By Martin Morrison
There are two things which can cause a Christian to become deeply unsettled and miserable. The first is our ongoing failure with sin. The second is suffering. The problem with both these matters, is that they can unsettle our sense of security in God. They can unsettle our assurance. They can cause us great unhappiness.
The grand theme of Romans 8 is assurance. From “no condemnation” in the first verse to “no separation” in the last verse. Not only do they serve as beginning and end markers, but Paul affirms this assurance throughout the chapter for those who are in Christ. “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God”, Romans 8:16.
The reason for this repeated affirmation is to prevent his Roman readers from becoming disillusioned with the Gospel. “If Christ died for our sins, why do we still struggle with sin?” If Christ conquered suffering and death, why do Christians still suffer and die?”
Throughout Romans 8, Paul has made it abundantly clear that salvation this side of heaven is only partial. It is only the first instalment. Despite the reality of the life, death and resurrection of Christ, we still live in a broken world with broken bodies and other broken people. We are only tasting the first fruits of the Gospel. Only in glory will we feast on the full benefits.
We have already seen the transparent realism of Paul. This side of heaven, creation is still broken and groaning vs. 22. This side of heaven, we ourselves are still groaning waiting for future glory, vs. 23. This side of heaven involves suffering, but on the far side there will be glory, vs. 18. Paul is most concerned that we don’t believe in a false Gospel. A Gospel which says that Jesus will give you perfect health, perfect wealth, perfect success in this world. That is not Biblical Christianity. If that is what you believe, then you will soon become terribly disillusioned with Christianity. Cynical disbelief and agnosticism beckons.
More often than I care to remember I have been thanked by new members of our church family who have been scorched by the false teaching of prosperity churches. Their relief that they are not spiritual failures or third-class believers has been palpable. Their relief at discovering that brokenness in this life is not a sign of their lack of faith. Their relief to discover that they are not abandoned by God. Their joy to discover that their God has not failed! The true message of the Bible has exposed the sales pitch of the false teachers to be a scam! The so-called “Man of God” has finally been seen to have no clothes!
So, if Christians still struggle with sin and death, what assurance can Paul give them? Paul answers their question here in Romans 8 by reminding them that they have two great things. Firstly, they have the Spirit of God within them, as outlined in vs.9 – 17. Secondly, they have the promises of God as seen in vs. 31 – 39. These promises are fleshed out in 4 questions. Let’s have a look at them.
1. If God is for us, who can be against us?
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”, Romans 8:31. Paul does not ask the naïve question, who is against us? What an absurd question! The Christian daily faces a host of enemies. The world is opposed to us; the flesh or indwelling sin is an ever present impostor; the devil and powers of darkness are arraigned against us. More than that, we face daily tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, sword and death itself, vs. 35 – 36.
No, the real question is not, who is against us? But rather, if God is for us, who can possibly conquer us? When you put it like that, then the answer is obvious. You and God form a majority. An insurmountable majority! All the powers of hell can be arraigned against us, and we are safe.
A mouse and an elephant were walking across a massive bridge, at each step the bridge would vibrate. “Isn’t it amazing how the bridge vibrates when you and I walk across”, said the mouse to the elephant!
2. If God gave us his Son, will he not give us all things?
“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?” Romans 8:32. If Paul had asked the simple question, will God not give us all things? I am not sure how we would respond? But that is not the question. Paul argues from the greater to the lesser. If God has already given us the costliest gift of his own Son, who gave his life for us, then surely, he won’t fail to give us absolutely everything we need! Of course, if there are certain things we don’t have, it must be because God does not think we need them!
Who delivered up Jesus to die?
Not Judas for money
Not Pilate for fear
Not the Jews for envy
But the Father for love.
3. Who condemns or brings any charge?
“Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 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”. Romans 8: 33 – 34
Imagine that you are in a great courtroom somewhere in eternity. Picture the scene. The great judge of all the earth is at the bar, the record books are open before him. You are standing in the dock, ashamed and fearful. You are about to answer for all the deeds done in the flesh. Three witnesses have come to testify against you. The Bible, the devil and your conscience. The great judge calls the first witness. The Bible steps forward and informs him that you ought to be found guilty. “Oh, Judge”, says the Bible, “this person has not kept your laws, he had countless opportunities to hear the Bible being taught, but he ignored me, neglected me, spurned your laws. He must be found guilty”. You hang your head in shame, you know it is true and you are guilty.
The great judge calls the next witness, the devil. “Oh Judge”, he says, “this man must be condemned for he fell for almost every temptation I put before him. Time after time he committed sins against you. Countless times he offered no resistance. He must be found guilty”. Your shoulders slump even more. It is all true. Your mind races back over the years. You remember how, with careless abandon, you did exactly what you wanted to do. You thought you could get away with it. People were hurt in the process. You are guilty.
The third witness steps up to the witness box. It is your conscience. “Oh Judge”, he says, “this man constantly and deliberately flouted every warning I gave him, every nudge, every restraint. He was so obsessed with himself and his own desires that he pushed me aside until I could stir him no longer. He must be punished”.
How ashamed you feel, you remember with overwhelming guilt the times you did things you knew were wrong. Your lusts, your evil desires. Your selfishness took you in a direction that you knew to be wrong. You know you are guilty.
A hush falls over the courtroom, the evidence has been heard. The judge must give the judgement. He calls you. “All that these three witnesses have said is true. My judgement is that the soul that sins must die. You will go to eternal death to bear my wrath from everlasting to everlasting”.
You have nothing to say. What can you say? It is all true. You are guilty. You ignored the Bible, because you felt you were too clever for God’s book. You obeyed the devil and his temptations time after time. You blunted, shunned your conscience. You stand condemned.
But wait, there’s someone stepping out from the crowd. It is Jesus, he has come as your advocate. “Wait” he says. “I do not plead the innocence of this person. He is guilty. I have no defence to offer on his behalf, except this”. He holds up his hands and the great judge see the imprints of nails in his hands.
You see the great eternal punishment has already been paid for. He bore your punishment. He died your death. He took your place. He died for you.
As the great judge sees the nail prints in the hands of his Son, he takes his pen and writes cancelled across your charge sheet. Your debt has been paid. Your punishment has been meted out. Justice has been done. You are acquitted, never to appear in that court again.
No wonder Paul, says, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”. No condemnation, what a statement! Millions live their lives with guilt and remorse and shame, because of what they have done. Their consciences often accusing them. Pauls says, “No condemnation”. Romans 8:1. Those sins have already been punished. Those sins can never be held against you again.
4. Who can separate us from the love of Christ?
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?” Romans 8: 35. Paul lists seven possible things that could happen to a Christian. Paul assumes that Christians are not exempted from anyone of these events. Paul probably mentioned these seven because he experienced them all! In fact, vs 36 includes persecution and death, which Paul eventually experienced, when he was martyred for his faith.
A paraphrase of vs. 36 is not, “Come to Jesus and he will solve all your material or earthly problems”, but rather, “Come to Jesus and suffer. Come to Jesus and join the queue for the abattoir!”
Question. If you suffer for Christ, does that disprove his love for you? On the contrary, Christ proved his love for us by suffering for us. Our suffering for Christ cannot disprove his love. Paul ends off his argument with this magnificent all-inclusive promise,
“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, not things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord”. Romans 8:38 – 39.