The Point The Passage The Bible Meets Life The Setting


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The Point God’s goodness and love overcome life’s difficulties.

The Passage Romans 8:28-39

The Bible Meets Life Not everything lives up to its advertisement. In planning a vacation, my wife and I did an exhaustive Internet search for a hotel. We found it: the perfect hotel to make vacation memories—a beautiful boutique hotel overlooking breathtaking scenery, perfectly located in an area where we could enjoy all the city had to offer. Then we arrived at the hotel. The rooms were unimaginably small and extremely dirty. The hotel had no elevator, and our room was on the sixth floor. Needless to say, we made memories on that vacation, but they weren’t at all the memories we were hoping for. We may wish life were more like a glossy brochure or Internet ad. When life’s reality sets in, our lofty expectations for grandeur often end in disappointment. However, in the midst of all of the worldly let-downs we experience, we can be assured God’s goodness and love will always come through. In the Book of Romans, the apostle Paul gave us a clear picture of one thing that will never disappoint or fail us: God’s goodness and love.

The Setting In Romans 1–8, Paul explained how all humanity stands guilty of sin before God and that salvation comes only through faith in Jesus Christ apart from works of the law. Paul then detailed how the Holy Spirit assists believers. Paul ended chapter 8 by proclaiming the full assurance believers have that God will bring to completion the work of salvation in them and the incomparable nature of God’s love for believers in Jesus Christ (vv. 28-39). BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE © 2015 LifeWay

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What does the Bible say?

Romans 8:28-39 (HCSB) Foreknew (v. 29)—To have foreknowledge is to have the ability to know what will occur before it happens. In His omniscience, God has known about and seen all the events of history before the beginning of time.

28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those

who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His

Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those He predestined, He also called; and those He called, He also justified; and

those He justified, He also glorified.

Predestined (v. 29)—This term comes from a Greek word meaning “to determine or set apart beforehand.” In Scripture, God is the only One who predestines.

31 What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us?

Justified (v. 30)—At the moment of salvation, through faith the believer is legally declared to be forever righteous before God. Jesus’ perfect righteousness is imputed (credited) to the believer on the basis of Christ paying the penalty for the believer’s sins on the cross.

has been raised; He also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us.

32 He did not even spare His own Son but offered Him up for us all; how will He not

also with Him grant us everything? 33 Who can bring an accusation against God’s elect? God is the One who justifies. 34 Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the One who died, but even more,

35 Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or anguish or persecution

or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: Because of You we are being put to death all day long; we are

counted as sheep to be slaughtered. 37 No, in all these things we are more than victorious through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that not even death or life, angels or rulers, things present or

things to come, hostile powers, 39 height or depth, or any other created thing will have the power to separate us from

the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!

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SESSION 5 © 2015 LifeWay

THE POINT

God’s goodness and love overcome life’s difficulties.

GET INTO THE STUDY

10 minutes

DISCUSS: Invite your group members

Notes

to turn their attention to the image at the bottom of page 45 of the Personal Study TIP: Set aside time each week to prepare to teach. Give each session the time and attention necessary to teach it from both your head and your heart.

Guide (PSG). Ask: “When have you heard something that sounded too good to be true?” ACTIVITY (OPTIONAL): To illustrate something that is “too good to be true,” bring in a TV infomercial product or a video of one that promises an exceptional product. RECAP THE PSG (PAGE 46): Not everything lives up to its advertisement. In planning a vacation, my wife and I did an exhaustive Internet search for a hotel. We found it: the perfect hotel to make vacation memories—a beautiful boutique hotel overlooking breathtaking scenery, perfectly located in an area where we could enjoy all the city had to offer. Then we arrived at the hotel. The rooms were unimaginably small and extremely dirty. The hotel had no elevator, and our room was on the sixth floor. Needless to say, we made memories on that vacation, but they weren’t at all the memories we were hoping for. SAY: “We may wish life were more like a glossy brochure or Internet ad. When life’s reality sets in, our lofty expectations for grandeur often end in disappointment. In the Book of Romans, the apostle Paul gave us a clear picture of one thing that will never disappoint or fail us: God’s goodness and love.” GUIDE: Call the group’s attention to The Point on page 46 of the PSG: “God’s goodness and love overcome life’s difficulties.” PRAY: Transition into the Bible study with prayer. Pray for those in your group who may be doubting God’s love and goodness at this season in life.

