Romans 8 deals, perhaps, more thoroughly with the subject of eternal security for the Christian than any other portion of Scripture. Verses 35-39 will set down, in no uncertain or ambiguous terms, the parameters of the fortress wherein we safely stand. The Lord Jesus declared that no man shall pluck the child of God from His hand (John 10:28), and the Apostle Paul will demonstrate in this chapter just how firm the Lord’s grip is.
But, even with so great and blessed assurance to the one who belongs to the Lord Jesus, how can any person be certain that they belong to Him in the first place? This chapter concludes with a resounding shout of victory, resolutely settling the hearts and minds of God’s children with the comfort that their position in Jesus Christ, their relationship as His sons and daughters, will never be stripped from them. And here, in the middle of this extraordinary chapter, we have the Evidence presented which testifies that we are children of God.
“He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself…” (1 John 5:10a)
It is a function of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Christian to bear witness to the fact that the believer truly belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ. The indwelling Spirit of God testifies to our own spirit that the regeneration through Christ, bringing Salvation, has in fact occurred and His abiding presence confirms the reality that we have been made new creatures. Though doubts and fears may creep in from time to time, though our moments of failure and weakness may remind us of our utter unworthiness before a holy and righteous God, though we may feel defeated when our flesh seems to be having its way; it is the Holy Spirit Who confirms that we are His.
“Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.” (1 John 4:13)
To God goes all glory. In service to Him,
Loren