ROMANS 8:28-39
⇒ Distress: to suffer anguish, trouble, strain, agony; not knowing which way to turn or what to do.
⇒ Persecution: to be abused, mocked, ridiculed, shamed, mistreated, ignored, neglected, harrassed, attacked, or in-
jured.
⇒ Famine: to have no food, to be starving and have no way to secure food.
⇒ Nakedness: to be stripped of all clothes and earthly comforts; to be bare, having all earthly possessions taken away.
⇒ Peril: to be exposed to the most severe risks; to be confronted with the most terrible dangers to one’s body,
mind, soul, property, family, and loved ones.
⇒ Sword: to be killed; to suffer martyrdom.
Just imagine a person experiencing all this. What would his thoughts be? Would he feel that he had been forsaken by
God? In the midst of so much dark trouble, would he believe that God loved him?
Scripture declares loudly and clearly that God does love him. There is absolutely nothing—no matter how dark and de-
pressing, no matter how severe—that can separate the believer from the love of Christ. Circumstances are not evidence that
God does not love us. God loves us no matter what the circumstances may be.
But believers must always remember: they are going to suffer while they are in this world. In fact, the world is going to
count them as sheep for the slaughter, rejecting and persecuting them (Ps.44:22). The world is going to persecute believers as
long as believers continue to live for Christ. Their lives of godliness convict the world, and the world rejects godliness. (See
note, Persecution—Mt.5:10-12 for why believers are persecuted.)
However, note what is said. No matter the circumstances, we are more than conquerors through Christ who has loved us
(v.37). No matter the circumstances and their severity, Christ will carry us through all, strengthening and encouraging us. We
cannot lose, no matter the severity of the situation. Christ loves us and is going to look after and take care of us. The believer
can rest assured, Christ delivers him from the severest circumstances:
⇒ Christ meets all the material necessities of life.

“Therefore, take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or,
Wherewithal shall we be clothed?...But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteous-
ness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Mt.6:31, 33).

⇒ Christ gives us rest.

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest”
(Mt.11:28).

⇒ Christ gives us peace.

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto
you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (Jn.14:27).
“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye
shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (Jn.16:33).

⇒ Christ provides an escape from temptation.

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful,
who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation al-
so make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Cor.10:13).

⇒ Christ comforts us through all trials.

“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and
the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to com-
fort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of
God” (2 Cor.1:3-4).

⇒ Christ supplies all our needs.

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Ph.4:13).

⇒ Christ delivers us through persecution.

“For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be
wearied and faint in your minds” (Heb.12:3).
“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though
some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s
sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy” (1
Pt.4:12-13).

⇒ Christ delivers us into His very presence, giving us eternal life if we are martyred.

“And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me [transport,
take me] unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever” (2 Tim.4:18).
41
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51