The closing verses of a great chapter 

Chapter 8 is also the closing chapter of a great section of Romans: 

Sin - chps 1 to 3 
Salvation - chps 3 to 4 
Sovereignty - chp 5 
Struggle - chps 6 +7 
Sanctification - chp 8 

Romans chp 8 verses 31 to 38: 

1. Saved 
2. Satisfied 
3. Secure 

Saved 

Full “all things” (8:32) 

A God who gives up His Son or me will hardly withhold any good thing from me! 

The nature of God towards His own is that He cannot withhold any good thing! Even if that good thing is something I…

26th to 27th August 1883 

Largest volcano in living history erupted 

2/3 of the island of Krakatoa disintegrated 

Krakatoa erupted with the power of 13,000 atom bombs the size of the bomb used to destroy Hiroshima 

Bodies were still being washed up on the coast of Africa 1 year later 

Global temperatures were affected for 5 years 

The final explosion was recorded as it reverberated around the globe 7 X! 

When something big happens you feel the after shocks 

We know enough of the person of Christ to know…

Because of Christ there is: 

1.    Purpose in Suffering (8:28-30) - Christ Glorified - to share in His Glory (8:29-30) 

2.    Proof of Gods interest in my suffering (8:31-34) - Christ Crucified 

3.    Power in Suffering (8:34-39) - Power available to transform suffering - Christ Resurrected 

1.    Purpose in Suffering (8:28-30) - Christ Glorified - to share in His Glory (8:29-30) 

To make me like a glorified Saviour 

The worlds problem with suffering: 

1.    Moral issue - Suffering is…

We have though about: 

The Relationship between suffering and glory: glory is the result of suffering or suffering has as its consequences Glory. The relationship is not compensatory.

God uses suffering to bring us to glory, it is part of His sovereign plan. 

• The suffering of the creature (8:18) 
• The suffering of the creation (8:20) 
• The suffering  of the creator (8:32) 

The Reason for Suffering 

• We Desire His Glory 
• He Displays His Glory 
• We Discover His Glory 

The Results of…

In some ways the story of the bible is the story of how God moves from what is good, even very good (Gen1) to what is utterly glorious. 

How can you improve on a good work of God? 

Not so much that God improves on a good work of God or that there are faults in Gods work which need to be improved upon but rather the good work of God is not the final work of God. 

Gods good work is the platform upon which He will work His glorious work. 

None of that would cause us to blink a theological eyelid I am sure was…

The Spirit filled relationship is marked by: 

Prayer (v15) 
Proof (v16) 

Whatever we get out of v16 and however we expound it must bring us to this – proof and assurance of faith, any exposition of this verse that takes us to less than that is inadequate. 

“bear witness with” : “συμμαρτυρέω” : from “μαρτυρέω” is a word used: 

in the setting of church order to prove, convict or convince another of sin or error (Matt 18:16), it involves the presentation of convincing evidence. 
in a court of law (Matt 26:65…

In this biblical study of Romans chapter 8 we look at one of the great theological problems of the Christian world view; the problem of suffering. We look for answers in text of the bible as to why do people suffer? Why do I suffer? Can there be a God if there is so much suffering and pain in this world?

The biblical teaching on this subject is surprising!

The problem of suffering and of pain in a broken and fallen world was not ignored by the writers of the Bible.

We are not the first ones to ask; why do…

We have looked at the leading of the Spirit in Romans chp 8 so far in terms of: 

What is the leading of the Spirit doctrinally? 

Considered the link with 8:13 and that the leading of the Spirit will lead us to mortify the deeds of the body. 
We considered however that this was not a narrow thing but a broad matter, encompassing the story of Romans so far: dealing with Gods work in us leading us from sin (chp 1) and from self (chp 2) to salvation (chp 3) and sanctification (chp 6-8). 
Considered that this is…

There is a kind of Christianity today that: 

keeps Christ in the past 
Keeps God at arms length 

There is a kind of preaching too that: 

keeps Christ in the past 
Keeps God at arms length 

There can be even a kind of worship that: 

keeps Christ in the past 
Keeps God at arms length 

A kind of Christianity that distinguishes between: 

what we know 
what we practice 

That because we know so much maybe we don't need to practice it! 

Intelligent prayers and high sounding prayers, orthodox doctrine but a religion…

The problem of suffering is amongst the most difficult and perplexing of all problems in life. 

There are those who on the basis of suffering would confidently affirm that there is no God. 

If there is a God He ought to be able, because He is all powerful and willing, because He is good to prevent suffering, since there is suffering, either God is not able to prevent it and so is not all powerful, is not willing to prevent it and so is not good or simply He does not exist. 

Where is the problem in…