Deliver Us...

From false teachings...

That is what the American church needs to pray for...

Seriously...

Romans 8 is seemingly taken out of context every time I hear it preached...

Mostly Romans 8:37

37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

This more than Conquerors verse is said so often in positive mental inspirational sermons to the masses now lets look at the whole context. I believe the verse changes a little when you see the bigger picture.

Lets look at the whole paragraph Paul writes to get the full context: Romans 8:28-39(I have highlighted what I believe are a few key words)

28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
31What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He 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? 33Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34Who 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. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." 37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For 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.

It looks to me as if Paul is saying alot, not just that we can be more than conquerors because God is on our side... This is one of those paragraphs that as I have re-read over and over it helps me to see God more like he actually is rather than what the church paints him to be.

I do agree that Romans 8:37 is an inspirational verse, but the rest of the chapter should be read to get the whole context of the verse in particular...

I just want people to start reading their Bibles more when people are teaching from the pulpit, because if you don't get the entire context of the verse, then you are missing the point of it. Its just hard for me to listen to these feel good sermons nowadays with select cliche verses that are sculpted and shaped to the way people want their sermons to go... I just want people to start reading and comprehending what Paul meant when he said stuff like this.

I feel like this is a mouthfull, but hopefully you will read it, and understand it a little more.

Thanks for reading,
Comments and discussion is encouraged.

Austin Death.