More Than Conquerors Rom. 8:31-39 CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO
Nothing shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. In Rom 8:28 we saw that all things work together for good to them that love God. In Rom 8:31-39 Paul lists many things that are not good. And in the case of each of these things, there is not one of them that can separate us from the love of God. We are eternally secure in our salvation and in God’s love for us. In all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Because we are eternally secure in the love of God there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God, although in the presence of some problems it may seem that God doesn’t love us [like Job said in Job 13:24]. Paul assures us that we are more than conquerors no matter what we face [Rom 8:37]. We are more than conquerors over:
Adversaries – Rom 8:31 – we have adversaries who are against us: the world [Jn 15:18-19], the flesh [Gal 5:16-17] and the devil [1 Pet 5:8]. They are against us all the time. But because God is for us, these enemies against us cannot prevail. God takes anything they throw against you and turns it around for good [Rom 8:28; Gen 45:5-8, 50:20]. The devil entered Judas Iscariot to betray Jesus. The result was the death of Jesus. And yet God turned it around through the resurrection so that death and the devil were defeated [Heb 2:14]
Necessities – Rom 8:32 – we sometimes feel defeated and separated from the love of God when we are in short supply, or as Paul said in Phil 4:11-13 when we are abased. But Paul assures us that our loving Lord, who delivered his Son for us all, will freely give us all things. As Paul said in Phil 4:19, “My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” He has everything you need and he is willing to freely give you all that you need [temporal provisions, grace, peace, comfort, wisdom, etc.].
Charges – Rom 8:33 – we have been justified by God and, therefore, there is no charge or accusation that can be brought against us that will stand. Balaam was hired by Balak to curse Israel. Yet, each time he tried to curse them, he ended up blessing them [Jos 24:9-10, Neh 13:2]. In Num 23:21 Balaam prophesied on behalf of the Lord, “He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob.”
Condemnation – Rom 8:34 – now that we have been justified by the Lord there is no one who can condemn us [Ps 37:32-33]. Just like Jesus, others may judge you and condemn you to death in a court, like they have done with the martyrs before. But they cannot condemn you to eternal damnation like their religious creeds would suggest [Matt 10:28]. You are eternally secure in the love of God. Notice that in addition to being raised and seated at the right hand of God, Jesus also makes intercession for us. No one is going to be able to get past God and Jesus Christ [Jn 10:27-30].
Tribulation – Rom 8:35 – no matter what it is that comes your way to separate you from the love of God, nothing will succeed. Tribulation [Acts 14:22], distress [2 Cor 12:10], persecution [2 Tim 3:11], famine and nakedness [2 Cor 11:27], peril [2 Cor 11:26], or sword [Acts 12:2] cannot separate you from the love of God and yet any or all of these things may happen to you. The love of God is not demonstrated to us by the absence of these things in our lives [Rom 8:36] but rather by our victory over them. Bad things happen to Christians all the time. Persecution accompanies godly living [2 Tim 3:12].
Anyone and anything – Rom 8:38-39 – death becomes our entry into the presence of Christ [2 Cor 5:1-8]. Life [Phil 1:21]. Angels, principalities powers [Eph 6:11-12]. Present, anything going on right now [whatever you may be going through will not defeat you]. To come, anything that you might face in the future [people are worried about terrorism]. Height, anything above your head [like the devil and the sons of God that plagued Job]. Depth, anything below your feet [like those things in Rev 9]. Any other creature [Paul fought with beasts at Ephesus (1 Cor 15:32), and he was delivered out of the mouth of the lion (2 Tim 4:17)]. Nevertheless you may face them all. Facing them doesn’t mean God is against you. It shows that he is for you since the adversaries relentlessly attack [1 Thes 2:14-18].
Conclusion: you and I are secure in the love of Jesus Christ forever no matter what hardships you may face as a Christian.