1. God’s Predestination and Providence
Romans 8:28–30 is one of the most profound and important passages within Christian doctrine. When Pastor David Jang interprets this passage, he emphasizes that it is crucial to focus on the core message the Apostle Paul intended, rather than getting lost in complicated theological debates or philosophical interpretations. Indeed, this brief passage encompasses massive theological themes such as God’s “absolute sovereignty,” “providence,” and “foreknowledge and predestination.” Throughout history, these themes have led to fierce doctrinal disputes between Calvinism and Arminianism and sparked countless debates among theologians. Yet, Paul’s real intention in writing to the Roman believers was not academic contention. His purpose was to deliver God’s certain promise of salvation and protection to those who were enduring intense suffering in order to keep their faith. Standing at this point of orientation, Pastor David Jang repeatedly insists that we should first concentrate on the original message of Scripture, and then adopt theological discussions with that focus in mind.
We can start with Romans 8:28: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (NIV). This verse has comforted and been memorized by countless Christians. In life, we sometimes discover that what we thought was “good” turns out to be harmful, and conversely, what we believed to be evil or a failure turns out later to be a tremendous blessing. Because humans are limited and cannot know the future, we are constantly anxious and filled with doubt. Yet Paul declares firmly that “all things work together for good,” under the crucial premise of “those who love God.” This statement means that the Holy Spirit fills our every deficiency and weakness, and ultimately, within God’s grand design, everything converges into “good.” Pastor David Jang also proclaims, “Because God’s purpose and plan for calling and loving us is definite, even if we currently sense our limitations, become frustrated, or stumble, He will ultimately fulfill His good purpose.”
Here, the phrase “those who love God, who have been called according to his purpose” is extremely important. The church is a “community of those who have been called,” and its members are “people who love God.” We did not come to God because we were somehow worthy of being loved; rather, God Himself summoned us and opened our hearts, enabling us to love Him. And this calling operates through God’s absolutely sovereign “predestination” and “providence.” Regarding this, Pastor David Jang explains, “Predestination doesn’t mean our fate is already decided, but that God already knew and planned all of our lives and history, and He leads it so that it ultimately results in good—a confession of faith in His sovereignty.” Then he introduces the concepts of “foreknowledge and predestination”: “foreknowledge” means that God already knew us, and “predestination” means that He decided to call us.
Therefore, in Romans 8:29, Paul says, “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son.” In other words, the purpose of “predestination” is not merely to decide our salvation, but rather—Paul emphasizes—that we would be made to resemble the likeness of Jesus Christ. “To be conformed to the image of his Son” means that we would grow to mirror Jesus’s life and character: His holiness, love, obedience, mercy, and so on. Furthermore, the larger purpose is that Christ would be “the firstborn among many brothers and sisters,” and that these many siblings would share in His glory as part of the grand design of salvation. Hence, the ultimate reason for predestination is for God’s children to be raised up as holy and glorious beings, conformed to Jesus.
When we look at Romans 8:30, it continues: “And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.” This is commonly referred to as the “fivefold chain” in the process of salvation. Paul sets forth a salvation sequence of foreknowledge, predestination, calling, justification, and glorification. Grace first visited our hearts, calling us to Himself; because of that calling, we believed in Jesus and were justified; and ultimately we stand in the place of glorification—as God’s children in a glorious state. Pastor David Jang says this is truly “the essence of the gospel,” and it is the foundation that allows believers to remain unshakable and confident. Because salvation is not achieved by our own will or ability but purely by God’s grace, which prepared a path for us—and because He will continue to guide us—we have no need to despair or be afraid.
