Message Notes Romans 8:31-39

Today we will finish our study of chapter 8 of Romans. This short section (vv. 31-39) is = loaded with questions. These kinds of questions come up when “all things” begin working together in o= ur life for our good according to God’s purpose.

The first question is: “What shall we say to these things?” What are these things mentioned in vers= e 31? They are the all things in verse 28. In my experience through the years, when all things start working together in our life, we usually have plenty = to say. What are YOU saying to t= hese things? “Why me?”= “I can’t take it!” “I am going = to give up!” “Why is= this happening to me?” ̶= 0;I am not going to another meeting!” However, Paul answered this question with another question: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” That is a = great question-answer! His conclusi= on was that God is fo= r us!&nb= sp; He realized that no matter what “thing” was happening in= his life; he knew that God was FOR him. And if God is FOR us, then who can possibly be against us?

How could Paul conclude that God was for Him?&= nbsp; Because in verse 32 it says that God did not spare His very best. The first thing that God gave us was His (THE) best; His own Son! He didn’t just give us His S= on, but rather had Him delivered to death in our place and for our sake. If God already gave us the absolut= e best that He had, doesn’t it make sense the He will freely give us all oth= er things? Wouldn’t He giv= e us anything that we needed to complete His full salvation in us?

However, when God starts working in our lives, Satan, the accuser, starts doing thin= gs in our life as well. This is = why Paul says, who can bring a charge against us if God Himself is the One justifying us? Who can condem= n us if Jesus paid the penalty for our sin already? Not only did He pay the penalty fo= r our sin, but God accepted His Son on our behalf. His acceptance was proved because = he raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand. Not only so, but He gave to Him all authority and power over all things—including the EVERYTHING in our life! This very moment He is interceding and will continue to intercede for us until we are fully perfec= ted and glorified (vv. 33-34).

In verse 35 Paul asks still another question: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” Wh= en God is doing so much in our life to perfect us unto glorification, Satan always comes to frustrate that work. We become objects of his attacks. Saints, we must realize and believe that no matter what Satan, the devil, the deceiver, the accuser, the liar and murderer throws our way, not= one of those things can separate us from loving Christ. Who (or what) shall separate us fr= om the love of Christ? Shall tribula= tion (pressing or pressing together) or anquish=

(a narrowness of place; a narrow place) or persecution (to be mistreated, suffer persecutio= n on account of something) or famine (lack of harvest) or nakedness (lack of clothing) or peril (general danger) or sword (threat of death)? What can come into our lives to ca= use us to stop loving Him?

Verse 36 presents us with a quote f= rom Psalm 44: “For Your sak= e we are being put to death all day long; we are accounted as sheep for slaughter.” This was a = prayer of deliverance from being oppressed by the enemy and being restored to the presence of God in His temple. In our experience, we are not in a friendly environment. We often have the feeling that we = are being put to death. We are be= ing put to death in the church life, at home, at work, and in many situations.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> We feel like sheep being led where= we do not wish to go—to the slaughter.&nbs= p; But even in light of such experiences we can boldly declare that in “all things” we are more than conquerors through Him who loved = us (v. 37). The secret to our ab= ility to conquer in any kind of situation is found in the phrase “through Him.” What does it mean= to be “through Him?” According to experience, it means to pray. As all things are working together= in our lives, we need to pray to Him and experience Him in that “thing” we are experiencing.&n= bsp; As we communicate with Him we experience “Who loved us.” We have a “knowing” as we commune with Him that this “thing” = is working for our greater good, according to God’s full salvation in us, and that He loves us to the uttermost.

Based upon this experience, we can say with Paul, “For I am persuaded.” It is a gre= at thing to be absolutely persuaded of something. Persuasion is a strong belief; to = be fully convinced that something is so. Paul was persuaded, beyond ANY doubt, that neither death nor life nor angels nor principalities nor things present nor things to come nor powers nor height = nor depth nor any other creature would be able to separate us from the love of = God; a love which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (v. 38-39).