“What then shall we say to these things? 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 with him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:31,32).
One of the greatest joys and satisfactions of accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior is the full assurance that we are eternally secured in God for the present and for all eternity. The apostle Paul goes to great lengths to assure us that nothing “will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:39). From the very first verse in Romans 8, Paul declares: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not according to the flesh (but according to the Spirit).
Chapter 8 is a most awe-inspiring chapter in holy Scripture. In The New Scofield Reference Bible, C.I. Scofield writes the following about Romans 8:31. “If the Epistle to the Romans may be likened to a great cathedral of Christian truth, then ch. 8 is the highest of the towering spires of that divine revelation. The grandeur of the theme is shown in the largeness of its references to God; the sweep of its revelation which includes past, present, and future—from creation to eternity; the good news of its message about God’s answer to sin’s tyranny; its lovely and soul-sustaining homily on suffering; and its closing triumphant note on the security of the believer.”
How inspiring is God’s word. William MacDonald makes an insightful commentary on Romans 8. “When we consider these unbreakable links in the golden chain of redemption, the conclusion is inevitable! If God is for us, in the sense that He has marked us out for Himself, then no one can be successful against us. If Omnipotence is working on our behalf, no lesser power can defeat His program.” (Believer’s Bible Commentary p. 1713).
People of faith in Jesus Christ take God at His word. What God says He means. And He means what He says. It was clearly not God’s intent or purpose that after trusting Jesus Christ as Savior we immediately go to heaven. Remember the Lord’s high priestly intercessory prayer to His Father? In that prayer the Lord said this about believers, “I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” (John 17:15-17).
Christians “are ambassadors for Christ.” (2 Corinthians 5:20). Therefore, since it is God’s intent that we live for Him and be His witnesses in the world, then no one can prevent Him from accomplishing His will and purposes for His people. God also promised, “I work, and who can turn it back?” (Isaiah 43:13). What a mighty God we serve!
Paul continues, “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32). God in His infinite wisdom, love, and grace has provided for our salvation by not sparing his own Son who would ultimately shed His blood and die on the Cross to reconcile us unto Himself. Let’s not forget the lengths God has gone to procure our great and wonderful salvation in Jesus Christ. This is marvelous! Isn’t it?
Consider the fact that since God ‘gave up’ Jesus — the very best and greatest ‘Gift’ to all mankind — what else with him graciously give us all things?
The curse to endure—by suffering to save;
Sure love so amazing, unmeasured, untold,
Since Him it hath given, no good will withhold.
— W. Yerbury
Let us therefore truly live for God, not matter the cost; keeping in mind “He has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight.”
(Ephesians 1:6-8).
The Christian’s place is in Christ Jesus as a member of His body, and essentially united with Him by the work of the Holy Spirit. Let us therefore continue to rejoice that God did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all. Hallelujah! Amen.