"31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us." ~ Romans 8:31-34
Today, we return to our study of Romans 8 which has as its main topic the sanctification of the believer in Christ. This section in Romans reiterates the fact that God is for us, and only when we have trusted in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross can we access His love. Through His cross the Lord Jesus paid the debt that was created by our rebellion. That rebellion rejected God's definition of all things. Our sanctification is the process whereby we are being given God's definition of all things. As a result, our thinking and our choosing is becoming more consistent with the wisdom of His word.
In v.31 of today's passage we read, "What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?"
Even though through believing in the Lord Jesus, we have been included in God's family and we know with our heads that God's will is the best for us, we still struggle at trusting God. The reason we do this is due to the fact that God allows and uses the unwanted pains of live to bring about His purposes for our lives. Through life's many up and downs, God takes us to places that we would never choose for ourselves. He does this so that He could give us what we could never receive anywhere else, Himself.
I remember the day when I sat on the back porch of my childhood home in Georgia. It was my last night in the place that had given me the most precious memories up to that point in my life. I cried like a baby because my newfound personal relationship with God included quite a bit of the unknowns. I was fearful about what and where the will of God was taking me. In this case, His will was taking me to Columbia Bible College in Columbia, South Carolina. But, the uncertain way is where the excitement is found. Such is the nature of our faith in the God of the Bible.
Little did I know then that God's will would radically change my life for the absolute good. We all search for the next thrill in life. Some take to traveling to foreign lands, some take on a new hobby, but it is all the same. We all want a life that is full with meaning and purpose. But, nothing in this world truly fills that hole in our soul. The reason the God-shaped hole in our soul is never fulfilled is due to the fact that these pursuits are not of eternity. I am not saying that we should not enjoy the pleasures of this life, Lord knows we need the distraction from time to time. But, we must remember that we were created to work at our best in the kingdom of God. This is the point of our sanctification which is not about a better us, it is ultimately about how our lives count for His kingdom in the lives of others for eternity.
All that the Apostle Paul has written up to this point in the book of Romans should convince us that God desires our best at heart. And, since God is for us, it doesn't matter who is against us.
In v.32 of today's passage we read, "He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?"
All things work together for our good because we have been part of God's plan from eternity past. It happened in real time in the present, and, it will continue into eternity. And, since God was willing to sacrifice His own Son, we need worry about anything else. In other words since God has willingly given us the most precious thing to Him, we can count on Him to meet all of our needs.
In v.33-34 of today's passage we read, "33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us."
Since Christ died, and, is also risen, it really doesn't matter who brings any accusation against us. It could be the devil, himself, and believe me, he has plenty of ammunition to use, but, it is God who has justified us through His Son. God has made a declaration concerning you and me, a declaration that shouts we are forgiven and we have been placed into His family for eternity. So, because God has made a declaration concerning us, we are foolish to allow anyone else, even ourselves, to define us.
The Lord Jesus sits at the right hand of God. He is interceding on our behalf. He tandems with the Holy Spirit, interceding for us daily. The Lord Jesus is seated because all of His work for our salvation has been completed. He is always at work in our lives, sketching out what is perfect for His outcome. And, we can rest in the fact that He knows the end from the beginning. Once God completed creation, He rested. Once the Lord Jesus finished His work of redeeming all who would ever believe, He made it possible for us to rest. And, the more we experience His rest amidst the troubles of life, the more we will rest at trusting Him to use all things together for our good and for His glory.
