In the above text for today, you are asked to especially focus on verses 31-34. The incredible things God has done for weak, imperfect us in the crucified, resurrected Jesus Christ are stated by Paul in this way: (1) God is on our side in support of us. Who is superior to God in opposing us? (2) God proved His commitment to sustaining us by sacrificing His son for us. (3) No one [including Satan] can find fault with us on the basis of our weaknesses because God declares we are okay in Christ. (4) If God says we are okay, we are okay! Our suffering does not prove otherwise! (5) Christians belong to a living Savior who [as a part of his post-resurrection role] speaks to God on our behalf.
The vehicle for Paul's "adequacy of God" concept involving the reality of human sufferings is based on the concept of justification. Because of wrong doing (or transgression of that which is absolutely right as defined and sanctioned by God), there is an enormous separation between human beings and God. This gulf or separation exists because of the actions of human beings, not the actions of God. There is nothing within the power of the human being (of himself or herself) that can be done to span that gulf or bridge that separation. The human is justifiably guilty, and nothing within his or her power can make him or her innocent. All the human can do is respond to actions done for him or her by God. The human can never make himself or herself innocent by any human course of action or by any expression of human power.
That was (is) the impossible dilemma people who wanted (want) to re-establish relationship with God faced (face). Human desire expressed in human effort of itself was insufficient to bridge the separation. People through transgression had destroyed relationship with God. Being guilty, they could never again (of themselves) be in the position of being innocent. Humans could be justifiably condemned because of their own mistakes and weaknesses.
The solution to this human dilemma was found in God's acts through Jesus' death and resurrection. God did for people what they could not do for themselves. What God did for us in Jesus is seen in this: (1) Jesus was God's son and came to earth directly from God (Romans 8:32; John 1:1-13; Philippians 2:5-11). (2)The sinless Jesus was executed on the cross as God's sacrifice for our sins (Romans 6, especially note verses 12, 13; 2 Corinthians 5:20, 21; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 1 Peter 2:21-24); (3) God proved He was more powerful than physical death by raising Jesus from death (1 Corinthians 15:1-19, 50-58; Ephesians 1:18-23). Therefore those who believe [place their trust] in what God did in Christ have the God-given right to clothe themselves in Christ (Galatians 3:27) because Christ wore their sins (1 Peter 2:24). The dying Jesus was made to be sin so they could be righteous (2 Corinthians 5:21). God in Jesus spanned the gulf or bridged the separation! People can respond to God's acts in Jesus' death and resurrection! We can respond to God's initiative!
However, it is God's initiative that provided the solution. Our acts of obedience are merely a believing response to God's initiative in Jesus Christ!
In Romans 8, Paul said suffering's existence did not prove that God failed to justify the person. Human suffering did not disprove the reality of God's justification. Human sinfulness produced the problem! Human sinfulness perverted God's good (free from sin) creation (Genesis 1:31)! Human sinfulness destroyed relationship with God! Human sinfulness produced the clash between God's values and Satan's deceit in this physical world! Not all people believe in God's justification in Jesus Christ—not even the majority of people. The clash between God's values and Satan's deception continues in this physical world.
However, there is an enormous difference for those who live by placing their trust in what God did in Jesus. There is nothing those in Christ cannot express to God in a way understandable to God. God's Spirit makes understandable anything those who suffer say to God. God will use everything that happens to those in Christ for their eternal salvation. Because those in Christ believe in what God does through Jesus, those in Christ belong to God. They are His. In Christ, in spite of their weaknesses, God says they are okay. They are okay because of God's mercy and grace, not because of their accomplishments (see passages like 1 Corinthians 1:31 and 2 Corinthians 10:17, 18; 11:12-15).
Will any force or experience external from ourselves separate us from this enormous love God has for us? Paul said, "No!" Will suffering in the physical world remain? Yes. However, the pain a believer endures never means the believer who is in Christ is not heard and understood by God, never means he or she loses any aspect of salvation, never means he or she does not belong to God, never means that God sees him or her as less than okay, and never means he or she has been torn away from God's loving relationship.
In some way, agony exists because Satan continues his clash with God in this physical world. However, the believer who is in Christ should never view agony in any form as evidence of separation from God. In Christ we are forgiven, and pain does not prove we are not!
FOR THOUGHT AND DISCUSSION
1. Name four things God accomplished for us through Jesus Christ.
2. What was the vehicle for Paul's "adequacy of God" concept?
3. There is an enormous what between God and human beings?
4. There is nothing within the power of the human being to do what?
5. Because the human being is justifiably guilty, he or she can do nothing of self to become what?
6. All the human being can do is what?
7. What was the impossible dilemma?
8. What was the solution?
9. Name 3 things seen at work in Jesus that made human salvation possible.
10. In Romans 8, Paul said the existence of suffering did not prove what?
11. Why does suffering continue in this physical world?
12. Discuss the enormous difference for those who live by trusting what God did in Jesus.
13. The believer who is in Christ should never view agony how?
Link to Teacher's Guide
Lesson 6