Life in the SpiritNäide

Day 3: Eternal Assurance

Begin

Quiet your heart and ask God to take all your worries and distractions, trusting him to teach and encourage you through his Word. Pray and ask him to open your eyes to the lessons he has for you today!

Reflect

Where do you find your confidence?

There are certain things in life that might feel guaranteed: waking up in the morning; a car that starts with no issue; food in the refrigerator; stable finances; your family members around the table each holiday.

But you quickly learn that we cannot take anything in our lives for granted. Material possessions and financial stability can disappear overnight. Relationships that lasted years can be broken with a few simple words. And death can steal loved ones away without warning.

This is the world we live in. But Paul claims that we can find confidence, even in this unpredictable life, through our relationship with God, made possible by Jesus, and grown in faith by the Spirit. In every circumstance, the Lord is our helper (Hebrews 13:6). This is our ultimate assurance.

In addition to freeing us from condemnation and giving us hope in our suffering, our life in the Spirit gives us ultimate confidence that God’s promises are true and that if he is on our side, nothing can stand against us. It’s a case Paul builds on the work God has already done for us through Christ. He willingly gave his only Son to save us (verse 32). Jesus suffered and died for our salvation. The Spirit was poured out to conform us to Christ and carry us through many trials. If God has already done this, could he ever abandon us?

When life feels unstable and the things we take for granted are gone, we might feel like God has forgotten us. Or when we stumble and sin, we might begin to believe that God will distance himself from us. But Paul reminds us that we are not the ones holding onto God. Instead, we are safe because Christ is constantly interceding for us, and because our heavenly Father will not let us go.

To put this truth to the test, Paul lists the evils we face: trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, or sword (verse 35). These things threaten our lives. They can inflict terrible harm and suffering. And yet, because of our life through the Spirit and because of Jesus, we are guaranteed victory.

There’s only one question left—one that you can ask daily as you walk with the Spirit and grow in faith: “What can separate us from God?” Think about the trials you’ve considered in Romans 8 on this journey. The old law. The curse of sin and death. The wrongs you have done. The times you’ve failed. The temptations you’ve faced. The suffering you have endured.

Can anything come between you and God?

Through the Spirit, Paul has his answer: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers… will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (verses 38–39).

The work of Christ is sealed in your heart by the Spirit—your ever-present companion (Ephesians 1:13–14). It cannot be changed by circumstances, good deeds, or emotions. It’s been rooted in God’s eternal plan for you and paid for by the sacrifice of Jesus.

This is our deepest assurance. It’s why we can believe these truths and trust God to care for us as his own children. Through your walk of faith, the Spirit will continue to build on the foundation of salvation in your heart and carry out God’s work as you walk in his ways. Thanks be to God!

Consider

Have there been seasons in your life when you questioned whether God was still “for you”? What fears, struggles, or trials have made you feel distant from him? Look at them again in light of today’s verses. How do Paul’s words challenge your perception? How does the Spirit assure you of God’s care for you?

Meditate on verse 32. What did it mean for God to give up his own Son? What does this action tell you about the way God feels toward you? How does that inform your eternal assurance?

Meditate

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.” —John 10:27–28 NIV

Thank you!

As you end this journey, think about someone in your life who needs the encouragement of Romans 8 and life in the Spirit. How can you share what you’ve learned with them?

Click here to download a PDF of this Reading Plan to share with a friend.