Romans 8. Ahhhhh, Romans 8 is one of my favorite passages in the New Testament. I think I have highlighted almost the whole chapter! It is so hopeful and encouraging and full of important promises and theology.

The Apostle Paul summarizes the first seven chapters of Romans with a big “therefore”: There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus! (8:1) We have been set free from patterns of sin, the law, death, and condemnation. We have been made right with God through faith in Jesus Christ, the broken relationship has been reconciled!

Through the work of Jesus Christ, God has created a new humanity, a new family of God. It’s not just that we are free from sin and no longer condemned – we have also gained a new identity and a new family. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God… 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… (8:14-17).

Look at all the family language and imagery in this text – adopted, children of God, Father, sons (and daughters), heirs of the kingdom. What a joy to know that we belong to this new family God has created in Jesus Christ. I don’t know what your family experience has been growing up, but can you imagine the transition from being an orphaned child on the street to belonging to an amazing family? It’s a family full of love, grace, purpose, resources, and power. It’s a family you can be proud to be associated with. It’s a family where – when you are struggling deeply – the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words (8:26). It’s a family where the Father is working all things together for good (8:28). It’s a family where we have been called according to His purpose, justified, and glorified (8:28-30).

How absolutely amazing it is to be called the children of God! If God is for us, who can be against us? (8:31) He will graciously give us all things (8:32). We have Jesus Christ on our side, who is at the right hand of God, who is interceding for us (8:34).

Absolutely nothing can separate us from the love of God! We are more than conquerors through him who loved us! (8:37) 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 (8:38-39).

Remember the baptism imagery from Romans 6:3-4? When we are raised to new life in Christ, we join the family of God. It’s an amazing family and we just need to figure out what it means to live and work with this new family dynamic! If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you… he will also give you life through his Spirit who dwells in you (8:11). Walk according to the Spirit (8:4).