Rom. 8:31-39 - Who Can Stop Us?

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?
32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?
33 Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies;
34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.
35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 Just as it is written, "FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED."
37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.
38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

***

If God is For Us...

Verses 31-35 are a collection of rhetorical questions. The primary thought is “Who?” Who is against us? Who will charge us? Who will condemn us? Who will separate us? (Verses 31, 33, 34, & 35, respectively) Each is answered, but verses 37-39 give a joyous and thunderous reply. I feel that Paul starts with the “no condemnation” (8:1) and gets on a roll. By the time he gets to the end of the chapter he has built a crescendo. (Read verses 38 and 39 and try to stay calm.)

I can imagine Paul pacing around the room as he dictates this part of the letter. Up to this point Paul has been logical, laying out the message methodically in chapters 1 through 7. The pacing becomes faster as he continues in this chapter. By the time he gets to “I am convinced...” he stops with his hands and face raised in praise, speaking loudly and rapidly. He finishes with “Christ Jesus our Lord”, eyes closed, arms raised in prayer, and basks in the glory of Christ. I wouldn’t be surprised if a tear rolled down his cheek at the pure joy of knowing Jesus has done it all for us. (I get a little choked up just reading what he wrote!)

V. 31 - “What shall we say...” - Having made the previous statements, starting with “no condemnation” through “predestined”, “called”, “justified”, and “glorified”, what more could be said?

“If God is for us, who is against us?” - ‘Nuff said! The capper. We are God’s own. We are in Jesus. All that He has, we have also! Looking back at Moses’ last message, “Be strong and courageous... Be strong and courageous... Do not fear... I the Lord am with you...” (See: Deut. 31:6, 7, 23) God also encourages them through Joshua and David (See: Josh. 1:6, 7, 9; Psa. 31:24) The exhortation continues in the NT: (1 Cor 16:13; 2 Cor 13:9; Eph. 6:10; 2 Tim. 2:1)

There will be someone who notes there may be many who oppose us! Haven’t we been warned that we will suffer persecution because our Savior suffered persecution? We will be hated because Jesus is hated. (John 15:18)

V. 32 - “He... did not spare His own Son” - God did not spare Himself. (Jn 3:16) This is an answer to the question in verse 8:31, “Who is against us?” Answer, “It doesn’t matter. The God of the universe spared NOTHING to bring us to Him. “

“How will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” - Do you think God will hold back anything? He has already freely given us eternal life in Jesus Christ. He has already forgiven our sin through Jesus Christ. Having given mercy to us (not payment for services provided), is it reasonable to think God would become miserly from this point forward? It is not.

V. 33 - “Who will bring a charge?” - The charge: you are a sinner, and are not worthy to be in God’s presence. Satan brings the charge. He is the accuser. (See: Rev. 12:10; Zech. 3:1; Job 1:11, 2:5; 1Pet. 5:8)

“God is the one who justifies” - None of us, believers and non-believers alike, can determine that we are righteous. We cannot claim we are acceptable to God - blameless and without blemish with any certitude beyond a reasonable doubt. There is no such thing as “almost perfect” in the presence of The King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Do not panic.

Jesus says of every believer, “This one is mine! I died for him. (I died for her.) My justification is his. My righteousness is hers.” The Father looks Jesus in the face, and agrees. Verdict: Justified!

At this point, all charges against us vanish. They are nothing because Christ has paid the price. How does this work? He, Jesus, has paid the price, has taken the punishment. His death and resurrection brings us into the light, and we can see we are saved because of His sacrifice. His vindication - resurreection from death - is our vindication. See: "I will bear the indignation of the LORD because I have sinned against him, until he pleads my cause and executes judgment for me. He will bring me out to the light; I shall look upon his vindication." (Micah 7:9)

V. 34 - “Who condemns?” - Satan is there willing you to reside with him in Hell. He leads other non-believers to convince you, others, even God that you are only worthy of condemnation.

“Christ Jesus... died... was raised... at the right hand of God... intercedes for us.” - This the same scenario as in verse 33, i.e., the false claim is smacked down. The cross and the resurrection are answer to any smear against the believer!

V. 35 - “Who will separate us?” - Can anyone, or anything stop the love of Jesus Christ being showered upon the believers? Whether natural disasters, or human caused, nothing physical or in the spiritual realms can keep God’s Love from us. We are destined for glory, Christ’s glory. We surrounded by the Love of Christ.

“Tribulation... distress... persecution... famine... nakedness... peril... sword” - A short list of possible problems you as a Christian could face. Some have nothing to do with your faith, but can happen to all humans. Some are directly related to your faith, directly related to the world hates that you live for Jesus. Note: It is most likely you will not be persecuted if you do not live for Jesus.

V. 36 - "FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG" - This is a quote from Psalm 44:22, which is part of a plea to God. God has done so much for Israel, but when Israel rejected God’s commands they are punished by nations that God lifts up. If God does not support and sustain them, their weapons and strength are useless. Israel is ridiculed among the nations. Israel claims they do not deserve this punishment, this persecution. I think they are conveniently forgetting the golden calf (Exo. 32:4, Num. 11:1), the refusal to enter Canaan (Num. 13:22-14:4; Deut. 1:22-26), their refusal to cleanse the land (Joshua), the time of the judges (Jud. 2:11-19), in other words - their general disobedience.

That being said, their reputation as being God’s chosen made them targets of Satan’s ire and the focus of surrounding peoples.

“As sheep to be slaughtered...” - David and the people claim, “We didn’t deserve this. We’ve done nothing to warrant this.” God acknowledges persecution of the saints is undeserved. Just as sheep have no idea what or why this is happening to them, we can be equally confused. We are following the commands of Christ; why is this happening to the faithful?

***

V. 37 - “In all these things we overwhelmingly conquer” - God want us to keep our eyes on the prize. I just watched an interview with one of the Tusckegee Airmen. He admitted there was racial persecution as he worked to become a fighter pilot in WWII. He said over and over again, “I kept my eye on the prize.” He wanted to fly, wasn’t going to let these things distract him.

For us: Jesus, God the Father, New Earth, New Jerusalem, God’s glory, Jesus’ glory, eternal life. These are ours. They will much more magnificent than anything wonderful we know now. Even more, the troubles will be bad, but they are temporary and pale in comparison to what awaits. Jesus conquered Satan and death. Jesus is waiting for us. Nothing can change God’s plan or purpose.

V. 38-39 - “will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” - The big finish! I will not try to expand or expound on this. By itself - totally amazing! We are protected through God’s power. See: 1 Pet. 1:3-5 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

***
End of Chapter 
Romans 8:1-39 (NASB)