If God is for us, who is against us? The answer is that no one or nothing can successfully stand against a true child of God, because the Lord has an invincible love toward him that nothing can stop.
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If God Is For Us, Who Is Against Us?
Romans 8:31-34
Last week we meditated on God’s Golden Chain of Salvation. God’s purpose of salvation has 5 links that are unbreakable. The 5 links in God’s golden chain of salvation are:
Foreknowledge: God from eternity has set His saving love upon these people
Predestination: Having foreloved them, God determined what their final destination would be – conformity to Christ’s image. They will be like Him! They will be glorified in body and soul.
Calling: Once God has determined their final destination, He must act to bring them to that destination, and so He called them. He brought them from spiritual death to spiritual life. He made them into new creations. He changed their heart. He apprehended them and made them His own.
Justification: Those God has called now are justified. Why? Because they have placed their faith in Jesus Christ. Their calling precedes and brings about their faith in Christ. Now they are counted righteous for Christ’s sake. Christ takes their guilt, and they receive His righteousness.
Glorification: Those that are justified are glorified. Which is another way of saying that all those that are justified go to heaven. They receive bodies incapable of pain or sickness or death, and they will never sin again.
Every person God has foreknown is also predestined, called, justified, and glorified. There are no dropouts along the way, and there are no additions along the way. This is God’s sweeping eternal purpose for His children. In eternity past, He foreknew them, meaning He chose them and set His love upon them. In eternity future they will be glorified with Him.
So, having laid out God’s purpose of salvation, Paul asks a question in verse 31, “What then shall we say to these things?” The plan God has devised for His children is so glorious, that we are left stunned and speechless! What could anyone say to these things? Initially, when we really comprehend what Paul is saying we are left with our mouths open wondering if this can possibly be true. It seems too good to be true.
But then Paul follows up his first question with 2 more: “If God is for us, who is against us?” is the first question. “Who will separate us from the love of Christ?” is the other. This morning we will meditate on his first question, and next Sunday, we will meditate on his second question.
If God is for us… What is Paul referring to? How is God for us?
Well, He is for us in that He is causing all things to work together for our good.
He is for us in that He has foreknown us. That is, He chose us and set His love upon us before the foundation of the world.
He is for us in that He has predestined us to become like Jesus Christ.
He is for us in that He has called us by His grace into His kingdom.
He is for us in that He has justified us so that we stand fully accepted before almighty God.
He is for us in that He is going to glorify our bodies and souls forever.
Think of it Christian – God is FOR you!!! That means He is NOT against you! He is on your side. If you and God were in a war, He would be in the trenches right next to you. At one time this was not the case. At one time God was against you. Why? Because you were His enemy. Romans 5:10 says, “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” Because of our sin, God was against us, but because of His eternal purpose of love toward us, He is for us.
Believer, can you think of anything worse than to have almighty God against you?! I would not want to have the Creator, who spoke the universe into existence with just a word, be against me. Christian, let these words ring in your ears – “God is FOR you!” God is for you. God is for you.
But, let’s ask Paul’s question: “If God is for us, who is against us?” What does Paul mean? Does he mean that if God is for you, no one will ever be against you? No, not at all. Verse 35 says that he will face tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, and sword. Surely all those things are against him! In verse 36 he says that Christians are being put to death all day long. In verse 38-39 he mentions, death, life, angels, principalities, things present, things to come, powers, height, depth, and any other created thing being the potential means to separate us from the love of God. Surely, those things are against us! So, what does Paul mean that no one is against us? I believe he means that no one can successfully stand against us. Sure, they can be against us. But they can’t stop God’s sovereign purposes of salvation for us. They can’t bring a charge against us. They can’t condemn us. And they can’t separate us from the love of Christ. They can’t successfully be against us.
Now, after asking the question, “If God is for us, who is against us?” Paul give three reasons why no one can successfully stand against a true child of God.
- God did not spare Christ; therefore He will give us everything else we need.
- God has justified us; therefore no one can remove our justification.
- Christ has born our condemnation; therefore no one can condemn us.
1. God did not spare Christ; therefore He will give us everything else we need – 8:32
Who did God not spare? His own Son! That is the remarkable thing in this verse. The Person who was not spared, but was delivered over for us. This Person was God’s only begotten Son. He was the Son of His love. In both Jesus’ baptism, and the transfiguration, God spoke audibly from heaven. In both instances He said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.” When God the Father speaks about His Son, He calls Him “My beloved.” In Colossians 1:13, Paul writes, “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son.” Are we getting the point? The Father loves the Son! In John 17:24 Jesus was in prayer to His Father and said, “For You loved Me before the foundation of the world.” I think all of us realize that there is a very special and very deep love between the Father and the Son.
