What, then, shall we say in response 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, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. 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. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
Romans 8:31-35
Scripture Notes
In a world filled with enmity and conflict, it’s easy to believe that we are alone, fighting against human nature and life’s pressures. But we are not isolated. Our relationship with the divine is secure, and Paul confidently states that we will live in eternal glory by exploring six different questions.
What, then, shall we say in response to these things?
How are we to respond to the call of living in the spirit, not of the body, to trust in God and his enduring promise of salvation? Paul answers this with another question.
If God is for us, who can be against us?
Being a believer does not mean that all our troubles; in fact, it can seem as though they have multiplied instead. But we are not alone in our struggles. Christ intercedes for us, sitting on the right hand of God. No matter what we suffer here on earth, nothing can triumph over us because God is on our side.
He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
If God was willing to sacrifice his only son for us, surely he will give us what we need to reach our intended goal: to be cleansed from our sins and glorified in our purity.
Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen?
In our minds, we know we are guilty, and our consciences try to convince us that we are not worth saving. But we have been delivered, not through merit, but by grace. God is the final judge, and he has passed the verdict of justification, closing the case, and our case is dismissed. This justification does not mean we should continue to sin and wait until death to ask for forgiveness. No. By being justified, we should no longer try to push the grace of God, but aim to be conformed to Christ.
Who then is the one who condemns?
We are judged by Christ, who not only has mercy on us but has also been accused himself. He is not only a judge but an advocate, petitioning for those who believe in him.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Believers are not relieved of their suffering because they come to Christ, but they are instilled with the path of perseverance and endurance. No matter what strife comes our way, nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. Paul states seven things that could be perceived as an indication that one has been separated from the love of Christ:
TROUBLE: a steady stream of punishment and strife
HARDSHIP: distress, affliction, anguish, and despair
PERSECUTION: the brutality of infliction, suffering, and even death for daring to be different
FAMINE: the gnawing and wasting away into a gaunt shadow of one’s former self
NAKEDNESS: exposure, vulnerability, and defenselessness
DANGER: the threat of imminent and terrible peril
SWORD: the cold, merciless, violent dealing out of death
In all these matters and the questions that arose, we are not brought into the kingdom of God to acquire worldly possessions or power. We are called to something greater than accumulating treasures on earth. Likewise, having God on our side is not like gaining an unbeatable general in a cultural or class war. We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us, but this is for God’s glory, not our own. Being a follower of Christ does not mean we are immune to hardship, nor does it mean all our enemies will vanish. Instead, we are given the tools to confront adversity with endurance and are promised justification by a fair and honest judge. The ultimate victory belongs to the Lord, and nothing can separate us from His love.
MEMORY VERse
Jan Toorop. O Grave, where is thy Victory? 1892. The Rijksmuseum
Related Verses
More verses about victory in Christ:
Prayer Invitation
Application Questions
- What can you say to someone who feels like God is against them because of the hardships they’re facing?
- What internal or external voices are condemning you, and how can you counter them with truth from God’s word?
- What or who prevents you from fully trusting that God wants to bless you and provide you with a victorious life?
- What is a practical step you can take to shift your thinking or behavior to be more grounded in the truth of not being separated from Christ’s love?
MANÁ 
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