Bible Study Romans 8.31-39
More Than Conquerors
8:31–32 What, then, are we to conclude from all of this? 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). Certainly if God is for us,199 “what does it matter who may be against us” (Norlie).200 Since God did not spare his own Son but delivered him over to death for us all,201 will he not along with this gracious gift also lavish upon us everything else he has to give?202 The argument is from the greater to the lesser. A God who sacrificed his own Son on our behalf will certainly not withhold that which by comparison is merely trivial. The immeasurable greatness of God’s love is seen in the infinite nature of his sacrifice on our behalf. God is by nature a giving God.203
Election and calling. Sometimes Paul refers to those who have believed and been saved as “the elect” (Rom 8:33; 16:13; cf. Col 3:12; 2 Tim 2:10; Tit 1:1). This language reflects God’s deliberate choice to create a people for himself and to deliver them from their sin. This purpose found its realization as God called Abraham and subsequently his offspring
8:33–34 Paul continued by asking rather incredulously, Who is there who dares to bring an accusation against those whom God has chosen (v. 33)?204 No one! It is God himself205 who pronounces his people righteous.206 There is no higher tribunal. Who is the one with the authority to condemn (v. 34)? Translations are divided on whether to take the response as a statement or a question. If a statement, the answer to “Who is he that condemns?” would be, “It is Christ Jesus [that condemns], the one who died and rose again.” But Jesus said, “I did not come to judge the world, but to save it” (John 12:47). So it must be a question: “Will Christ? No! For he is the One who died for us” (TLB). If he is for us, he certainly will not condemn us. Far from condemning us, he is right now at the right hand of God interceding on our behalf.207 Not only does the Spirit intercede for us (8:26) but the glorified Christ as well.
Jesus’ resurrection also initiated His role as Lord. He now exercises authority at God’s right hand. Paul referred to this when he said that Jesus “was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord” (1:4). One expression of this authority is Jesus’ ministry of intercession in behalf of Christians, a reason Paul could declare confidently that “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (8:1). When later in this passage he posed the rhetorical question, “Who is he that condemns?” (8:34a), the understood reply is “No one.” For as Paul answered, “Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us” (v. 34b).