The LORD willing we should be able to close this area out with this post. For we are now into the area of Paul's explaining of GOD's Never ending Love or as spoken of in the OT His abiding Love. In the Greek it is Agape love, which is much different than man's loves of phileo or arotica. Now we have I am sure covered this all before but in what detail I am not at all sure, so here goes again.
Romans 8:31-9:5 "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared[G5339] not his own Son, but delivered him up[G3860] for us all, how shall he not with him[G4862] also freely give[G5483] us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge[G2564, from G1458 and G1722] of God's elect[G1588 from G1586]? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written (in Psalm 44:22), "For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, that I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed[G2128 from G2127] for ever. Amen." (KJV)
Romans 8:31-9:5 "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare[G5339] his own Son but gave him up[G3860] for us all, how will he not also with him[G4862] graciously[G5483] give us all things? Who shall bring any charge[G2564 from G1458 and G1722] against God's elect[G1588 from G1586]? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written (in Psalm 44:22), "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 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. I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed[G2128 from G2127] forever. Amen." (ESV)
Romans 8:31-9:5 "All these things point to one conclusion, GOD is for Us! Who can prevail against us? The [1; G3860] gift of his Son is the irrefutable evidence of God's heart towards us. He [2; G5339] held nothing in reserve; but freely and undeservedly [3; G5483] gave everything we could ever wish to have; this is what our [4; G4862] joint sonship is all about. (The word [1; G3860 is from G3844 and G1325] paradidomi, reflects the source of the gift, the very bosom of the Father. The word [2; G5339] pheidomai, means to treat leniently or sparingly. To show one's self gracious, kind, benevolent, is the word [3; G5483] charizomai. The word [4; G4862] sun (pronounced soon) suggests complete union. Everything we lost in Adam is again restored to us in Christ. Sin left humanity with an enormous shortfall; Grace restores humanity to excellence! [Romans 3:21-24, 1Corinthians 2:7]) GOD has [1; G1458] identified us, who can disqualify us? His [2; G1588]word is our origin. No-one can point a finger; he declared us innocent! ( The word [1; G2564, is part of G1458 and G1722] kaleo, means to identify by name, to surname. The word [2; G1588, from G1586 and G1587, G3004] eklektos suggests that we have our origin in GOD's thoughts; and is from[G1587] ek, source, and[G3004] lego, to communicate. He has placed us beyond the reach of blame and shame, guilt and gossip! ) What further ground can there possibly be to condemn humanity? In his death he faced our judgment; in his resurrection he reveals our righteousness (aquittal); the implications cannot be undone! He now occupies the highest seat of authority as the executive of our redemption in the Throne room of GOD. (look at verse 1, also Romans 4:25) What will it take to distance us from the love of Christ (ie...GOD)? You name any potential calamity: intense pressure of the worst possible kind, cluster-phobia, persecution, destitution, loneliness, extreme exposure, life-threatening danger, or war? Let me quote Scripture to remind you, "Because of our association with you, we are reckoned as sheep to be slaughtered; we have been thoroughly slain on that day." (Psalm 44:22. Look also at Ephesians 2:5, 4:8-9; Hosea 6:2, "After two days he will revive us, on the third day he will raise us up! We have been co-crucified, co-raised and are now co-seated together with Christ!) On the contrary, in the thick of these things our triumph remains beyond dispute. His love has placed us above the reach of any onslaught. This is my conviction; no threat whether it be in death or life; be it Angelic beings, demon powers or political principalities, nothing known to us at this time, or even in the unknown future; no dimension of any calculation in time or space, nor any device yet to be invented, has what it takes to separate us from the love of GOD demonstrated in Christ. Jesus is our ultimate authority. What I am about to say in my honest persuasion; I am convinced beyond doubt of our inseparable union in Christ; my own conscience bears witness to this in the Holy Spirit. In the light of humanity's inclusion and redeemed innocence, i feel such sorrow and painful longing for my fellow Jews. (They are all equally included but they just do not see it!) If it could in any way profit them i would prefer myself to rather be excluded from the blessing of Christ. If my exclusion could possibly help them understand their inclusion, I would gladly offer my body as a sacrifice. Son-ship is the natural heritage of Israel; they historically witnessed the glory and covenants and the dramatic endorsement of the Law; the prophetic rituals of worship and the Messianic promises belong to them. They are the physical family of the Messiah. Yet he supersedes all our definitions; he is GOD, the [1; G2128 from G2127] source of blessing and the ultimate announcement of everything good, for all ages. Amen! (The word, [1; G2128] eulogetos, means blessed, and is from [G2127] eulogeo, good word, good news, or "well done" announcement; normally translated, blessing. The Word of GOD reaches far beyond the boundaries of Israel, it includes every nation.) (The Mirror)
The LORD willing, we shall pick things backup at verse 6 next time.
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