#106 | I Am Convinced | Romans 8:38 | The Great 8

What are you convinced of?

Whether you realize it or not, every single day you're believing something. Some people are convinced they'll never change. Others believe God is disappointed in them. Some are persuaded by fear, shame, or anxiety more than they are by the promises of God. But as Paul brings Romans 8 to its breathtaking conclusion, he makes one of the strongest declarations in all of Scripture: "I am persuaded." This isn't positive thinking or blind optimism. It's a settled conviction built on the finished work of Christ and the unchanging faithfulness of God. 

Paul's confidence didn't come from an easy life. It came from a faithful Savior. After reflecting on everything God has accomplished through the Gospel—no condemnation, adoption, future glory, God's sovereignty, Christ's intercession, and victory in Him—Paul reaches an unshakable conclusion: nothing can overturn what God has already secured.

In this episode, we unpack three reasons every believer can live with biblical assurance:

• The Gospel Produces Confidence — Our assurance isn't rooted in our performance but in Christ's finished work on the cross. 
• God's Faithfulness Never Changes — Feelings fluctuate and circumstances shift, but God's character remains forever trustworthy. 
• Conviction Defeats Fear — When your heart is anchored in God's promises, fear loses its power to control your life. 

Christianity isn't built on wishful thinking. It's built on a crucified Savior, an empty tomb, and a reigning King. Because Jesus accomplished our salvation, our confidence doesn't rise and fall with our emotions—it stands firm on His promises.

Ask Yourself

•  What am I more persuaded by—my fears or God's faithfulness? 
•  Am I interpreting God's character through my circumstances, or my circumstances through God's character? 
•  What voices have been shaping my confidence lately? 

Confidence isn't found by looking within yourself.

It's found by looking again at the cross.

Book Derek Griffon to Speak at your next event 

https://www.derekgriffon.com/invite

Transcript

Welcome \\ Daily Rebel Mission

SPEAKER_00 0:01

This podcast is for the ones who know they will rescue, but also know they will resent. Saved by grace, sent to live differently. We're not rebelling against God, we're rebelling against everything that keeps us free. Every day, we don't swing our opinions, we sharpen our lives on the word of God, the sword of the Spirit, guiding us, cutting through lives, and leading us one step at a time. We'll talk faith, identity, purpose, leadership, and what it really looks like to follow Jesus in a distracted world. Welcome to the Daily Rebel. Yo, what's good, Daily Rebels? Here we go.

Final Week of The Great 8

SPEAKER_00 0:36

We're on the final week of the Great Eight. And today we're talking about how Paul says, I am persuaded. So look at Romans chapter 8, verse 38. It says this He says, For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, and you know the rest of the text is that these things will not separate us from the Lord. So let me ask you this. What are you

What Are You Convinced Of?

SPEAKER_00 1:00

convinced of? Think about it. Every single day, you're believing something. Some people are convinced they'll never change. Some are convinced that God is disappointed in them. Some are convinced they'll always struggle. Some are convinced they're too far gone. Others are convinced the world is falling apart, right? But Paul says, I am persuaded. He's saying I've reached a conclusion. I've settled this in my heart. My circumstances no longer determine what I believe. Can you imagine living with that kind of confidence? Not fake confidence, not positive thinking. It's gospel confidence or grace-fueled optimism. You see, peace isn't found in knowing what tomorrow holds, it's found in knowing the one who holds tomorrow. Whoever wrote that cliche, it's still brilliant. And Paul's, this is Paul's

Paul's Final Crescendo in Romans 8

SPEAKER_00 1:44

final crescendo in these last couple verses. He's been building toward this for 37 verses, no condemnation, life in the spirit, adoption, future glory, God working all things together, and no accusation. Christ is interceding. We're more than conquerors. And now Paul looks back and says, I'm persuaded. The phrase I'm persuaded, it comes from this Greek word,

"I Am Persuaded" Explained (Pepeismai)

