How Saved Are We? Understanding Salvation in Romans 8

Devotional

Day 1: Salvation: Past, Present, and Future

Salvation is not just a one-time event but a journey that includes being saved, being sanctified, and ultimately being glorified. God’s work in our lives began before we even knew it, continues as we are transformed into the image of Christ, and will be completed when we are fully redeemed in His presence. Just as Omar’s journey on the plane had stages—preparation, boarding, and finally arriving in first class—so too does our salvation have stages, each one a gift of God’s grace. We are justified by faith, sanctified through the Spirit’s ongoing work, and will one day be glorified with Christ. [41:57]

Romans 8:29-30 (NIV)
“For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.”

Reflection: Where do you see yourself in the journey of salvation—are you just beginning, in the process of transformation, or struggling to believe God will finish what He started? Ask God to show you how He is at work in your life today.

Day 2: No Condemnation in Christ

For those who are in Christ Jesus, there is no condemnation—freedom from guilt and shame is a present reality. The law of the Spirit of life has set us free from the law of sin and death, and we are no longer defined by our failures or our past. Instead, we are invited to live according to the Spirit, setting our minds on what the Spirit desires, and walking in the newness of life that Jesus has purchased for us. This freedom is not just a future hope but a present gift, empowering us to live boldly and confidently as God’s beloved children. [27:45]

Romans 8:1-4 (NIV)
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”

Reflection: Is there an area of your life where you still feel condemned or unworthy? How can you invite the Spirit to remind you today that you are free and fully accepted in Christ?

Day 3: God Works All Things for Good

God is at work in every circumstance—good, bad, or confusing—to bring about His purpose of conforming us to the image of His Son. Even the disruptions, discomforts, and sufferings we face are not wasted; they are used by God to move us closer to the fullness of life He has for us. Like Omar being moved from the back of the plane to first class, sometimes what feels like a setback is actually God’s way of bringing us into greater blessing and maturity. Trusting God’s goodness means believing that He is working for our good, even when we cannot see it. [47:40]

Romans 8:28-29 (NIV)
“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. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.”

Reflection: Think of a recent disruption or disappointment in your life. How might God be using it to move you toward something better or to shape you more into the likeness of Jesus?

Day 4: The Assurance of Being God’s Child

The Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children, and as His children, we are heirs—co-heirs with Christ—destined for glory. Yet, this identity also means sharing in Christ’s sufferings as we await the full redemption of our bodies. Our present struggles and groanings are not signs of God’s absence but reminders that we are on a journey toward a glorious inheritance. The Spirit’s presence assures us that we belong to God now, even as we wait for the fullness of our adoption and redemption. [51:10]

Romans 8:16-18, 22-23 (NIV)
“The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us… We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.”

Reflection: In what ways do you need the Spirit’s assurance today that you are truly God’s child and heir, even in the midst of suffering or waiting?

Day 5: Responding to God’s Invitation—Get on the Plane

Salvation is available to anyone who believes in their heart and confesses with their mouth that Jesus is Lord. It is not about having it all figured out or being perfect, but about trusting in what Jesus has done and responding to His invitation. Just as Omar had to accept the ticket and board the plane, each of us must personally receive the gift of salvation and declare our allegiance to Jesus. This is the starting point of eternal life—a life that begins now and continues forever in God’s presence. [55:12]

Romans 10:8-11 (NIV)
“But what does it say? ‘The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,’ that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, ‘Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.’”

Reflection: Have you personally responded to God’s invitation by trusting Jesus as Lord and Savior? If not, what is holding you back from getting on the plane today? If you have, how can you share this invitation with someone else this week?

Sermon Summary

Today, we gathered as a church family to intercede for Lisa Forsyth and her loved ones, lifting them up in prayer and blessing as Lisa faces a critical moment in her long battle with cancer. We turned our hearts and hands toward her, asking God to show His unmistakable love and power, and to bring peace, comfort, and wholeness to the Forsyth family. This moment of prayer reminded us that each of us comes with our own fears and brokenness, and that Jesus welcomes us as we are, inviting us to be transformed by His presence.

