"Not only that, but Rebekah's children had one and the same father, our father Isaac. Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad-in order that God's purpose in election might stand: not by works but by him who calls-she was told, "The older will serve the younger." Just as it is written: "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated" (Romans 9:10-13)

It would be easy to read a passage of scripture such as this and misinterpret the intent of the author and the context of the passage. Election is a doctrine that many people argue fiercely, stating that God chooses some people for salvation and others for damnation. However the scriptures teach that election is based upon God's foreknowledge of the person and their free will to choose him. Peter said, "...who [elect] have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood..." ( I Peter 1:2 ). We have a choice whether or not we choose God. God's desire is that we choose him and he has made it possible to be reconciled unto himself, but God does not go against or override our freewill in choosing him. Rather in His foreknowledge, he knows who will choose him in this life and so based on that, he also elects and predestines them according to his purpose.

Peter tells us that God is "not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" ( II Peter 3:9 ). But it was Jesus who said, "For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it" ( Matthew 7:13-14 ). He began this statement by saying "Enter through the narrow gate" ( Matthew 7:13a ), and yet He knew not everyone would. This is because we have a free will in choosing the path for our live. He choose us, but in his grace he lets us choose him, our choice wasn't predetermined for us.

In today's passage, Paul tells us some important truths, he starts out by letting us know that God's election is not based upon performance but by choice. "before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad-in order that God's purpose in election might stand: not by works but by him who calls" ( Romans 9:11-12 ). God foreknew both Jacob and Esau before they were born. He knew the choices they would make and he chose Jacob based on that knowledge. Jacob was called to be the inheritor of the blessing of the firstborn son although it would have been Esau's birthright. Esau had every opportunity to have walked with the Lord, he chose not to. Jacob was called to succeed the promise spoken to Abraham because God foreknew this was the right choice. Esau wasn't destined for destruction by God's choice, his own free will and path in life determined that.

Even in the account in Genesis, it was apparent that both Jacob's and Esau's choices in life would determine their paths. While Rebekah was pregnant with the twins they wrestled inside of her. She inquired of the Lord and he said to her, "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger" ( Genesis 25:23 ). He knew that from these two men, two nations would emerge. One would serve the Lord and one would not. Both children came as a result of the promise spoken to Abraham, but only one remain in the promise because they choose God and as a result He chose them.

The two nations that emerged was Israel and Edom. Israel was God's chosen people because they chose to follow God. Edom was a godless race and caused Israel problems through out their entire history together. Paul records in today's passage that it was written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated." ( Romans 9:13 ). This reference refers to Malachi 1 and not the account in Genesis. Meaning that God did not hate Esau the man and predetermine him for destruction, it is referring to the descents of Esau and the nation of Edom. It is showing that God's foreknowledge of Jacob was right when he chose him to be the inheritor of the promise. He was a man of God and taught his descents to be the same, while Esau despised the things of God and taught his descents to do likewise. Both were born out of the promise, but only one remained in it.

So God's purpose in election is to confirm our free will and chose us as we have chosen him. Romans 8 says, "For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers" ( Romans 8:29 ). We can rest assured that if we have chosen God, he had foreknowledge of this and he also chose and predestined us to be conformed into his likeness. Today I am bless that God chose me. I am so thankful that he gave me the option to choose him as well. As I enter into this relationship by my own free will I am blessed to know I too belong to the promise spoken to Abraham and continued by Isaac and Jacob. Today, may you also choose God through the precious blood of Jesus and walk in his walks, amen!

Previous: Romans 9:9  Next: Romans 9:14-15

Original article published January 9, 2010.

"For this was how the promise was stated: "At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son" (Romans 9:9)

What a marvelous thing to operate in God's timing, because it is always perfect. Abraham and Sarah were well beyond the childbearing years when the promise first came to Abraham. He was in his eighties and Sarah in her seventies. At this time Abraham believed what God said and God credited his faith as righteousness, or right standing with him ( Genesis 15:6 ). However, he did not see this promise fulfilled through Isaac for another 13 plus years, but he stood on the promise of the Lord during this time because he knew that God was faithful. It was not until after he was circumcised along with his entire household that the Lord gave him a time frame for the promise. The Bible records that Ishmael was thirteen years old when they were circumcised ( Genesis 17:25 ). Genesis records shortly after, "Then the LORD said, "I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son." Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. Abraham and Sarah were already old and well advanced in years, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing" ( Genesis 18:10-11 ). When this happened Abraham was one hundred years old and Sarah was ninety, there was no doubt to anyone who witness this miracle that Isaac was the son promised by God because naturally speaking, conceiving a child was impossible at their age.