Display Pack Item #7 for use with Discussion Question 2.

BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE © 2015 LifeWay

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10 minutes

STUDY THE BIBLE Romans 8:28-30

Notes

28

We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God:

those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those He predestined, He also called; and those He called, He also justified; and those He justified, He also glorified. READ: Ask a group member to read aloud Romans 8:28-30. RECAP THE PSG (PAGE 48): God has always had a plan for your life. “He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in His sight” (Ephesians 1:4). Unfortunately, many times we allow the problems and trials of life to overwhelm us and we miss seeing God’s great plan for our lives. Romans 8:28 reminds us that none of the setbacks or problems we face can thwart God’s good purpose for our lives. In fact, those very problems can be a part of God’s way of bringing about His good purpose in us. The good that God wants to accomplish doesn’t happen automatically. God works all things together for good in the lives of those who love Him. The verb tense in the Greek language means those who continually love Him. As we continue to seek, follow, and love the One who saves us and calls us, God can—and will—use ALTERNATE QUESTION: What’s the difference between all things being good and all things working together for good?

everything in our lives to bring good into our lives. DISCUSS: Question 2 on page 48 of the PSG: “What emotions do you experience when you read these verses?” ENHANCEMENT: Bring your group’s attention to Pack Item #7, “The Ultimate Good” poster, during your discussion of God’s plan for Christ-followers. SAY: “God’s plan and purpose is for us ‘to be conformed to the image of His Son.’ God wants to use everything we experience to make us more and more like Jesus.” SUMMARIZE: God’s purpose and plan for us spans eternity. God foreknew us, predestined us, calls us, and justifies us. In the future when we are glorified, we will be mature, complete, and totally conformed to the image of Jesus.

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SESSION 5 © 2015 LifeWay

THE POINT

God’s goodness and love overcome life’s difficulties.

Romans 8:28-30 Commentary God has a plan and it is for our good. Verse 28: Paul wrote, “all things work together for the good of those who love God.” God has the ability to work through any circumstances or events to accomplish good in our lives. The promise is for “those who love” God and are “called according to His purpose.” Those who love God are believers, but even this love is grounded in God’s love for us (1 John 4:9‑10). The word “called” in the original Greek referred to a person who received an invitation or offer, in this case God’s call to salvation. The call of God involves the working of God on the heart so that the person can truly hear and respond to the gospel (Acts 16:14). Christians are called according to His purpose. Verse 29: The goal of God’s purpose for Christians is that we be conformed to the image of His Son. As Christ-followers we grow to resemble Christ in our thoughts, words, and actions more and more as we mature as believers. Christ is the “firstborn among many brothers”; that is, He is the preeminent and honored One among all those who have become His brothers (and sisters), that is believers. “Firstborn” applies to Christ’s preeminent position; it does not imply that there was a time when He did not exist. God foreknew and predestined believers to be conformed to the image of His Son. To have foreknowledge is to have the ability to know what will occur before it happens. In His omniscience, God has known about and seen all the events of history before any occurred, before the beginning of time (Ephesians 1:3‑6). The term “predestined” comes from a Greek word meaning “to determine or set apart beforehand.” In Scripture, God is the only One who predestines. The issue of predestination in regard to salvation is much debated. Salvation hinges on the two aspects of God’s sovereignty and the individual’s free will; both of these aspects are present in the Bible. God, being omnipotent, rules over the earth and the hearts of mankind with His sovereignty. But over against His sovereignty, God has also given every person a free will. Thus individuals have the power to make choices and to be morally responsible for their decisions; this includes the choice of whether or not to accept God’s gift of salvation. In our human understanding, it is impossible to harmonize the two seemingly opposing forces of sovereignty and free will. However, with God—who is all-present, allpowerful, and all-knowing—there is no conflict between the two. Verse 30: Those God called, He also justified. To be justified is to be declared righteous. In regard to salvation, the believer is justified before God. At the moment of salvation, through faith the believer is legally declared to be forever righteous before God, as Jesus’ perfect righteousness is imputed (credited) to the believer as a gift on the basis of Christ paying the penalty for the believer’s sins on the cross. The time of our glorification as believers is that future event when we shall be transformed, receiving our new, perfect, eternal bodies and living with the Lord forever in heaven. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE © 2015 LifeWay

