Romans: Laying a Solid Foundation

The Bible Teacher's Commentary

Paul J. Bucknell

Commentary on Romans 8:26-39
Conquerors through Christ

Paul J. Bucknell

Romans 8:31-39 "The Lord Proves His Love for Us in Christ" is the last of four parts to the BFF Romans 8:26-39 Living Commentary on Romans: Conquerors through Christ (Romans 8:26-39). Bible Study Questions are included on a separate page.

Romans 8:18-26 Suffering | Romans 8:26-27 Prayer | Romans 8:28-30 All things

Romans 8:31-39 God's love | Video Podcast | mp3 (on NT Library)

Bible Study Questions | Predestination & Election

In the former pages we looked at the first and second question. Now we turn to the third basic life question on suffering, "Does He really love me? (Romans 8:31-39)

• Does He really love me? (Romans 8:31-39)

Temptation #3 - Satan's voice: "If He really loved you, He wouldn't have you go through these things."

3. The Lord Proves His Love for Us in Christ (Romans 8:31-39)

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? 33 Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies; 34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?36 Just as it is written, "FOR THY SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED." 37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.

38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:31-39).

When God sent His Son, He did not choose another person like Job, but volunteered Himself to suffer and die. Since He did not spare His own Son but gave Him up, will He not freely give us all things?

We should have every confidence that God is working on our behalf and if this is so, then there is no enemy which is able to threaten us.

Three questions bring out our understanding of the depth and power of God's love in Christ toward His people.

• 1. Who will bring a charge against us (33)?

  • God made us righteous in Christ!

• 2. Who will condemn us (34)?

  • Christ was condemned for us!

3. Who can separate us from Christ (35)?

• Nothing, Nowhere, Never!

• Note: Principalities (Greek: archai are probably human rulers in the NT)
  
  
• First list of enemies:

• Tribulation

• Distress

• Persecution

• Famine

• Nakedness

• Peril

• Sword

Understanding Suffering

Suffering does not happen because God does not love us, nor is it because He is not all powerful (Rom 8:36 (cf: Ps 44:2)). Suffering is part of the experience of our time (Romans 8:18).

God's love is evident through His Son's suffering in our place. God's power is evident by the way He raises us all up.

When God chose to have that tree in the middle of the garden, He was also choosing to suffer if necessary to bring about a people who loved Him and could share His glory. God reveals the power of the Gospel in that we are no longer condemned and promised eternal life. Christ is risen and now interceding on our behalf.

Summary

If we allow experience to dictate our theology, then we will end up in the grave like many around us. Instead we allow God's truth of being "in Christ Jesus the Lord" to forever bind us to Himself in His love and peace (cf. 6:23; 7:25; 8:39). Suffering might come but God's love is forever with us. He will keep us to the end to fully see His glory!

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