What is amazing about God's timing in this situation is that it removes any argument that Abraham had anything to do with it's fulfillment. They never had children and they were advanced in years. God had promised them more descents than they could count and it was only through Him that this came to be ( Genesis 15:5 ). God told Abraham that he was his shield and great reward and that he would not leave him without descends ( Genesis 15:1-5 ). Part of the promise to Abraham was that the Messiah would come through his line, so this promise of descents carried the weight of the world upon it ( Galatians 3:16 ). And fulfillment of it blessed the entire world, just as God said it would.

Isn't it great that God does everything in his timing? At the right time he provide Abraham with an heir and at the right time he introduced the Messiah to the world. Romans 5 says "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly" ( Romans 5:6 ). We were held captive under sin and the power of darkness and we were completely incapable of saving ourselves, so at the precise moment, Christ came and die for us so that we could be reconciled to the Father. The amazing thing about what Christ did for us, he did when we were enemies of God. We were opposed and against him because of our sin nature, "but God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" ( Romans 5:8 ). Just like in our example of Abraham, his timing was perfect and no one can argue that what he did for us we could have done for ourselves.

Today, I am so blessed by the promises that have been fulfilled in Christ. I am glad that he did what I could not do and in doing so, reconciled me unto himself. I am thankful for Abraham's faith and obedience and I look forward to seeing God's perfecting timing work in my life in all circumstances. Today, may this revelation of God's faithfulness bless you, amen.

Previous: Romans 9:8  Next: Romans 9:10-13

Original article published January 8, 2010.

"In other words, it is not the natural children who are God's children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham's offspring" (Romans 9:8)

It is amazing to belong to the promise and subsequently be a part of God's wonderful redemption plan initiated in the garden, prophesied throughout prophets and fulfilled in Jesus Christ. God chose us and His hope is that we will chose him. It is through the blood of Jesus that we have obtained this sweet and precious promise. Paul told us in Ephesians, "Remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ" ( Ephesians 2:12-13 ). We have been brought near and made the true seed of Abraham because of the promise spoken to him centuries ago. The promise was Jesus. It was nothing we could do to obtain it and it was everything that Jesus did for us which brought us into fellowship with the Father. Paul said in Ephesians that He had an intense, wonderful and great love towards us so he reached out in mercy to include us in the promise and to save us by grace ( Ephesians 2:4-5 ).

Paul started out this chapter by expressing his sadness at the rejection of Israel on the account of Christ, he said in verse 4 and 5, "Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen" ( Romans 9:4-5 ). However, in today's passage he is saying that while Israel holds a wonderful heritage, their ancestry cannot bring them into right relationship with God. Paul said, it is not children of the body of Abraham who are God's children, but the offspring of the promise will be counted and Abraham's true descendants ( Romans 9:8 ). In other words, Israel still has to put their faith in Jesus Christ to be counted righteous, holy and blameless before God. To be God true child in this world can only comes through faith in the Savior. It cannot come through reliance on a natural lineage or the faith of the patriarchs.

The amazing thing about being born again into the family of God is that he dwells on the inside of you and fellowships with you in a personal, loving way. It is an intimate relationship. Peter said concerning this, "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy" ( I Peter 2:9-10 ). Just like the heritage that Israel shares, once we are born into the family of God we become part of a holy nation and royal priesthood. We may have started out in life with no hope, no future and no family, but we have been called out of darkness and into God's light. Now we belong to God and we have become the light to this dark world. He has equipped us, called us and loved us and all of this while we were sinners and separated from him.

