Paul's Epistle to the Romans — page 36

Chap. 8:31-39 – As the climax of all that has been set forth about the declaration of God's righteousness in the gospel, Paul shows that, while we are on the way to being glorified, we are divinely preserved and cared for along the way. Seven questions are raised regarding our security, and the Father's love behind all His present relations with us in the trials and tribulations through which we pass. Since nothing held Him back from saving us – not even sparing His own Son – He will ensure that we attain all that He purposed for us.

The courtroom setting that Paul used in chapters 1 to 3 is seen here again. Only now a remarkable change has taken place. The accused, who once stood in the place of a guilty sinner, is now seen justified. He stands before the dock and a call is made for any accuser to come forward. But there is none! How could there be? If God has justified the ungodly, no just accusation can be brought against him.

Paul's first question is: "What then shall we say to these things?" Can anyone find fault in this great plan of salvation? God has shown Himself just, right and loving in all His movements to secure salvation and blessing for man.

The second question is: "If God is for us, who shall be against us?" Note that Paul does not say: "What shall be against us?" But "Who shall be against us?" He repeats this several times throughout these questions, indicating that it is not the groaning creation that is in view here, but the forces of evil ordered by the devil. Is there any man or demon that can prevent God from carrying out what He purposed for the blessing of men? The answer is that if God (who is a trillion times greater than any creature in the universe) is "for us", then there is no one who can hinder His plan! (1 John 4:4) Job said: "I know that You can do all things, and that no thought of Yours can be hindered" (Job 42:2). The third question is: "He who did not even spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not also with Him freely give us all things?" If God went so far to bless us – even to the point of not sparing His own Son – we can be sure that He will come with our final deliverance and give us "all things", which will be when Christ takes the inheritance, at His Appearing (Eph. 1:14).

The fourth question is: "Who will bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies". No one can bring an accusation of sin against us because we have been justified by God Himself. God has taken us out of the place of a sinner and placed us in a new position in Christ with a new life that has not sinned, nor can sin. Thus, no just accusation can be made against us!

The fifth question is: "Who is he who condemns? For it is Christ who died, or rather who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God?". This question is a quotation of Isaiah 50:9, where Christ is seen as having completed the work of atonement and God having raised Him to His right hand. Christ is seen defying His enemies (particularly the accuser of the brothers and sisters, Satan – Rev. 12:10) to find anything with which they could condemn Him, since God justified Him in all that He accomplished in making atonement. Paul applies this to us. Since we are "in Christ" – which is to be in Christ's place before God – no condemnation can be raised against us! Condemnation must first reach Christ before it can reach us. This is wonderful grace, indeed!

What though the accuser roars Of evils I have done!

I know them well and thousands more:

Jehovah finds not one!

Hymn The Little Flock no. 12 Ap.

Paul adds: "and also intercedes for us". Christ is now on high interceding for us, for the attacks of the enemy of our souls will inevitably come against us. Since attacks against our security in Christ would be in vain, Satan aims his attacks at our soul's state and our communion with God. But Paul shows that we have Christ as our Intercessor, who takes care to keep us in communion with God, despite these attacks. This is a reference to Christ's present work as our High Priest and our Advocate. The sixth question is: "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" Paul asks again whether there is any power mighty enough to cause the love of Christ to depart from us. Note that he does not say:

"Who shall separate us from enjoying the love of Christ?" It is sad to say that there is much in this world that can separate us from the enjoyment of the love of Christ, and so there are many Christians who are not enjoying His love. Christ's love for us is one thing and enjoying that love is another. With the provision God has made for us for the path of faith, there is no reason for us not to be living in the constant enjoyment of His love (2 Pet. 1:3).

Seven External Forms of Trials that Can Do Nothing to

Disturb Our Blessing in Christ

Chap. 8:35 –The seventh question is: "Tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?" These are seven forms of trials that we face in this world.

• "Tribulation" – trials in general.

• "Distress" – mental anguish, fears and phobias.

