What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8: 31, NKJV
Holy God, here we are waiting on You to lead us into all truth, in the name of Jesus, Amen
Today our promise is short, and to the point; but powerful, and extremely encouraging! If we believed this with all our hearts, nothing, or no one, would be able to discourage, or, defeat, us. The apostle begins by asking a question, and then answers his own question with another question. Together, we will look at some of these things, that he is talking about. And by God’s grace, may we conclude as he did, that no one, or no circumstance, can, or will, defeat us!
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8: 1, NRSV). We do not need to go any further. All our hope for this life and the next, is to be found in Christ Jesus! In Him, there is new life. He came and took our place, and did for us what we could not do for ourselves. Then He placed on our account, His righteousness. After that He gave us of His righteousness that we might now “walk even as he walked.” As a little chorus goes: “The things I used to do, I do them no more.” There is no desire to do those things anymore. Our minds have been renewed. There is no need to do them anymore. Our longings have been met in Christ our Savior! He has become the “One altogether lovely” in our lives!
“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death” (2). Before Jesus came, every human being lived, as it were, under “Damocles’ sword.” At Mt. Sinai, the children of Israel promised, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do” (Exodus 19: 8). But before Moses came down from the mountain, they were already doing what they wanted to do. Were they any worse than we are? I don’t think so. Our reality is basically the same as theirs, “Without Christ, we can do nothing!” But thanks be to God, through Christ Jesus our Lord, we have been set free from the law of sin and death, because He has given us of His Spirit! Hallelujah! Thanks be to God!
“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God” (14). We no longer live according to the status quo, because our status has changed; we are now sons and daughters of God! I am sure many of you have heard the following saying, “the chip has not fallen far from the block,” referring to just how much a young lad resembles his dad, especially in his behavior. Now, by God’s grace, we hope that as we live for Christ, in His strength; men and women, boys and girls, will take notice, “and glorify our Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5: 16).
Someday, according to the signs of the times, very soon, Jesus will be coming back to rescue His creation (21). Praise God, the entire world, that has been held in captivity because of sin, will be set free! How my soul longs for that day! But even now, we can begin to live in victory, in freedom. Even now, there is nothing, or no one, that can “be against us.” Jesus has promised that [not even] the gates of Hades shall prevail against [us]” (Matthew 16: 18, NKJV). By God’s grace, I extend that invitation to you today; to come and be one with Christ, and to walk in triumph! If you have never accepted His invitation before, today is a wonderful day to do so!