Paul’s own example demonstrates this. In the past, he was a severe persecutor. Following the zeal of the Pharisees, he imprisoned and even killed believers in Jesus, but after he met the Lord on the Damascus road, he was overturned and transformed into the most passionate evangelist. No one could have anticipated such a historical turnaround. Yet the Lord’s providence at work in him overturned all his former passion and knowledge and used them as tools of evangelism. God can use even what we consider “evil,” or our weaknesses and mistakes, to “work together for good.” Resting on this absolute sovereignty, Paul exclaims, “In all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” This certainty must also apply to our faith today. Pastor David Jang explains, “No matter how dire our circumstances might look, if God has foreknown and predestined us, calling us in love, He will piece together even the ‘fragmented parts’ of our lives like a mosaic, eventually creating a marvelous work.”
Ultimately, predestination means that God loved us even though He knew everything about us, and within His sovereignty He called us for His glorious purpose. Although Calvin’s “double predestination” has received much criticism and caused many misunderstandings, what Calvin intended was simply to emphasize “God as the absolute sovereign ruler of everything and how blessed and confident the ‘elect’ are under His grace.” From the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries onward, Deism or Natural Theology viewed God as a “Creator of the universe” who no longer intervenes but remains distant, leading many to struggle with the anxiety of “Does God really remain with me?” Yet that is precisely why Calvin declared that “not even a sparrow falls to the ground apart from the will of your Father,” showing God’s absolute sovereignty. Paul, similarly, is convinced: If God is “the Ruler of all creation” and “the One who governs even my breath,” then no suffering or failure we encounter in life can escape His providence. And the outcome of that providence is not to harm or destroy us but, rather, to sanctify us to resemble Jesus Christ and ultimately bring us to glory.
There is another crucial reason for the phrase “those who love God” used in Romans 8:28. We often want to boast about our own love, but from the Bible’s perspective, we did not love God first; rather, God first loved us. Because of His calling of love, we, who were sinners, responded and began to love Him in return. This is the spiritual mystery that takes place within “foreknowledge and predestination.” Even the most dreadful sinner, like Paul, could be converted and become the most fervent preacher due to this radical grace, which continues to operate today. There are still many who have not heard the gospel, and many who have heard it but remain unresponsive. Yet if you ask, “Why did I hear the gospel this way, and why do I believe in Jesus?” the answer is purely God’s prevenient grace. Pastor David Jang says, “Because God’s salvation is not due to our own merit or righteousness, but solely by grace and love, believers must live always with humility, gratitude, and confidence.”
“Foreknowledge and predestination” are not mere complex theological terms but an honest confession from those who have had a dramatic experience like Paul. The sense that “God knew me beforehand, determined me, and called me, so I stand where I am today” provides true peace to the saved. At times, while walking in faith, we may wonder, “Since I’m such a difficult and flawed person, will God continue to use me? Will He go on loving me?” At those moments, the assurance of “foreknowledge and predestination” relieves our anxieties, reminding us deep in our hearts, “God already knew me and still chose me,” and giving us steadfast comfort.
Pastor David Jang connects this assurance to “the perseverance of the saints.” We believe that once God has taken hold of a saint, He will never forsake them but will take responsibility for them to the end, ultimately glorifying them. In Romans 8:30, when Paul writes, “those he justified, he also glorified,” he uses the past tense—“glorified.” This indicates that God’s salvation is absolutely guaranteed from beginning to end, and there is no turning back or abandonment along the way. From the human perspective, we may stumble, sometimes sin, regret, or despair, and walk down the “wrong path,” but we cannot break away from God’s sovereign hand. In that sense, Paul declares, “If we believe in God’s predestination and providence, there is no reason to be imprisoned by our own fears or hopelessness.”
Therefore, in verse 31 Paul asks, “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” Given the earlier mention of the sequence of salvation—God’s foreknowledge, predestination, calling, justification, and glorification—no one can overturn or nullify that plan. Our salvation is not something a person can declare or revoke; it is entirely in God’s hands. Through a rhetorical question—“What more can we say?”—Paul emphasizes, “Who would dare to refute or destroy this magnificent salvation?”
