Romans 8 Devotional

Held by an Unbreakable Love

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”Romans 8:1 (BSB)

Romans 8 begins with a verdict. For those joined to Christ Jesus, the sentence of condemnation is gone (8:1). What the law could not do, God did by sending his own Son as an offering for sin (8:3). The Spirit now lives in believers, gives them life, and assures them that they are God's children and heirs with Christ (8:9-17). The whole creation groans, believers groan as they wait, and when they do not know how to pray, the Spirit prays for them (8:22-26).

Then Paul traces God's purpose from start to finish. Those God foreknew, he predestined, called, justified and glorified (8:29-30). Every link is God's work, and no one drops out along the way. If God did not hold back his own Son, he will not hold back anything we truly need (8:32). No charge can stand when God himself declares us righteous, and nothing in all creation, can cut us off from his love in Christ (8:33-39). Today's hardship can be faced as someone held, not someone still on trial.

To think about: What hardship are you carrying as if you were still on trial, and how does God's unbreakable love change the way you carry it?