WATCHWORD:
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 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? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 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. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 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
Meditation:
Who Can Be Against Us?
Romans 8 is one of several chapters of the Bible that I would consider among my favorites, probably due in large part to the last nine verses. As I read Paul’s letter, I am reassured, any anxiety I might have is quelled when I think about the questions, beginning with Who can be against me if God is for me? I believe that God is not only for us but he loves us.
A song comes to me, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and faithfulness”. This is what makes our hope come alive, our faith secured. It’s the knowledge that if we trust Christ as Savior and Lord and know that he is our creator God, you cannot help but know in your heart that you are loved in a way that no disaster, no illness, no politician, no terrorist and, yes, no grave can destroy. That’s the hope of this scripture. But more than that, it’s the hope of the Christian life.
Loved ones, we don’t put our hope in politics, or the military, or our finances, or anything else, our hope is found in God-centered, fear-destroying, death-defeating Lord and his name is Jesus. It’s in that truth that makes our faith our true foundation.
In those nine verses, Paul asks five questions to draw out the amazing power and privilege of belonging to Jesus Christ. In each one, the answer is clear: Verse 31: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” No one, period. Verse 32: “How will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?” As we are faithful to Him, He meets are needs and piles on the graces. Verse 33: “Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect?” Again, no one can overwhelm us. Verse 34: “Who is to condemn us?” There is no one, for Christ stands at the right hand of God. Verse 35: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” No one and nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.
And what makes this text so relevant to us today, is that each one of us have gone through a variety of valleys and mountain top experiences in the course of our lives. Whether we were aware of it or not the love of Christ was with us each step of the way. Underscoring the fact that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus., regardless of the storm that has shaken us.
My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand:
all other ground is sinking sand;
all other ground is sinking sand.
Amen.
Thinking About Christ’s Love:
- Christ’s love is a moment-by-moment love. Jesus is loving us right now.
- Christ’s love is a particular love. His love protects us, in particular. Not a universal love for all, but a particular love for His people – those who, according to Romans 8:28, “love God and . . . are called according to His purpose.”
- Christ’s preserving love. His omnipotent and protecting love doesn’t spare us from difficulties in this life but it does (and will) bring us safely to everlasting joy with God.
Closing Prayer:
Gracious God, I know that I am a Pilgrim on a journey that has dangers at each crossroad. As I travel grant that I may experience the security and peace that comes from knowing my Lord Jesus and his saving grace. And the conviction that I am loved. Amen.
