Romans 8:31-36
31 What then shall we say 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 with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,“For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
WHAT SHALL WE SAY THEN?
As the apostle Paul ends this chapter, he concludes by reminding the church of their position of victory in Christ. God is for us! God, who went to great lengths – even to the point of sending His son Jesus to die for us so we can experience ultimate victory.
That is why the battle belongs to the Lord. As we are called to spiritual warfare – we have to remember the end result – Jesus won, we won, the church won!
WHO SHALL CONDEMN? ( Love in Justification)
When the enemy brings condemnation – remember of God’s work on the cross – it is finished. We have been justified, which I blogged here
Paul asked, who is to condemn God’s people? As you re-read Romans 8, the book tells us that none can condemn us because in Christ- there is now no condemnation.
Then he goes on to tell us that Jesus intercedes for us. To intercede signifies effective intervention. How can things go wrong when Jesus intercedes for us. Even through suffering, we know that God intercedes.
WHO SHALL SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD? (Love in Sanctification)
In the midst of trial and tribulations, we cannot be separated from the love of Christ. Paul then describes that we are like sheep being slaughtered. As we share in God’s glory, we will also share in His suffering. As God transforms us, He builds our faith and character. We are assured that in His love, we are being transformed to Christ-likeness.
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Love in Glorification
No one can separate us from God’s love. In the midst of suffering and death – God can turn things around. God calls us conquerors in Him. As Paul was sure – (writing in absolute terms), God’s amazing love will see us through till Christ’s return in all his glory. The assurance of victory in Christ is absolute. When Paul declared that nothing in all creation will separate us from Christ – he talks about not just the present but our future with Christ.
God’s love when He died on the cross to save us from our sin (justification), when God intercedes for us in our present trials and temptations and give us the Holy Spirit to live like Christ (sanctification), and the love Christ assures that will never be broken till He returns in all His glory (glorification). What a privilege to be called a child of God!
Some books that can help you understand the concept of justification-sanctification-glorification.
For an in-depth look at the subject of Justification:
- Faith Alone by Rc Sproul (justification)
- Scandalous by Da Carson (justification)
- Overcoming Sin and Temptation (3 books by John Owens on sanctification)