In considering what Paul teaches about God the Father in Romans 8 we now come to the third point: God’s plan delighted in. 

 

Beginning in Romans 8:14 we find that through the ministry of the Holy Spirit God declares us to be His children. By the Holy Spirit we call God, “Abba, Father.” That same Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are God’s children. We are members of God’s family. As such we are heirs, co-heirs with Christ.

 

It is true that we share in His suffering, but we also will share in His glory. Delight in this wonderful truth – you belong in the family of God! As such Paul assures us that God is with us and for us, verse 31. 

 

With Him for us, Paul asks a rhetorical question; Who can be against us? Obviously no one can effectually be against us. In fact, since God didn’t “spare His own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (verse 32). The “all things” referred to, needs to be understood as all things necessary for our being sanctified, or conformed to the likeness of Jesus Christ. 

 

Paul concludes this chapter with the strong affirmation: “In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”