Romans 8:31–39 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 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? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 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. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 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.
Good morning, Grace Church!
Life has a way of pressing us down with suffering, guilt, fear, and spiritual discouragement. As God’s people, we long for encouragement, hope, and reminders about who God is and what He has done. We can look back through the Scriptures and see time and time again where the people of God doubted Him, forgot His faithfulness, and that He has made promises He will fulfill. Since we need this, it is why Paul ends Romans 8 with one of the most triumphant declarations in all of Scripture. Paul proclaims that being a follower of Christ shapes the way we look at and navigate the good and difficult chapters of our story in light of the Greatest Story.
Let’s be clear, Paul isn’t writing as a man untouched by suffering. He was clear in 2 Corinthians 11:23-30. He went through intense suffering—beatings, prison, shipwrecks, hunger, danger, and constant pressure for the churches. Instead of boasting in his strength, he chose to boast in his weakness, because it showed how much he needed God. In fact, he says in 2 Corinthians 12:10, “When I am weak, then I am strong,” because God’s power shines most clearly through our weakness. In the midst of all the hardship in his life, he says: “If God is for us, who can be against us?”
The Main Point is for the follower of Jesus to have full assurance in the variety of circumstances they will face that God is for them in the knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We can walk through any trial with joyful endurance knowing that God is for us, Christ is with us, and nothing can separate us from the love of God in Jesus. The main takeaway is to stand firm in the securing and never-changing love of God to be faithful today.
Rooted in the gospel, Paul explains how this good news impacts our life. It makes me think – Do you remember when you heard and believed the gospel for the first time? I remember hearing it multiple times, but not believing right away. The LORD had some work to do in my heart and it took time. This isn’t the case for all believers, but helpful to think through when the gospel became life-giving news.
Paul is rooted in the gospel, which is God made you to know Him and live with Him forever. But all of us have turned away from Him—we’ve sinned, against God, and that separates us from Him. But God, being rich in mercy and because of His great love, God sent His Son, Jesus, to rescue us. Jesus lived a perfect life, died on the cross to take the punishment for our sin, your sin, and rose from the dead so we could be forgiven and be made a new creation. When you trust in Jesus—not in your own goodness—God forgives you, gives you eternal life, and adopts you into His family. Nothing—not fear, failure, suffering, or even death—can separate you from His love when you place your trust, your faith, your life in the hands of God through Christ. So turn to Jesus. Believe in Him and live.
These promises this morning are for those ‘in Christ’ and that can be you today.
It is key, friends, to remind ourselves of this good news and apply to our hearts, minds, and life. Let’s walk through this text.
1. God Is For Us: The Gospel Mocks Our Suffering (vv. 31–32)
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 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?
When Paul says, “What then shall we say to these things?” The question is, “What things?” We could say he is looking back at chapters 1-7, a deep explanation of the sinfulness of man, the salvation of God, and the hope of the Christian. But I, along with many others, believe it is more immediate. Paul is simply looking back a couple of sentences into the sovereignty of God in our salvation from verses 28-30, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 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. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.”
So, Paul say, “What shall we say to this?” not “Shall we say something to this?” The revelation of God requires a response. Paul does with implications to the hope of God’s sovereign love and mercy for sinners. These verses mock every circumstance that tries to convince us we’re abandoned. The cross has already proved the deepest truth: God is for us.
Who is ‘us’? Well, those who are trusting in Christ by faith. Romans 1 – “To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints” …. To all those at Grace Church who are loved by God and called to be saints….
There are three truths in these verses that I want us to see regarding the salvation that God has provided in Christ.
An Exhaustive Salvation (v. 31): God is not partially for you. His plan is all-encompassing. Even when people betray you, or life breaks down, His hand is over every detail. In addition to this, God’s salvation is complete. You don’t need to bring anything in addition to God’s work. In addition, God has done this in full measure of love towards you. Ephesians 1 – “In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace…” So, the over-arching truth of your life is that God has done all to save you and is working in all things for the greatest good which is the salvation of your soul and glorification of you when He returns. This is Romans 8:28 – works all things for the good…
An Effective Salvation (v. 32a): He gave His Son—the costliest gift. He won’t now refuse your daily needs. Our mortal minds will never fathom the sacrifice which the Father made to bring about the redemption of His chosen ones. For the Son, it meant the rejection of the nation Israel, the physical agony of the cross, and the ultimate pain, the separation from His Father which was the penalty He paid for our sins. For the Father, it meant giving up His Son, allowing sinful men to nail Him to a cross, and having to pour out His wrath on His beloved One. The Son willingly endured the agony of the cross in order to do the will of His Father and to bring glory to Him. The Father willingly gave up His Son so that by means of His sacrifice the Son might be glorified (see John 17:1-5; Philippians 2:5-11). Imagine the heart of the Father as He heard the plea of His Son in the Garden of Gethsemane. Amazing love, how can it be, that Thou, My God, should die for me?
