16. READ: ROMANS 8:28-39
[Romans 8:28] "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him*, who** have been called according to His purpose. [29] For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. [30] And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.
[31] "What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? [32] He Who did not spare His Own Son, but gave Him up for us all--how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? [33] Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God Who justifies. [34] Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, Who died--more than that, Who was raised to life--is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. [35] Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? [36] As it is written:
‘For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered,' [Psalm 44:22].
[37] "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him Who loved us. [38] For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, [39] 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."
[*Some manuscripts say, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God,]
[**Or, "And we know that in all things God works together with those who love Him to bring about what is good--with those who have been called according to His purpose."]
a. What can separate us from the love of God?
b. What does God work for, in all things?
