July 21, 2002
Part II
Romans 8:33-37
Who
will bring a charge against God’s elect?
God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who
was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who shall separate us from the love of
Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress,
or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Paul continues teaching on the subject of no separation from God. In verses 8:33-35 he asks three challenging questions:
1. Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? He answers his question. God is the one who justifies. The only one who has a legitimate right to charge us has declared us righteous. Enough said.
2. Who is the one who condemns us? Again consider the logic. The only one in the universe who has a right to condemn us died for us. More than that He was raised from the dead as proof that our sins are gone. In addition He ascended to the right hand of God and there He intercedes for us.
Note: The Holy Spirit prays within us (Romans 8:26-27). Jesus Christ prays for us. The Father’s ears are open to both sets of prayers.
3. Who will separate (put space between) us from the love of Christ? Last question. The remainder of the chapter answers that question for us. Paul suggests several possibilities. “Will tribulation, or distress or persecution or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” It seems that if anything could separate the Christian from God from the standpoint of the worldly mind, these could.
Paul goes back to the Old Testament to show that the believer has suffered for Christ throughout time. He quotes from Psalm 44:22:
For
your sake we are being put to death all day long; we were considered as sheep
to be slaughtered.
But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.
Note: In the midst of these things – in the thick of the battle - we conquer overwhelmingly. We conquer and more through Him who loved us.
What does this mean – we more than conquer? We will not only conquer, but we also gain the prize for overcoming! This is done through Jesus who loves us.
In our next Pen Pulpit we will take a look at the finale of this fantastic chapter. Until then, God bless.
Love to you all,