“If God is for us, who can be against us?” stands as one of the strongest assertions for believers. Pastor David Jang underlines that this is a simple and clear confession of faith: “If God, who possesses all authority in heaven and on earth, works on my behalf and stands on my side, nothing in this world can treat me carelessly.” This aligns with the faith David professes in Psalm 27:1, “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?” Likewise, Psalm 62:1, “Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him,” follows the same thread. Faithful men and women have consistently placed their sole trust in God with this “absolute assurance of protection and guidance.”
Romans 8:32 goes a step further: “He 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?” God’s love is foreshadowed in Genesis 22, when Abraham offers up Isaac, and it is fulfilled in the cross of Jesus Christ. While Abraham’s act of not withholding his only son Isaac is the most dramatic symbol of faith and obedience, it merely foreshadows Christ. God truly “did not spare his own Son” but gave Him over so that we, sinners, could be forgiven of our sins and granted salvation. Having purchased us at the price of His own Son’s blood, God can certainly also give us all else we need. That is Paul’s argument.
Hence verse 33 reads, “Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.” No entity has the right to accuse or condemn believers. Ultimately, only the one who has authority to pronounce judgment can accuse, and it is God Himself who has pronounced our salvation and justification. Therefore, human accusations or judgments bear no ultimate effect. We recall John 8, where a woman caught in adultery trembles at the stones ready to be thrown by the crowd. Jesus says, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her,” and everyone drops their stones and leaves. Although Jesus had the authority to judge sin, He proclaimed, “Neither do I condemn you.” So if the One who has every right to condemn sinners bestows such grace and mercy, who dares to destroy a sinner? This concept resonates with the message of Romans 8.
Verse 34 continues this same idea: “Who then is the one who condemns? No one. 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.” Jesus resurrected and ascended to heaven, sitting at the right hand of God’s throne as the Lord who will judge both the living and the dead. But if this same Christ, who is the Judge, advocates and intercedes for us, what do believers have to fear? The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness, interceding for us, and Jesus Himself is ceaselessly fulfilling His role as mediator and high priest at the heavenly throne. So whenever we collapse under sin and then repent and return, the blood of Christ is more than sufficient to cover us.
Paul’s main point is the “absolute assurance” granted to those who are saved. In verse 35, he asks, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” listing the many afflictions we might face in this world: trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, or sword. The word “trouble” (thlipsis) suggests a severe pressure that squeezes a person, akin to threshing grain on a threshing floor, separating wheat from chaff. “Hardship” (stenochōria) refers to that suffocating feeling of inner distress, “persecution” to hostile attacks from without, “famine” and “nakedness” to hunger and lack of basic necessities, and “danger” and “sword” to threats of real execution or death. The believers in Rome actually experienced all of these, and Paul himself had suffered greatly, making this message very real. Yet they did not fear these circumstances. Their salvation was not uncertain; it was grounded in the absolute love of Christ.
Pastor David Jang repeatedly emphasizes, “No matter how intense the suffering, it does not diminish or distort God’s love.” On the contrary, Scripture quotes Psalm 44:22: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered,” and still, in verse 37, announces this reversal: “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” Christians proclaim not that they “barely survive,” but that they “overwhelmingly conquer.” Their ultimate victory is assured in any situation. Because Jesus already overcame sin and death through the cross and the resurrection, opening the door to heaven, those who are in Christ also share in that victory. Pastor David Jang calls this “the core of crucifixion-resurrection faith.” Even when the world troubles us, we do not fear because the Lord has already overcome the world and granted us the way of eternal life.
2. The Unbreakable Faith in Christ’s Love
In Romans 8:38–39, Paul reaches the pinnacle of his confession of faith: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 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.” This is one of the most cherished passages among believers. Paul names everything that people might fear or rely on—death, life, angels, powers, the present, the future, any form of authority or supernatural power—and concludes that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. Pastor David Jang comments here, “The highest rest and peace the saved enjoy is born out of this assurance of ‘a love that cannot be severed.’”
