Get all You Can, Can all You Get then Sit on the Can

Romans eight is considered among the greatest chapters in the Bible. It begins by saying that there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. It continues by showing that the Christian cannot be defeated because he is in Christ Jesus. Then it concludes with the grand statement that there is nothing that can separate the Believer from Christ Jesus. These things are possible because anyone who is in Christ Jesus is free from the "law of sin and death." Our failure to live by the standards God set left us guilty sinners. Our guilt left us separated from God and facing the punishment of eternal hell. Through Jesus salvation from this punishment is available. To say that one is a Believer is to say that he has taken advantage of the salvation offered him. In chapter nine Paul reviews how the Jews rejected the sacrifice of Christ and sought peace with God on the basis of observance of the Law. Even though they were the chosen people through which God would present the Messiah to the world, they rejected Him. This rejection prompted the spreading of the Good News to the Gentile world. In a sense the Jews' rejection of the Messiah became the salvation of the rest of the world. Paul concluded chapter nine by saying that "whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed." The "whosoever" includes anyone, both Jew and Gentile . To say that the one who believes in Christ will not be ashamed is to say that he will not be disappointed in his decision to follow Him. Notice the ending of chapter eight. The Believer will not, cannot be separated from Christ. Now notice how Paul ends chapter nine. The Believer will never be ashamed (confounded, disappointed) in deciding to follow Christ.