Romans 8:31-39
Scripture: Romans 8:31-39 (ESV)
“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? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, ‘For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Devotion
Can we lose our salvation? If we are Christians, can we do something so sinful that God casts us out forever? Can we be unsaved? That is the question Paul answers for us in this passage. And his answer becomes important for us to remember in both the ups and the downs of life. Because when life is going really well, we can forget that we are not self-made men and women. When life is going poorly, we can begin to doubt whether God even really loves us. In the worst case scenario, we start believing that our bad life circumstances are just a sign that God has cast us out. It is to this doubt that Paul writes these verses.
He tackles our fear and doubt head-on, with a massive affirmation of God’s unwavering commitment to us. Paul anticipates our deepest fear – being rejected by God – and answers it with the Gospel’s most powerful truth – once saved, always saved. If the Creator of the universe is for us, then what can anyone or anything do? Our circumstances (tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger and sword) and our spiritual enemies (death, rulers, powers and everything else in all creation), are rendered completely powerless. Jesus suffered all of those circumstances and prevailed, he battled all of those spiritual enemies and won. We belong to him, so what can they do to us?
Paul continues: if God didn’t hold back from giving us His own Son, then why would he stop short of giving us anything else we need? Do you see how deeply comforting this is to us when we doubt? When life is difficult, we just need to look back to the cross and see again what God was willing to pay for us. Our circumstances prove neither that God is happy or angry at us. They are actually irrelevant. The cross is what dictates whether God is pleased with us. When we trust in Jesus and the crucifixion, we can rest assured that God looks at us, and sees the perfect life of Jesus.
Paul then takes us to court, not to accuse us, but to show us that nothing in life condemns us. Who can bring a charge against us? God has already declared us righteous! Who can chain us? Jesus has already set us free! So then what can touch us? For the Christian, the answer is nothing!
Once saved, always saved.
Praise God!
Prayer
Father in Heaven, thank you for the assurance of your love and the victory we have in Christ. In moments of doubt and despair, remind us that nothing can separate us from your love. Help us to live confidently, rooted in the truth that if you are for us, no one and nothing can stand against us. Amen.
Spiritual Challenge for the Day
Today, whenever you face a challenge or a moment of doubt, remind yourself, “God is for me.” Take a minute to reflect on this truth, allowing it to sink deep into your heart. Let this assurance transform how you approach your day, facing each situation not as a victim but as a victor, more than a conqueror through Him who loves us.