Romans 8:31 - Who can be against us?

Romans 8:31
What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

The next few passages are all connected, and they are so comforting and encouraging. One thought though before we get to the passage. It is great to hear God's word and to be encouraged by it, but are you willing to be challenged by it? Do you only turn to passages which you know are comforting? Or do you genuinely listen to God's rebukes when you read them and they apply to your life? It's so easy to just love bits of God's word. But no - we need to love all of it, or else we don't actually love God, we love an idol which we have created.

"What, then, shall we say in response to these things?" - What things? That God is in control, that he has chosen and called us and that he will save us. That he has forgiven us completely. That we are united to Christ in his death and resurrection if we are Christians. That we deserve hell and death and destruction and yet we are forgiven 100% because of Jesus and not only that but adopted as God's children, made co-heirs with Christ and promised eternal life in heaven? That in Christ we die to sin and are made alive to serve God, new life and complete forgiveness. Those things.

"If God is for us, who can be against us?" - If God, the creator of the universe, the sustainer of all things, the all knowing, all powerful, sovereign God, the one and only God, the living God, the God who is just, perfect, pure, right, faithful, good, trustworthy, merciful, mighty, loving, holy, gracious and entirely awesome is for us, who can be against us? If he has saved us, if in Christ we are his children, what can we possibly have to fear? Dont hear me (or the verse for that matter) wrong - life will be hard, we will fear, we will stumble, we will sin, every christian will be persecuted (2 Timothy 3:12 promises us that). We may be poor, we may lose all friends, all our family, we may be hated, we may be murdered, we may be tortured and rejected - but we don't need to fear. God is for us - who can be against us? Our lives here, no matter how long or short, no matter how hard or easy, are only temporary. We have the completely certain hope of heaven if we are truly Christians, and therefore we should not fear because we have hope and we are going to eternal life with God, in his presence where there will be no more pain or mourning or death. (See Revelations 21). Who can be against us? Who can overcome our God? No one. Not if we're christians. Not because we are good, or worthy of it, but because God is gracious and merciful and has chosen to save us if we are his people. Not based on our strength, but based entirely on Jesus' strength and God's strength. We are nothing. He saves and it is in him that we find rest!

So the question remains, is this true for you? Are you a Christian? Have you turned from your sins (i.e. repented) and is your faith, your trust, in Jesus alone? That is the only way to be saved. If you are a Christian, then are you living like it? Are you fearing, or are you trusting God? Are you growing and obeying God, or are you living as if he hasn't forgiven you, or as if it doesn't matter to you if he has?

What an awesome God!

Psalm 34:3
Glorify the Lord with me;
    let us exalt his name together.

God Bless, 
Nat.