The Heart of the Gospel - Pt 16

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. (Romans8:31-34 ESV).

Now we come to the end of our examination of “limited atonement.” Some truth leaves us almost speechless. This is our case here. But it is the foundation of one of the greatest of all promises in the Scripture. The Apostle Paul declares that “all things work for our good (Romans 8:28); and then he breaks into this declaration of praise in our reading today. God sees to this good because he foreknew you, predestined you to glory with Christ, called you when you were dead in trespasses and sins, justified you freely by his grace through faith alone, and is now glorifying you little by little until the day of his coming when it will be consummated with a body like Christ’s glorious resurrection body. This leaves Paul almost speechless — almost. He says, “What then shall we say to these things?” I hear two things in those words for Paul and for us. I hear, “It is hard to find words for these great things.” And I hear, “We must find words for these great things.” I think when Paul says, “What then shall we say to these things?” his answer is: We must say it again another way. We must find different words and say it again. That’s what he does with the words, “If God is for us, who is against us?” That’s what he has been saying all along. But he must say it another way. Think of it: God is FOR us! And, therefore no one can be against us. God foreknew us in love, predestined us to be his children, called us from death, declared us righteous, and is working in us from one degree of glory to another until the great and glad day of Christ. These are the wonderful words of the Gospel. We live forever with God against us or with God for us. And all who are in Christ may say with almost unspeakable joy, “God is for us.” He is on our side. There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (cf. Romans 8:1). God is entirely for us, and never against us. None of our sicknesses is a judgment from a condemning judge. None of our broken cars or failed relationships is a punishment from God. None of our lost jobs is a penalty for sin. None of our wayward children is a crack of the whip of God’s retribution. If we are in Christ, God is for us, not against us. He is for us in and through all things, good or bad, ease or pain! Now, that’s Good News! That’s the heart of the Gospel!