himself all of my sin, your sin, the sin of the world. that's how much God is for us.
Yeah.
because I don't want to think about what it would mean to offer up one of my kids. or one of my even one of my grandkids for the sake of something else or someone else. And so he gives us all these things and then in verse 35 it's who shall separate us from the love of Christ and that's beginning that wonderful thing that if I understand that God's for me and that Christ is the means by which I have a relationship with the father and everything is seen through him. who shall separate me from the love of Christ?
You know, I love Peterson and the message and this is what he says on in verse 35. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way. Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying, threats, backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in scripture. Nothing, nothing can separate us from his love.
Yeah. And that's interesting because in 35 he says, "Who shall separate us?" And then he names all these different events, tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, or sword. But I think what Paul is recognizing there is while those may be the events, there's usually a person behind that.
Yes,
there's usually a person who is wielding the sword. There is a person who is creating the d address the persecution. and so it's that personalization of those events as Paul looks at it and then he says, "But for your sake, we're being killed all the day long." So, it's like, "Okay, well, what you know, that doesn't mean that the outcome is going to be what I want it to be,
right?"
you know, and we've seen that in places around the world as people have taken the lives of believers because of their faith in Christ. and yet he goes on in 37, he says, yet know in all these things we're more than conquerors through him who loved us.
And we've talked a lot about and I know it's been a huge role in your life in the Psalms, the steadfast love of the Lord.
it never fails. Well, here is this everlasting love talked about in the New Testament. And it's like no one can separate us from that love. Nothing can separate us from this love.
and it's an amazing ing truth that I think is what needs to be realized by us to bring us the hope that we need as we go through things.
You know, it just kind of hit me. I don't know if there's anybody that might be listening who is wondering what in the world we're talking about. What are we talking about with this Jesus and God's love and all this and I don't know, maybe you're listening and you're really struggling and that's why you came to this podcast because you were hoping that there's going to be some resource or tips or something about how to get out of struggle. And if you have never had a face to face with Jesus, and I mean by that just praying to him and asking him to be a part of your life, I would encourage you to do that. I would encourage you to believe in what so many people nowadays think is ridiculous and is just a story. But he is the truth. He's the way and he is the life. And because of that, I mean, I've been following him and walking along with him for 50 plus years. And I've doubted a lot of things, but I've never doubted his presence with me in the I mean, even at my worst times, I know he's there. Even when you and I, babe, went through really difficult times in our marriage, that was what we knew to be true. And in a world that is looking for truth and solid ground when there is none, Go to the Bible, read the book of the Gospel of John, and see who Jesus is.
Yeah. And it's a great word, Suzi, because all of these things that we're talking about, this hope, this reality that God's for us is only going to be there in my life, in your life, in somebody's life because they put their faith and trust in Christ as their savior. and until that happens, this is going to feel elusive. and yet that's where it all begins because Everything I have, the hope I have today, the assurance I have, the sense that I'm not alone, the sense that nothing can separate me from his love is all because of what Christ did for me.
And it's nothing in me that is worthy or deserving of that, but it's what Christ did for me. And that's why I can look at this is really to me it's kind of a doxology, a declaration for he says and towards the end, for 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 of creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord,
nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
And so while I can look around at the world we live in today and I can understand where people get afraid, and I don't know what tomorrow holds. I don't know what the rest of today holds. And yet, I do know this. There's nothing that can happen that will separate me from his love.
Good words, babe.
They are. And I think that it's one of those places where if you're listening to us, I would challenge you to take on a mindset that's like that. again, it's not going to make your struggles disappear, but it's a mindset that we need to take on. I know for myself that there have been a lot of places in my life where it has the struggle has felt overwhelming. There are times when I have wailed just wailed over a situation that has happened when there's been loss of a loved one or a situation that I'm like in a paper bag and I can't get out of it. And knowing Christ as my savior is not like he's not Santa Claus. he's not something that is unattainable. if you read the Bible, which most people say, "Hey, I ah that stuff. I've read that." Well, read the Bible for real. Like read the Bible. you'll see that he speaks about who he is and what he's done for us. It's not about what I have to do for him. So even at my lowest moment when I can when I wonder what in the world is happening and will I make it, he is a rock. He is the truth. And I can set everything on him. And life hasn't turned out like some rose patch. We've lost loved ones left and right. We've had friends go through terrible times. We've been through terrible times. We don't know anyone who has not. And yet, when I think about this life, I think about the that it's temporal. And what God offers through his son is eternal. And that's what makes the difference. Yeah. And so you're going to hear no matter how many of these podcasts you listen to, we're going to always point people to Christ
because it's in him that I have all the resources that I need at my disposal. And Paul says it in the book of Ephesians that I've been blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ. not material blessings, spiritual blessings because everything I have is found in him. So it may sound like a broken record some week. But it's because we don't know of any place other than to go to than to run to Christ. So you have a great day.
Thanks for listening.