Romans 8: 31-39
Bible Study (Romans) • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 3 viewsNotes
Transcript
Handout
Handout
Romans 8:31–39 (AMP)
31 What then shall we say to [all] this? If God is for us, who [can be] against us? [Who can be our foe, if God is on our side?]
32 He who did not withhold or spare [even] His own Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also with Him freely and graciously give us all [other] things?
33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect [when it is] God Who justifies [that is, Who puts us in right relation to Himself? Who shall come forward and accuse or impeach those whom God has chosen? Will God, Who acquits us?]
34 Who is there to condemn [us]? Will Christ Jesus (the Messiah), Who died, or rather Who was raised from the dead, Who is at the right hand of God actually pleading as He intercedes for us?
PAUL SAYS THAT JESUS IS INTERCEDING FOR US IN HEAVEN. GOD HAS ACQUITTED US AND HAS REMOVED OUR SIN AND GUILT, SO IT IS SATAN NOT GOD, WHO ACCUSES US. WHEN HE DOES, JESUS THE ADVOCATE FOR OUR DEFENSE, STANDS AT GOD’S RIGHT HAND TO PRESENT OUR CASE. MORE ON THAT CAN BE FOUND IN HEBREWS 4:14-15
Hebrews 4:14–15 (ESV)
14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
35 Who shall ever separate us from Christ’s love? Shall suffering and affliction and tribulation? Or calamity and distress? Or persecution or hunger or destitution or peril or sword?
36 Even as it is written, For Thy sake we are put to death all the day long; we are regarded and counted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us.
38 For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers,
39 Nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Reference for Rom 8:31: Psalm 118:6
6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?
6 God’s now at my side and I’m not afraid;
who would dare lay a hand on me?
6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear.
What can man do to me?
6 Jehovah is on my side; I will not fear:
What can man do unto me?
8:31–34 The staggering promise of 8:30 launches Paul into the most beautiful and victorious passage in the book. He asks, What, then, are we to say about these things? (8:31). If God has done all of this for us, what could possibly overrule it? If God did not even spare his own Son (8:32), why would we ever doubt his goodness and generosity toward us? And if God is for us (8:31), then who could bring an accusation against God’s elect? (8:33). If God says you’re not guilty (and he does!) then charges against you are irrelevant. Tony Evans, The Tony Evans Bible Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2019), 1130.
Do you ever think that because you aren’t good enough for God, He will not save you? Do you ever feel as if salvation is for everyone else but you? Then these verses are especially for you If God gave His Son for you, He isn’t going to hold back the gift of salvation! If Christ gave His life for you He isn’t going to turn around and condemn you! He will not withhold anything you need to live for him. The book of Romans is more than a theological explanation of God’s redeeming grace---it is a letter of comfort and confidence addressed to you
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 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.
No matter what happens to us, no matter where we are, we can never be lost to His love. Suffering should not drive us away from God, but help us to identify with Him further and allow His love to reach us and heal us. These verses contain one of the most comforting promises in all Scripture. Believers have always had to face hardships in many forms: persecution, illness, imprisonment, even death. These could cause them to fear that they have been abandoned by Christ. But Paul exclaims that it is impossible to be separated from Christ. His death for us is proof of His unconquerable love. Nothing can stop Christ’s constant presence with us. God tells us how great His love is so that we will feel totally secure in Him. If we believe these overwhelming assurances, we will not be afraid.
The Tony Evans Bible Commentary IX. The Spirit Leads Us to Glory (8:1–39)
Paul ends this chapter with another eternal security question: Who can separate us from the love of Christ? (8:35). The answer, at this point, should be obvious: no one. But Paul wants us to feel that answer, so he piles up problem after problem. Will affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? (8:35). In other words, can the worst circumstances on earth separate us from God’s love? What about death … rulers … things present … things to come? (8:38). Will the spiritual powers of the invisible world divorce us from God? Will one’s past, present, or future do it? Will any other created thing (8:39)? Paul covers every possibility with that phrase. That’s as “everything” as “everything” gets.
Paul’s answer to every possible objection is, “No!” Of course these things can’t separate us from God’s love! Nothing can. In fact, even in the midst of terrible situations, we emerge more than conquerors (8:37). With God’s love, we don’t just get by. We overwhelmingly conquer
1. According to Romans 8:31-34, what does it mean for God to be "for us"? How does this truth impact the way Christians should view their relationship with God and handle adversity?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Describe the significance of Jesus' role as the mediator mentioned in Romans 8:34. How does this concept demonstrate God's love and willingness to intercede on behalf of believers?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. According to Romans 8:35, what does it mean to be "more than conquerors" through Christ's love? Explain how this understanding can shape a Christian's attitude and approach to life's challenges.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
4. Reflect on your own life experiences or the experiences of others you know, and discuss how Romans 8:35 has been a source of hope and encouragement in facing various trials.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
5. Discuss the role of hope in Romans 8:36. How can an understanding of the eternal hope offered by Christ influence a believer's response to suffering and persecution?
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
6. "Finish this statement from Romans 8:37: 'In all these things we are...'?"
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
7. How does knowing that nothing can separate us from God's love impact our faith?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________