An Engulfing Salvation (v. 32b): “All things” includes grace for anxiety, strength in weakness, peace in pain, and power over sin. You have all you need to be a faithful child of the King. Paul means to start with the greater and move to the lesser. Here’s what I mean – if God crushed His only Son for your salvation, for you have been purchased, not with gold or silver, but with the precious blood of the Lamb, He will give you lesser things. Jesus said that our Heavenly Father would provide for our food, clothing, and shelter. Each day you have all that you need as provided from your Father in heaven who loves you. If you didn’t have it, you didn’t need it. Beyond earthly needs, ‘all things’ are things like: His forgiveness (Ephesians 1:7), eternal life (John 3:16), peace (John 14:27), and comfort through the Spirit (John 14:16).
2 Peter 1:2-3 – “May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence…”
No matter where you are in your journey of faith, if you are in Christ…hear these four words of joy and hope: GOD IS FOR YOU.
2. God Has Justified Us: The Gospel Silences Every Accuser (vv. 33–34)
“Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 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.”
I think of the vision that the Prophet Zecheriah saw. Zechariah sees Joshua the high priest standing before God, but he’s wearing filthy clothes, and Satan is accusing him. God rebukes Satan, removes Joshua’s filthy clothes, and gives him clean garments—showing that He has taken away his sin. Then God promises that a servant called the Branch is coming, who will remove sin in a single day.
In Romans 8, Paul pictures the divine courtroom. The enemy accuses you, in fact, has evidence of your breaking of God’s Law, the depth of your sin against God. Your own heart joins in, you know your guilt. But Paul shouts, “Who can bring a charge?” Because the Judge has already slammed the gavel: Justified by faith. Paul wrote earlier in Romans 3:21-26: “21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”
There are gospel realities that we must know, apply, and remind ourselves of. Again, Paul does this throughout his letters to the churches. He has proclaimed the gospel, ensured it is being taught as he leaves and then encourages the believer to rightly apply it to their lives.
The verdict has already been given (v. 33) meaning you don’t need to fear judgment day. Your judgment already happened at the cross. Romans 8:1 – there is therefore no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.
Our Defender is the evidence (v. 34) because Jesus isn’t just arguing your case before the Father, He is your case. He died for you. He rose for you. He intercedes for you.
The Accuser is silenced. Satan is called “the accuser”—but in this courtroom, his power is null and void. In addition, your ‘old self,’ the flesh, that seeks to accuse is crucified with Christ. For you no longer live, but Christ in you.
I’ve come to love this quote: “When the devil tells us we are sinners and therefore damned, we may answer, “Because you say I am a sinner, I will be righteous and saved.” Then the devil will say, “No, you will be damned.” And I will reply, “No, for I fly to Christ, who has given himself for my sins. Satan, you will not prevail against me when you try to terrify me by telling me how great my sins are and try to reduce me to heaviness and despair. On the contrary, when you say I am a sinner, you give me armor and weapons against yourself, so that I can cut your throat with your own sword and tread you under my feet, for Christ died for sinners. My sin is on his shoulders, not mine. So when you say I am a sinner, you do not terrify me but comfort me immeasurably.’” That is the power of Christ in the gospel.
3. God Is With Us: The Gospel Gives Joy in Tribulation (vv. 35–37)
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
Paul now shifts our eyes to the realities of this life – the suffering, hardship, and brokenness. He names real suffering—things Christians were enduring then and still endure now. But instead of being destroyed, we conquer through Christ.
We should notice how Paul walks through these verses, it’s methodical.
First, He says what could happen (v. 35). Paul doesn’t ignore the hard things—he names them boldly. We have real storms in this life. Paul knows this and doesn’t shy away, neither should we. We also don’t allow the ‘things’ to have control over our hope, stability in faith, nor our view of God. We need to be honest about what ‘could’ happen, so that we can say with the Apostle that we are not surprised when the fiery trials come upon us.
In speaking about presenting evil notions to children, C.S. Lewis said, “Since it is so likely that they [children] will meet cruel enemies, let them at least have heard of brave knights and heroic courage. Otherwise you are making their destiny not brighter but darker. Nor do most of us find that violence and bloodshed, in a story, produce any haunting dread in the minds of children. As far as that goes, I side impenitently with the human race against the modern reformer. Let there be wicked kings and beheadings, battles and dungeons, giants and dragons, and let villains be soundly killed at the end of the book. Nothing will persuade me that this causes an ordinary child any kind or degree of fear beyond what it wants, and needs, to feel. For, of course, it wants to be a little frightened.”
