In 1937, the great Golden Gate Bridge was completed. It cost $77 million. The bridge was built in two stages: the first slowly and the second rapidly. In the first stage, no safety devices were used. As a result, 23 men fell to their deaths. However, for the final part of the project, a large net was used as a safety precaution. At least ten men fell into it and were saved from certain death. Yet, even more interesting is the fact that 25% more work was accomplished after the net was installed. Why? Because the men had the assurance of their safety and they were free to wholeheartedly serve the project.

Assurance is a very important element of life. It is not only important if you are constructing a bridge; it is also important if you are a believer in Jesus Christ. Why is assurance so important? Because our relationship with God is the most important relationship we have. If we can’t have assurance in our relationship with our heavenly Father, who can we have assurance with? The answer is no one! Yet, God has placed within each one of us a deep-seated desire for unconditional love. Unfortunately, many of us have never experienced this in our earthly relationships. Some of you grew up in homes where you didn’t experience unconditional love from your parents. This led to a desire to win your parents’ approval so that they would love you. Others of you have experienced rejection and betrayal from a spouse, from relatives, or from friends. This has caused you to be skeptical and suspicious of people because you have been hurt too many times. Earthly relationships that have gone badly have resulted in most of us lacking assurance in many areas of our lives. Yet, the peace and confidence that results from assurance in our relationship with God is absolutely critical if we are to live and experience the Christian life the way God intended.

My thesis is simple: God’s love for His children is unconditional and eternal. In Romans 8:28-39, Paul makes four points that can be outlined in a rather simple way: (1) No interruption (8:28-30), (2) No opposition (8:31-32), (3) No condemnation (8:33-34), and (4) No separation (8:35-39).

1. No interruption (8:28-30). In verse 28, Paul writes, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28 is in the context of the Holy Spirit’s intercession. You can’t get to 8:28 without going through 8:26-27. Notice that 8:28 begins with a conjunction “And.”¹This means that 8:28 is very closely related to 8:27. What does this mean? It means that the people on whose behalf God is working all things together for good are the same people on whose behalf the Holy Spirit is interceding according to God’s will. It is important to notice that the primary reference of “all things”is “the sufferings of this present time”(8:18). Another crucial observation is that all Christians do not love God equally (John 14:15, 23-24). This means that to the degree that we love God and are living the Spirit-driven life (8:1-13), we will experience the blessing of God working through our lives. Those who are disobedient believers will experience God working all things together for good but it will be in the realm of His discipline. The bottom line of verse 28 is this: Nothing happens outside of God’s plan for our good and nothing happens apart from God’s permission and ordination.²

Paul’s statement that “all things work together for good”sounds like the ingredients for a cake after they have been mixed together. Some of the ingredients used to make a cake taste good by themselves. Other ingredients, such as alum, baking powder, or flour are not very palatable. Nevertheless, they are essential and must be mixed with the good-tasting ingredients to produce a delicious final product.³God can be trusted to take even the bitter experiences of life and blend them together and make them work together for good. God knows which ingredients are needed and He knows how to mix them to produce the desired result.

In our text, Paul does not speak of the purposes (plural) of God but of “His purpose”(singular). Why is this? I believe we must conclude there is only one all-encompassing purpose. That purpose is not to save men or to bless those who believe in Him, but to manifest His own glory, not only to men, but to the heavenly hosts as well. Paul makes much of this in the first chapter of his epistle to the Ephesians: God’s singular purpose is to display His glory.⁴

In 8:29-30, the apostle Paul uses five verbs to describe God’s great works on our behalf. Paul writes, “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.” These are very important verses so let’s look at them closely.

