God Did! - Romans 8

"What the law could not do since it was limited by the flesh, God did." (vs. 3).

Some consider Romans 8 the greatest, most theologically eloquent chapter in the New Testament. Certainly, some verses from Romans 8 are the most often quoted, often taught, and often preached of any in the Bible. Here's just a few examples:

"We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose" (vs. 28).

"If God is for us, who is against us?" (vs. 31).

"In all these things we are more than victorious through Him who loved us" (vs. 37).

Romans 8 describes the new way of life we have in Christ, particularly in regard to the work of the Holy Spirit in the believer. It teaches us that in Christ we have become people of the Spirit, people who live "according to the Spirit" ( vs. 4, 5).

So, Romans 8 tells us how to "be spiritual!"

Since we are all very familiar with the description of the Spirit-led, Spirit-guided life that the Apostle Paul details in Romans 8, I won't attempt to pontificate further on it.

Instead, I'd like to condense the whole chapter and the relationship of people with God that is described in Romans 8 to a single sentence. In fact, I'd like to reduce it to two words from vs. 3: "God did."

I know that doesn't sound very spiritual or theologically insightful for a synopsis of  Romans 8. You may have expected something deeper, something more profound! You may even think that I have completely missed the point of Romans 8!

However, I'm concerned that our spirituality often focuses on what God is doing for me and what I'm doing for God rather than on who God is, what He has done, and what He is doing.

GOD DID!

What we could not do, God did in Christ! What we cannot do, God does by the Holy Spirit!

We couldn't overcome sin, God did (vs. 3-8)!

We couldn't beat death, God did (vs. 9-11)!

We couldn't become God's children, God made us His own (vs. 12-17)!

God gives hope to the universe and the human race (vs. 18-25)!

We don't even know how to pray as we should, God helps us (vs. 26-27)!

We were without purpose or significance, God works His cosmic will through us (vs. 28-30)!

God loves us and nothing in all creation can separate us from His love for us (vs. 31-39)!!

God did all these things through Christ and then God applied His work in Christ to our lives by the Holy Spirit!

However, we get to thinking that "being spiritual" is about what we do for God. But the redemption of the created order and the human race is all about God, what God did, what God is doing, and what God will do.

It's about God's glory! It's about our glorious God!

And "being spiritual" is about uniting with God in what He is doing.

God did it! God did! If we can just get that right, then we will become the people the Apostle Paul describes in Romans 8 who live "according to the Spirit."

"So then it does not depend on human will or effort but on God who shows mercy" (Romans 9:16).