The contrast between “death and life” covers all possibilities and extremes that humankind experiences. Even the most dreaded and the most wonderful things alike cannot invalidate God’s salvation and love. “Neither angels nor demons” points to spiritual and secular realms of authority. We can recall Ephesians 6:12—“rulers, authorities, and the powers of this dark world.” Even if Satan’s forces are powerful and earthly powers are formidable, none can snatch away God’s love in Christ from believers.
“Neither the present nor the future” includes everything that can happen to us over the course of time. Current afflictions, or future crises and shifts, cannot shake the salvation and love we have received. “Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation” extends to every unknown or mysterious domain human beings might fear. In the ancient world, people firmly believed that the stars and cosmic order influenced human destiny. But Paul states that no matter how vast the universe or how inscrutable its powers, they cannot separate believers from God’s love.
At this point, Pastor David Jang underscores, “The essence of faith is to trust firmly in God’s unchanging love, standing upon it.” Christians may yearn for God and grieve over their sin, but all of that happens within “the unwavering love God already shows us.” Our emotions or external conditions may fluctuate, but God’s love never wavers or vanishes. The problem is that we forget this and slip into fear and doubt momentarily. Thus Paul boldly says, “For I am convinced.” Those who stand in faith speak the language of conviction. This certainty is not grounded in our feelings or moods but in the sovereignty of God, who has already taken responsibility for our salvation.
This message from Romans 8 applies not only to the Roman church of Paul’s time but to all Christians throughout the ages. The path of the saved may be lined with trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, and sword—yet we still “overwhelmingly conquer.” Why? Because Jesus already walked this path, overcame death by rising again, revealed His love, and continues to intercede as our great High Priest. Even when we go through the valley of the shadow of death, as David mentions in Psalm 23, God’s rod and staff comfort us, eventually leading us to green pastures and quiet waters. Now, for those filled with the gospel in the New Testament era, David’s confession has grown even more certain. Paul thus concludes: “Neither death nor life nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus.”
Pastor David Jang, drawing from Paul’s proclamation, stresses two central attitudes every believer should adopt. First, never forget that “no one can separate us from this love.” Second, strive to resemble Jesus in response to the calling of this love. We often doubt, “Can God still love a sinner like me?” But the entire message of Romans 8 affirms that “God has already called us, justified us, and intends to glorify us.” The proof is that He did not hold back His own Son but gave Him up for us, and He sends His Holy Spirit to intercede within us. Therefore, the real power that dispels our discouragement and fear is faith in this “unshakable love and salvation.”
On the other hand, we should not misuse this salvation and love by thinking, “I’m already saved, so I can live as I please.” In verse 29, Paul clearly states that God “predestined” us to be conformed to His Son’s image, and in verse 30, “those He called, He justified; those He justified, He also glorified.” Hence, God is leading us through the ongoing process of sanctification. Seeking the help of the Holy Spirit in our daily lives, staying away from sin, obeying the Word, and endeavoring to imitate Jesus—these are not the grounds of salvation but the necessary fruit borne by those who are saved. Even if we stumble along the way, there is no ultimate failure or rejection. This is “the perseverance of the saints,” the solid doctrine Paul concludes with in Romans 8. Pastor David Jang teaches that we find true freedom and boldness when we cling to the promise of perseverance.
Believers must trust that the Lord who called us makes no mistakes and does not waver. Even among the twelve disciples Jesus called, there was Peter, who was full of mistakes, and Thomas, who doubted, as well as Judas Iscariot, who ultimately betrayed Him. Yet Jesus embraced each one, teaching them to the end. Indeed, Judas Iscariot chose final betrayal, but Jesus restored the likes of Peter and Thomas, who were weak. “God’s unrelenting love that leads us to glory”—this is the grace Paul personally experienced, and it is the gospel message he recorded and passed on. It is also the key point we must discover and reaffirm in Romans 8 today.