• "Persecution" – suffering for the cause of Christ.

• "Famine" – lack of food.

• "Nakedness" – lack regarding the basic necessities of life.

• "Danger" – dangers of any kind.

• "Sword" – martyrdom.

He concludes that none of these things can separate us from the love of Christ. In fact, trials, if endured in the spirit of submission, actually bring us closer to Christ and make Him more precious!

Paul quotes Psalm 44:22 to show that, while pressure and testing are on every side of us, and it may seem that we are “counted as sheep for the slaughter”, in reality we are the ones who gain from the testings we pass through. He says: “But in all these things we are more than conquerors, through Him who loved us” (v. 37). A conqueror is one who stands firm and wins in an adverse or testing situation. To be “more than conquerors” is not only to stand firm in the testings, but to profit from the trials; the conqueror acquires much spiritual spoil from the situation, in the form of valuable spiritual lessons learned. Thus, the Christian who is in a right state benefits from these adverse circumstances. David recognized this and said: “in distress you gave me room” (Ps 4:1). There are at least ten positive things that result from the testings through which the Lord’s people pass, if they are taken correctly:

• They are opportunities for God to show His power and grace, sustaining His people in difficult times, and so to manifest His glory (Job 37:7; John 9:3, 11:4).

• Through them we are led to know the love of God in a deeper way, and so we are drawn closer to the Lord (Rom. 5:3-5).

• Through them we are morally conformed to the image of Christ (Rom. 8:28-29), and so they work toward our moral perfection (James 1:4).

• If we are walking in paths of unrighteousness, they are used by God to correct our spirits and our paths, thus producing in us the peaceful fruit of righteousness (Heb. 12:5-11).

• Through them our faith is strengthened (2 Thess. 1:3-4).

• They teach us dependence (Ps. 119:67-68, 71).

• They draw us away from earthly things and thus make us turn to heaven; as a result, the heavenly hope burns more intensely in our hearts (Luke 12:22-40).

• They bring brothers and sisters closer to one another (Job 2:11, 6:14; 1 Chr. 7:21-22).

• The lessons we learn in passing through testings enable us to empathize with others more effectively (2 Cor. 1:3-4).

• They equip us for the theme of praise in the coming glory (2 Cor. 4:15-17).

Ten Invisible Forms of Danger That Can Do Nothing to Affect

Our Blessings in Christ

Chap. 8:38-39 – Paul spoke of external visible dangers that we meet on the path of faith; now he goes on to enumerate the invisible dangers that work behind the scenes. He mentions ten invisible things that could be done against us, and shows that none of them can thwart God’s purpose to complete our salvation, and “separate [us] from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord”.

• “Death” – If death takes us, we lose nothing. Believers who die before the Lord’s coming are still said to be “in Christ” (1 Thess. 4:16). Thus, our position before God and everything we have in Christ is intact and secure. In fact, we only gain if death occurs (Phil. 1:21).

• “Life” – All the testings and tribulations that come with life in this world cannot take from us what we have in Christ. Even if we fail in the testing, nothing is changed.

• “Angels” (fallen) – The satanic powers of evil and darkness, working in heavenly places (the realm of spiritual activity) to bring injurious accusations against us, can do nothing to hinder our progress.

• “Principalities” (satanic) – The satanic powers of evil working on Earth to separate us from Christ.

• “Powers” – Men in positions of human government who use their authority to condemn the believer can do nothing to change our salvation in Christ.

• “The present” – Daily fears.

• “The future” – Fears of what may come upon us in the future.

• “Height” – Things in heaven.

• “Depth” – Things above or beneath the Earth.

• “Any other creature” – Nothing that God has created can break our bond with Christ.

Thus, the chapter begins with “no condemnation” (v. 1) and ends with “no separation” (v. 39); and between them we have no opposition (v. 31), and no accusation credited to our account (v. 33).

1. B. Hole summarized the first eight chapters of Romans in this