Romans 8:31-39

³¹ What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? ³² He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? ³³ Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. ³⁴ Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. ³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ³⁶ As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. ³⁷ Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. ³⁸ For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, ³⁹ Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

In Romans 6-8, the Apostle Paul addresses the believer’s new identity in Christ Jesus, their ongoing battle with sin, and the ultimate victory that all believers will share in through Jesus.

Paul brings this amazing portion of Scripture to a close with a question and then a series of further questions. “What shall we then say to these things?” The “these things” could refer to the entirety of Romans 1-8. In these eight chapters Paul addresses the just condemnation of all of humanity under sin (Romans 1:1-3:23); the need for justification by faith in Christ alone (Romans 3:24-5:21); the believer’s new identity in Christ (Romans 6:1-11); the fact that believers serve a new master (Romans 6:12-23); the believer’s new relationship to the Law (Romans 7:1-12); the believer’s ongoing battle with sin (Romans 7:13-25); the victory provided in Christ Jesus (Romans 7:24-8:4); the presence of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:5-13); the adoption of believers into the family of God (Romans 8:14-17); the anticipation and promise of being glorified (Romans 8:18-27); and the perfect redemptive plan of God for believers that will be accomplished (Romans 8:28-30). In conclusion to these matters, the Apostle Paul gives to us three things that God has done perfectly for every believer because of His perfect love in Christ Jesus.

First, Paul speaks to God’s willing and perfect provision for all believers in Christ. “If God be for us, who can be against us?” speaks to the already demonstrated reality that God is “for” believers. He is on our side. He has demonstrated that in the most ultimate way by sending His Son to die for our sins (Romans 5:8). We need not wonder if God is out to get us or if He is just waiting for us to mess up so He can cast us away. Instead, He has given the greatest gift possible in His Son Jesus. Paul reasonably and rightly concludes that if God was willing to do this then He will “freely give us all things.” This does not mean God gives believers everything they want, but instead speaks to God giving and doing nothing but what is truly good for His children. Ephesians 1:3-14 tells us that God has blessed believers with all spiritual blessings. Romans 8:18-30 speaks to how He is conforming all believers to the image of His Son and nothing will stop that glorify that is to come for His children. Peter tell us, “his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3). There is no truly good thing that God would withhold from His children because He has already given the greatest gift in His Son.

Second, Paul speaks to God’s justification of His children. Christ has provided complete salvation for His people (Hebrews 7:25). It is perfect with nothing needed to be added to it. He fully atoned for our sins by dying on the cross and rising again (Romans 4:25). All of Satan’s schemes and accusations do not stick to the believer. Full pardon and forgiveness has been provided and it is an irrevocable decree of God. He has declared the believer righteous by faith on the basis of what His Son has done on their behalf (Romans 3:25-26; 2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus stands as the great intercessor at the right hand of God who died for those whom He intercedes for. Douglas Moo says it rightly, “With such a defense attorney, it is no wonder the prosecution loses its case.” Since Jesus “ever liveth to make intercession” for the believer, there is never a time when His work on their behalf will fail. We are justified, made right with God.

Lastly, Paul speaks to the security of the Christian. The conclusion of the matter is that nothing can separate the believer from the “love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” All that the believer could possibly encounter in life cannot come between them and God. The love of Christ and the grace of God is greater. No amount of trouble, difficulty, hunger, or persecution can undo God’s work for the Christian. In fact, Paul says that through Christ who loved us that we are “more than conquerors.” Life and death, angels and demons, the present and the future, distance, nor any created thing are able to come between God and His children. Sin, the flesh, and Satan ultimately do not win. Christ has conquered all on our behalf.

With so great a salvation, we have an amazing responsibility to humbly serve our great God and Savior with all that we are. Romans 12:1 says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” What about those to whom these promises do not belong? Hebrews 2:3 asks the question, “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?” Sin is terrible and God’s judgment upon sin is both just and severe. The good news of the gospel is that all who place their faith in Christ are not only forgiven, but they are given freely all that God has made available in Christ Jesus. What a Savior! One day we will all bow and recognize Him as the Lamb of God who took away the sin of the world (John 1:29) and as King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:16). “We are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.”