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10 minutes

STUDY THE BIBLE Romans 8:31-34

Notes 31

What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against

us? 32 He did not even spare His own Son but offered Him up for us all; how will He not also with Him grant us everything? 33 Who can bring an accusation against God’s elect? God is the One who justifies. 34 Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the One who died, but even more, has been raised; He also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us. READ: Ask a group member to read aloud Romans 8:31-34. RECAP THE PSG (PAGE 49): Can anyone read verses 28-30 and not see God is on our side? The truth of God’s goodness and love should touch us deeply. So, immediately after that passage, Paul asked, “What then are we to say about these things?” He then asked a series of questions to help us see the natural conclusion of God’s goodness and love—God’s child is secure. 1. If God is for us, who is against us? God is so much in our corner that He gave His greatest treasure—His own Son, Jesus Christ—as a sacrifice for our sins. 2. Who can bring an accusation against God’s people? Others can try to make accusations against us because we do not follow their worldly ways, but God alone has the authority to judge. Why? Because “God is the One who justifies.” 3. Who is the one who condemns? The only One who has the right ALTERNATE QUESTION: What do these verses teach us about the opposition we face as followers of Jesus?

to condemn us is Jesus Christ, yet He did just the opposite. He made it possible for all condemnation to be removed. Jesus died in our place, and He continues to stand for us. DISCUSS: Question 3 on page 49 of the PSG: “When has it been obvious that God is for you?” DO: Divide your members into groups of three or four people each. Within each small group, direct members to take turns sharing aloud their responses to the activity on page 50 of the PSG. He Is for Us: Which of the following images best depicts God’s goodness and

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SESSION 5

love in your life right now? Explain. © 2015 LifeWay

THE POINT

God’s goodness and love overcome life’s difficulties.

Romans 8:31-34 Commentary God already has given us His best: Jesus Christ. Verse 31: God is for us and will remain so forever. Since God is for us, who can come against us as His followers? While it is a frightening thing to think about God’s (and therefore our) enemies opposing us, their power to destroy us has been taken away by God. This should give Christians great hope and great comfort in the face of difficult situations. Verse 32: God “did not even spare His own Son” in order to save us. He has already given us His ultimate gift, the highest possible demonstration of His love. God “offered Him up for us all.” Since God has already given us the greatest gift of His Son for our salvation, He will certainly “grant us everything” else we need. As Christians, we have the friendship of God; we have Jesus—the greatest proof of His love; and we have the assurance that God will supply all our needs! Verse 33: “Who can bring an accusation against God’s elect?” The word “accusation“ here is a legal term. Paul was asking who has the authority to accuse those who have been chosen according to God’s eternal purpose. “God is the One who justifies.” He pardons believers and pronounces them as justified (fully forgiven/pronounced righteous) in His sight through the work of Christ on the cross. Because God has saved us, He will not allow anyone to bring a charge against us. As Christians, we can be certain that we are secure. Verse 34: “Who is the one who condemns?” Paul again used a legal term: condemns. It refers to declaring someone guilty and sentencing them to punishment. There are four reasons why Christians can never be condemned. First, we cannot be found guilty because Christ Jesus is the One who died for us. Second, we cannot be condemned because Christ has been raised, indicating both that God the Father accepted His sacrifice on our behalf and that His work of atoning for our sins was finished.1 Third, we cannot be found guilty because Christ is seated at the right hand of God, where He has all authority and power; thus, we are under His protection. Finally, we have no condemnation because Jesus intercedes for us before the Father as our Advocate. As believers, we have nothing to fear because the One who died to save us lives to intercede for us (Hebrews 7:25; 9:24).