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” That one question decisively counters the countless obstacles that try to shake our faith and plunge us into despair. Romans teaches that our salvation is not solely based on a “momentary choice,” but rather is part of God’s eternal plan and love that spans from the past to the future. From the moment we are called into the church, through our repentance and baptism, in the weekly reception of the Word and Communion, and even in seasons of uncertainty, conflict, tears, and sorrow, God constantly says, “I’ve called you, justified you, and will glorify you.” If we “believe” this promise, then even if our present life is unbearably difficult, our spiritual eyes will be opened to behold the glory ahead.
Pastor David Jang repeatedly reminds us that “this unshakable love is truly the ultimate source of life for believers and the power to overwhelmingly conquer the world.” At the conclusion of Romans 8, Paul, in another sense, shows how extraordinary and honored we really are—not because of any greatness of our own, but because we dwell in such a “great love.” This love is demonstrated by the Lord of all creation through His Son, and He will uphold it until He comes again. Therefore, no matter what tribulations or dangers may come, no matter what trials or failures we face, our identity remains “those who cannot be separated from the love of God in Christ Jesus.” What message could be more certain or glorious?
In his conclusion, Pastor David Jang says we can pray every day, “God, let me walk in Your unchanging love again today.” If affliction presses in or we collapse inside, we still recognize, “God knows me and upholds me.” Sometimes we experience this reaffirmation of love in worship, Scripture meditation, or prayer. Sometimes it occurs in Communion, as we receive the bread and cup symbolizing Jesus’s body and blood and realize anew, “The Lord truly gave everything to save me.” When our faith reawakens and our hearts open, we begin to taste the joy of a “victorious life.”
Romans 8:28–39 may be called a narrative of God’s irresistible love and salvation for the believer. The Apostle Paul begins with the mystery of “foreknowledge and predestination,” moves beyond the “overcoming of suffering,” and culminates in “the love of God in Christ Jesus, from which nothing can separate us,” thus weaving a grand story of salvation. Pastor David Jang’s core message in his exposition of this passage is: “No matter how immense our current problems, worries, guilt, or fear may seem, God’s love and grace always surpass them.” Because the subject of salvation is God, His “absolute grace” transcends our limitations and upholds us.
While it is very important for a person to recognize their own sin and powerlessness, if that leads only to spiritual self-condemnation and silence, then the power of the gospel cannot shine. Paul’s key statements—“If God is for us, who can be against us?”; “Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen?”; “Who then is the one who condemns?”; “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?”—all demonstrate that the path of victory is already open to us. Clinging to this assurance, believers can rise above their failures, resist the world’s temptations, and live in a way that grows more like Jesus. Through that process, we discover the reality: “Truly nothing can snatch me from the Lord’s hand. My entire being is by God’s grace.” This revelation is the ultimate freedom and peace that Romans 8 bestows.
In the latter portion of Romans 8, Paul provides believers with both eschatological certainty and present boldness. Our salvation was planned in the past (foreknowledge and predestination), is realized in the present (calling and justification), and will be fulfilled in the future (glorification). Throughout, the clearest manifestation is “the love of God.” This love was wholly revealed at the cross, historically confirmed through Christ’s resurrection and ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit, and will be fully consummated in the eternal kingdom. Our remaining task is “to believe firmly in this love and to obey whatever it requires as we conform to Christ’s image.”
Pastor David Jang calls our attention to this point: “When doctrinal certainty is embodied in everyday life, genuine faith emerges.” Even if we study Romans 8 in depth, we can still be easily swayed by fear and worry in daily life. This is why we must revisit the promise: “In all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” This statement should become the steadfast cornerstone that sustains our real-life experience. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” should be the truth we confront each time we waver. Continually asking this question amounts to repeatedly confessing the faith that “no one and nothing can divide me from God’s love.”
The powerful message of Romans 8:28–39 shines as brightly for us today as it did for persecuted believers in Paul’s day. Even if life seems uncertain and we experience setbacks or fall into spiritual slumber or guilt, we cannot be moved from the reality that we belong to the “foreknown, predestined, called, justified, and glorified” story of God’s salvation. And the conclusive proof is “God did not spare His own Son.” He bought us at the highest price imaginable, so it follows that He will indeed complete the salvation He began. Paul’s confidence as he cries out, “Who can be against us?” and “Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen?” ignites passion in our hearts today. Yet these aren’t just emotional appeals; they are grounded in solid theological and historical foundations.
