Introduction
In Romans 8:31-39 the apostle Paul asks six questions that he expects true believers in Christ to answer correctly. Each questions is designed to bring forth answers full of faith and assurance from the believer’s heart.
Question 1
“What shall we then say to these things?” (:31).
What things is Paul speaking of? Undoubtedly he is referring to all he has previously written in this letter, but probably more precisely with regards to his exposition on what salvation means. He is asking his readers to think through what God has done to bring them redemption through the blood of Christ. A modern translation of this question might be, “How does all this grab you?”
What is our response to the Good News in this chapter? Does it thrill our hearts or do we just take it as matter of fact? Surely we are overjoyed to learn that “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (:1), “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” (:14), and “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren” (:29). Maybe Paul is also asking, “Can you wish for anything better?” Our answer must be, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3).
Question 2
“If God be for us, who can be against us?” (:31).
God is all-powerful and mighty, and He has
promised to be with us through all of life’s trials and tribulations. “Fear
not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.
When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the
rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou
shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee” (Isaiah
43:1-2) and “I will never leave thee,
nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5). So who can be against us with Christ
with us? “In God have I put my trust: I
will not be afraid what man can do unto me” (Psalm 56:11). The “who”
must include Satan and his demonic forces also. “Upon
this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail
against it” (Matthew 16:18). The amazing thing is that we as the children
of God can call Him Father. “For ye
have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the
Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth
witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God” (:15-16). So our
answer must be “Nobody.”
Question 3
“He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32).
God gave us the very best He had when He sent “His Only Begotten Son into the world” (John 3:16). If He has given us the greatest blessing can He not also give us the lesser also? All of our needs are met by the Lord, “My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). Even when we cannot voice the burden on our hearts we are promised that the Holy Spirit will intercede for us. “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God” (:26-27). With David we can sing, “My cup runneth over” (Psalm 23:5).
Question 4
“Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth” (:33).
Satan is the “accuser of [the] brethren” (Revelation 12:10), and seeks to destroy us with every means at his disposal. He will present lies as facts to deceive believers away from Christ. “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy” (John 10:10). If we have repented of sin and committed our lives to the Lord then we are saved. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13). We have been justified by faith, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). So no matter who tries to lay anything on us we can assure our hearts that we are “accepted in the beloved” (Ephesians 1:6).
Question 5
“Who is he that condemneth?” (:34).
The opening words of Romans 8 clearly state, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1), so we do not have to listen to words of condemnation that seek to destroy our faith. If we are truly saved then condemnation is no longer upon us. “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:17). It is as though Jesus says to us, “Where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?”, to which we can reply, “No man, Lord”, and hear Him comfort us with the words, “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more” (John 8:10-11).
Question 6
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” (:35).
Within this question he asks, “shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” Once again the “who” is every being in the spiritual and natural world. Jesus said, “I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand” (John 8:28-29). It seems that Satan wins a major victory in many lives at this point, for he has often convinced Christians that the Lord does not love them. We must believe the word of God when it states that He does love us. If He loved us at the first, then He will love us to the end. “He first loved us” (1 John 4:19) … “He loved them unto the end” (John 13:1). Even if this evil world were to take away our lives, we can still have the assurance that it cannot separate us from the love of God. “As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter” … “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (:36, 18).
Conclusion
Paul’s questions demand an answer from us. Faith will confirm that God is in control, and along with the apostle we will say, “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (:37-39). In fact “we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (:28). Though our faith will often be tried and tested, we can have unbroken assurance and victory in our lives. “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:4).
© 19/5/2010