Easter is a day on which we highlight in a special way the victorious resurrection of Jesus. In 1 Corinthians 15, the Apostle Paul tells us how Christians, formerly held captive by the reign of sin in death, now reign in righteousness and look forward to eternal life through Jesus Christ their Lord.

John Stott comments on this section of scripture: "This is the love of God which was supremely displayed in the cross (5:8; 8:32, 37), which has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit (5:5), which has drawn out from us our responsive love (8:28) and which in its essential steadfastness will never let us go, since it is committed to bringing us safe home to glory in the end (8:35, 39). Our confidence is not in our love for him, which is frail, fickle and faltering, but in his love for us, which is steadfast, faithful and persevering."

In these verses, Paul continues to ask rhetorical questions to reiterate the power of God's love against all that oppose his children. Who shall bring a charge? Who can condemn? All accusers —Satan, circumstances, sins—fade alongside the risen Christ who intercedes for us at God’s right hand.

These 2 verses are filled with rhetorical questions meant to instill courage, hope, and freedom in the hearts of believers: 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? To all who are weary, burdened, anxious, overwhelmed, and discouraged - come and hear.

In this passage, we see the complete, unbreakable path of God’s saving acts so that believers are assured of their eternal security, and consequently can “be conformed” to the image of God’s Son. Our God is sovereign and our salvation is utterly secure: God works all things for our ultimate good - and those whom God has foreknown before the dawn of time will one day be glorified.

This passage encourages the Christian with a remarkable truth: in our weakness, when we do not know what to pray, the Spirit himself intercedes for us in and through our unspeakable groans. And when the Spirit intercedes, God always answers in the affirmative, since the Spirit always prays in accord with God’s will.

In this passage, Paul gives us an essential perspective on suffering and the Christian Life. There is a coming glory that is beyond anything that we can imagine; A glory so incredible that one day all of our pain, suffering, and struggle will suddenly make sense. The message of Romans 8:18-25 is this: Christian, you will suffer, but incomparable glory is coming, so endure today with hope-filled patience.

In verses 14-17 of Romans 8, Paul continues to unfold the many blessings of the gospel. For those in the Spirit, God is not a stern judge but a gracious helper as he adopts us. There is an inward sense of sonship. There is the promise of present and future inheritance. The path of the cross is the only path to the glory awaiting “fellow heirs with Christ.” The gospel means strength for trials, not escape from them.

We have seen in Romans 8 the identity of the Christian as one who is in the Spirit. In verses 12-13 Paul begins to show us the activity of the Christian: Because we are no longer captive to the flesh, we should not live according to the flesh. God and Christians each have a role in sanctification: fighting our sin must be by the Spirit and his power, but Christians must also take an active role in battling sinful habits.

What does it mean to live life in and through the Spirit? In this life our bodies are mortal and sin is present. But God’s righteousness through the gospel means that the Spirit brings life. The Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead transforms believers’ everyday lives as he dwells among God’s people. In this passage, Paul teaches that the very resurrection life of Christ dwells in those who have been united to the resurrected Christ.