The Great Eight - Pt 33

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. (Romans 8:31-37 ESV).

The second fact Paul gives us is that Jesus is the One raised from the dead by the Father. I stress that he was raised by the Father because the verb is passive in verse 34: not "Christ rose" but "Christ was raised." The point is that the Father was so satisfied with the once for all, atoning work of the Son that he vindicated his obedience and suffering and his infinite accomplishment by raising him from the dead. We can know Him as Friend and Savior and Lord and Treasure; He is One absolutely approved by God. And know him, as the one who "will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him" (Romans 6:9). Earlier in the eighth chapter Paul says, If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you (Romans 8:11 ESV). No wonder we can be content for being no more than “sheep for the slaughter.” The tenacity we possess to cling to this world with all of the trials and difficulties inherent in its fallen nature is often baffling to me. I understand the emotion of it. I understand the pull of the tangible nature of it. However, I cannot understand how we can’t seem to allow this truth to set us free from that emotion and power. Here and now are real; however, so is then and there! Setting aside the wisdom of preparing for the future, we ought to understand that there is nothing to fear about the future. Our anxiety about tomorrow is rooted in our desire to control it and shape it. We so forget that we do not need to hold on to God; he is holding on to us! That subtle difference between our effort and God’s completed act will completely transform your life once you given yourself to it. Nothing you do, or fail to do will change your status in eternity. Jesus has already done it. And God has accepted it completely on our behalf. So, let this second act of Jesus on our behalf pour into your heart and mind to set you free!