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 delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? (33) Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. (34) Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and futhermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
The letter to the Romans was written by the Apostle Paul. It is almost impossible to overstate the importance of this letter for it’s theological truths, its beautiful doxologies, its breathtaking revelations assuring the justification, sanctification and glorification of the faithful. Every Christian man and woman should carefully read the letter to the Romans – it is the soaring affirmation of eternal life through Christ.
Our text today follows verses telling us that all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose. God is sovereign of all things and His purpose is to glorify Christ – Christ is the firstborn among many brethren and the salvation of those who believe is secure. Paul is thinking of this when he asks “What then shall we say to these things?” The fact that God gave His own Son to die for us proves that He is for us.
Paul is focused on how believers can endure suffering for the sake of the gospel – persecution, jealousy, hatred, even death. This was an issue in the time when Paul wrote these words, no less than today with extreme Islam bent on the eradication of Christianity in large parts of the world. Few here in this country know first hand about this direct persecution and it is unlikely that Christians in the United States will face what is happening in the rest of the world. However in this day of secularization – marginalizing Christianity – we might know ridicule, condemnation, discrimination because of faith – probably not prison, confiscatory practices and bodily harm.
Verse 31 infers that a response is required by Christians to God’s promise of salvation for the faithful – they need to respond and obey. Paul speaks of confidence in salvation and gives us the reason for confidence – not in ourselves. Christians are delivered from the consequences of sin by the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. We know God is for us because of this ultimate sacrifice and who indeed can be against us. Salvation is first to last of the Lord. Amen