1. Thomas R. Schreiner, Romans (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1998), 463.

BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE © 2015 LifeWay

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10 minutes

STUDY THE BIBLE Romans 8:35-39

Notes

35

Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or anguish or

persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

36

As it is written:

Because of You we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered. 37 No, in all these things we are more than victorious through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that not even death or life, angels or rulers, things present or things to come, hostile powers, 39 height or depth, or any other created thing will have the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord! READ: Ask a group member to read aloud Romans 8:35-39. SAY: “Paul asked one final question to point to our security in God’s goodness and love: ‘Who can separate us from the love of Christ?’ ” RECAP THE PSG (PAGE 51): In verses 35-37, Paul expressed his confidence that he was “more than victorious” by listing a full spectrum of things people might consider barriers to their relationship with God. In verses 38-39, he listed physical dangers, supernatural powers, and extremes in time and distance. He summed it up with “any other created thing.” Nothing—absolutely nothing—“will have the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!” ALTERNATE QUESTION: In light of these verses, how should we respond when we feel God is not for us?

DISCUSS: Question 4 on page 50 of the PSG: “Why is it sometimes difficult to accept the truths in these verses?” SAY: “Trials and enemies will come; we can have victory over these things only through Christ living in and through us.” DISCUSS: Question 5 on page 51 of the PSG: “What options do we have for communicating these truths to others?” TRANSITION: Paul confidently wrote of the love God has for us. Regardless of what we face, we can live each day in this same confidence. Nothing can separate us from God’s love.

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SESSION 5 © 2015 LifeWay

THE POINT

God’s goodness and love overcome life’s difficulties.

Romans 8:35-39 Commentary Nothing can separate us from God’s love. Verses 35-36: Paul enumerated the many things that cannot separate us from the love of Christ. His list includes affliction, referring to the type of trials that Christians frequently face in day-to-day situations. Anguish is the distress that results when someone is hemmed in by circumstances and does not know where to turn. Persecution for their faith was something with which the early believers were becoming more and more familiar. Famine and nakedness were the natural results of persecution. Finally, the many types of danger Christians may face, including the sword, cannot separate us from Christ’s love. The phrase “being put to death all day long” means to be under the constant threat of suffering death. In other words, Christians will always face danger. Verse 37: No matter the trials we face as believers, we are “more than victorious.” We have the victory and our enemies do not have the power to win out over us in any way. They cannot destroy our faith or our hope. Furthermore, our victory over these things strengthens our faith in Christ. This victory comes only through Christ, “through Him who loved us.” We do not have the power to live the Christian life and to be victorious; only through Christ—Him living in and through us—is this possible. Verse 38: Paul expressed confidence and certainty that any aspect related to death, even the most painful aspects of persecution and dying, cannot separate us from the love of God in Christ. That life cannot separate us from Jesus’ love most likely refers to times of persecution. It was not uncommon for persecutors to offer Christians life on the condition that they renounce their faith. When Paul referred to angels, he was referring to fallen angels or demons—evil spirits. Jesus used the same term referring to the angels aligned with the Devil who will be cast into hell (Matthew 25:41). Likewise, no rulers of any kind—even with the power granted to them— can separate the believer from Christ’s love. The apostle also wrote that neither “things present“ (the trials and tribulations that we are currently subjected to) nor “things to come” (the trials and tribulations which may yet result) can separate us from Christ’s love. Likewise, it is impossible for hostile powers to separate us from God’s love. This term was also used to describe evil spirits. Verse 39: In mentioning height and depth, as well as any other created thing, Paul was making the point that absolutely nothing in all of creation has “the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!” For further reading, check out the article “At the Right Hand” in the Fall 2015 issue of Biblical Illustrator. . BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE © 2015 LifeWay

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5 minutes

LIVE IT OUT SAY: “How will you respond to God’s goodness and promise of victory?”

Notes

GUIDE: Lead group members to consider the responses to the Bible study listed on page 52 of the PSG. ]]

Let go of the past. Since nothing can separate us from the love of Christ, then there is no reason for us to hold on to guilt and shame. Confess past sin to God, repent, and move forward in God’s purpose for you.

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Identify one difficulty you’re currently going through. Consider how God might be using that situation to bring you closer to Him or to conform you to the image of Jesus.

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Have coffee or lunch this week with a mature Christ-follower. Ask them about what they’ve learned about God’s goodness overcoming the difficulties in life. Find out how they’ve seen God remain true to the promises found in Romans 8:28-39.

Wrap It Up
 SAY: “Who hasn’t fallen prey to big promises that don’t deliver? We all have. The good news is that God always lives up to His promise. Always. Because of His goodness and love, we can rest in the knowledge of victory.”

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SESSION 5 © 2015 LifeWay