Irrefutable Assurance: God Is For Us!
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We come to the end of our series on Romans 5-8. Here in vv. 31-39 Paul sums up and concludes everything he has been teaching since chapter 5.
1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul has been, in a sense, arguing for the assurance of our salvation since this verse. And now he concludes his thoughts on the matter.
Notice how he begins v. 31
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
What are the “these things”? Not just what he was saying in the immediate context, but what he has been arguing for since the beginning of his letter in chapter 1, and especially what he has been arguing for since chapter 5.
Chapter 5:
2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Right away Paul was pointing our eyes ahead to the hope of the glory of God in our salvation. He is speaking about the assurance of our salvation.
10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
He points to our reconciliation and our final future and full salvation by means of the life of our Savior.
19 For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.
20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,
21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
He reminded us of our old connection to the first Adam, and our new connection, our new union with the second Adam. An in this union wherever sin increased grace abounded all the more. This grace reigns over us through righteousness and it leads to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. It is the assurance of our salvation.
4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
Our baptism reminds us of the spiritual benefits we share with Christ because we are one with Christ. We share in not only his death, and burial, but also in His resurrection life.
8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.
9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.
Our union with Christ is so powerful, that his death is our death and his life is our life. What assurance we have!
22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The fruit of our salvation is eternal life. He continually works it out. What are the implications of the justification that we have been graciously given by God through Jesus Christ—the end of that doctrine must be assurance of eternal life.
4 Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.
24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?
25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
Romans 8:31 (ESV)
31 What then shall we say to these things?
What the Apostle now does is summarize the whole of his teaching on our union with Christ and on the glories of our salvation. And in his conclusion he lays and irrefutable argument for the assurance of our salvation.
Our salvation is eternally secure, not on the basis of our work or our ability, but on the mighty working of God. And if we will just follow Paul’s argument, if we will work it out for ourselves, then we will come away with hearts that are overwhelmed by the grace of God, and abundantly confident in the promise of God and that kind of confidence in doctrine will fuel and propel us by means of love for God to serve Him like we have never done so before.
Our salvation is irrefutably assured because God is for us!
How do we know that our salvation is irrefutably assured?
Paul wants us to understand four arguments that show us the absolute assurance of our salvation.
I. Our salvation is assured because God is on our side. (v. 31)
I. Our salvation is assured because God is on our side. (v. 31)
Paul’s first argument for the security of our salvation, for the assurance of our salvation casts our eyes on the greatness and the glory of God. Paul wants us to get our eyes off of ourselves and cast longing look at the transcendence of God! And as you do that, and as your mind dwells on God, as you BEHOLD YOUR GOD, your heart will swell with such confidence, such boldness, such assurance—that what God promises He will provide!
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
εἰ ὁ θεὸς ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν, τίς καθʼ ἡμῶν;
If God for us, who against us?
If God be for us! Let that thought sink in. If you are a Christian, if you are in Christ, if you are united with Christ, then God is FOR YOU! What does that mean? It means God is on your side!
Paul is not saying that no one will oppose us. He does not say that God is on our side and no one is against us. Indeed, all over the Scriptures we are told that we have adversaries on every side. Jesus categorizes them for us— he tells us our enemies—they are the world, the flesh, and the devil. Our opposition as believers is as varied as it is intense. Paul is not saying a Christian has no opposition.
He is saying that there is no one or no thing that can ultimately harm us or stand in our way when God is for us.
9 Go on up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good news; lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!”
10 Behold, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.
12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with a span, enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance?
13 Who has measured the Spirit of the Lord, or what man shows him his counsel?
14 Whom did he consult, and who made him understand? Who taught him the path of justice, and taught him knowledge, and showed him the way of understanding?
15 Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are accounted as the dust on the scales; behold, he takes up the coastlands like fine dust.
16 Lebanon would not suffice for fuel, nor are its beasts enough for a burnt offering.
17 All the nations are as nothing before him, they are accounted by him as less than nothing and emptiness.
21 Do you not know? Do you not hear? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?
22 It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to dwell in;
23 who brings princes to nothing, and makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness.
25 To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? says the Holy One.
26 Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name; by the greatness of his might and because he is strong in power, not one is missing.
28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.
30 Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted;
31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
If God is for us, if God is on our side, who or what is there in all creation that can ultimately stand against us?
