This week we begin our reflection on Romans 8. The book of Romans has been called “The Himalayas of the New Testament” with Romans 8 being Mount Everest. It is the highest, greatest, and most sweeping chapter in the Bible when it comes to God’s love, His Sovereignty and our security in Him. If I was sent to a desert island and could only bring one chapter of the Bible, I would undoubtedly bring this one. 

The chapter begins with the simple word “therefore”. Growing up, my pastor would always point to that word and ask (to the groans of the congregation) “what is it there for?”. His point was that whenever we see the word “therefore” in the Bible, we should always turn the page back to see what came before. And in this case, what comes before are the beautiful words at the end of Romans 7: What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Romans 7:24-25).

So, I begin this week by considering that I, like Paul, am a wretched man. It is not just that I have sinned, but that I am a sinner who by my very nature wants to rebel against God. But rather than abandoning me, God in his great mercy delivers me through Jesus! The simple message of the Gospel is contained here: that God saves sinners like me. Start this week’s reflection on Romans 8 with the simple reminder that God saves sinners like you and me!

Final Thought: Thank God for saving a sinner like you!