Romans

The Bible teaches that, following His resurrection and ascension, Jesus took His place at the Father’s right hand where He forever intercedes for His blood-bought people. Christ’s intercession is not a commonly discussed reality, and yet it is one of the most comforting truths for the believer. Listen as Pastor Josh teaches on Christ’s intercession and what they reveal about His loving heart for each of His beloved people.

Speaker: Pastor Josh Tong
Passage: Romans 8:33-34
Series: Romans

Is God on your side? Most people assume that He is, but Scripture corrects that notion by revealing that God is against those who live apart from Christ. But once we are united to Christ by faith, we enjoy the wonder, confidence, and assurance of knowing that God is indeed for us. Listen as Pastor Josh attempts to explain the wonders of this reality.

Speaker: Pastor Josh Tong
Passage: Romans 8:31-32
Series: Romans

In this sermon, Pastor Josh continues guiding us through the “golden chain of salvation” found in these two verses. These verses re-tell our testimonies from God’s perspective and remind us that all of salvation — beginning, middle, and end — is completely and totally from God.

Speaker: Pastor Josh Tong
Passage: Romans 8:29-30
Series: Romans

What does it mean to be “foreknown” and “predestined” by God? Does it mean that God knew who would believe, or does it mean that God determined who would believe? Listen as Pastor Josh teaches through this difficult but important theological question and explains the difference that it makes to how we understand God and talk about our story of salvation.

Speaker: Pastor Josh Tong
Passage: Romans 8:29-30
Series: Romans

Romans 8:28 is one of the most well-known and beloved verses in all of Scripture. It provides a powerful means of comfort to those who suffer. But when verses enter the evangelical mainstream, they tend to lose their biblical meaning. In this sermon, Pastor Josh identifies five problematic ways of understanding and applying this verse. If we understand what it doesn’t mean, we will better understand what it does mean and receive its God-intended effect in our lives.

Speaker: Pastor Josh Tong
Passage: Romans 8:28
Series: Romans

What do we do when we have no words to pray? It may be because we are weak in prayer. It may be because we have prayed as much as we could but have nothing else to say. It may be because we are uncertain about what to pray for because we are uncertain about God’s will. The Bible’s answer to this is that we trust that the Spirit Himself is interceding for us, and He will help us in our weakness. Listen as Pastor Josh teaches on these two comforting verses about the Spirit’s intercession.

Speaker: Pastor Josh Tong
Passage: Romans 8:26-27
Series: Romans

Among the three great Christian virtues of faith, hope, and love, hope tends to be the forgotten one. And yet, it has a prominent place in Romans 8 and plays a vital role in the Christian life. What is hope? What are we hoping for? And what does it feel like to live with hope? Listen as Pastor Josh explains.

Speaker: Pastor Josh Tong
Passage: Romans 8:23-25
Series: Romans

What does a distinctly Christian approach to suffering look like? A common approach is to minimize suffering, knowing that it will ultimately be resolved in God’s perfect plan. But Scripture doesn’t do that. It carefully shepherds us through the dark depths of our suffering before leading us to the heights of future glory with Christ. It will be a glory that includes the redemption of all creation. Listen as Pastor Josh unpacks these verses about great suffering and greater glory.

Speaker: Pastor Josh Tong
Passage: Romans 8:18-22
Series: Romans

Many Christians know what it means to pursue “assurance of salvation”, but how many are familiar with the “assurance of adoption”? The Apostle Paul teaches us that the gospel doesn’t just save us from judgment. It also saves us for adoption. It is not until we have this assurance that we begin to experience the fullness of joy of the Christian life. Listen as Pastor Josh explains.

Speaker: Pastor Josh Tong
Passage: Romans 8:14-17
Series: Romans