Romans 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

In this world, we will face trials and tribulations … suffering. Suffering is not abandonment. God’s greater plan sees all things restored. God will not leave us or abandoned us. His plan is that He stay with us, working all things together for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28-29). Paul asks what shall we say to this? The assuring answer which closes out this 8th chapter of Romans is one of the most elegant writings in all literature.  He starts with a comprehensive statement packed with un-comprehendible force: “God is for us.” This is not a question arising from doubt. It is a rhetorical question. A rhetorical question is one asked in order to make a statement rather than to elicit information. So, Paul says something like, “Suppose, my friend, that God is for us?”  Since this question is asked AFTER Paul’s presentation of the evidence of all that God has done for us, the conclusion can only be that, yes, God is for us. What does that mean? Well, we can come to a very powerful conclusion about what that means by considering the testimony of all scripture. It is plain to see in the evidence of scripture and in the evidence of creation that there is none who can stand before Almighty God.  Jesus spoke of the Father in this way, “Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever” (Matthew 6:13).

If indeed it is not by your own power that you stand but by the strength of God, then you stand firm. Though enemy may arise before us, and may even strike us, there is none who can stand before God. Something someone does against you may change your life in this temporary world … but there is none who can change God’s ultimate good purpose for you. We may lose moral ground in this nation, but ultimately, righteousness will prevail. We can lose battles, but we cannot be overcome. Death has no sting. Sin has no power over you. We are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. If God is for us, there is no power, no principality, no authority, no person, no evil, that can disengage us from our standing in Christ. The Creator of Time, the Controller of Events, God Almighty, Who works all things after the counsel of His own will, has saved us. And His love is as unchanging as it is infinite. He will allow nothing to separate His Children from Himself.

God is for us. He is not against us. He has reconciled us. When we were yet sinners, belonging to the world, and, as Paul said earlier, “hostile with God”, He gave His Son as payment for us. (Romans 8:7) Now reconciled to Him, our sin debt forever erased, we are no longer His enemy, but His children and He is our God. He is on our side against all our enemies. With your trust and your way committed to Him, He shall “bring forth your righteousness as the light.” (Psalm 37:5-6). Who is our Father, but the Almighty, the Sovereign Lord, the infinitely powerful One with infinite wisdom to guide and infinite ability to protect? When we may be brought to doubt by this world, Paul says since God is on our side, (as God has clearly proven by all He has done,) then “who can be against us?”