24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power.
25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
27 For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him.
28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.
O God, My Joy
VERSE 3:
Compelled by joy, I fight the sin
that turns my gaze from Your glory.
Your Holy Spirit dwells within;
His presence arms me for vict’ry.
Let death and hell against me rise;
through death I’ll gain eternal joys.
All pow’rs of hell will bend the knee
before my great King of Glory!
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Our salvation is irrefutably assured because God is for us!
This is Paul’s first argument: God is on our side! Let this glorious truth flood your soul!
II. Our salvation is assured because God has already proved beyond doubt His gracious intent for us. (v. 32)
II. Our salvation is assured because God has already proved beyond doubt His gracious intent for us. (v. 32)
Continuing on from his previous argument that God is for us, here Paul show exactly how God is for us. He highlights the graciousness of God and all that He has promises to give us in our salvation.
Romans 8:32 (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?
How do we know that God will keep his promise of our future glory? How do we know that God will keep His word about our eternal life? Paul uses a greater to lesser argument.
God has already given us the greatest gift possible. God did not spare His own Son, but gave him up.
ἀλλʼ ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν πάντων παρέδωκεν αὐτόν,
BUT delivered/offered Him up for us all,
The crucifixion of Jesus did not happen but accident. It did not happen by the will of man, or by the will of Satan and his demons. The death of Jesus came about because God actively offered up or delivered over to death his own son for us all!
This is a central and key part of the Apostles argument. God Himself was instrumental in delivering over Jesus to the cross.
παραδίδωμι- this Greek word is used three times in the LXX translation of Isaiah 53.
Isaiah 53:4 (ESV)
4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.
Isaiah 53:6 (ESV)
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
and the Lord gave him over [παρέδωκεν αὐτόν] to our sins”
Isaiah 53:10 (ESV)
10 Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.
Isaiah 53:12 (ESV)
12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.
“his soul was given over [παρεδόθη; MT, ‘he poured out his soul’] to death, / and he was reckoned among the lawless; / and he bore the sins of many, and because of their sins he was given over [παρεδόθη; MT, ‘he made intercession for the transgressors’]”
23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.
John 14:30–31 (HCSB)
30 I will not talk with you much longer, because the ruler of the world is coming. He has no power over Me.
31 On the contrary, I am going away so that the world may know that I love the Father. Just as the Father commanded Me, so I do. “Get up; let’s leave this place.
John 19:11 (ESV)
11 Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above.
Friends, how do you know that God is for you? Because He delivered over, by his sovereign will and infinite wisdom and overwhelming love, Jesus Christ for our sins.
Notice also:
Romans 8:32 (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?
Contrasting:
23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
We are the adopted sons of God. But Jesus is God’s OWN Son. He is the only unique Son of God. Eternally generated from the Father. Eternal God of eternal God.
Jesus Christ is:
John 1 1
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,
9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Romans 8:32 (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?
God is for you! Your salvation is secure! How do we know? Because God actively delivered up His OWN Son-Jesus Christ, the second person of the Godhead. And Notice He gave Him up FOR US ALL!
Now that we understand these vital pieces of Paul’s argument, let’s put the whole thing together.
V. 32 functions like a kind of conditional sentence. There is an implied “if” and “then” in this verse.
IF God has, indeed, given His own Son for us all, THEN how can anyone conceivably doubt that he will not also freely give us all things along with him?
It is an argument from the greater to the lesser.
What is the greater? God giving His own Son!
What is the lesser? God freely giving us all things.
What are the all things? eons to come God pouring out his grace and kindness on us through Christ! Wow! God has already given us the most precious gift imaginable, certainly He will hold nothing back now.
3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
The point is this: Our salvation is assured because God has already proved beyond doubt His gracious intent for us.
IF God has, indeed, given His own Son for us all, THEN how can anyone conceivably doubt that he will not also freely give us all things along with him?
III. Our salvation is assured because God has disarmed every possible accusation against us. (v. 33)
III. Our salvation is assured because God has disarmed every possible accusation against us. (v. 33)
33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.
Shall bring- future tense, this focuses our attention on the last judgement.
Who shall be able to bring a charge against the believer on that final judgement day? What legitimacy might such a charge contain? Is there any possibility whatsoever of a charge of accusation that might stick?
