Romans 8:31-32 In these verses Paul begins a series of rhetorical questions designed to make us think about the consequences of the things he has just been telling us in the previous verses. The answers to these questions are implied in the questions themselves. What are the three categories which Paul addresses that we find might threaten our security in God's love? What are the things to which Paul refers that are the proof that God is for us? God is not "for" everyone. He is against some. What determines whether God is for or against someone? How does the story of the pharisee and the tax-collector in Luke 18 relate to this passage? Does Paul believe that Christians have no one who opposes or is against them? What frame of mind should we have about those who oppose us that would transform our outlook? Why does Paul believe that God will not withhold anything from those who have believed in Him? (56 min)

Keywords Predestined, Justification, Image of God, Son of God

Romans 8:29-30 In this lesson we continue considering the subject of what it means that we have been foreknown by God. What does the word "foreknown" mean? How do we know that this is speaking from a human rather than divine perspective? We then learn that those God has foreknown he has predestined. To what have those God foreknew been predestined? What is God's purpose for all His children? How does this purpose relate to God's original intent in creation? What three things has God done to ensure that His purpose for us is accomplished? Why is it that though earlier Paul has spoken of our glory as something that is yet to happen, that in this verse he speaks of it in the past tense? (57 min)

Keywords Foreknowledge, Predestined, Calling, Justification

Romans 8:28, 29 In this lesson we begin exploring one of the best known passages of Romans, about parts of which Christians often have divergent views. It is important, however, that we not loose sight of the forest of Paul's major point for our preoccupation with the trees of his supporting arguments. How is that that we "know," according to Paul, that all things work together for good? Is Paul saying that all things are actually good? For whom is this promise true? What is notable about Paul's remark about us loving God. What do we mean when we say that God is transcendent? How is the truth about the transcendence of God connected to the truth about God's foreknowledge? Why is it a mistake to say that since God knows with certainty what will happen that He is responsible for evil? (63 min)

Keywords Glory, Foreknowledge, Adoption, Suffering

Romans 8:23-27 Picking up from last week's lesson in verse 23, we considered more about our adoption. Why does Paul speak about our adoption as something that happened when we were saved, as well as something that has not yet occurred? What aspect of our adoption has not yet been realized? When will that happen? What is the disposition of the believer while he awaits his adoption? What is the connection between faith and hope? What is the opportunity that hope gives us that we will not possess when our bodies are finally redeemed? In what way do we fail to know how to pray? Why does the Holy Spirit groan? What do we know for sure about the Holy Spirit's intercession for us? (61 min)

Keywords Hope, Spirit, Faith, Worship, Prayer