Reflecting on the life of George Mueller, I shared how his practice of writing down prayers and tracking God’s answers has deepened my own expectation in prayer. God is always at work, sometimes answering with a “yes,” sometimes a “no,” and often inviting us to participate in the answer. We are called to pray with expectation, attentive to how God is moving, and willing to act when He calls us to be part of the answer.

Turning to Romans 8, we explored the profound question: “How saved are we?” Using the story of Omar, a Bedouin who came to faith in Jesus and was rescued from persecution, I illustrated how salvation is not just a one-time event but a journey with many stages. Just as Omar was given a first-class ticket but didn’t realize the fullness of what had been provided for him, many of us settle for less than what God has purchased for us in Christ.

Scripture reveals that salvation is both a past event (justification), a present process (sanctification), and a future hope (glorification). We are saved, we are being saved, and we will be saved. God’s purpose is not only to get us “on the plane” but to move us into the fullness of life He intends—conforming us to the image of His Son. The disruptions and sufferings we face are not meaningless; God uses them to move us closer to the fullness of our inheritance in Christ.

Eternal life is not just a future reality but a present experience—a quality of life that begins now as we walk in intimate relationship with God. The invitation is for everyone: to believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord. For those already on the journey, the challenge is to embrace all that God has for you, allowing even life’s disruptions to move you into deeper transformation and joy.

Key Takeaways

1. Salvation is a journey, not just a moment Salvation is not limited to a single event in the past. It is a journey that includes being justified, sanctified, and ultimately glorified. God’s work in us is ongoing, and He desires to move us into the fullness of life He has prepared, not just to get us “on the plane” but to bring us into first-class living—experiencing His presence, power, and transformation daily. [41:57]
2. God uses disruptions for our good The setbacks, discomforts, and sufferings we encounter are not random or wasted. God orchestrates even the difficult moments to move us toward greater maturity and deeper dependence on Him. What feels like a setback may actually be God’s way of moving us into a better seat, a fuller experience of His grace and purpose. [47:40]
3. Eternal life begins now, not just in heaven Eternal life is not merely about a future in heaven; it is a present reality for those in Christ. We are invited to taste the life of the age to come—peace, intimacy with God, and victory over sin—right here and now. This quality of life is available as we walk in step with the Spirit and embrace all that Christ has purchased for us. [61:02]
4. Faith is both belief and confession To be “on the plane” of salvation, it is not enough to simply know about Jesus. We are called to trust in our hearts that Jesus is Lord and to confess this with our mouths. This act of faith is open to anyone, regardless of background or past, and it is the doorway into the fullness of God’s promises. [55:12]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - Praying for Lisa Forsyth
[03:10] - Inviting God’s Presence and Healing
[06:30] - The Power of Expectant Prayer
[10:15] - Learning from George Mueller
[14:30] - Announcements and Upcoming Teaching
[18:10] - Introduction to Romans 8
[21:07] - The Three Stages of Salvation
[24:26] - Omar’s Story: An Analogy of Salvation
[30:41] - The Journey from Justification to Glorification
[36:19] - God’s Purpose in Disruption
[41:57] - The Golden Chain of Salvation
[47:40] - Suffering and Sanctification
[51:10] - Present Suffering, Future Glory
[55:12] - How to Receive Salvation
[61:02] - Living Eternal Life Now
[63:18] - Responding to God’s Invitation
[67:19] - Ministry and Prayer Time

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Romans 8:1-2, 9-17, 22-30 (NIV) —
> Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death...
>
> You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.
>
> Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory...
>
> We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.
>
> 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. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

Observation Questions

According to Romans 8, what changes for a person who is “in Christ Jesus”? (see verses 1-2)
What does Paul say is the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer? (see verses 9-11)
In the sermon, what analogy did the pastor use to describe the journey of salvation, and what did the different seats on the plane represent? [[33:38]]
What does Paul say about suffering and its connection to our future glory? (see verses 17-18)

