erebus-cross “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 8:32.    I love the logic of this verse. Not because I love logic, but because I love having my real needs met. The two halves of Romans 8:32 have a stupendously important logical connection. We may not see it, since the second half is a question: “How will he not also with him give us all things?” But if we change the question into the statement that it implies, we will see it. “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, will therefore surely also with him graciously give us all things.” In other words, the connection between the two halves is meant to make the second half absolutely certain. If God did the hardest thing of all—namely, give up his own Son to suffering and death—then it is certain that he will do the comparatively easy thing, namely, give us all things with him.  What then does it mean that because of Christ’s death for us God will certainly with him graciously give us “all things”? It means that he will give us all things that are good for us. All things that we really need in order to be conformed to the image of his Son (Romans 8:29). All things we need in order to attain everlasting joy”

Reflecting on this statement reminds me of how people twist this concept.  Rather than looking at Romans 8:32 from God’s perspective, they look it at from man’s.  John Piper puts his finger on it when he says, “I love having my real needs met”.  Riches, cars, boats, fame, fortune, an easy life, a perfect marriage, children, friends are not real needs.   Our real need is joy.  Joy that can only be filled by God giving us the ability to rejoice in him and in his glory.  Joy is something that is permanent, not fleeting.  I often wondered how Christians in poor countries can endure suffering, opposition and persecution joyfully when Christians in America call for a divine rescue because their 401(k)’s are down 30%.  Joy is found in a person, not in things.  Joy is being given good gifts by God

Questions:  Are you joyful?  Is your joy everlasting or does it fade when faced with tough times?  Is your joy man-centered or God-centered?  The joy God provides us through his grace is the joy that is unaffected by earthly matters.  As Lent progresses, considering and meditating on joy is a wonderful way to prepare for the fulfillment of joy, Christ’s resurrection. 

For more information on how to really be joyful, consider reading John Piper’s study of Biblical joy, “The Supremacy of Christ and Joy in a Postmodern World”

Quote from “The 50 Reasons Jesus Came to Die”.

Questions and reflections by me.

Picture – The cross at Mount Erebus, Antarctica, commemorating the 1979 Air New Zealand Crash near Mount Erebus.

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