ROMANS 8:1 – There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
ROMANS 8:38-39 – 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 creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
THEME OF THE DAY. GLORIOUS BOOKENDS. The eight chapter book of Romans is a spiritual treasure chest for the believer in the Lord Jesus. Its riches overflow with priceless encouragement no matter the spiritual condition of any Christian. Derek Thomas, in his book How the Gospel Brings Us All the Way Home, said “Romans 8 is the description of the Christian life . . . from justification to glorification, from trial and suffering to the peace and tranquility of the new heavens and new earth.” Dr. Iain Campbell, pastor in the Free Church of Scotland, endorsed Thomas’ book with these words, “If asked, ‘Which chapter of the Bible would you take with you to a desert island?’, I suspect many believers would answer, ‘Romans 8’.” Let me encourage each of us to pull away from our busy lives and slowly, prayerfully, read through this great chapter. It will make our hearts soar in praise, adoration and thanksgiving for what God the Father has done for us through God the Son by God the Spirit.
In today’s nugget, there are two scripture references coming out of Romans 8. I called them “Glorious Bookends” and we will see for good reasons. First, they provide all we need to live the Christian life with joy and power. Next, they take us into the highest motivators of pursuing a life of loving God with all our hearts, minds, souls, and strength (Luke 10:27). Let’s look at each bookend in these lights.
First, the key to living a joyful, empowered, and influential life for the Lord Jesus with zeal and consistency is having and maintaining a clear conscience. Nothing is more energizing to walk with God knowing, not hoping, but having the conviction that we are under no condemnation before Him now and forever. This is how the Apostle Paul opens up Romans 8. His first “bookend” is the declaration that because of all Christ did for us, and the Father accepting His work, we are placed “in Christ” never again to be dealt with according to our sins. How liberating! Makes us want to shout out “Praise the Lord” and dance around the floor! Make this “glorious bookend” a place we visit often in our mind’s eye. It will empower us with joy.
The second “glorious bookend” is what prompts us to surrender our lives to the Lord Jesus as a living sacrifice of love. Go back up and read the second scripture. What may separate us from the love of Christ? Nothing or no one. Guess who also is included in this “no one may separate us from the love of Christ”? Us. Ourselves. Now don’t for a second think this is a license to sin and live as we want. Such attitudes exist in the professing Christian who is not a Christian. If we think we may embrace the grace of God and be saved, but live according to the flesh and our wills, we are clueless about saving faith. However, true Christians fear themselves. They know the plague in their hearts; the ease of drifting away from the Lord; the strong pull of the world; and unless the Lord keeps them, they will fall. So, what could be more motivating to love the Lord than to know that even in our fumblings, bumblings, and stumblings as Christians, we will not be separated from the love of Christ? Doesn’t this truth make us want to hate sin more, avoid sin more, and love Jesus more? That is what the second “glorious bookend” is designed to do.
So, a closing question – “Have we opened the treasure chest of Romans 8 recently?” If not, let’s do so soon. It has a couple of “glorious bookends” for us to grasp and rejoice over in our walks with the Lord.
PRAYER: “Father, I praise You for the Gospel that frees me from condemnation and makes me an overcomer in life.”
QUOTE: “Christ is our everything. In Him, our sins are forever removed and in Him, His love will never be removed.”