1. “Foreknew.” The exact term rendered “foreknew” is found only seven times in the New Testament. The verb form is found in Acts 26:5; Romans 8:29; 11:2; 1 Peter 1:20; and 2 Peter 3:17. The noun form is found in Acts 2:23 and 1 Peter 1:2. This root meaning “to know before” seems to be intended in Acts 26:5 and 2 Peter 3:17. However, several observations should be made: (1) In Acts 26:5 and 2 Peter 3:17, it is man’s “foreknowledge” which is in view and not God’s. (2) The word “foreknow” means more than the fact that God knows the future. (3) The word “foreknow” is never used for God’s knowledge of events and things; it is only used of His knowledge of people. (4) Therefore, the key to understanding this term as Paul uses it is to better understand the way in which God “knew” men in the Old Testament. The English word “know” can be the translation of several terms (both Hebrew and Greek). Its meaning can range from a simple knowledge to a much more intimate knowledge. For example, we are told that Adam “knew” his wife Eve, so that she conceived and gave birth to Cain (Gen 4:1). Obviously, this knowledge is much more than mere intellectual awareness. It speaks of a knowledge founded on love. Both the Old and New Testaments use the word “know” to describe an experiential knowledge grounded in love (e.g. Gen 18:19; Exod 2:25; Deut 34:10; Ps 1:6; Isa 46:9-10; Jer 1:5; Amos 3:2; Matt 1:25; 7:23; John 1:10; 10:14, 27; 17:3; 1 Cor 8:3; Gal 4:9; 2 Tim 2:19; 1 John 3:1). So, in this context, the word “foreknew” could be better translated “foreloved.”

2. “Predestined.” The word rendered “predestined” in our text occurs six times in the New Testament: Acts 4:28; Romans 8:29, 30; 1 Corinthians 2:7; and Ephesians 1:5, 11. The root word, without the prefix, is found five times in the New Testament: Luke 22:22; Acts 2:23; 17:26, 31; and Romans 1:4. This term has a range of meanings including: “fix, determine, appoint, set, definite, designate, define, to set limits, and explain.” God’s foreknowledge seems always to be directed toward the people God chooses, and His predestination seems to be directed to the plan or program He has prearranged for them. In Romans 8:29, Paul tells us that we were “predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn⁵ among many brethren.” Since God’s purpose in salvation is His own glory (Eph 1:6, 12, 14), He is glorified as we daily grow to look more like Jesus (see Phil 3:10-15; Col 1:28-29; and 2 Peter 1:3-11).

3. “Called.” The verb “to call” is used some 147 times in the New Testament. It has a variety of meanings: (1) It is used with the meaning “to name, to designate as, to appoint to be” (e.g. Rom 9:7). (2) The word is also used in a way that does not pertain to salvation. In these contexts, the word means “to summon, invite, or appeal” (e.g. 1 Cor 10:27). (3) It is used in the Gospels, in contexts dealing with salvation, and means “to summon or invite” (e.g. Matt 9:13). (4) The word is used with the sense “to appoint” or “to call to some task or vocation” (e.g. 1 Cor 7:17). (5) The word can mean “to name, to designate, to appoint,” not simply as an address, but “to cause to become” that which one is called (e.g. Rom 4:17). (6) The word is used as a metaphor for God’s sovereign work of bringing an individual to faith in Christ.

Of these 31 occurrences, 24 are in Paul’s letters (e.g. Rom 9:11, 24). In Romans 8:29-30, the latter meaning is what Paul is referring to. When we are “called,” we experience the conviction of the Holy Spirit and respond to the Gospel of Christ (see John 6:44, 65; 10:3; 1 Cor 1:26-31; Gal 1:15; and 2 Thess 2:14). Quite simply, when Christ calls, the one who is called comes (see John 6:37). This naturally follows the usage of the terms “foreknew” and “predestined.”

4. “Justified.” The word “justified” is used 36 times in the New Testament. It is used by Paul 14 times in the book of Romans (see 2:13; 3:4, 20, 24, 26, 28, 30; 4:2, 5; 5:1, 9; 6:7; and 8:30, 33). In the majority of contexts, the word “justified” means “declared righteous.” The person who has believed the Gospel is now as righteous as Christ Himself and will be considered as such for all of eternity (Rom 5:1; 1 Cor 1:30, 31; 6:11). This is a free gift of grace (Rom 5:16-18).

