Romans 8

I am studying right now for the message tomorrow night and I just read Romans 8. This has to be one of the best chapters in the entire bible. Paul was en fuego when he wrote this. Not that he wasn't when he wrote the rest of his books, but he hit a homer with this one.

If you haven't read it in a while let me give you some highlights...

1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.
Imagine what life would be like if we all walked through life reminding ourselves of that.

3 So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins.
Sin no longer has control over me. I forget that sometimes. This might come in handy next time I find myself being tempted.

15 Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children.[h] Now we call him, “Abba, Father.”[i] 16 For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. 17 And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory.
What a father. This one has so much more life now that I have my own children.

23 And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children,[j] including the new bodies he has promised us.
I can't help but think about Holly's mom when I read this. He promises a new body that we can look forward to. One day I will finally be released from sin and suffering never to experience them again. WOW!

26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. 27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers[l] in harmony with God’s own will.
This has to be one of the best verses in favor of a prayer language in the entire bible. How can anyone know exactly what to pray for, at all times, in every situation? They can't. Do you want to just pray your prayer or would you rather pray his will?

If you don't think it's been good to this point...get ready...Paul starts rounding third and bringin' it home.

31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?
How much confidence does that instill? Who can ever be against us to the point at which we could ever lose? WOW!

37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
Great verse for those of us who can't stand losing.

38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[o] neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Come on Jesus. That's what I'm talkin' about. NOTHING. NOTHING. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. What a father. What a provider. What a friend.

No matter what is going on in your life right now as you read this...I gaurantee that Romans 8 can brighten your day, your situation, your outlook, your everything.