Comforting Questions (Romans 8:31-39)
Bob Deffinbaugh, from the bible.org series “Romans: The Righteousness of God,” lesson 20
The big idea: Real confidence doesn’t come from ourselves. It comes from God’s sovereign love and Christ’s finished work. Paul closes Romans 1-8 with questions that have no possible answer, and that silence is the comfort.
Two movements
• No condemnation (vv. 31-34). This picks up the “no condemnation” of 8:1.
• No separation (vv. 35-39). Nothing can cut us off from Christ’s love.
Key points
- “If God is for us, who is against us?” God, who chose and predestined His people, is actively working for them. Every other opponent shrinks by comparison, like anyone threatening a cub with a grizzly standing guard.
- “Will He not freely give us all things?” If God gave His Son, He will give everything salvation requires. “The cross is not the measure of our worth; it is the measure of God’s love.”
- “Who will bring a charge?” In the courtroom, the One with the right to judge has become our defender and intercessor, so no accusation stands (compare Isaiah 50).
- Suffering isn’t defeat. Hardship refines us and spreads the gospel. Calvary looked like a loss and was a victory, so we “overwhelmingly conquer” (compare Psalm 44).
- Nothing in creation separates us. Death, life, angels, powers, the present, the future, height, depth: God rules all of it.
Takeaways
• Security rests on God’s sovereignty, not on self-confidence.
• Security frees us to serve out of gratitude, not fear.
• It’s no excuse for spiritual laziness.
• Scripture assumes true believers endure, so the real question is whether you belong to Christ.
• The right response is humility, gratitude, dependence and praise.