31 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.”
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. (Romans 8)
“No, in all these things
we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”
The
surrounding context of this passage, from verses 31-39, explains why God would
say “No” to all the dangers that are sent against the church, and why he would
declare his church to be “more than conquerors” against her innumerable
enemies.
As
our home church considered this passage as an expression of the “grace and
peace” that are TO God’s people[1], and the “glory and dominion” that are TO Jesus[2], we considered what it might sound like for Jesus to say NO to the
red dragon (Satan) using all the wonderful truths in this Scripture.
Here
is what it could sound like when Jesus says “NO!” to the Red Dragon:
·
NO, you will not stop my
children from receiving all the things I graciously give them because I did not
spare my Son in order to bring these children to myself (vs 32), and so I will
continue to graciously give them all the things my power and authority have
ordained.
·
NO, you shall not bring
any charge against my elect because I have justified them and they cannot be condemned
for anything I have already condemned in my Son (33).
·
NO, you cannot condemn
my children because Jesus already died their condemnation, and was victoriously
raised up out of their condemnation, and is exalted to my right hand where his
salvation constantly speaks to me that all my condemnation against the elect
has been fully expended and finished on the cross of Calvary (vs 34).
·
NO, you cannot separate
my children from my love, for Jesus has already propitiated my wrath, the one
thing that could separate my children from the experience of my love (vs 35).[4] Nothing will ever separate them from my love!
·
NO, your tribulation,
distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, sword will not separate my
children from my love (vs 35).
·
NO, killing and
slaughtering my children will not separate them from my love (vs 35-36).
·
NO, you will not defeat
me or my children since I have made them more than conquerors over you, red
dragon, because my Son has cancelled the record of debt that stood against them,[5] and my Son has disarmed all your rulers and authorities by putting
you all to open shame, and I have triumphed over you in my Son![6]
·
NO, red dragon, you will
not conquer my children, because they are more than conquering you (vs 37).
·
NO, you will not
separate my children from my love with death or life, angels or rulers, things
present or things to come, any powers, any height or depth, or anything else in
creation, because my love is theirs in Jesus Christ their Lord (vss 38-39)
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