Having listed all the foundational
things that God has done towards our salvation, the election, predestination,
justification and the assured glorification, Paul goes on to ask his readers
four pertinent questions about their faith, in Romans 8:31-39. That is what we
will meditate on today.
Paul is wondering what is going to be
our response to all these wonderful things that God has done to save us from
eternal hell. He asks his first question, “If God is for us, who can be against
us?” Whatever might be the circumstances, God’s redeeming love and grace will
always envelop us, His children.
Yes, as the Psalmist asks, “If the
Lord is with me, I will not be afraid; what can man do to me?” Psalm 118:6.
In Hebrews 13:8, the writer quotes the said Psalm to say, “The Lord is
my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” Yes, what can man
really do to us? Nothing, nothing at all.
Paul further explains, God did not
spare His Own Son, but ‘gave him up’ for us all. He gave us the best He could
ever spare, the life of His Own Son. He gave Christ in exchange for our sins,
so that He could declare us ‘not guilty.’ He punished Jesus, who was sinless,
so that in Him we could become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21.
That is the depth of God’s love. In
such a case, will He not give us graciously all things, along with His Son?
Yes, definitely He will, as long as we ask things in alignment of His will and
for the expansion of His Kingdom on earth.
The next question Paul asks is “Who
will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen?” For it is God who
justifies us. When it is God himself who has justified us and pronounced us as
‘not-guilty,’ thus acquitting us, then who else can bring charge against us? No
one can. Jesus Christ has taken our punishment on the cross; we have exchanged
our sins for His righteousness. We are justified in the eyes of God, because of
this.
The third question of Paul is, “Who
is he that condemns?” Who can really condemn us, because it was Christ who died
for us, and more than that, he was raised to life by the power of God and He
lives. That Christ, who is living, is at the right hand of God and is
constantly interceding for us.
It is only Satan who condemns us, for
he is our ‘accuser;' he accused about Job to God. Job 1:9-11; 2:4;
he is called ‘the accuser of our brothers,’ accusing them day and night before
God. Revelation 12:10; Satan was accusing the High Priest Joshua, a man with
zeal for God. Zechariah 3:1-2. Thus, if at all anyone is accusing us,
it is Satan and his minions.
But then, his accusations against
God’s children are of no avail, because the Lord knows His Own from the time of
laying down the foundations of this earth. And the living Jesus Christ is
mediating for us day and night, being at the right hand of God. Hebrew 7:25
says, “he always lives to intercede for them (those who come to God through
Christ).
Christ entered heaven itself “now to
appear for us in God’s presence.” Hebrew 9:24. He is our great High
Priest, representing us before God, seeking forgiveness for our lapses, and
extending the assurance of God’s forgiveness to us. Hebrew 4:14, 15. He
was tempted like each of us, but remained without sin; however, He can
understand our weakness and sympathises with it. Hebrew 2:24. He is the
One who speaks to the Father in defence of us. 1 John 2:1.
When we have an Advocate before God,
pleading the case for us, what are we afraid of? Think of this way, if Christ
alone is our Judge, for the Father has given Him the power to judge, as said in
John 5:22, then what is our problem? For the very Judge has become our
Advocate![1]
A peculiar situation but a privileged situation at that!
Paul’s last question is “who can
separate us from the love of Christ? Can anyone or anything ever separate us
from such a love like this? No! No trouble or hardship or persecution or famine
or nakedness or danger or sword could ever separate us from God’s love. That is
Paul’s argument here.
Paul knew that the infant churches in
the Roman Empire in the first century were going to face terrible persecution
in a few years’ time. He is preparing the church to face such trials in the
strength of God. No matter what happens, God’s profound love is always
available for us. This is the most comforting verse in all Scripture. This
applies very much to us too.
Suffering must not drive us away from
God. We tend to think God has abandoned us. We are tempted to ask and complain,
and grumble, ‘why me, God?’ ‘why is God punishing me in this manner?’ and ‘Why
has God cursed me?’ God does not target you or is punishing you or cursing you.
He has no pleasure in doing these.
Suffering has become a way of our
life, ever since Adam and Eve succumbed to the honey words of Satan and obeyed
him rather than God. When we become ensnared by our own desires we fall into
sin and face the repercussions. Why blame God?
God in His mercy sent His Son to save
us from this mess we have made of our lives. God never abandons us, especially
when we trust Him and believe in His Son. His love is unconquerable. It is an
amazing love that is inseparable from us. He will never leave us nor forsake
us. Hebrews 13:5; Deuteronomy 31:6; Joshua 1:5. We get all
the security that we need from such a love.
God uses these troubles and
tribulations to shape us in the image of Christ. That is part of God’s design
to change us and transform us. He makes us into God’s craftsmanship. Ephesian
2:10. He makes use of all such troubles to bring something beautiful out of
our life, as said in Romans 8:28. But God never gives these sufferings.
He is definitely not a kill-joy. When we suffer, He suffers along with us. He
is broken for us.
Paul’s quotes Psalm 44:22 here
to say, even if we face death all day long and considered as sheep to be
slaughtered, yet we are not to worry, because “in all these we are more than
conquerors through Him who loved us.” No suffering can separate us from the
love of God. We are conquerors along with Christ, who won a victory over unseen
evil forces and authorities, nailing them to the cross. Colossians 2:14-15.
Yes, we are conquerors. We can do all
things in Christ who strengthens us. Philippians 4:13. Christ can guard us
from falling on the wayside. 2 Timothy 1:12. “God has given us victory through
our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:57.
Neither death nor life, angels nor demons,
the present nor the future, nor any power, height nor depth, nor anything else in
all creation, could separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our
Lord, finishes Paul with full certainty. That is the certainty of our salvation.
Of course, we are conquerors, only if
we abide in Christ and give the charge of our entire lives to the Holy Spirit to
direct and lead us. That will be our response to God’s love. On our own strength
if we stand, we will be a zero, but with Christ we can be a hero. That is the wonder
of Christ’s love. Amen.
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