SPEAKER_00 2:04

uh, pepsemai. Um, it is, it is written in the perfect tense, a settled conviction established in the past that continues into the present. And Paul is saying, I'm feeling optimistic today. He's not saying that. He's saying I have grace-fueled optimism. There's a difference between him saying I have optimism and having

Grace-Fueled-Optimism

SPEAKER_00 2:23

grace-fueled optimism. He's saying, I've examined the gospel, I've seen what Christ has done, I've watched God prove himself, I have reached an unshakable conclusion. See, that's biblical assurance. It is built on evidence, it's not built on emotions. You see, biblical assurance is built on God's promises, not our emotions. So let

Point 1: The Gospel Produces Confidence

SPEAKER_00 2:43

me give y'all three points. Number one, the gospel produces confidence. See, Christ is the foundation of our assurance. Paul isn't confident because life has been easy. He's confident because Jesus has been faithful. Every hardship became another reminder that Christ had never abandoned him. And his confidence wasn't rooted in what he felt, it was rooted in what Jesus finished. Confidence isn't found by looking within. The culture says and society says, and sinners say, look within to find happiness and meaning. And the Bible never says to do that. It is found looking again

Confidence Comes From the Cross

SPEAKER_00 3:16

at the cross. So what has been shaping your confidence lately? Your circumstances, your emotions, or is it the gospel? So the gospel produces confidence.

Point 2: God's Faithfulness Never Changes

SPEAKER_00 3:26

Number two, God's faithfulness never changes. Your confidence rests on his character. You can be persuaded. Because Paul is not persuaded because he's strong, he's persuaded because God is strong. Feelings will always fluctuate. Circumstances are going to shift. People are going to be disappointed, and you're going to be disappointed as well. God's character, though, it never changes. Every promise Paul believes is anchored in the unchanging nature of God. And if God kept every promise at the cross, he'll keep every promise tomorrow as well. See, God's promises are only as strong as God's character, and his character has never failed. Your confidence is not built on even on your consistency, it's built on God's faithfulness. When life becomes uncertain to you, I want to tell you this. Don't question

Interpreting Life Through God's Character

SPEAKER_00 4:11

God's character because of your circumstances. Interpret your circumstances through God's character, which leads you to number three

Point 3: Conviction Defeats Fear

SPEAKER_00 4:18

is conviction defeats fear. You see, confidence silences anxiety. Fear thrives where conviction is very weak. But when you have a settled confidence in Jesus, it changes everything. Confidence, it doesn't eliminate storms, but it does give you an anchor in them. When fear whispers, listen, remember the cross. When shame returns, remember the empty tune. When anxiety rises, remember God's promises. When the enemy accuses, remember the gospel. Because even though feelings change, God's promises don't. Christianity is not built on wishful thinking, this I hope so mentality. It's built on a crucified Savior, an empty tomb, and a reigning king. Jesus didn't merely make salvation possible, he accomplished it. The cross is God's eternal declaration. I love you this much. And confidence grows when Christ becomes bigger than your circumstances. Ask yourself,

Ask Yourself: What Persuades You?

SPEAKER_00 5:12

what am I persuaded by? My fears or God's faithfulness? My feelings or God's promises. My failures or Christ's finished work. Whatever persuades you will eventually shape how you live. Paul didn't finish Romans 8 with uncertainty. He finished with conviction, y'all. I am persuaded. Say it out loud wherever you're right now, where you're in the gym, the car, the house, wherever you're at, just say it out loud. I am persuaded. Because Redeemed Rebels, we understand

Christ Bigger Than Your Circumstances

SPEAKER_00 5:42

this that biblical assurance isn't built on how tightly you hold on to Jesus. It is built on the unchanging truth that Jesus never lets go of you.

Be Persuaded

SPEAKER_00 5:50

So be persuaded, stand firm, and let the promises of God become louder than the fears of this world. Amen.

Outro

SPEAKER_00 5:58

Thank you for listening to today's episode. Before you go, if you want to help other people be equipped to be redeemed rebels, give us a follow and share it around with your friends. We'll see you next time.