In Christ - Pt 10

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 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? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 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. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 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. (Romans 8:31-39 ESV). We come to the end of our little series in Romans 8 with a wonderful declaration. The Apostle Paul simply says, “God is for us.” The Bible uses several different prepositions to qualify God’s relationship with his people. The angel said Jesus should be called “Immanuel, (which means, God with us)” (cf. Matthew 1:23). John describes God’s incarnation in the person of Jesus Christ this way, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (cf. John 1:14). Here in Romans Paul assures us that “God is for us” (v. 31). Imagine that. The one who created light with a word is for us. The one who spoke and all creation came into existence is for us. The God who took on the Baal prophets through Elijah and defeated them is for us. The God who took down the walls of Jericho, defeated sin through the cross, and put death to death by raising Jesus from the dead is for us. “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Paul’s rhetorical question is not meant to suggest that no one is against us but rather that no one and nothing opposed to those who are Christ’s can defeat them. Because God is for us, “we are more than conquerors” (Romans 8:37). Because God is for us, “[nothing] will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:39). The God who is with us is also for us. What then shall we say to that! Today you may find yourself facing something that is difficult. It may be little more than a momentary inconvenience; or, it could be something seemingly in surmountable. Listen to the apostle and take heart. God is FOR you! He is not a judge waiting for you to appear in his court and receive your punishment; he is your savior who is inexorably drawing you to himself and an eternal life that cannot be imagined for its surpassing greatness!