Paul said in Ephesians, "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit" ( Ephesians 2:19-21 ). Today, ours future is so bright in Christ Jesus. We are being built into a wonderful holy people where God lives and dwells among us. Through Christ our heritage is wonderful, built on the foundations of those saints who have gone before us which Christ Jesus being the cornerstone which holds everything together. I am so bless to be counted among the promise spoken to Abraham and I am so excited that by faith he believe God and so blessed the entire world. Today, I pray that the truth of how much God loves you will sink into your heart and your response to this will be faith. Faith is what pleases the Lord ( Hebrews 11:6 ) and faith is what will bless the world, amen!

Previous: Romans 9:7  Next: Romans 9:9

Original article published January 8, 2010.

"Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham's children. On the contrary, "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned" (Romans 9:7)

Many times we look to the physical world around us to interrupt it. Being human we based everything on our five senses. However as Christians we also have a sixth sense, which is most important for us in the truths of God. We need to use it to filter the world around us and understand what the Bible is speaking to us. This sense is faith. The Israelites were a natural people and they were familiar with God, His principals and His promises to them. However God's promises are spiritual so without faith it is easy to misinterpret them and miss them completely.

God's promise to Abraham's was having a son through Sarah. He rushed fulfillment of this by having a son with Sarah's maidservant Hagar. However, the promise spoken to Abraham was much more than a physical descent, the promise is that Abraham would be the father of many nations and the he would bless the entire world ( Genesis 12:2-3 ). The promise referred to the coming Messiah. It would be through his seed that the Christ came. Paul said in Galatians, "The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say "and to seeds," meaning many people, but "and to your seed," meaning one person, who is Christ" ( Galatians 3:16 ). Fulfillment of this promise could only come through his wife Sarah. Abraham had to believe God for this to happen because they were well along in years and Sarah was barren. This took faith and the Bible says that because of it, Abrahams faith was credited to him as righteousness ( Genesis 15:6, Romans 4:3 ).

In today's passage Paul tells us that it is not the natural children that are Abrahams children, but it is children of the promise which came through Isaac. Paul adds clarity to this in Galatians 4, "For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. His son by the slave woman was born in the ordinary way; but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a promise" ( Galatians 4:22-23 ). Remember the promise was that the Messiah would come through his line and bless the world. This blessing came through the birth of Isaac and this came about by faith in what God said. Abraham was justified and made righteous before God on the account of this faith.

The same is true for us who believe in that promise originating with Abraham. If we have faith in Christ as our savior and do not rely on our works to make us right with God, then we are part of Abrahams family and part of this promise. "If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise" ( Galatians 3:29 ). What an amazing thing to understand. Through faith in Jesus we do not have to rely on the physical interpretation of God's family, we can rely on his supernatural definition of who his children are. "Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham's offspring-not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all" ( Romans 4:16 ).

Faith is the beginning of the adventure. Today I am blessed to be counted among this wonderful promise that Abraham receive of the Lord. Today, I am join with the millions of people who have partaken in the blessedness of his seed, the Messiah. This journey starts with faith by believing in what God has promised us, and it ends with being made righteous and holy before him. Today, I pray that you take the first steps in being reconciled with God through faith in his son Jesus, amen!

Previous: Romans 9:6  Next: Romans 9:8

Original article published January 6, 2010.

"It is not as though God's word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel" (Romans 9:6)

It is encouraging to know that God's word will never fail, it is as sure as the dawn. His spoken word holds the Universe together and we can rest assured in the promises given to us, found in His written word. God said in Isaiah, "So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it" ( Isaiah 55:11 ). When we hold fast to what he is spoken we can know that His word will accomplish the purpose to which it was sent. Jeremiah tells us, "... I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled" ( Jeremiah 1:12 ). God watches over his word to see that it is fulfilled and that it accomplished the purpose to which it was sent forth.

In today's passage Paul tells us that God's word concerning the covenant with Abraham had not failed even though the Jews had rejected Jesus. Instead he reveals an amazing truth that had not previously been disclosed, "not all who are descended from Israel are Israel." The Bible reveals to us that God is spirit and his promises and covenants are spiritual. Just because someone is born into the natural line of Abraham does not automatically make him a part of the promise to Abraham. Paul said in Galatians, "If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise" ( Galatians 3:29 ). God's true children in the world are born again, not of corruptible seed, but incorruptible seed based upon the word of God ( I Peter 1:23 ). God true children and chosen people in the world are born again by faith.

