Romans 8 is a much-loved chapter of the Bible. Many theologians claim Romans 8 to be their favorite chapter of the Bible. Because it is a chapter that helps us understand the doctrine of eternal security, it is also loved by regular Christians who would not claim to be Bible scholars.
After the internal struggle that Paul expressed at the end of Chapter 7, it is refreshing to see him open Romans 8 with these words: “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus…” These words are for those who have put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior.
The chapter ends with Paul asking a series of questions. Questions are always good for getting people to think more deeply about a topic than they might normally think. Let us take a closer look at these questions that Paul asked:
Question 1: Verse 31b
…If God be for us, who can be against us?
When we truly take time to stop and think about the greatness of our God, it is amazing and humbling that He would even bother with any of us. David said it best in Psalm 8:3-4:
When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him?
The great God Who made the universe and everything in it is “for us,” we who have accepted His Son as Savior and Lord of our lives. If God can make the moon and the stars, how can anything or anyone stand against Him?
Question 2: Verse 32
He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? (v. 32)
If God did not even withhold His only Son but sent Him to die because we needed Him to, how can we doubt that that same God could take care of us in any circumstance? Remember what Jesus said:
Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls? Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? (Luke 12:24, 27-28)
Question 3: Verse 33
Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.
Job chapter 1 teaches us that Satan goes before God to accuse God’s people, heedless of whether he speaks the truth or not. Revelation 12:10 refers to Satan as the “accuser of our brethren…which accused them before our God day and night.”
However, Paul gives immediate encouragement at the end of this verse, reminding us that God has already justified those who are His elect, meaning those who have accepted Jesus Christ as Saviour. Satan cannot lay anything to our charge because God’s record of us is clean in Christ!
Question 4: Verse 34
Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Before a person chooses to accept Christ as Saviour and Lord, he abides under the condemnation of God (John 3:18). Yet, the moment that person receives Christ, he receives a full pardon from God. He cannot be condemned because Christ already died and took his punishment. Paul answered this question even before he asked it:
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Roman 8:1)
If we are in Christ and walking after God’s Holy Spirit, we cannot be condemned by anyone.
Question 5: Verse 35
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
The answer, of course, is no one. Then Paul continues to say that no created thing is able to separate us either. Neither tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril nor sword can separate us from God’s love. Why? Because of what verse 37 says:
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Beyond the natural things that can happen to a man, Paul lists things completely out of our control to show how secure we are in Christ. He says that he is persuaded or convinced that death and life are no match for God’s love. Angels, principalities, and powers have no authority over those who are in Christ. He continues the list by naming the present and future as well as all creation as things that cannot separate us from the love of Christ:
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (v. 38-39)
Conclusion
Is it any wonder that this chapter in the Bible is so well-loved? It is an encouraging and heart-warming reminder that we have such a loving Heavenly Father. He is merciful and gracious to everyone. For those of us who are in Christ Jesus, not only are we free from the condemnation that we deserve for the sinful creatures that we are, but we can also be sure that because of the grace of God (grace that is not temporary) we will never be separated from the love of Christ.
Dwell on the goodness and encouragement contained in these questions today. May they be a great reminder to all of the wonderful God we serve!
If you have never accepted Jesus Christ as your Saviour, then you are still under condemnation today! Please click here to learn what God’s Word says about salvation in Christ.
For further reading of Romans 8, please click here.