And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. – Romans 8:28

This morning at Men’s Bible Study we looked at Romans Chapter 8. We prayed together, we talked about some background stuff, we went over a few of the key words and then – even though everyone had prepared ahead of time – I read the entire chapter aloud.

I think it was likely the most important thing I did. I felt the words all the way through my ears and down into my heart. Just to hear this scripture, spoken carefully and with passion, is a remarkable experience of grace.

Before we dug into the passage I talked a little bit about background. I think it is important to understand how differently we hear based on what else we know and where we are.

Some of the folk Paul wrote to had the background of being Jews, but by no means the majority as Paul’s specific calling was to reach the Gentiles.

So let’s consider what sits – figuratively – underneath this passage for us in 2026, things not available to the first listeners/readers. Pauls audience did not have:

• An understanding (other than the Jews) of monotheism
• The Gospels (some stories about Jesus were being shared)
• The Book of Acts
• The entire New Testament
• 2,000 years of Christanity
• 2,000 years of creeds, confessions, catechisms etc.
• The Catholic Church, the Orthodox Church, the Reformation and a gazillion Protestant Churches
• Multiple translations of the Bible
• Preaching and teaching and interpretation in varied traditions
• The 2,000 years of social and religious and scientific progress and upheaval and cultural evolution and more that led up to these 25 men sitting around in a room talking about Romans 8.

All of the above – plus a thousand other bullet points – comprise the lens through which we read the scriptures today.

“Just trust in God, that’s all we need”

This is one of the reasons, I believe, that Paul goes to such lengths to lay out some kind of a framework. I have heard it said, “Why doesn’t Paul just say ‘Trust in God’ and be done with it?”

Truth.

However, while “the thief on the cross” who trusted Jesus has as much standing with God as a PhD who teaches Paul’s systematic theology (more, if the PhD does not put his trust in Jesus), the thief’s circumstance certainly heightened his awareness of his need. We may need a little help!

Paul has just written Romans 7, where he outlines the conundrum of the human condition and our need for grace. This is amplified in Romans 8 when he talks about having our minds set on what the flesh desires, vs having our minds set on what the Spirit desires.

Humans do not, by nature, tend to demonstrate the evidence – or fruit – of selfless love. Our much-vaunted freedom in Christ, then, is very much dependent on Christ. So, yes, “all things work together for the good…” but only assuming our love for Jesus and living into God’s purposes.

Deep Background

And so I can only say something simple – like my oft-used sign-off “In love and because of love” – in the context of all this deeper understanding. It’s what we would call “deep background” in writing.

My “place your trust in Jesus,” then, is built on the framework of ideas worked out in writings such as Romans and then two-thousand years of thought and theology… much as my “fly the friendly skies” to the UK in an airplane sits comfortably atop not only 21st Century engineering and a qualified pilot, but also the work of Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, the Wright Brothers, Henry Ford, mathematicians like Pascal, physicists like Einstein, and a pantheon of scientists and philosophers including Galileo – and even Aristotle, Pythagorus and Plato. Simple… but not really.

Yet, and this is a beautiful truth, we still don’t have to do anything other than acknowledge our need of grace and crawl into the arms of our loving God.

Yet, and this is a beautiful truth, we still don’t have to do anything other than acknowledge our need of grace and crawl into the arms of our loving God.

So I plan to hang in there with the Apostle Paul because I believe he helps me to understand myself, my God, my need and my Savior. I challenge you to sit down and read Romans 7-8, it will take around ten minutes to read thoughtfully.

My belief is that Paul’s words will challenge you, bless you, and leave you not only grateful but on the edge of good tears when you come to the final paragraph of chapter 8.

In love, and because love always wins – DEREK