The Epistle of ROMANS

Chapter Eight – (Part Four)

[Note: Read Parts One, Two, and Three before proceeding.]

29. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Literal: For whom He did foreknow (before the foundation of the world), He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image (likeness, pattern of the original) of His Son, that he (Jesus Christ) might be the firstborn among many brethren.

The Lord Jesus was Mary's firstborn, not her only born. Christ was the firstborn of Mary but the "only begotten of the Father". Also, in the context here, since brethren is referring to spiritual children, then it can be seen that Christ was the firstborn of all spiritual children or of the brethren.

Ephesians 1: 11 -- In whom we also have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the council of his own will:

Jesus Christ and ourselves were with God in His foreknowledge before the foundation of the world.

Ephesians 1: 4 -- According as he (God) hath (has) chosen us in him (God) before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame. **

[** The verse ends with 'blame'. The words ‘before him’ are not in the text. ‘In love,’ begins verse five.]

30. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

Literal: But whom He did predestinate or foreordain, these also did He call; and whom He called, these also He justified (to set forth as righteous); and whom He justified, them He also glorified (recognized, honored, praised).

Being predestinated, you were called out, and because you were called out, you were justified; and because you were justified, you were glorified. Think of what 'glorified' means. You are to rise up to what the Word says you are and do the Word. This is the greatest and most exciting life.

I Corinthians 1: 9 -- God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

Galatians 1: 6 -- I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:

Galatians 1: 15 -- But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,

Ephesians 4: 4 -- There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

I Peter 2: 9 -- But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar (purchased) people; that ye should show forth the praises (virtues) of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:

I Peter 2: 21 -- For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

COULD THERE POSSIBLY BE ANY DOUBT IN YOUR MIND THAT YOU WERE CALLED OUT BY GOD? And if so, are you then an important person? You are very important to God and that is all you should be concerned with. There is nothing else in this world that is worthwhile! Everything leads to a dead end. Are you important to the world?! The world will try to make you appear as UNimportant as possible. The Word of God will clear and strengthen your mind so that you are able to see all the tricks very clearly.

31. What shall we say then to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

Literal: What then shall we say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

God is on your side. You and God make a majority in every situation. That is why you are more than a conqueror in every situation.

32. He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

Literal: Who indeed spared not His own Son, but gave him up for us all (delivered or surrendered); how can He fail with him to freely give us all things?

The term 'freely give' means to do a person a favor; to be kind or gracious to.

33. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.

Literal: Who shall bring an accusation against the elect of God? God that justifieth?

This means that we have been set forth as righteous by a judicial act of God Almighty. We are therefore justified being made free from guilt and accusations and can stand before God as possessing righteousness which is one of our five sonship rights. (See below)

The word 'elect' means chosen out, preferred, or selected. You are the elect of God. Remember that when you are justified, you are set forth as righteous.

RIGHTEOUSNESS is the God-given justification whereby a person stands in the presence of God without any consciousness of sin, guilt, or shortcomings.

It is something God imparts when you are born again. This makes you worthy to receive the goodness of God because of what Jesus Christ accomplished and did for you. You are not worthy because of your own strength. The origin of the thought that you are not worthy to receive God's blessings comes from Satan and is an obvious lie from hell. You cannot work to obtain righteousness. It is one of your Sonship rights that God gives you. How do you receive it? You believe.

Isaiah 50: 8, 9 -- He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me. Behold, the Lord God will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up.

Remember that you deal with the adversary according to what the Word says, not your mind. Then you will watch the moths eat up your enemies like a garment. Avoid all activities that tend to make you negative. Activities includes people. Keep God first and foremost and apply what you learn and God sees to it that you win every time in every situation.

34. 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.

Literal: Who is he that condemns? Christ who died, but rather who is raised up, who is also at the right hand of God and who also intercedes for us?

Christ speaks to God on our behalf. When Jesus Christ finished his work for us, he ascended into heaven and sat down. The believer's right to rest is a result of the finished work of Christ. When Christ finished his work, he sat down at the right hand of God because all had been completed for man for those who choose to believe.

35. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

Literal: Who or what shall separate us from the love of Christ? Tribulation or distress (want of room, straits, anguish), persecution, famine or hunger, nakedness (want), danger, or sword?

In verses 35 through 37, Romans is telling us how dear and how powerful God's children are. He says you are more than a conqueror through Him who loved you.

36. As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

Literal: According as it has been written, for thy sake we are put to death the whole day; we are reckoned as sheep for the slaughter.

This Scripture is originally from the book of Psalms:

Psalms 44: 22 -- Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.

37. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that [who] loved us.

Literal: But, in spite of all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

I Corinthians 15: 57 -- But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

II Corinthians 2: 14 -- Now thanks be unto God, which (who) always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.

38. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

Literal: For I am persuaded (by trusting Him and obeying Him), that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities (supra-mundane evil powers), nor powers (inherent - dunamis), nor things present, nor things to come,

39. Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature [created thing], shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Literal: Nor height (high position, elevation), nor depth (the deep things, the secret unrevealed purposes of anyone), nor any other created thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Above all things, we learn to confess the Word and act accordingly. This is the meaning of the synchronized life. Nothing can separate us from God's love for us. We learn by renewing our mind to the Word of God how to deal with the adversary and we are always more than conquerors when we do our best to keep God first and foremost in our life. You can see how the Word is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart and how it cuts out the old man thoughts.

In conclusion, here is the translation from the New English Bible of the final two verses, 38 and 39.

New English Translation: For I am convinced that there is nothing in death or life, in the realm of spirits or superhuman powers, in the world as it is or the world as it shall be, in the forces of the universe, in heights or depths -- nothing in all creation that can separate us from the love of God (in the renewed mind in manifestation) in Christ Jesus our Lord.

[ This concludes Chapter Eight of the Epistle of Romans ]

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