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?
What then can you say to the Gospel message? When you reflect on the absolute miracle of the life and death and resurrection of Jesus, what can you say in response? How can anyone respond to the work of Jesus to fulfill the law and free us from slavery to it and to sin?
Paul rhetorically answers this profound question with more questions. Effectively, he says, God is for us, no one can possibly be against us.* Look at what God did! In light of that, He will graciously give us all things!
What “all things” is Paul referring to? He is referring to the blessings of salvation and the inheritance promised to believers.*
The excitement of this message includes the promises of the future, but it also includes the present posture of our God toward us. Paul presents the truth that Christ died on our behalf and the Spirit intercedes on our behalf: God literally works on our behalf!* Amazing!
Paul’s words who can be against us does not suggest that Christians have no enemies (you don’t have to live as a believer long to know this).* Scripture and life experience give plenty of examples of opposition.
As one scholar sum it up:
When Paul goes on to ask, who can be against us? he does not mean that the Christian has no opponents. His entire correspondence is eloquent of the foes the Christian encounters constantly. He means that with God “for us” it makes not the slightest particle of difference who is against us. No foe can prevail against people who are supported by a God like that. The Christian’s confidence is in God, not in anything he himself does, and for all eternity he can rely on God’s gift*
Today, take a step.
Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to remember that God is for you. Perhaps God wants you to see your enemies as He does: not standing a chance. Maybe today God wants you to walk in the authority that He has worked to give you.
Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.
Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus.
Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!
*Kruse, C. G. (2012). Paul’s Letter to the Romans (D. A. Carson, Ed.; p. 341, 351–352). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Apollos.
Osborne, G. R. (2004). Romans (pp. 209–218). InterVarsity Press;
Morris, L. (1988). The Epistle to the Romans (p. 318-328). W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press.
Moo, D. J. (2000). Romans (p. 266). Zondervan Publishing House.