Interpretation Questions

The pastor said that salvation is not just a one-time event but a journey with stages—justification, sanctification, and glorification. How does this understanding affect the way someone might view their Christian life? [[41:57]]
The story of Omar showed that sometimes we settle for less than what God has provided. What are some reasons people might “sit in the back of the plane” spiritually, even when more is available to them? [[39:02]]
Romans 8:28 says God works in all things for the good of those who love him. How does the sermon explain the “good” that God is working toward in our lives, especially through disruptions or suffering? [[47:40]]
The pastor emphasized that eternal life is not just a future hope but a present reality. What does it mean to “live eternal life now” according to the sermon and Romans 8? [[01:01:02]]

Application Questions

The pastor shared about praying with expectation and tracking God’s answers. Have you ever tried writing down your prayers and God’s responses? If not, what might change if you started doing this? [[21:07]]
Think about a recent disruption or setback in your life. How might God be using that situation to move you closer to the “fullness” he has for you? [[47:40]]
The sermon challenged us not to settle for less than what God has purchased for us in Christ. Are there areas in your life where you feel you are “sitting in the back of the plane”? What would it look like to move forward? [[39:02]]
Eternal life is described as a quality of life that starts now. What is one way you can intentionally walk in deeper intimacy with God this week? [[01:01:02]]
The pastor said that faith is both belief and confession. Have you ever publicly confessed “Jesus is Lord”? If not, what holds you back? If yes, how does that confession shape your daily life? [[55:12]]
When you face suffering or discomfort, do you tend to see it as a setback or as something God might use for your growth? How can you remind yourself to look for God’s purpose in those moments? [[47:40]]
The invitation to salvation is open to “anyone.” Is there someone in your life who needs to hear that this invitation is for them? How could you share this message with them this week? [[55:12]]

Sermon Clips

We're someday going to be glorified we will be saved that doesn't mean that it's it's in doubt what it means is that as jesus tells the story of the the sheep and the goats the parable about sheep and goats and that the end of the days will be like a shepherd separating his sheep and goats well he doesn't make them sheep and goats in that moment at that moment they're already sheep and goats he separates them that day is going to come where the sheep are going to be separated those who have said yes to jesus and they're going to experience a transformation of their spirit their soul their mind their body the glorification there's a will be saved moment but there's also this moment right here where there's a being saved. [00:45:40] (60 seconds) #SavedAndGlorified

Salvation don't don't treat that word too in a limited way too limited because god's salvation is big and we know that in all things god works for the good back in romans 8 of those who love him who've been caught according to his purpose for those god foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his son that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters and those he predestined he also called and those he called he also justified those he justified he also glorified. [00:47:40] (42 seconds) #SpiritAndSalvation

You're an heir of god you're a co-heir with christ but never forget that christ suffered to be a child to be a part of god what god is doing suffering is part of the story i consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us the suffering that we experience in our sanctification season won't compare to the glory we receive in our glorification. [00:51:54] (39 seconds) #OnThePlane

My question for you is first of all are you on the plane just because you're here this morning doesn't mean you're on the plane you might be sitting in the terminal watching people on the plane and secondly where are you sitting on the plane are you allowing this disruptions that come with life to make you bitter or to make you malleable to move up to where god has fully purchased you to be. [00:53:42] (44 seconds) #SalvationForAnyone

Where are you on the plane are you on the plane god has given you another day he's given you another opportunity to hear the gospel do not let this go today get on the plane if you're not on the plane and if you're on the plane and you're facing some discomfort somebody is tapping on the shoulder and you don't understand what's going on and you're feeling like i just want to get to heaven what if you allow that disruption what if you look into it and see god okay use this to move me forward to move me towards all that you have purchased for me. [01:01:49] (51 seconds)

Did you notice that ending part of our reading in romans about god's love that he who gave us his son will he not give us all things and i don't want you to get to the end of this journey and as you're leaving the stewardess sees your ticket and go why did you sit back we had this spot for you. [01:02:40] (29 seconds)

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