Pastor David Jang consistently concludes his sermons on this passage by saying: “God guarantees us two things: His ‘unchanging love’ and His ‘faithful completion of our salvation.’” When we are weary and broken and ask, “Should I just give up now?” opening Romans 8 brings God’s tangible comfort and encouragement. Hearing the repeated questions—“Who condemns?” “Who stands against?” “Who separates?”—we realize anew that Jesus Christ is far greater than any accuser, that our omnipotent God surpasses any enemy, and that the Holy Spirit’s love is far superior to any force trying to sever us. This is the gospel, and in its power we can stand up once again today.
As Paul said, “For I am convinced,” we too arrive at the place where we affirm, “Truly nothing can separate me from the love of the Lord.” This conviction fosters true peace and courage. With it, though we may fall in spiritual battles, we can rise again; we can overcome temptation; we can press on in hope during suffering. And this is made possible by God’s unchanging will toward us and the fact that He has called us to become like Christ. The grand message of Romans 8 remains a living word that renews us in this present age. Pastor David Jang terms it “the drama of salvation propelled by God’s absolute love,” urging believers to live out the gospel fearlessly under that love.
Our salvation is already guaranteed, yet this doctrine does not lead us to complacency. Instead, it empowers us to trust God absolutely and commit ourselves to obedience. In Romans 8, Paul details how “foreknowledge, predestination, calling, justification, and glorification” are all accomplished by God’s grace, and that “the perseverance of the saints” assures that even if we stumble, God will ultimately guide us to the final goal—being glorified in Christ’s image. Consequently, our part today is to remain in faith, confessing, “Lord, since You have called me, I believe that You alone possess the power and grace to perfect me,” while diligently endeavoring to grow more and more like Jesus in response to “Your calling of love.”
Thus, the exposition of Romans 8:28–39 brings us immeasurable hope. Embracing the truth in this passage, we inherit Paul’s faith that declares “we are more than conquerors” amid even the harshest circumstances. The church must stand firm as a community, even if it is ridiculed and buffeted by the world. Individual believers may be weighed down by trivial troubles or severe trials, yet the question remains, “If God is for us, who can be against us?”—a question that never fades. Human history is the stage God directs. On this stage, our sustenance is Christ’s cross and resurrection power, ensuring that no sword or persecution can halt God’s salvation for us.
Romans 8 ends with a final shout of “love.” Every theological exploration or doctrinal debate should ultimately arrive here, for without holding fast to this love, Christian faith is empty. While disputes may arise concerning whether salvation can be gained or lost, Paul transcends such controversies by declaring, “I am convinced,” and invites us to “experience this love in daily life.” Indeed, those gripped by the love of Christ—like Paul and the early church martyrs—maintained joy and praise even amid horrific conditions. They all testified, “Life or death is nothing compared to Christ’s love.” We too can exhibit “fearless courage” amid the world’s many pressures if we abide in this same love.
Pastor David Jang’s final teaching is that “the gospel is God’s definitive answer to life’s philosophical questions, and it is the pinnacle of His love.” He urges us to establish our faith on the majestic proclamation of Romans 8:28–39: “Even if the world quakes and the church seems feeble, in the end, the Lord’s love will keep us, and He will transform us into the image of Jesus.” This truth is at once astounding and moving, and it carries with it a calling to responsibility. As recipients of such love, we must answer the perennial question: “Who shall separate us?” The firm reply, like Paul’s, remains: “Nothing in all creation can separate us from God’s love.” May we inscribe this truth in the depths of our hearts and trust in this love at every moment. Then, indeed, we shall experience and taste the power of the gospel that Romans 8 so resoundingly proclaims.