This is because the covenant made with Abraham was based upon the promise of Isaac not merely based upon a son of Abraham. Paul adds clarity to this in verse 8 where he said, "In other words, it is not the natural children who are God's children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham's offspring" ( Romans 9:8 ). Isaac was the promised. Abraham had another son, however Ishmael was born out of a natural desire to fulfill the promise not the supernatural fulfillment of the promise as Isaac was. This is an amazing thing because it makes an allotment for us who were not born naturally into Israel to because grafted into the promise through faith.

Abraham accepted the covenant with God on the bases of faith. There was nothing that he could do to produce a child with Sarah and they were well beyond the natural age to bear child, so he believe God promise and his faith was credited to him as righteousness ( Genesis 15:6 ). Because of it, he saw the promise God made to him come to fulfillment through Isaac. Paul said in Galatians, "Consider Abraham: "He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: "All nations will be blessed through you."So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith" ( Galatians 3:6-9 ). In other words, it has always been God's design to credit righteous to us by faith, just as he did Abraham. God knew he would accept the Gentiles on the basis of faith and disclosed it to Abraham because he considered him his friend. So if we have the same faith that Abraham had then we are considered sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus ( Galatians 3:23 ). So in this sense God's word never failed concerning Israel, it has been fulfilled in us who through faith have been born again according to the promise.

Today, I am blessed to be a child of God and to see the promise of Abraham operating in my life. I pray that your eyes are opened to understanding this wonderful truth that through faith in Jesus Christ you are heirs to the promise and a part of God's chosen people in the world, amen.

Previous: Romans 9:4-5  Next: Romans 9:7

Original article published January 5, 2010.

"the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen" (Romans 9:4-5)

There is no argument that Israel has blessed the world immensely. They have been on the forefront of the worlds stage since the earliest of days. This is because there is something special about them. Throughout their history God has moved on their account is unusual and wonderful ways. Throughout the Old Testament, accounts of his mighty provision and demonstration of power proceeded the Israelites where ever they went. No one could deny that they had the power of God on their side.

In today's passage Paul mentioned a few of the things that were special unto them alone. First of all Israel was considered Gods children. They were God's chosen people on this earth. The people of the earth quaked with fear concerning them because they knew that the one true God moved on their behalf. His divine presence or Shekinah glory went before them in the desert and fighting in battles. His presence was always with them as a people. God also made special covenants with them. It started with Abraham and he was promised that the entire world would be blessed through him. The covenants were initiated, ratified and upheld by God. Next to the Israelites the law was given. He revealed to them the righteousness that he ascribed to and spoke to them the Holy commandments so that they would have a bases to live by and be different from the nations surrounding them. All of it of course pointed to Christ so he also revealed to them the temple worship. He revealed the sacrificial system which were types and shadows of the promised Messiah. Looking forward to the time of Christ which he had promised them as far back as the garden. To Israel belonged the long line of patriarchs. Their ancestry was great indeed and through the natural lineage came Christ fulfilling the promise to Abraham that the entire world would be blessed by him.

Israel indeed has blessed the world. However, they took what was meant to be a close relationship of trust and turned it into ritual and obligation. They were meant to be the vehicle in which the Messiah would come to the world and instead their hardness of heart caused them to missed him when He was here. The Savior of the world was promised to them and they got so wrapped up in religion that they didn't even recognize him when he came to them. Paul said in the previous verses that he had unceasing anguish in heart on account of his fellow brothers. He expressed that he himself wished that he could be cursed and cut off so they would believe in Christ. All of these things that were theirs by God's grace were nullified by their unbelief in Jesus.

This is a great lesson for us today. It is easy to get wrapped up in going to church and being involved in Bible Studies and church organizations and miss the point. It has always been about relationship and that relationship has to start with recognizing Jesus as the Savior. It doesn't matter if you come from a long line of Christians or if you have gone to church your entire life. What matters is that you don't miss Him in life. He is the pinnacle of history and recognizing that He is the Messiah is fulfillment of the covenant that Abraham had with God. Take this lesson from the Israelites who were the beneficiaries of all these blessing through God, don't let ritual and tradition disqualify you from true riches and blessings. It is only through faith in Christ that the promise is fulfilled in your heart.