I think this applies to us, for we are child-like at times…
Next, Paul states what does happen (v. 36). We are counted like sheep to be slaughtered. This isn’t prosperity preaching—Paul says faith often brings more hardship, not less. If you hear that becoming a Christian will make you life easier, that’s not the gospel. We experience trials like anyone – but now have the worldview to discern and navigate it. Secondly, followers of Jesus will suffer since His name is attached to us. And it’s doing a particular something – 2 Cor 4, Romans 5, Phil 3:10, 2 Tim 2:3, 1 Peter 4:13 to name a few passages. These tell us that suffering produces endurance, character, and hope. This hope does not put us to shame but calls us to share in Christ’s sufferings, becoming like Him in His death. In this, though we are outwardly wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day, and our light and momentary afflictions are preparing for us an eternal glory. So endure hardship like good soldiers of Christ because when we suffer for Christ, we are actually sharing in His glory. In all of this, God is not punishing His children—He is refining them. Suffering is not the absence of God’s love; it is often the tool of His deepest work done in love.
Finally, Paul states what will happen (v. 37). For somehow – yet we know how, in it all, we are more than conquerors. Not just survivors—super-conquerors. Overcomers.
4. God Will Keep Us: The Gospel Secures Our Future By Securing Today (vv. 38–39)
“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 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.”
Paul finishes with a confident expression of assurance. There is nothing—no created thing—that can undo what God has done in Christ. He will hold you fast.
Our assurance rests in who God is, not what we have done.
Paul reminds us of the nature of God, who God is (v. 38b–39a). This means no force—natural or supernatural—can outrun God’s promises. God is faithful, His love abounds, He pours out grace, He is the author of faith. He rescues. All of this through Jesus and for the glory of His name.
Paul is also reflecting on the quality of Christ’s Love (v. 39b). It is personal, eternal, and stronger than death because Christ overcame death (vs 34).
These truths of old are a present help in times of trouble. They not only give us hope in the future, but we can bank on those promises today. Since God will be faithful to bring you into glory someday….you can trust Him to be faithful today.
Let me close.
The Gospel reminds us of the abounding love and mercy of God today. God loves you today, not a future version of yourself, but the person that you have become today by His grace. This is a hard reality for me at times – God loves the ‘today’ me. I battle with the thought that what God is really looking at is the finished sanctifying work in me, where I’m not messing up. I think that my Heavenly Father is really looking forward to, and valuing, when I’ve arrived at perfection. The struggle has us asking: why doesn’t God instantly change us? He’s certainly got the power to do so. Why doesn’t he just immediately free us from our failings, bad habits and sinful attitudes and behaviors? Why doesn’t the Almighty also instantly transform us so we never fall short again? Because [God] values the process, not just the finished products. Though He does not delight in our sin, the Lord values the process of our growth and the work involved in sanctifying us because He loves us. When we do fall, we may think that He is surprised and frustrated, as if the holy, omniscient God were naive or ignorant about the ways sin has so deeply affected us or the ways He himself has created us with good limitations. Inwardly, we assume that because we are now in Christ, our thoughts, words, and actions should be instantly free from ever lapsing into sin and failure again. Therefore, we assume that God is temperamental and the Christian life seems heavy and burdensome rather than hopeful and promising. We endure rather than enjoy, we survive instead of thrive. But as we grow in our understanding and knowledge of God and His gospel, He who abounds with compassion and grace, we might more freely grow in our Christian lives without being crushed by our weaknesses and limits, and enjoy the process with peace and joy found in Christ.
Grace Church, suffering can’t stop God’s love, it isn’t a sign of a lack of it, but is a means at which God refines your faith and conforms you into Christ. Sin didn’t stop God’s love, but God met it with overwhelming grace and mercy to save you for Himself. Satan or your flesh have no power in your identify in Christ. Satan is the cosmic loser and has no power over God’s children. Your flesh has been crucified and Christ lives in you. Trials can’t rob you of joy. In fact, experiencing trials make the mountains more glorious and eternity sweeter. Death can’t defeat you. Christ defeated it and therefore it has not sting – gateway to glory. All of these truths are rooted by the gospel – the good news of Jesus Christ who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The gospel says, “God is for you.” The gospel says, “Christ died for you.” The gospel says, “You are more than a conqueror.” The gospel says nothing can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord who lived, died, rose, and now reigns.