Friday in the Seventeenth Week of Ordinary Time

Romans 8:31-39

Who Dares to Bring a Charge against God’s Elect?

And here is the triumph of our God on our behalf.  This is what Paul has been straining to reach from the beginning of his letter.  Paul has just spoken of our being foreknown, predestined, called, justified, and glorified (notice that “glorified” is in the past tense).  And so now after acknowledging all these things God does for us, Paul comes to the place where he says, “What then shall we say to these things?”  In other words, “What more can I say?  This is too wonderful to even describe!”

But more he said, so let us list those things:

• God is for us; thus, no one can stand against us. Or what does it matter if someone does?
• If God spared not His own Son, well then, what else would He not give us—as if we needed more than His Son in the first place.
• Who can bring a charge against us of wrongdoing? The devil?  The one we have wronged, maybe?  But God says, “No!  I have justified you in my sight, not because you are worthy, but for the exact opposite.  It is my gracious will to make you right before my eyes, and my will shall be done.”
• Who shall condemn us? No one because Christ died and was raised for us and there is absolutely nothing more efficacious for us than his blood and the new life he gives us through his resurrection.  Our sins are forgiven.  End of story.
• Not only so but Christ is seated at the right hand of God interceding for us; that is, he is there on OUR behalf pleading our case before the Father. And needless to say, the Father heeds the Son because He loves the Son and loves us through the Son.
• Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ—NOTHING. Good, bad, ugly—it doesn’t matter.  God has chosen to save us out of His abundant grace and that settles it.
• Rather than sheep for the slaughter, we are “more than conquerors through him who loved us.” And whereas before, Paul noted tribulation and distress as unable to separate us from the love of Christ, now he mentions intangible things like height and depth, powers, and finally says, “nor anything else in all creation.”

Jesus said of his sheep, “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:27-29).

Author: The Reformed Baptist

My name is Stephen Taylor, ordained Baptist minister of eighteen years pastoral experience with a Ph.D. in Historical Theology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. Better than that, I am married to a godly woman, Karla, who has been very patient with me since 1989. I have two daughters, both of whom I homeschooled for extended periods of time, who became godly young women, and who ran off and married godly young men, all of which is very proper. The oldest daughter has even seen fit to bless me with a grandson and a granddaughter, and my youngest daughter with a grandson, all three of whom are bundles of exceeding joy. As you can see, I am quite blessed. This website is dedicated to helping people grow in the wisdom and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ through the gift of writing that the Lord has given to me. It is specifically about helping His people grow in godliness, the theme you see repeated above. I write devotions with this aim and hope that they might be of some help to God’s people. Full disclosure: I am of a Reformed bent, meaning that my understanding of Scripture is primarily informed by the Reformers and their successors of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. However, as a student of church history and theology, I strive to remain true to that teaching handed down once for all unto the saints through every age of the Church. I like to think of myself as a “catholic” Christian, as the Reformers thought of themselves. At any rate, feel free to read, pray, and contact me if you wish, or correct me if need be. As you can see, I tend to follow the church year. Of course, I make no special claims about these devotions. I know very well that others have written better and plumbed the depths of God’s word with greater insight. But if my musings help someone draw closer to the Lord, well then, I have my reward. Blessings to you and may the God and Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ speak to you that word which He knows you especially need to hear. Grace & peace, Stephen Taylor View all posts by The Reformed Baptist