Thirsting Souls Bible Teaching

(Rom 8:34) “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.”  Even Satan’s accusations mean nothing, for the Lord Jesus has paid for my sin, the Judge of the Universe has pronounced me innocent (justified), and my Justifier (Rom 3:26) sits at God’s own right hand making intercession for me. Glory!

(Rom 8:33) “Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.”  “Justified”: pronounced innocent of the crime. God, the Eternal Judge of All Men has passed sentence upon every saved Child of God – justified. Who, then, can say they are guilty. None. No one has the authority, the right, to say otherwise.

(Rom 8:32) “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?”  God our Father went to the extreme in saving our souls, giving His Own Son to take our place of punishment. Therefore the opposite extreme is also ours – blessing beyond our imagination!

(Rom 8:31)  “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”  That is, who can keep us from our inheritance? There are those who would say, “We can keep ourselves from it – lose it.” If spirit-life died, it could not rightly be called “everlasting life”. It could not be called “salvation”, for it did not save from hell. We did not earn it. Then how could we possible keep it? (Rom 11:29)  “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” He never takes it back.

 (Rom 8:30) “Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”  Notice that although you and I are still here upon this earth, still fighting our old nature, still enduring sickness and ailments, yet it is said we are “glorified”. In the mind of God, the end result – our resurrection – has occurred: (Eph 2:5) “Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) (6)  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:”

(Rom 8:30) “Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”   “Justify”: judicial term meaning found not guilty. Imagine, sinful you being pronounced not guilty. Why? Jesus took your guilt and paid the penalty! Notice it is not automatic. One has to respond to the “call” to repent and be saved. 

 (Rom 8:30) “Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”  In His foreknowledge, knowing which person would be saved when presented with the gospel, He spoke the gospel to their heart (He called). This is not predetermining salvation, but acting upon foreknowledge: (Luk_8:15)  “But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.”   

(Rom 8:29) “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”   Notice the Lord Jesus is the firstborn meaning that we who follow the cross and resurrection are the brethren. This “did not” occur before Pentecost. Those in the Old Testament were not “saved” as we know  it, born again being sealed with the Holy Spirit.

  (Rom 8:29) “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”   That image is not only a glorified body, but also a conforming of our character from worldliness to godliness. Since the saved are predestined to this end, there can be no loss of it along the way. 

(Rom 8:29) “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”   Note the predestination is based upon foreknowledge. Foreknowledge of what? Not, who you are, for He knows all people. The answer has to be foreknowledge that one would be moved by the cross and repent seeking forgiveness.