Unlearning Tradition, Relearning Scripture

Tag: Romans 8:31-32

  • Fall of the Cherub

    The Serpent, identified in Revelation 12:9 as Satan, first appears as the tempter in Eden (Genesis 3). In Ezekiel 28:12–15, he is described as a fallen guardian cherub. God uses the fall of this angel to illustrate the pride and arrogance of the king of Tyre:

    “Son of man, raise a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and say to him, Thus says the Lord GOD:
    You were the signet of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering, sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, emerald, and carbuncle; and crafted in gold were your settings and your engravings. On the day that you were created they were prepared. You were an anointed guardian cherub. I placed you; you were on the holy mountain of God; in the midst of the stones of fire you walked. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, till unrighteousness was found in you.” (Ezekiel 28:12-15)

    This passage reveals that the Serpent was not created to tempt. He began as a perfect guardian cherub but later rebelled against God and deceived Eve.

    Humanity’s Choice

    Adam, created in God’s image (Genesis 5:1), ultimately chose disobedience. Like the fallen cherub, he turned away from God. Yet here lies the great difference: while fallen angels were not offered redemption, humanity received an invitation to reconciliation. Sin did not end the story—God’s mercy opened the path to hope.

    The Wonder of Salvation

    The mystery of salvation is so profound that even angels long to understand it. 1 Peter 1:12 declares:

    > It was revealed to the Old Testament prophets that they were serving not themselves but you— the church— in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

    Paul echoes this in Ephesians 3:10:

    > So that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.

    The fall of angels highlights the tragedy of rebellion, while the redemption of humanity showcases the glory of God’s salvation—a story that moves heaven to awe and calls us to worship.

    God’s Answer to Human Suffering

    We must stop blaming God for the world’s suffering, for He gave humanity the freedom to choose. Through Adam, sin entered the world, and with it, suffering. But in Christ, redemption is offered:

    > “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.” (1 Corinthians 15:22)

    God’s blessings are not only spiritual. Paul reminds us:

    > “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:31-32)

    And he reassures us:

    > “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?… No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” (Romans 8:35-37)

    Through Christ, suffering has meaning and victory is assured.

    The Church’s Call to Renewal

    The modern church, at times, has failed to fully embrace Paul’s revelation of God’s manifold wisdom. Too often, deep theology is avoided, and the church is reduced to the image of a sanctuary for the imperfect, rather than a community of people being actively transformed. We are familiar with the common saying: “The church is a hospital for the sick.” Yet Paul’s exhortation challenges this limited view:

    > “Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed…” (1 Corinthians 5:7-8)

    Paul also instructs the believers in Colossians 3:5-17 to put away the old self, embracing the life of Christ through love, forgiveness, and thanksgiving. Likewise, Peter reminds the church:

    Peter states, > “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as God who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’” (1 Peter 1:14-16)

    This is why Paul consistently addressed believers as saints (Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2; Ephesians 1:1; Philippians 1:1; Colossians 1:2, etc.).

    The message is unmistakable: the church is called to be a visible testimony of transformation, embodying God’s holiness and love for the world to see.

    Credit: Photo owned by Alexandre Cabanel — Fallen Angel

    Conclusion

    It all began with the fall of a cherub. Followed by the fall of Adam. Yet, Jesus reminds us of a profound truth:

    > “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there will My servant be also. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.” (John 12:24-26)

    what-jesus-death-and-resurrection-accomplished

    Credit: Photo owned by Scott Roberts

    In this passage, Jesus reveals His death and resurrection, was the ultimate act of sacrifice and fruitful surrender. It highlights the contrast between the pride of the fallen cherub and the humble journey of those who choose to follow Christ. By fully submitting to the will of the Father and dying on the cross, Jesus shows the path to true life. Likewise, when we die to ourselves, we gain eternal life, and in faithfully serving our Lord Jesus, we receive the honor that comes from the Father.

    Peter, in the words of Acts 3:6, declared, “I possess neither silver nor gold, but in the name of Jesus Christ, I offer you what I have.” Share this article freely, for you freely receive. Take note, underlines and highlights are clickable links for definitions or Bible references. Stay updated by heading to our about page and subscribe directly to receive notifications in your inbox. Blessings!

  • What about Faith?

    Christians often find it challenging to understand God’s concept of faith. As mentioned in Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” This means that faith is not based on what we can immediately perceive or touch. Instead, it relies on a steadfast belief in God’s truthfulness. Therefore, we trust that He cares for us and will fulfill His wonderful purpose for our lives—our salvation. Paul emphasizes this in Romans when he states, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:31-32).

    “All things” encompasses the smaller aspects of life, such as our daily needs, in comparison to the “breath of life” that makes us living beings. Jesus Christ teaches us not to worry about these lesser things when he says, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life—what you will eat or drink, or about your body—what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” (Matthew 6:25-26)

    Christians, we should prioritize the truly important matters—specifically, eternal life. We must not compromise our faith in God out of fear over a lack of resources, which can lead us to become overly focused on the pursuit of money. This is why Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” (Matthew 6:24)

    I have often found myself at a crossroad, deciding whether to follow God without knowing what lies ahead. The last time this happened was when my tenure as a pastor in a local church was unjustly ended. Although I completed my term, it was not renewed. I recall someone telling me that if I had just let things slide, I would still be the pastor of that church. However, I simply cannot compromise my faith in God and His Word. I chose to persist and trust Him to lead the way.

    Now, here I am, independently conducting Bible studies and writing about the truths concerning the faith. Just recently, I ran into one former church council member. I shared with him that stepping out to do ministry on my own has been a great blessing from God.

    Let us continuously be aware of the precious gift that God offers to everyone. As Paul states in Ephesians 2:8, salvation comes by grace through faith in Christ alone. Therefore, let’s persevere in our faith and diligently seek His kingdom and righteousness. Allowing a wrong to slide isn’t adhering to God’s righteousness, is it? Jesus teaches us that if we faithfully sought His kingdom and righteousness, all these other things— our daily provisions— will also be given to us (Matthew 6:33). This is essentially the message of Proverbs 10:22: “The blessing of the LORD makes rich, and He adds no sorrow with it.”

    Faith in Jesus Christ is at the center of Christianity. It is inconceivable, isn’t it, to have a faithless Christianity? Consequently, Hebrews 11:6 states, “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.”

    Peter, in the words of Acts 3:6, declared, “I possess neither silver nor gold, but in the name of Jesus Christ, I offer you what I have.” Share this article freely, for you freely receive. Take note, underlines and highlights are clickable links for definitions or Bible references. Stay updated by heading to our about page and subscribe directly to receive notifications in your inbox. Blessing!