Do you remember your first memory verse? I do. Dorothy Keim taught it to me at a church convention in 1973, when I was seven. It\u2019s beloved by many \u2014 Romans 8:28: \u201cAnd we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose\u201d (KJV). I\u2019ve forgotten plenty in the nearly fifty years since, but not that verse or its message that God is working His purpose in those who love Him.<\/p>\n
But what<\/em> is this purpose, and how<\/em> is God working it out in us? Let\u2019s allow this popular chapter to answer both of these questions. Becoming<\/em> is what Romans 8 is all about.<\/p>\n Not only does Romans 8:28 tell us that we are becoming, but verse 29 tells what<\/em> we\u2019re becoming: \u201cFor whom He [God] foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.\u201d What a purpose! What a promise that we should be transformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ, who Himself is the express image of God the Father (Hebrews 1:3).<\/p>\n Words can scarcely describe the wonder of becoming that God has planned for us. With nothing more than empty hands and weak knees, I can only utter, Yes!<\/em> in faith, trusting that God is faithful to perform what He has promised.<\/p>\n The Alpha and Omega of our lives is also the Beginning and End of Romans 8. The name of Jesus is in the first verse and last. And in these verses we see not only who we are becoming but also who we already are in Christ: \u201cThere is . . . now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus . . . [Nothing can] separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord\u201d (vv. 1, 39).<\/p>\n We are not condemned because we are loved. God\u2019s love was manifest and condemnation cancelled out when God sent \u201cHis own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh .\u202f. . Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen\u201d (vv. 3, 34). We are not condemned, because Christ has condemned our sins in Himself. He is risen, and we with Him. This is the pure love and life that we are becoming.<\/p>\n As we look forward to being conformed to Christ and His resurrection, we cannot forget who Jesus is: the sin offering delivered up for us (vv. 3, 32). The starting line directs us to the goal. We long to be like Him while anchored to what He has done.<\/p>\n But how is our becoming like Him possible? Something greater than I is needed \u2014 much greater: God\u2019s own Spirit. \u201cFor as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God\u201d (v. 14). The Spirit follows closely after Jesus in Romans 8:1. Those who are not condemned in Christ are those who walk by the Spirit.<\/p>\n Romans 8 is Spirit saturated. He is mentioned nineteen times in thirty-nine verses. The sanctified life God has for us is \u201caccording to the Spirit\u201d (vv. 1, 4, 5). Like the Shekinah glory with Israel and the wilderness tabernacle, the Spirit not only leads us but also dwells in us. This Spirit is life. And the Spirit gives life to those who follow (vv. 9-11).<\/p>\n Romans 8 tells us where the Spirit of Christ is taking us and what we have left behind. Like Israel\u2019s exodus, the long journey of becoming means forsaking \u201cthe flesh\u201d and \u201ccarnal mind.\u201d These are at enmity with God. They rebel against God\u2019s holy law; they cannot please God. We know that old way but don\u2019t walk that way anymore: \u201cTo be carnally minded is death\u201d (vv. 4-8).<\/p>\n We are not in the flesh but in the Spirit. The Spirit is moving us away from death and toward resurrection life and peace because the Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives in us. Amazing! We participate with the Spirit of God in this by following His lead and by overcoming the flesh by the Spirit: \u201cIf by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live\u201d (vv. 12, 13).<\/p>\n By God\u2019s Spirit we are defeating the flesh and living His righteous law (v. 4). \u201cWe are more than conquerors through Him who loved us\u201d (v. 37).<\/p>\n I don\u2019t know about you, but I don\u2019t always feel like a conqueror. The good news is that the Spirit is with us every step of the way. When the road is too hard to walk, we cry \u201cAbba, Father,\u201d and the Spirit himself bears witness to us that we are indeed the children of God and heirs of all His promises in Christ (vv. 14-17).<\/p>\n In our weakness, as we groan with fallen creation, unable to even speak and having little more than hope, even here the Spirit is present and makes intercession for us (vv. 18-27). The road of becoming is not always easy. It is often marked by labors and birth pains. But by the Spirit we eagerly, patiently await the delivery to come: \u201cThe sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us\u201d (v. 18).<\/p>\n Praise the Lord! It\u2019s to that glory and glorification that God has destined us through His Son and Spirit (v. 29). God is why we are and where we are heading. When we arrive, He will be waiting.<\/p>\n So don\u2019t lose heart along the way. Nothing can separate us from the love of God. And if something tries to, remember: \u201cIf God is for us, who can be against us?\u201d (v. 31).<\/p>\n I learned it at age seven. By His working, we will become all He has purposed us to be.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Do you remember your first memory verse? I do. Dorothy Keim taught it to me at a church convention in 1973, when I was seven. It\u2019s beloved by many \u2014 Romans 8:28: \u201cAnd we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":26281,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"sync_status":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"","castos_file_data":"","podmotor_file_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[37,1222],"tags":[933,1317,1235,1441,1445,233,845,955,1446,738,1443,891,101,654,810,1442,1444],"yoast_head":"\nChrist is what<\/em><\/h2>\n
Spirit is how<\/em><\/h2>\n
God is why <\/em><\/h2>\n