If God is on Our Side

1. If God is for us, who can oppose us?

Romans 8:31 ESV

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

““What shall we say in view of these things?” “These things,” as I suggested above, should not be confined to what Paul has just said in vv. 28–30, or even in chap. 8 as a whole, but embrace all the blessings ascribed to Christians in chaps. 5–8.” (MOO)

What Paul means in his statement of “what then shall we say to these things?”

Here are a few:

“As children of God, we have been adopted into his family (v. 15). We are co-heirs with Christ (v. 17). We have received the Spirit as the guarantee of final redemption (v. 23). Our prayers are taken up by the Spirit and laid before God (v. 26). Though sinners by nature, through faith we have been acquitted of all wrong (v. 30). Our future glorification is so certain that God speaks of it as already having taken place (v. 30).” (MOUNCE)

“If God is for us,”

“The preposition I translate “for” could also be translated “on behalf of.” Paul uses it frequently to depict the vicarious work of Christ (cf. especially 5:6–8); here it suggests that God is “on our side,” that he is working “for” us (Moo, 539).”

God is “On our side” is such a beautiful reality. We are not warring against God as believers. God is not aggressively attacking us or condemning us. Instead he is fighting for us, he is lifting us up.

“Who can be against us?”

Obviously, Paul does not mean that nobody will, in fact, oppose us; as Paul knows from his own experience (to which he alludes in v. 35), opposition to believers is both varied and intense. What Paul is suggesting by this rhetorical question is that nobody—and no “thing”—can ultimately harm, or stand in the way of, the one whom God is “for.” (Moo, 539.)

Persecution is assured, ridicule and abuse from the world is assured. But, they can’t harm us spiritually nor can they stop God’s plans for us nor can they take away our salvation in Christ. For we are the children of God!

2. If God is for us, who can accuse us?

Romans 8:32–33 ESV

32 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? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.

A. Because Jesus wasn’t spared, we face no charges.

B. Because we are the chosen of God, we face no charges.

3. If God is for us, who can condemn us?

Romans 8:34 ESV

34 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.

Romans 8:34–35 ESV

34 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. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

Romans 8:34

A. Because of Jesus’ work on the cross and resurrection, we face no condemnation.

B. Because of Jesus’ work as our mediator, we face no condemnation.

4. If God is for us, who can sever us from God’s love?

5. If God is for us, who can crush us?

Romans 8:35–39 ESV

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.

A. Because God is for us, the trials of the world cannot separate us.

Romans 8:35

Romans 8:35–36 ESV

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.”

Romans 8:35–37 ESV

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.

B. Because God is for us, no power in the universe can separate us.

Romans 8:38–39 ESV

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.