I was recently listening to a John Piper sermon on Romans 8 that
was helpful in explaining Paul's argument in the chapter. In Romans 8:25-39 Paul asks five
questions and gives five answers that are essential for Christians to
understand. Piper gives them as an overview in his sermon "Nothing Can
Separate Us from the Love of Christ" but taking time to work out the
implications of each question will bring joy to your soul and lead you to
praise God. Today we will look at Question 1, and we will look at each subsequent question in the coming days.
Q1- If God is for us who can be against
us? (see 8:31)
A1- No one can be against us because God
is for us!
Why: God is for you, he loves you, and his
favor is upon you. This is true not because of anything you have done, or who
you are, but only because the Father's love and favor of Jesus is now upon you.
When God looks at you He does not see your sin or record of failures and
wrongs, but He sees Christ's perfect obedience and righteousness. All of this
is true because Jesus died for us on the cross to take the penalty of our sins
and give us his perfect record of obedience that God's love, favor, and
blessing would be given to us. So in light of this we need to see that no
matter what we face, whether people or circumstances against us, none of them
will be successful. Nothing and no one can succeed in being against us because
God is for us. The God who made all people, is all powerful, is in control of
all things, is all wise and all powerful, is for you and wants what is best for
you. Nothing and no one is more powerful than He is. No one and no thing will overcome
his love and blessing for you because He is more powerful than they are and
refuses to let their desire to harm you succeed. Just as a good and loving
Father refuses to let anything in his power and control harm his young child,
so our heavenly Father refuses to let anything in his power and control (which
is everything) harm you. This does not mean you will never suffer, as scripture
shows, but it does mean that in suffering God is for you and will use it for
your good because He is for your good, as we will see in v 35-38.
