God Is for Us!

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"We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. 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. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

“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? 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. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, ‘For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.’

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor 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 8:28-39).

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!

We’re all familiar with some of the basic questions of life: who, what, where, when, how, and why. These questions deal with the basic facts and information—important, but not always life-changing. Other questions are life-changing: What college will you go to? What do you want to do when you grow up? Will you marry me? Then there are the purpose questions: Who am I? Where am I going? What will become of me? What’s my purpose for being here?

Finally, perhaps, there are the faith questions. Jesus asks, “Do you love Me?” This question is colored by another: “Do you trust Me?” These are the sorts of questions that will really change your life, even your eternal life. It’s real life-changing questions that our text today raises.

The first question Paul raises in our text is simply this: “What then shall we say to these things?” (Romans 8:31a). What things? “All things.” “All things? You may recall from last week’s Epistle that Paul talked about creation and us ourselves groaning, suffering the effects of this sin-corrupted world and longing for the glory that’s to be revealed in us in the future. Lots of things aren’t pretty in this fallen world. What then shall we say in the face of those things—all those things, including the un-pretty ones? Well, here’s what Paul says to all those things: “We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

We often quote this verse to encourage people who are suffering. But be careful! When we tell them that “all things work together for good,” we may fail to make clear that it’s God who has power to bring good out of bad—who transforms Good Fridays into Easters. When we tell someone, “All things work together for good,” it may sound as if we believe “all things” to be good—that we’re counting the circumstances that caused their pain as insignificant. Therefore, “all things work together for good” might come across as a platitude, as if we were saying, “Don’t sweat it—it’s going to be okay.” We shouldn’t be surprised if the sufferer dismisses our good intentions—and dismisses us as spiritual caregivers as well.

The real point of the verse is this: “We know that God causes all things to work together for our good.” God isn’t the cause of bad things, we live in a broken world because of sin. God works in all things for our good. That’s good news.

To illustrate, the ingredients that go into a cake are not very tasty when eaten individually. Flour, sugar, shortening, eggs, salt, baking powder, and spices are not something we want to eat one ingredient at a time. But mix all these together in just the right proportions and then bake the combined mixture, and you have a delicious treat. Each event in our life is like one ingredient in a cake. It may not seem good by itself, but when mixed by God with other events, it will surely produce what is good.

God causes all things to work together for good. This means we can’t judge the goodness of God’s work until His program is finished. Have you ever been too hasty in testing the cake batter? Almost always the result is unsatisfactory. Until God’s recipe for our lives is complete, we dare not judge God’s cooking. So that’s the first thing we want to say about these things, all things.

The next life-changing question our text asks is “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31b). The question is not simply “Who can be against us?” You could answer that one. Who’s against you? Disease, inflation, exhaustion, calamities, earthquakes, hurricanes, drought, you name them. We can easily list our foes. But that’s not the question. The question is “If God is for us, who can be against us?” More directly, the thrust of the text is assumed: “Since God is for us.” Paul is saying that since God is for us, it really doesn’t matter who’s against us. All our enemies could gang up on us at the same time, and they’re no match for God. God is for us! This is how God is working all things for good!

Now to the pivotal question: “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). How far is God willing to go for us? What limits has He placed on His love of us? God has gone to the extreme limits for us. He did not spare His Son but sent Him to the cross for the love of us. God is for us!

Here we go again with those words “all things.” Will He not give us all things, not only all the things of our salvation? All things? Did God save us so that we’d be slaves to worry about all things of this world? Would He go to the cross for us and then rob us of the joy of living? Why would He go to the cross for us and then ignore our prayers? We can trust His Word, “all things.” God’s is for us!

“Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect” (Romans 8:33). The prosecuting attorney in the courtroom scene turns up the heart with His accusations. Our answer: Since God is for us, what other opinion matters? Every voice that accuses us, even our own voice, holds no court in the presence of a God who spared nothing for us. God is for us!

“Who is to condemn” (Romans 8:34)? We go back to Romans 8:1: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” There is no one to condemn us in Jesus; He has already answered the question with the offering of His own life. Just think: sitting next to God is the One who died for us. Our defense attorney continues to speak to us and for us. God is for us.