The Son was the greatest Treasure that the Father possessed. Yes, He did not spare Christ. The Father knew the sufferings He was sending Jesus to endure. He understood the rejection, the shame, the degradation, the spitting, the beating, the mockery, the scourging, the nails pounded into His hands and feet, the spear into the side, the thirst, the agony, and the horrendous death. He could have spared His Son. But if He spared His Son, He could not spare us. And both the Father and the Son decided that they were willing to make the greatest sacrifice in order to redeem us and reconcile us.
What kind of an argument is this? Paul is proposing the greatest obstacle to our salvation. It appears insurmountable. It is the Mount Everest of obstacles blocking our redemption. In order to redeem us, God must do the unbelievable. He must not spare His Son. But if God can overcome that obstacle, then everything else is easy! Paul’s argument is from the greater to the lesser; from the hard to the easy. If God can be willing to deliver Christ over for us all, then of course He will give us everything else that we are going to need to arrive at our glorification. He already gave the most priceless treasure. Everything else is chicken’s feed. He already paid $10 million for the house. Of course He is going to pay a few thousand dollars to put furniture in it.
So, what is Paul thinking of by “all things” in verse 32? What else do we need to arrive at glory? We need grace to endure to the end. We need grace to continue to believe and repent. We need grace to pursue holiness, without which no man will see the Lord. We need His comfort when our hearts are broken. We need His peace when we are anxious. We need His joy when we are depressed. We need His fellowship when we are lonely. Now, if God didn’t spare Christ, is He going to hold back any of these small, lesser blessings? That doesn’t make any sense! Of course, He will give us all the things we need between now and our glorification. And the text says He will give them “freely”, that is graciously, without any strings attached. We are not expected to repay Him for them. They are free.
Who is this promise for? It is a lot like the promises of Romans 8:28. That promise is for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose. This promise is for “us”. “How will He not also with Him freely give US all things?” Earlier in the verse Paul says “delivered Him over for us all.” Who is the us all Paul has in mind? Well, they are referred to as “God’s elect” in verse 33 – “Who will bring a charge against God’s elect.” They are the same “us” that Paul had in mind in verse 31 – “If God is for US, who is against US?” It is the same group that was foreknown, predestined, called, justified, and will be glorified of Roans 8:29-30. This promise is not for the entire human race. It is for God’s elect – those He has chosen to be saved by Christ and to bring to glory.
2. God has justified us; therefore no one can remove our justification – 8:33
Both questions in verses 33 and 34 relate to one another, although we will treat them separately. They both relate to our justification. If someone is able to bring a charge against us and make it stick, then we are not justified. We are guilty. If someone can condemn us, then we are not justified, because condemnation is the opposite of justification.
Here’s the big question – if God has justified someone, can they ever be unjustified? Can the righteousness of Christ that has been put to their account ever be removed, so that they are condemned and are punished in hell?
The question is not whether anyone will ever try to bring a charge against God’s elect? Satan brings charges against us. He is the accuser of the brethren. Revelation 12:10 says, “the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night.” The word “devil” means “slanderer.” The devil would love to be able to successfully bring a charge against any of God’s people. Not only that, but your enemies may bring a charge against you. Many Christians have died as martyrs because of some charge that they brought against them. Furthermore, your own heart can bring a charge against you. Your conscience may smite you and condemn you for your actions. There are many who will seek to bring a charge against God’s elect. But can any of them bring a charge against one of God’s elect and make it stick? The obvious answer is “NO!”
Why can’t anyone make their charge stick against us? Because God is the one who justifies. This is a pretty simple answer. God is the supreme Judge in all the universe. God has already given a verdict – “Not Guilty!” Can anyone overturn His decision? There is no court of appeals higher than God. If God has rendered a ruling of not guilty, then no one can change it. Are they able to bring a charge against one of God’s elect that God did not know about? Of course not! So, if God knew about every one of their sins and failures when He justified them, no one can ever bring up some dirt against us that will change God’s mind. In order for a justified person to become unjustified, God would have to topple from His throne, and someone else would have to ascend to His throne. Impossible!
3. Christ has born our condemnation; therefore no one can condemn us – 8:34
Who is the one who condemns? Again, there are many that would like to condemn God’s people. Satan, our enemies, and even our own hearts. But in the final analysis, no one can condemn God’s people. Why? Christ Jesus is He who died, rose, ascended, and intercedes. That’s Paul’s answer.
Christ Jesus is He who died. Paul is referring to Christ bearing our sins on the cross. Galatians 3:10,13 “For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the Law, to perform them… Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us – for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.” Isaiah 53:5-6, “He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21, “He made Him who knew no sin, to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” Jesus has born the sin, guilt, shame, and condemnation of all who believe in Him. If Jesus has taken our condemnation, then no one can condemn us! “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).
