July 14, 2002
Part I
Romans 8:31-32
What
then shall we say to these things? If
God is for us, who is against us He who
did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also
with Him freely give us all things?
Having clearly declared what God has accomplished for us in 8:28-30 – foreknew, predetermined, called, justified, glorified – Paul now calls for a reply.
“What can we say to these things” – truths just declared. “If God is for us – “
A
little grammar lesson here! In this
verse if is used as a first
class condition – a statement of fact i.e. if (or since) the stove is hot (and
it is) I will get burned if I touch it!”
If (or since) God is for us, and He is, all the way from eternity past, who is or can be against us? This question can only be answered with “no one can be against us!”
Paul goes on to elaborate further, going into even more detail –
He
who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all,
In the great antitype of Christ found in Isaac, God did spare Abraham’s son (Genesis 22:9-13). But He did not spare His own Son – He delivered Him up on Calvary’s cross for all of us.
how will He not also with Him freely give
us(the) all things?
In the original text there is a definite article (the) before the words “all things” which gives limitations to the “all things”. He loves us too much to literally give His people all things without exception. He means all things that enhance our life and lifestyle.
Note: They are freely given. If He has freely given us the greatest gift already, His Son, how could He possibly withhold that which is less than the greatest? We ask, “how will He?” God replies, “How will I not!” Note too, that it states “with Him (Jesus)”. We have nothing in our lives apart from the Lord Jesus Christ. Everything we are and have is in His name.
Believers, you are rich beyond your wildest dreams! Let’s live like it this week. In next week’s Pen Pulpit we go into a series of great questions that further confirm the fact that there is no separation from our Heavenly Father. So until then – God bless.
Love to you all,