Today, I am blessed to be a child of God. I am blessed to know that I too, belong to the promise and I am part of God's chosen people in the world today. By faith in Christ, you also are "built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone ( Ephesians 2:20 ). May you rejoice in the wonderful blessing that is in Christ Jesus, amen!

Previous: Romans 9:1-3  Next: Romans 9:6

Original article published January 3, 2010.

"I speak the truth in Christ-I am not lying, my conscience confirms it in the Holy Spirit- I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race" (Romans 9:1-3)

What an amazing thing to have a heart for the lost. Paul had the most revelation of his peers and just wrote an amazing account of grace in the first eight chapters of Romans. Then as chapter nine begins he reveal his heart for the lost children of Israel. His sorrow at their dismissal of Jesus was unbearable to him, for he maintained a close and intimate walk with the Lord. Knowing God so well and the depth of his love for mankind, he was broken hearted by those who wanted to remain under the law wrapped up in religion, instead of having this relationship with God.

He writes to us that his consciences confirms in the Holy Spirit his anguish at their obstinacy. The Holy Spirit was bearing witness with his spirit this fact. Not only is this so but it prompted and enlightened him to this truth of how their denial of the Messiah brought the Lord increasing sorrow. Peter said, God is "not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" ( II Peter 3:9 ). His hearts desire is for us to chose him seeing how he has chosen us. For Israel, the chosen race of God, this rejection was doubly painful.

Paul went onto say, "For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race..." ( Romans 9:3 ). As a shepherd and leader called to minister the gospel, his grief at their rejection must have cut deep. It is the same intense revelation that caused Moses to say something similar on Israel's behalf. "But now, please forgive their sin-but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written" ( Exodus 32:32 ). They both knew the intensity of God's love and couldn't bear for their people not to experience it as well. Jesus was driven by this same desire to save His people. So he had come to died in their behalf so the entire would could be reconciled to him and blessed through them as a nation. The Holy Spirit revealed to Paul how this rejection grieved the Lord as well.

No doubt that Paul's desire to see his brothers and sisters come to the Lord sparked an interest among the Jews. Although he was the apostle to the gentiles, he said in Romans 11, "...Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I make much of my ministry in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?" ( Romans 11:13-15 ). What a marvelous perspective to have, he knew that the Jews rejection of Jesus blessed the entire world because Salvation first came to the Jew and then overflowed to the Gentiles. So if their rejection meant blessings for the world, what will their acceptance bring?

Today, like Paul I have a heart for the lost. It is my prayer that the world know Jesus in a personal way. No longer through ritual and religion, but tossing that aside to really know him in a life changing way. Today, my spirit bears witness with the Holy Spirit to his incredible love for mankind. May you also understand how he loves you and how you were set apart to bless the world through Jesus, Amen.

Previous: Romans 8:38-39  Next: Romans 9:4-5

Original article published January 1, 2010.

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" ( Romans 8:38-39)

In the first eight chapters of Romans, Paul has laid out an amazing summary of what God has done for us. He started with how sin had separated us from God (Romans 1). He showed us that by our works we could never obtain a right standing with him (Romans 2). Next he illustrated how God provided a way apart from the law in which we can be justified by faith (Romans 3). He then described that faith was how the patriarchs were also justified and that this has always been God plan for salvation (Romans 4). Then he told us that since we had been justified in this way we have peace with God. He revealed that the gift of His grace was much more than the trespass ever was (Romans 5). To prove this, Paul taught that we have been freed from the sin nature by faith in Christ (Romans 6). Paul then warns us about living according to the flesh and following it's desires instead of living according to our new nature (Romans 7). Lastly, Paul teaches us how to live according to the spirit so that we will not fulfill the desires of the flesh (Romans 8). He teaches that our obligation stems out of a love debt to the Lord because he first loved us.