5. “Glorified.” To be “glorified” is to see Christ as He is and to be made like Him (see Phil 3:21; 1 John 3:1-3). Our ultimate glorification is the final link in this chain.

The question has been asked, “Why doesn’t God mention sanctification?” The simple answer is: Glorification is sanctification fully realized and accomplished. However, it should also be noted that progressive sanctification is not always guaranteed in time (though it is desired by God), due to carnality (Heb 5:11-6:8), worldliness (James 4:4-5), and the sin unto death (1 John 5:16-17; cf. James 5:19-20).

Several observations are worth noting: (1) God is the subject of all of the above five verbs. That means He does all the acting. (2) We are the objects; we do all the receiving. We are “acted upon” by the providential hand of God. (3) The first two links in this chain begin in eternity past; the third is on earth, and the last two end in heaven. (4) The words “whom” and “these” always refer to the same group. This allows for no dropouts along the way. (5) What is more, every one of these five verbs is in the past tense. Even the word “glorified” is seen as something God has already done. God writes the future as if it were history. Looked at from His point of view, we are already in heaven. What God begins He finishes!

An Interlude:

• These are truths for believers. Paul never preached “foreknowledge” and “predestination” to unbelievers. Paul only preached justification by faith alone. These deep truths are intended for believers and should (1) humble our souls, (2) delight our hearts, and (3) stimulate our trust. Once we recognize that we are wholly indebted to a gracious God of love, we will be led to worship God with all that is within us. After sharing these great truths (and many more), Paul concludes the intensely theological section of Romans with these words, “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR? Or WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen” (Rom 11:33-36).

• These are truths that defy comprehension. There are only two people who completely understand these truths: the dead and the deluded. The dead because they are in the presence of Christ, the deluded because no one can completely understand these truths. We should take comfort in Peter’s words that Paul’s letters contain some truths that are “hard to understand” (2 Peter 3:16). Moses also said it well, “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law” (Deut 29:29). We must not attempt to understand a God who is infinite (Isa 55:8-9).

• These are truths which are drenched in God’s love. After writing these truths, Paul is overwhelmed with God’s great love. This causes him to immediately exclaim, “What then shall we say to these things?” (Rom 8:31). This should cause us to recognize that these truths were not intended to be controversial or to create intellectual problems. Rather, these truths were designed to serve as added dimensions of God’s love. It has been well said, “These truths were not meant to be a puzzle to the mind but a pillow to the soul.”

• These truths glorify God for His supreme sovereignty. The doctrine of election (God’s choice of individuals to be saved) is a mystery. Yet, it is taught in the Scriptures (e.g. Acts 13:44-48; Rom 9:6-23; Eph 1:3-6; Col 3:12; 2 Thess 2:13; and 1 Peter 1:1-2). Although it is a most difficult doctrine, it is God-centered. It exalts God and esteems Him as the One who is in complete control. Any theological view that properly elevates God and can be supported by Scripture should be adopted regardless of whether we like it or completely understand it.

2. No opposition (8:31-32). In 8:31, Paul writes, “What then⁶shall we say to these things?”⁷The words “these things” refer to God’s purpose as revealed in our sin, salvation and sanctification (chapters 1-8). Particularly, though, the “these things” refer to God’s expressed purpose in 8:29-30. Paul is astounded by God’s unconditional love. So he then writes in 8:31, “If God is for us, who is against us?” The word “if”is not a term of uncertainty, but of certainty, and really means “since.”If God has done everything “for us,”all adversaries are powerless. Paul follows this statement up by answering the question of 8:31 with a rhetorical question in 8:32. If God the Father did not spare Jesus, but gave Him up for us, why would He not give us everything else necessary to guarantee our glorification? As Paul writes in Ephesians 1:3, “[He] has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” There is no opposition that can come against us. We are in Christ, who is the victorious One!