Paul’s argument makes it clear that such a thing is an absolute impossibility.
Who might attempt such a thing? Who is it that would bring a charge against God’s elect?
The obvious answer- the great accuser of the brethren, Satan, surely would fit as an answer to this question.
10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.
But, Satan’s accusations make no difference whatsoever.
It might be that our earthly enemies will one day attempt to make an accusation against us. They would be wasting their breathe.
It might be, most persuasively of all, our own sins that would seek to condemn us. But not even our hearts or consciences will be able to make an accusation stick against us if we know Jesus Christ as our Savior.
Why are all these charges ineffective?
1). They are ineffective because they are made against God’s elect.
29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
2). They are ineffective because God is the one who justifies.
Why is this such a powerful argument? You have to understand by what means God is able to justify us if you want to understand the power of Paul’s argument.
13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,
14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.
15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.
Answer: Absolutely no one! Your salvation is assured. It is secured. Who can bring a charge against you? You are the elect of God. It is He who justifies. God has disarmed every possible argument against you. Your salvation is secure.
IV. Our salvation is assured because Jesus guarantees our verdict of righteousness. (v. 34)
IV. Our salvation is assured because Jesus guarantees our verdict of righteousness. (v. 34)
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.
Who is the one that can condemn you?
Rom 8 1
1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Here Paul works it out in terms of the ministry of Jesus Christ our Savior for our salvation.
No one can condemn you because Christ Jesus is the one who died for you. He died for your sins.
MORE THAN THAT- not only has He died, but more than that! What could be more than that?
He was raised, he has ascended into heaven and He is stead at the right hand of God. And what is He doing in heaven for our sakes?
He is interceding for us!
What is the purpose of His intercession? He is ensuring that the justifying verdict for which he died is applied to us in the judgment.
1 Arise, my soul, arise,
shake off thy guilty fears.
The bleeding Sacrifice
in my behalf appears.
Before the throne my Surety stands,
before the throne my Surety stands;
my name is written on His hands.
2 He ever lives above,
for me to intercede;
His all-redeeming love,
His precious blood to plead,
His blood atoned for all our race,
His blood atoned for all our race,
and sprinkles now the throne of grace.
3 Five bleeding wounds He bears,
received on Calvary;
they pour effectual prayers,
they strongly plead for me.
"Forgive him, O, forgive," they cry,
"Forgive him, O, forgive," they cry,
"Nor let that ransomed sinner die!"
4 The Father hears Him pray,
His dear Anointed One;
He cannot turn away
the presence of His Son.
His Spirit answers to the blood,
His Spirit answers to the blood,
and tells me I am born of God.
5 My God is reconciled,
His pard'ning voice I hear;
He owns me for a child,
I can no longer fear.
With confidence I now draw nigh,
with confidence I now draw nigh,
and, "Father, Abba, Father," cry.
Your salvation is secure it is assured because Jesus Christ your Savior guarantees your verdict of righteousness!
This is irrefutable assurance my friends! God is for us! Every member of the triune God is working on our behalf guaranteeing our salvation.
26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
The Holy Spirit is now interceding for us within our hearts. And the Father who searches our hearts find the Spirit interceding on our behalf.
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.
The Son of God, Christ Jesus, not only died for us, but more than that he rose again and is ever interceding for us before the Father’s throne.
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?
The Father is who has already proved beyond any doubt that He will work for us with grace. Who is the one who justifies. He also assures our salvation!
Rom 8 31
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
1 Be still, my soul; the Lord is on thy side;
bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
in every change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul; thy best, thy heav'nly Friend
through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
2 Be still, my soul; thy God doth undertake
to guide the future as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
all now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul; the waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.
3 Be still, my soul; the hour is hast'ning on
when we shall be forever with the Lord,
when disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul; when change and tears are past,
all safe and blessed we shall meet at last.
If God is for us, who can be against us? Be still my soul, the Lord is on thy side.
Let this blessed and glorious truth enrapture you soul. Let it flood your heart with love. You are irrefutably secure. Nothing can take your salvation from you. God is for you. Now, let this glorious truth overflow your hearts with love for God and let it propel you to serve him this week. Go forth motivated by the great love of God and bring Him great glory in all you say and do. If God is for us, who can be against us? Amen!