Romans chapter 8 concludes with believers being asked several questions to help strengthen their faith and trust in God. These questions help us to understand how God comes to our defense and help demonstrate His great love. The last few studies revealed God’s grace and mercy that made us sons of God. Now God is showing us the extreme measures He takes to save, keep, protect, help and preserve us for Himself.
Romans 8:31-32 NIV What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all—how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?
These verses are a continuation of what God has planned for us in Christ.
- “we” are the ones who are in Christ Jesus and are free from condemnation.
- “we” do not live according to the flesh but the Spirit.
- “WE” have received the Spirit of adopted children of God.
- “WE” have the Holy Spirit’s witness that “WE” are heirs and joint-heirs with Christ.
- “WE” have been delivered from the bondage of corruption.
- “WE” have hope of our ultimate salvation and glorification.
- “WE” have the help of the Holy Spirit.
- “WE” know that all things work together for good.
What shall “we” say in response to these things?
What is your opinion about God’s rich blessings that are provided for you? We should not discount anything that God has provided or disregard the freedom we received for us through the sacrifice of His Son. You who have been redeemed by the blood of Christ have been given the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit within us gives the assured testimony that we belong to our heavenly Father. We should have a definitive positive response to these things.
Romans 8:31-32 NIV What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all—how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?
Remember the value that God has put upon your eternal soul. The eternal, almighty God created us in His image and likeness. Then God, your Father, gave His infinitely precious Son for you. There is no greater gift that could be offered for the purchase and redemption of your soul. If God would lavish His grace and mercy on you so that you could be set free from the judgment and penalty of sin, “who can be against us?”
Watch how God works in our behalf.
Romans 8:28 NKJV We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28 NIV And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.
The concepts here should be reevaluated and accepted in our minds and hearts.
God is working in all things for the good of those who love Him. We know that all things are not good, but even when things are bad, God is working for our good. This is a statement of faith and confident trust in God that each of us needs to confess individually. Do you know that God is working all things for the good of those who love Him?
Romans 8:29-30 NIV For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.
God is working for everyone who responds to His call. We have been called, chosen, and are being changed. He is in the process of forming Christ in us and will ultimately present us unto Himself without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. This is the final stage of the salvation that is provided through Christ.
John 3:16 NIV For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Pay close attention to this. God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son. That is the measure of the Father’s love for the whole world. Then Jesus said, “Whoever believes in Him…” The blessing comes upon those who respond to the call. You should do a study on all of the things that God has done, is doing and has prepared for those who love Him.
Romans 8:31-32 NIV What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all—how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?
I see two ways of interpreting this.
First, God gives us Christ and through Him we receive all of these things.
In Ephesians 3:8, Paul spoke about the “unsearchable riches of Christ.” In Hebrews 3:14 “We have become partakers of Christ…” John 15:5 Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” The vast riches of Christ are so profound that we are unable to search and know them without the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 1:3-14 shows the depth of these blessings transcends our personal present need and reach into the eternal and heavenly places.
Second, since God was willing to give us His infinitely precious Son, He will also give us everything and anything.
Matthew 6:31-33 NLT So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.
In both examples, God supplies all of our needs.
Philippians 4:19 NKJV And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:32 NKJV …how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
It is impossible to limit “ALL THINGS.”
“All things” appears to be associated with the unsearchable riches of Christ. “All things” relates to the present and eternal things. These things relate to our inheritance in and with Christ. They are related to the earnest expectation and glory that shall be revealed in us. “ALL THINGS” brings into focus our justification, glorification and eternal inheritance.
Romans 8:33 NIV Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.
This reminds me of the ancient book of Job. Job was blameless and upright and God blessed him. One day, Satan came before God to accuse Job. Job’s story is very uncomfortable reading because Job lost everything. He was diminished to sackcloth and sores. Satan did everything he could against Job to destroy his trust in God. Job said, “I can trust God.”
Job 23:10 NKJV But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.
Job’s story took place in the Old Testament. Job did not have the Divine Advocate (Paráklētos) that we have been given in Christ. Jesus had not become mankind’s Savior, High Priest, Deliverer, Atonement and Advocate. We have an advantage in Jesus Christ and with the Holy Spirit.
1 John 2:1 NKJV My little children…we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
John 14:16 NLT And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you.
1 John 1:7 NKJV But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
Romans 8:33-34 NIV Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
The accuser has been defeated.
All of his schemes to accuse and condemn us are defeated in Christ. The blood of Jesus Christ is sufficient to cover any sin or weakness. Even in the highest courts of heaven, where all of our actions and thoughts are recorded in God’s books, you are declared covered, clean and holy. The blood of Jesus Christ has covered and cleansed your from your sin and guilt, and He stands at the right hand of God the Father to intercede for you. Did you hear that? Jesus is interceding for you.
Romans 8:35 NLT Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean He no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?
Most translations say: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?”
All kinds of personal experiences are set to challenge the reality of Christ’s love.
They involve trouble or calamity, persecution, or hunger, or destitution, danger, or the threat of death. Other translations say: “tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril or sword.”
Verses 38 and 39 show where these things originate.
Romans 8:38-39 NLT And I am convinced that NOTHING can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, NOTHING IN ALL CREATION will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
What are these words saying to us?
God will not stop loving you. God’s love is so certain that He promises to make all things work together for your good, (Romans 8:28). In all of these things, God will never abandon us. Absolutely nothing can block God’s love to us. Nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Since God loves us, we are guaranteed that He will take care of us. Even when we face death, we know that God loves us.
Romans 8:37 NLT No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
What is the practical application of this in our lives?
We can rest assured that we are safe in God’s care. One of the clearest explanations of God’s protective care is shown in Jesus’ message in John 10:27-29.
John 10:27-29 NKJV My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.
Listen closely to these words of encouragement and testimony of God’s strong care.
Deuteronomy 31:6 NLT So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.
Deuteronomy 31:8 NLT Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.
Hebrews 13:5-6 NLT For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”
David gave a beautiful image of this in Psalms 23.
Psalm 23:1-6 NKJV The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.