The story is told of a poor European family who saved for years to buy tickets to sail to America. Once at sea, they carefully rationed the cheese and bread they had brought for the journey. After three days, the boy complained to his father, “I hate cheese sandwiches. If I don’t eat anything else before we get to America, I’m going to die.” Giving the boy his last nickel, the father told him to go to the ship’s galley and buy an ice-cream cone. When the boy returned a long time later with a wide smile, his worried dad asked, “Where were you?” “In the galley, eating three ice-cream cones and a steak dinner!” “All that for a nickel?” “Oh, no, the food is free,” the boy replied. “It comes with the ticket.” This is also true when it comes to salvation. Jesus Christ has paid the price for our ticket but the ticket is accompanied by numerous other fringe benefits. We will now look at two more benefits that accompany our salvation.

3. No condemnation (8:33-34). Paul writes, in 8:33,“Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies.” This is a rhetorical question, equivalent to an emphatic denial. Two truths are worth noting. First, Paul has taught us that we have been “foreknown,” “predestined,” “called,” “justified,” and “glorified”(8:29-30). Second, he just mentioned that God “did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all”(8:32). So the question is: who would dare “bring a charge against God’s elect”? The answer, of course, is no one. This question echoes from a courtroom setting. No one can charge us with sin crimes because God has justified us. God has acquitted us and declared us righteous before His perfect justice. If God pronounced this verdict, who can resurrect the charges of wrong doing that would bring us before Him again? There is no double jeopardy in God’s legal system! As believers, we can be sure we are eternally saved because there is no sin that has not already been dealt with by Jesus Christ our Lord. When we trust in Jesus Christ, we become one of God’s elect, His chosen. The description “elect”recalls God’s eternal program in 8:29-30. Therefore, if God the Father went to all this work to save each one of us, it is nonsensical to contemplate the remote possibility that a believer could somehow be lost. If “God is the one who justifies,” who is able to unjustify us? Absolutely no one!

In 8:34, Paul asks, “Who is the one who condemns?” Once again, the answer is no one! Paul states, “Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.” Why? The answer is stated in another way in 8:34. Christ Jesus died, was raised, and is now residing at the right hand of God, interceding for us. The word “intercedes”⁸is also from the courtroom. It refers to the word of a defense attorney or advocate. As our defense attorney, we can count on Jesus Christ to win our case. He now lives in the presence of God, at His right hand, pleading our case before the Father.⁹His plea for us is based on the finished and sufficient work He did on the cross. As believers, we can be sure we are eternally saved because our sins-past, present, and future-remain paid for by Jesus Christ.

Steve Winger writes about his last college test, a final in a logic class known for its difficult exams. To help us on our test, the professor told us we could bring as much information to the exam as we could fit on a piece of notebook paper. Most students crammed as many facts as possible on their 8 ½ x 11 inch sheet of paper. But one student walked into class, put a piece of notebook paper on the floor, and had an advanced logic student stand on the paper. The advanced logic student told him everything he needed to know. He was the only student to receive an “A.” Jesus Christ is our intercessor. He preserves our salvation through His continual intercession.

4. No separation (8:35-39). 8:35: “Who will separate us from the love of Christ?¹⁰Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, “FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.” But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” If no one can successfully oppose or condemn us with regard to our relationship with Christ, then it follows that no one can separate us from His love.

It is worth noting that, in 8:35, Paul emphasizes both the deprivations and insecurities of life. In fact, he includes a list of seven (the biblical number of completion and perfection). Then, in 8:36, he shares some more frightening news. Paul quotes Psalm 44:22 and reminds his Roman readers of the persecution they face and will continue to endure. However, in 8:37 he tells us the good news. In all these things “we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.” The Greek word translated “overwhelmingly conquer” is a word that contains the prefix “above” (huper) and the verb “victory” (nikomen). The root of this verb is the word nike. I share this with you so that when you see the Nike emblem or watch a Nike commercial, you will remember Romans 8:37: through Christ, we are not just victorious; we “overwhelmingly conquer”!

