Bent Oak Church

Paul concludes Romans 8 with his strongest words of assurance. What can separate us from the love of God? Nothing. We explore the culmination of Paul's word of assurance for believers.

Paul continues to build his case for the assurance we have through the Spirit. Previously, Paul said that our ability to pray, "Abba, Father," was proof of the Spirit working in us. But now Paul adds that even when we don't know what to pray, the Spirit prays for us. 

Paul turns his attention to this new life in the Spirit and he connects the two images of a debtor and a child. It is a part of a bigger topic for Paul, how can we be assured of this new way? How can we be assured of our salvation?

Paul draws his discussion of the law to its final conclusion. "Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?"Paul explains how the law brings us to that final conclusion. We are in need of a savior.

Paul was willing to use any analogy he could to help clarify the relationship between Christ and the law. In Romans 7, Paul turns to the image of marriage. 

Slavery is a common way the Bible depicts sin. It does so with the knowledge of Israel's long history under Egyptian slavery. But Paul takes the image further. He explains how believers are now a slave to righteousness. What does he mean?

As we near the end of our psalms of ascent, the pilgrim's attention is turned to the community ahead—a nation worshiping together in Israel. It can all seem like our accomplishment: our journey, our success, our worship. But Psalm 133 teaches us that community is never an achievement. Psalm 133 teaches us to receive.

Psalm 131 remembers the faithfulness of David through difficulty—suffering inflicted by others and his own personal failures. Still, David persevered on. The Psalm also recounts the faithfulness of God. It teaches us the relationship between remembering and obeying, that faithfulness is always marked by a memory of God's faithfulness.

Psalm 131 is a maintenance psalm, a kind of soul pruning for our hearts and eyes. The psalm teaches us to have hope in God, a kind of hope that leads us to a deeper rest and contentment in him.It is a lesson many of us need to be reminded of. As the world seems to unravel, we focus our hearts and eyes on what matters most. Hope in the Lord, now and forever more.

Psalm 129 is about the reality of trials and suffering. God's people can always speak of their trials. It is a part of this journey. Even today, around the world, brothers and sisters of faith continue to face persecution and trials. But Psalm 129 interjects an equal reality. God is righteous.