Christ Jesus is He who was raised. How do we know that Christ really bore the condemnation of all who believe in Him? Do we have any proof? Is there any historical event which proves that our condemnation is gone? Yes – His resurrection! I believe that is what Paul meant in Romans 4:25 when he says that Christ “was raised because of our justification.” When Christ died, He purchased justification for His people. Therefore, there was no more reason for Him to stay dead. The penalty was paid, condemnation was born, sin was removed. Therefore, to prove all of that, God raised Him from the dead.
Christ Jesus is He who is at the right hand of God. Why is that important for us to know that no one can condemn us? Because the right hand of God is the place of power and honor. When Jesus was risen, He told His disciples that all authority in heaven and earth had been given to Him. He now rules as the sovereign king over the universe. He will use His massive power as King to protect His people from anything that would keep them from being glorified, including anyone that would condemn them. Jesus told the church of Laodicea in Revelation 3:21, “He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” Jesus sits at God’s right hand as our Representative. He overcame and sat down with His Father on His throne. And we will sit down with Him on His throne. He is seated there to make sure all of the blood-bought host arrive safely in heaven with Him on His throne!
Christ Jesus is He who intercedes for us. Not only did Christ die for us, rise for us, sit down at God’s right hand for us, but He also intercedes for us. He pleads the merits of His death for us. We have a sample of His intercession in John 17. There He prays that the Father will keep us, and sanctify us, so that we will behold His glory. If Christ is interceding for us to be kept, sanctified, and behold Him in glory, then can anyone successfully condemn us? Not a chance!
Conclusion
What was the design of the Holy Spirit when He inspired Romans 8:28-39? Why is it in our Bibles? What does God want this passage to do for us?
Well, first notice the emphasis on God’s love in this section. In Romans 8:29, Paul says that God foreknew His people. As we have discussed, that word means that He chose to set His love on them in a special way. Yes, God loves all His creatures. But He has a special, almighty, sovereign love for His people. Then in verse 32 Paul tells us that God demonstrated that love by not sparing His own Son, but delivering Him over for us. In verse 33, God shows His love by justifying the elect. In verse 34 Christ reveals this special love by dying, rising, ruling, and interceding for this same group of people. In verse 35 Paul asks, “Who will separate us from the love of Christ?” In verse 37 He says, “But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.” In verse 39 he answers the question of verse 35 and says that no created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:28-39 is about the deep, abiding, eternal, wonderful saving love of God for His elect. God wants you and I to know, and feel, and appreciate the all-conquering love of God for us in Christ. God wants you to know and feel His great love for you!
A second emphasis in this section of Romans is the absolute rock solid security of the believer. In Romans 8:30, Paul tells us that every person who is justified is glorified. Now, let me ask you a question, “Have you been justified?” Do you believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord, Savior, and Treasure? Romans 5:1 says, “Therefore, having been justified by faith…” If you are a true believer in Jesus Christ, you are justified, counted righteous for Christ’s sake. If that is true, you are going to be glorified, period! There are no iffs, ands, or buts about it. “And those whom He justified, He also glorified.” Why? Because God is for you. God did not spare Jesus, but delivered Him over for us all. Therefore, of course, He is going to freely give you everything else you need to reach glory. No one can successfully bring a charge against you, or condemn you. If that’s true, then you can never become unjustified. That’s why Paul says with absolute confidence his can’t be proven wrong, “Who will separate us from the love of Christ?” Then he lists off all kinds of terrible things that could happen to the Christian that might separate him from the love of Christ, and ends up by saying, “In all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.” And Paul winds up chapter 8 by giving an answer to his own question. He says, no created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Do you sense the absolute, rock solid security of the born again believer?!
What is Paul’s point here? He wants you and I and all Christians to have such a firm, deep, and unshakeable security in God’s everlasting, invincible love for us, that we can go through any suffering, knowing He is holding us by the hand, and working everything together for our good! Paul’s point is not to add eternal security to a Christian life devoted to earthly comfort. Rather, Paul wants to give you God’s promise of eternal security to free you from pursuing earthly comfort, and instead give your life away in the pursuit of God’s glory. When you know you are secure in Christ, you can face tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril or sword, and be more than a conqueror through Him who loved you.
Brothers and sisters, read, and re-read, and meditate on Romans 8:28-39 until you bask in the everlasting love of God. Think about this passage until your fears are squelched, and you are secure in His love, and are willing to embrace any earthly suffering because you know He loves you and will continue to love you into eternity, and there is nothing that can ever separate you from His love.
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