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ (Romans 8:35a)? Paul makes a list in order of increasing intensity. “Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword” (Romans 8:35b)? If we are moved by our sinful nature to believe the intensity of this list, our great God invites us to take another look at His love for us. We die with Him to our sin, and we are raised with Him. Nothing, “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).

Four times the question is asked, and each time the implied answer is resounding: Who is against us? No one! God has given us His Son and will give us all things with Him. Who will bring a charge against us? No one. God, Himself has justified us. He has already declared us to be in the right and holy in His sight (8:33)! Who will condemn us? No one. Jesus died, was raised and exalted, and intercedes for us even now (8:34). Who shall separate us from His love? No one. Many contenders might try. The unbelieving world, the Accuser, and even a guilt-plagued conscience will attempt this parting, but the note of victory sounds aloud and true.[i] Nothing in all creation can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus (8:39). For God spared not His own Son but gave Him up for us (8:32), so the baptized faithful stand as “more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (8:37).

We have been released from the grips of sin and death. Some may politely nod at this, yawn, and check their watch.[ii] We have heard it all before. But we must herald this message for what it truly is: God’s declaration to the world and for the world of an irreversible, unalterable victory, the benefits of which are bestowed upon the baptized. There is no condemnation for those who are baptized into the saving life of Christ, those united to His death and resurrection. And that makes all the difference when facing death and dying.

Sometimes, our culture gets the whole picture wrong. Death is never our friend. Death is an enemy—a defeated enemy, yes—but a dangerous enemy, nevertheless. Death is not our release. It steals from us. It dehumanizes by tearing the soul apart and rending the spirit from the body. Death is not a “blessed release.” It is not a “passing away.” Rather, it tears away the inner self from the physical self. No, death is not a release, but a permanent form of bondage. It is humanity not as human, disembodied spirits torn from the world on which we were created to rule and reign.[iii] But praise be to God, Christ has the last word on death and the word is “Resurrection.” Death is not a permanent form of bondage. There is release, liberation from death. Not even death can separate us from the eternal love of God in Christ Jesus (8:38).

And as if that weren’t enough, Paul reveals a dimension to the work of the Messiah not mentioned anywhere else in his letters. “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 8:34). The present works of Jesus, following His death, resurrection, and exaltation, consist of praying for His people and coming to them in Word and Sacrament. This thought is a great comfort, especially when the going is tough, as it often will be for those who follow and live by the Gospel. We can take comfort in the fact that Christ is present with us, His Spirit is in us, and He is praying for us personally in and through the likes of us, His people.

Look what God has done! Look what Christ has done and is still doing even as we speak. Look around and see the many things threatening to separate you from the powerful love which reaches out through the cross and resurrection and discover that they are all beaten foes. Learn to dance and sing for joy, to celebrate the victory of God, because not even death wins.[iv]

The love of God rules victoriously over death and life alike, over the powers in Heaven and on earth.[v] And since it is love’s nature to bind the beloved to itself, Paul is convinced, “Nothing in all creation can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord,” simply because, God is for us in Christ Jesus.

Because God is for us, we can rise above every adversity, not merely cope, but conquer. Because nothing, absolutely nothing can separate us from God—not death nor life, not earthly or spiritual powers. Because of Christ’s death and resurrection, we possess all things with Him. And we know this for sure because God is for us. Amen

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

 

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[i] Epistle: Romans 8:28-39 (Pentecost 9: Series A), https://www.1517.org/articles/epistle-romans-828-39-pentecost-9-series-a-2023.

[ii] Epistle: Romans 8:28-39 (Pentecost 9: Series A), https://www.1517.org/articles/epistle-romans-828-39-pentecost-9-series-a-2023.

[iii] Epistle: Romans 8:28-39 (Pentecost 9: Series A), https://www.1517.org/articles/epistle-romans-828-39-pentecost-9-series-a-2023.

[iv] Epistle: Romans 8:28-39 (Pentecost 9: Series A), https://www.1517.org/articles/epistle-romans-828-39-pentecost-9-series-a-2023.

[v] Epistle: Romans 8:28-39 (Pentecost 9: Series A), https://www.1517.org/articles/epistle-romans-828-39-pentecost-9-series-a-2023.