God's unquestionable love

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.- Romans 8:31‭-‬39 ESV

Rev. Charles Han

We are a deeply fearful and fear driven people. This is the nature of our sinful hearts. Even in this modern age with modern medicine, peacetime, food, and shelter, we are still fearful in this nation. With limited access to information via our personal devices, it can exacerbate rather than assuage our fears.

Why do we fear so much? Because we fear God so little.

Fear of sufficient provision

Paul addresses this fear by speaking of greater needs being met. God gave us his son graciously. This is such a difficult and hard thing, how then can God withhold anything else from his people? If God would not spare his own son, God would do anything for his people. God paid an unimaginable price for his rebellious and sinful people. This is our security. God will withhold no good thing from us.

Fear of others

Will other people judge us? There is no condemnation in Christ. It is repeated over and over again in the word. Many people will condemn us for our sins. This is not those who reveal our sins, but those who accuse us as unacceptable. That God finds us lacking. But God is the ultimate and final judge. No one can overrule Him. He declares us righteous by the blood of Jesus. Jesus is our defender and advocate. God is the one justifies and he has done so. There is no one to overturn God's verdict.

Fear of separation from God

Is there anything that will make Christians fall away from God? Is there anything that makes God lose his grip on us? This list by Paul is not something we understand here in America. This is literal for Christians around the world. Not small inconveniences, but real affliction for the sake of Jesus. What does it mean to be more than conquerers? In Christ, all our enemies and their efforts to destroy us bring about our good and glory. Satan attempts to separate us from God. But he can only grow us in holiness. He cannot destroy or condemn those in Christ.

All Things For Your Good

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 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. - Romans 8:28‭-‬30 ESV

Rev. Charles Han

What does salvation look like?

Those who love God. It is that we desire God above all other things. There is no qualifying amount or maturity of our love for God. It is only that we desire Him and wish to grow closer to Him.

For what purpose?

We are saved for our salvation and glorification. And what does that mean? It means we will be like Jesus.

What is promised?

God is absolutely sovereign. He works all things.  Matthew 10:29-30 Job 2:9-10

God is absolutely good.

God ordains all things, both the best and worse things, only for your ultimate good. It is not to say that we redefining good and bad. Sin is evil. A crime committed against you is still a sin. Your sins against others are still evil. 

The best example of this is the cross. Jesus, the perfect innocent son of God, died a horrific death for crimes he did not commit. God ordained it. And it was for our ultimate good. The sins and messups in our lives are not something to our shame. It isn't like we are on God's plan B or C. God uses even these things for our good. God may purposely let us struggle with sin. He may let us fall into some sins over and over again. Why? It is so that we can understand grace. Not just an intellectual understanding, but to understand in our hearts.

All Things For Your Good

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 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. - Romans 8:28‭-‬30 ESV

Rev. Charles Han

What does salvation look like?

Those who love God. It is that we desire God above all other things. There is no qualifying amount or maturity of our love for God. It is only that we desire Him and wish to grow closer to Him.

For what purpose?

We are saved for our salvation and glorification. And what does that mean? It means we will be like Jesus.

What is promised?

God is absolutely sovereign. He works all things.  Matthew 10:29-30 Job 2:9-10

God is absolutely good.

God ordains all things, both the best and worse things, only for your ultimate good. It is not to say that we redefining good and bad. Sin is evil. A crime committed against you is still a sin. Your sins against others are still evil. 

The best example of this is the cross. Jesus, the perfect innocent son of God, died a horrific death for crimes he did not commit. God ordained it. And it was for our ultimate good. The sins and messups in our lives are not something to our shame. It isn't like we are on God's plan B or C. God uses even these things for our good. God may purposely let us struggle with sin. He may let us fall into some sins over and over again. Why? It is so that we can understand grace. Not just an intellectual understanding, but to understand in our hearts.

The Spirit of Adoption

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.- Romans 8:14‭-‬17 ESV

Rev. Dan Whang

God is our true, perfect heavenly Father. All that we do is in response to our father. We are empowered by the Spirit to fight sin. Paul brings us our status with God to encourage us. It is to assure us. Paul brings up adoption as the picture of fatherhood.

Christianity is about being brought into a family. This brings along privileges as children in God's family.

The certainty of our adoption

If you are being led by the Spirit to fight sin, then you are children of God. This is the leading of the Spirit. We learn to dispise sin and kill it. It is not looking for making the best decision for careers, dating, marriage, buying a house, etc. It is the desire to fight sin in our lives.

We are sure of our adoption because of the great cost. Our adoption was paid for by the blood of Jesus. It doesn't matter what we've done or who we are. The cross tells us that we are God's children. No doubt.

The characteristics of our adoption

There are two spirits. The spirit of slavery makes us fearful. But adoption gives a sense of intimacy, discipline and family resemblance. The call to God is not a quiet recitation, but the cry of a child to their father.

Does your spiritual walk today lack joy? Then cry out to God. God will happily answer your prayer for joy in following God.

Parents discipline their kids. Fathers will place their kids in challenging situations and help us to grow. Only illegitimate children are left to their own devices. God will sometimes place is into difficult situations to help us avoid more painful situations later. This is God's love for us.

The pain of discipline is not pointless. God does this to purify us and make us holy. This is so that we begin to resemble God more and more in our life. This is the long direction of the Christian's life.

The confirmation of our adoption

The Holy Spirit reminds us that we are children of God. Not only do we witness ourselves to God's love, but the Holy Spirit testifies as well. So when we are discouraged, God's Spirit pushes us to remember our status. We are children of God.

Not only this, but we will suffer. We will suffer along with Christ. Not First World Problems, but suffering for Christ. Insults, shame, and even threats of death. That is guaranteed. Are we too comfortable? Do we exhibit the light of Christ to the world?

In addition to this suffering, we also inherit glory. We will be perfect and have a place in heaven with Jesus. The riches of God are ours. A place where we will be fully accepted and welcomed forever.