What the World Needs Most

Audio Transcript

What the world needs from the church is our indomitable joy in suffering and sorrow. It’s not an accident that the greatest chapter in the Bible, I think, Romans 8 — the Great Eight — ends with Paul doing everything in his truth-laden power to help our joy be indomitable in suffering. Romans 8:31–39:

What 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, will he not with him freely give us all things? Who should bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus who died, who was raised, who is at the right hand of the Father, indeed who is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, we are killed all day long. No! In, all these things we are more than conquerors.

In! In! Not after all those things. Not under, around, instead of all those things. In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Paul continues:

For I am sure, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any thing else in all creation can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

So, church, let the world see your indomitable joy in Jesus in sorrow and suffering.


Read, watch, or listen to the full message: