Romans 8:29-39 ESV
For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? 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,
"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.
Rev. Dwight Yoo
One of the hardest things is not just understanding God's love, but knowing in our hearts.
God's love Secures our holiness
Anyone who has fought sin knows how hard it is. It seems like an uphill battle. We don't need much for or hearts to wander from God.
But God holds us tightly in His hands. It does not depend on our grip on Him. He holds us securely.
Before we were even born, God loved us. Like a pregnant couple, loving and caring for a baby yet unborn.
God is the one who wants us holy. He always accomplishes what He promises. Our holiness is secure.
God's love Fuels our holiness
Even through big failures and trials, God is working through it all. Knowing this, we can keep going.
Before preaching on sin, there is all this talk of love. Why? They need to know the enormous greatness of the love of Christ.
Threats only work for the short term. Outward conformity does not work. Love is what we need. That is what grows us into holiness like Christ.
Sin struggles and life struggles make us doubt the love of God. We think that because of sin, we are less, we are condemned. But that is a lie. We are not second rate; we are God's chosen. We are bound by the guilt of our sins and struggles. Jesus wants to set us free from them. He paid for those sins.
Trying to assess God's love through our circumstances is how we run into trouble. He loves me, He loves me not. God gave us His most precious treasure, His son. That is how we assess God's love of us. Jesus is the love of God. In His life and death and resurrection, we see the love of God.
God's love Shapes our holiness
Holiness is not the same among all religions. We are to be shaped into Jesus' likeness. His defining work is humbling Himself according to will of the Father for the sake of others. That is holiness. We are called to suffer for the faith, for the will of God. It is not some sort of abstract concept. We are to suffer according to the will of Father for the sake of others. We are not to devote our lives to earthly comfort, rather we are to move towards need. We are secured in God, even when we lose comfort, we suffer.
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