31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is FOR us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Rom 8:31-39
Q & A：
- Who do you place your dependency on the most and what disappointing experience have you had that may have caused you not to trust anyone anymore? From the main passage and your personal experiences, discuss how you are persuaded in believing that our God is dependable, faithful and a keeper of His words who cannot lie, where nothing can separate us from the love of God. (Rom 8:38-39; Josh 23:14; Num 23:19)
- Explain what a covenant relationship means in the Bible, and how has the fact that God already proved Himself in honoring His covenant with Abraham and David affect your faith and dependency on the word of the Bible. From the examples of how the apostles and some disciples of Christ suffered, discuss if you view that God has forsaken us when we are persecuted for our faith and for righteousness sake. (Heb 13:20-21; Ps 89:34-35; Rom 13:35; John 15:20)
- How does knowing the dependable truth that we are justified and declared righteous in God’s sight help you overcome the misconceptions where religious practices, philosophy, or attempting with own effort to make right with God. Discuss what the love of Christ means to you and how our conviction in the dependability of God can help us through in the time of distress. (Rom 13:31-33; Col 1:13-14; Rom 13:35; Luke 22:44)