Romans 8

In my opinion, Romans 8 is the capstone of the New Testament. It is the continental divide, the Mount Everest, the....well, you get the picture. Let me give you examples.

Romans 8:1--"Therefore," (I was always told when it says that you should always see what it's there for!) "there is no now condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Do you see that! No condemnation in Christ. Not some condemnation. Not a little. None. Zero. Zilch. Not that we can live our lives as wrecklessly as we want, but we don't have to worry about sin condemning us!
Romans 8:5--Look at the contrasts. "Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires..." On the other hand, look at the contrast. "...but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires." See also, "The mind of sinful man is death..." Then, "...but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace..." "...the sinful mind is hostile to God." Now look what he says about those who don't live according to their sinful minds. "But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness."
Romans 8:12--We have an obligation. When you think of an obligation, what do you think of? A car payment? House payment? A debt of some kind? A commitment to work is to help with something? Our obligation, according to Paul, is to not live according to our sinful nature. This allows us to have the closest relationship to God (Abba {Daddy], Father) possible.
Romans 8:28--"And we know..." We know. Not think or hope or wish. We know that God works in any and all circumstances. Good and bad. Hopeless and more hopeless. Something good and something God can and will and does occur.
Romans 8:31ff--Look at the questions here and answer them from your perspective. And be honest. "If God is for us, who can be against us?" "Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen?" "It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns?" "Who shall separate us from the Love of Christ?" If you answered those questions honestly, I don't know how it couldn't lift your day.
Romans 8:37--"...we are more than conquerors." How can that be? If you win a game, you win. You can't "more than win." Oh, it can be by a big margin. But it still counts as a "W." Paul says we are more than conquerors.
Finally, the conclusion of the matter. God loves me. Personally. Me. (Put your name here) God loves _________.
Wow! After reading this chapter, I feel as if I could go out and change the world. But isn't that what we are supposed to do anyway? Isn't that why He sent His Son? This isn't a one time thing. This is our life. Isn't it time we acted like we belong to Him? I hope your day is good. JW