In the first verse of this section (8:35), Paul asks, “Who will separate us from the love of Christ?” Verses 38 and 39 form the heart of his answer. There are three pairs in these verses: (1) Death/life:Nothing in this life and nothing in death can separate a believer from God’s love. The two things we fear most, dying and living, are not threats to our eternal life. Whether we live or die, we are in His love. Jesus won’t ever let us go. We have security that is a matter of life and death. (2) Things present/things to come: But Paul did not stop there. He went on to say that nothing in our present experience, nor anything to come, can separate us from God’s love in Christ. That encourages me tremendously. Nothing in all of time-present or future-can separate me from God’s love. (3) Height/depth: Here Paul refers to height and depth. If we were to travel to the “highest” or “lowest” points in the universe, or anywhere in between, we would never arrive at a place where we could escape Christ’s love. There is nowhere we can go where anyone or anything can take our eternal salvation away from us.

By using these three pairs Paul could not be any plainer or clearer. Eternal life is eternal: Nothing in this life or in death, nothing in our present or in our future, nothing in the entire universe, no matter how “high” or “low” we might go-nothing. Paul selected these pairs because each represents the extreme of something dear to us (i.e., existence, time, and location). Just like we can’t cease being the children of our earthly parents once we are born, so too we can’t cease being children of God once we are born again. We can no more be unborn spiritually than we can go back and be unborn physically. When we trust in Christ for salvation, by His grace, at that very moment we become members of God’s forever family.

Paul also used two non-pairs of expressions. One is a triplet and one is a single image. (1) Nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers: This triplet refers to angelic and demonic powers. Paul has already made it crystal-clear that nothing can separate us from Christ’s love. However, he decided to mention a specific concern that his readers might have had. Angels and demons are more powerful than we are. They are unseen. Yet, there is nothing that can separate us from His love-including angels and demons. While the Devil and demons can make believers’ present lives miserable if we yield to their influence, they cannot take away our eternal life.

(2)Nor any other created thing.Let me ask you a question: Are you a creature? Well, of course you are. There are only two classes of beings in existence: The Creator and the creatures. If you are not God, the Creator, then you are one of His creatures, a part of His creation. Therefore, this phrase includes you.

Paul has struggled to be as comprehensive as possible. Every conceivable chasm has been filled. All theological bases have been covered. Nothing to come can separate us from His love. That includes anything that we as believers might do, think, or say. Paul’s reason for including this last element is to fill out the list. God is clear that nowhere, no way, at no time can we be removed from His love. The moment we place our trust in Christ alone to save us, we can and should know that we are completely forgiven and secure in the love of Christ.

You may not accept my understanding of this passage. If so, that is your prerogative, but I ask you to consider this: I love my three children with a passion. Yet, I know that they may not always respond with love toward me. Any or all of my three children could grow to despise me. They could potentially express their disdain for me by disobeying me, cursing at me, hitting me, spitting in my face, and attempting to change their birth name. Yet, none of these things will ever change the fact that I love my kids. Nothing will ever change that fact. They will forever be my children. Now, regardless of how much I love my children, my love for my children could well be called hatred when measured against the love of our heavenly Father for His kids. When God says that His love for His children is unconditional and eternal, you can be sure He means it!

That’s why Romans spends its first eleven chapters trying to meet our need for security (nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus) before moving on to our need for significance (the unique giftedness of each person and his place of service in the Body of Christ) in the last four chapters. Security . . . Significance; love . . . admiration.

Copyright © 2001 Keith R. Krell. All rights reserved. All Scripture quotations, unless indicated, are taken from the New American Standard Bible, C 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1975, 1977, and 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, and are used by permission.

Permissions: Feel free to reproduce and distribute any articles written by Keith Krell, in part or in whole, in any format, provided that you do not alter the wording in any way or charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. It is our desire to spread this information, not protect or restrict it. Please include the following statement on any distributed copy: by Keith Krell, Timeless Word Ministries, 2508 State Ave NE Olympia, WA 98506, 360-352-9044, www.timelessword.com

Notes

All Scripture quotations, unless indicated, are taken from the New American Standard Bible, © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1975, 1977, and 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, and are used by permission.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.
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