Paul's revelation of God love was so amazing. He closes Romans 8 with wonderful words expressing the extent of His love for us. We are his children ( Romans 8:16 ), we were predestined, we were called, we were glorified ( Romans 8:30 ). In fact who can stand against us if God is for us. God is the one who justified us ( Romans 8:33 ), Jesus is the one who died for us and was raised again to continually intercede for us ( Romans 8:34 ). So in light of all of these things, Paul was convinced that nothing would separate him from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

He was persuaded beyond a doubt that not even death could separate him from God. He goes on to list several things noting that not one of them could separate him from God's love. Not death nor life, not angels nor principalities, not things impending and threatening not things to come, not powers, Not height nor depth, not anything in all creation... What an amazing thing to understand. Knowing this empowered the Apostle Paul to do amazing things because he knew that his life was hidden in Christ. Understanding this in our own lives will enable us to fulfill God's plan for our lives. His love is a foundational truth that we must grasp in fullness to really be who we are called to be.

The truth is that God loves you so much, but so many people I talk to do not understand the depth of how God loves them. They may know it intellectually but they have not experienced it personally. Many try to earn his love, when all along he has freely given it. Many feel like they do not deserve His love, but seeing how He sent Jesus to die for us, this alone makes us worthy of this love. Many are afraid to be loved by God because they do not understand who He is. John tells us, "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love" ( I John 4:18 ). All of these emotions can keep you apart from really knowing God. Not because he removes himself from you, but because you keep him at a distance not understanding your position before him and place along side him. On the other hand, Paul understood the depth of his love that is why he was confident that nothing would separate him. He was perfected in love.

Today, it is my prayer that you evaluate your heart and remove any barriers that keep you out of the love of God. He is waiting for you with open arms ready to build this foundation in your life. This foundation is built with Christ as the chief cornerstone and God's love for you is the mortar that holds it all together. Today I am blessed to encourage you that nothing can separate you from God's love. It is my prayer that you internalize this truth and get a revelation of His love so that, like Paul, you can be fully persuaded in it, amen.

Previous: Romans 8:37  Next: Romans 9:1-3

"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us" (Romans 8:37)

Everyone loves to watch an exciting football game. We hold our breath and root for the underdog, but some teams excel to the point where they cannot be beat. This fall was a great example of this. The country watched the Iowa Hawkeyes win nearly ever game they played. Even in the last moments of the game, when they were down and all seemed lost, they would miraculously come back for certain victory. Their name alone struck fear in their opponents. No matter how strong and highly ranked their rivals were, the Hawkeyes would crush them and send them home defeated. This football team was victorious everywhere they played even when outmanned or outranked. They didn't listen to the media who said they were a poor team, they listened to their hearts that told them they were winners and proved it based on this knowledge.

In today's passage, Paul is writing that we are winners. The victory is ours through Christ Jesus. This knowledge will keep us going in life when all seems hopeless. What a marvelous perspective to have. In the midst of trouble, persecution, being beat and run out of town, Paul writes to us that in all these we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. He knew the love of God and his position in the Kingdom and this knowledge brought him victory in all things.

Many times, we act like our circumstances and opposition is too overwhelming for us to be victorious. But Paul said, "in all these things we are more than conquerors..." The Greek word in this passage for conquerors denotes that we are literally hyper-conquerors. We are pre-eminently victorious through Christ Jesus. We will gain a decisive and surpassing victory because Christ was victorious and he conquered death. Not only is this so, but he passed along this victory to us. Paul said in Colossians, "When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross" ( Colossians 2:13-15 ). Christ made a public spectacle of all powers and authorizes and hyper-conquered them. He defeated them so badly that there was no hope for a counter attack. This victory was passed along to us through faith in Christ. We are more than conquerors because Christ loved us.

Paul knew that this victory stems out of the fact that God loves us. Victory in life only comes through Christ's strength displayed in us. The power of God's love for you will changed circumstances in your life. This is the most important thing that you can know and understand. God loves you. Paul tells us that we should be rooted and established in this love. "I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God" ( Ephesians 3:16-19 ). How are we filled to the full measure of God? It is by understanding the breath, the length, the depth and height of His love for you. This will make you rooted deep and founded securely in him. This knowledge will prove to your circumstances that you are more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus who loves you.

Today, I pray that your spiritual eyes are opened to understanding the depth of God's love for you. May you understand your victory in Christ Jesus. May you be fully convinced, rooted securely and strengthen in power through in him alone, amen.

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