Page 816 - The MacArthur Daily Bible

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AUGUST 7
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Romans 8:22–39 makes intercession for us. Who shall sepa-
rate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribula-
For we know that the whole creation groans
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and labors with birth pangs together until tion, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or
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now. Not only that, but we also who have the nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is writ-
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firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves ten:
groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for “For Your sake we are killed all day
the adoption, the redemption of our body. long;
For we were saved in this hope, but hope We are accounted as sheep for the
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that is seen is not hope; for why does one still slaughter.”
hope for what he sees? But if we hope for 37
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what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with Yet in all these things we are more than con-
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perseverance. querors through Him who loved us. For I am
Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weak-
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nesses. For we do not know what we should nor principalities nor powers, nor things present
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pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor
makes intercession for us with groanings which any other created thing, shall be able to separate
cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus
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hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, our Lord.
because He makes intercession for the saints
according to the will of God.
And we know that all things work together
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for good to those who love God, to those who 8:35–39 This list of experiences and persons
are the called according to His purpose. For that can’t separate the believer from God’s
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whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be love in Christ was not just theory to Paul.It was
conformed to the image of His Son, that He rather a personal testimony from one who
might be the firstborn among many brethren. had personally survived assaults from these
Moreover whom He predestined, these He
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also called; whom He called, these He also jus-
tified; and whom He justified, these He also 8:35 the love of Christ. Not our love for
glorified. Christ, but His love for us (John 13:1), specifi-
What then shall we say to these things? If
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God is for us, who can be against us? He who (1 John 4:9,10). tribulation. Here the word
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probably refers to the kind of adversity com-
did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him mon to all men. distress. This refers to being
up for us all, how shall He not with Him also strictly confined in a narrow, difficult place or
freely give us all things? Who shall bring a being helplessly hemmed in by one’s circum-
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charge against God’s elect? It is God who jus- stances.persecution.Suffering inflicted on us
tifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ by men because of our relationship with
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who died, and furthermore is also risen, who Christ (Matt. 5:10–12).
is even at the right hand of God, who also
DAY 7: Explain the process Paul refers to in Romans 8:28–30 and 9:6–29.
With these words,God reveals in human terms His divine role in the process of salvation.Paul’s
description offends the human spirit because it minimizes our role. Yet only those who see their
own helplessness in the face of sin can come to see how gracious God has been in acting and
choosing ahead of time. We never surprise God; He always anticipates us! “But God demonstrates
His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us”(Rom. 5:8).
The term “foreknew” (8:29) does not simply refer to God’s omniscience—that in eternity past
He knew who would come to Christ. Rather, it speaks of a predetermined choice by God to set His
love on us and establish an intimate relationship.The term “election”(9:11) refers to the same action
on God’s part (1 Pet. 1:1,2,20). Salvation is not initiated by human choice. Even faith is a gift of God
(Rom. 1:16; John 6:37; Eph. 2:8,9).
The term “predestined”(8:29) literally means “to mark out, appoint, or determine beforehand.”
Those God chooses, He destines for His chosen end—that is, likeness to His Son (Eph. 1:4,5,11).The
goal of God’s predestined purpose for His own is that they would be made like Jesus Christ.
The reality and security of our standing with God rests ultimately in His character and decision,
not ours. Paul summarized his teaching about the believer’s security in Christ with a thundering
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