What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)
One of the greatest passages on the security of the believer is found here in Romans 8:31-39. Paul begins this passage with a challenge reminiscent of David’s challenge concerning Goliath: “who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (1 Samuel 17:26). Surely David would have responded with the words of Paul, “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (our verse).
In his counsel to Job, Eliphaz affirms, “Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward” (Job 5:7). Someone once said that even as Christians we are in one of three states of trials: we have either experienced trials, we are experiencing trials, or we will experience trials. We are not immune from trouble, but in the midst of those trials we are encouraged that “God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).
That “power,” “love” and “sound mind” are a result of the answer to Paul’s follow-up question: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” (Romans 8:35) If God did not spare His Own Son, but allowed Him to die on our behalf, will He then not freely provide or us in every way (Romans 8:32)? Even the “accuser of the brethren” (Revelation 12:10) is unable to bring a charge against us because it is God Who has declared us just (Romans 8:33).
We are encouraged then, that nothing can come between us and God’s love for us. Not tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, or the sword can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:35). 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 can separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39). “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us” (Romans 8:37). So, Christian, go forth fearlessly with confidence that the battle has already been won, and we are more than conquerors!
Ernie's Musings 