Romans 8:33-39 “Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died — more than that, who was raised to life — is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered 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 convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romani 8:33-39 “Chi accuserà gli eletti di Dio? Dio è colui che li giustifica. 34 Chi li condannerà? Cristo {Gesù} è colui che è morto e, ancor più, è risuscitato, è alla destra di Dio e anche intercede per noi. 35 Chi ci separerà dall’amore di Cristo? Sarà forse la tribolazione, l’angoscia, la persecuzione, la fame, la nudità, il pericolo, la spada? 36 Com’è scritto: «Per amor di te siamo messi a morte tutto il giorno; #siamo stati considerati come pecore da macello». 37 Ma, in tutte queste cose, noi siamo più che vincitori, in virtù di colui che ci ha amati. 38 Infatti sono persuaso che né morte, né vita, né angeli, né principati, né cose presenti, né cose future, 39 né potenze, né altezza, né profondità, né alcun’altra creatura potranno separarci dall’amore di Dio che è in Cristo Gesù, nostro Signore.”
Paul concludes his thought about the power of salvation by using the illustration of a courtroom setting. Various charges could be levied against the believer that are all conceivable. Leading up to a crescendo, however, Paul fortifies his case by asking a series of questions. The accusations are things that the believer may face living in a fallen world. The list that the accuser (prosecutor) recites covers everything from simple frustrations to death. As the judge (God) hears every accusation, it becomes clear to the believer that He throws out every argument and declares the believer righteous by his faith in Jesus Christ. Bear in mind Paul’s previous argument in Romans 5:1, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
After exhausting every possible attempt to destroy the believer, Paul declares that believers are “more than conquerors”. The original word was used in military settings to describe the kind of victory obtained. It was written as one compound word that meant “a decisive victory where no remnant of the enemy remains”. The Word of God, when we apply it, liberates us from all accusations of the enemy. God (our righteous judge) renders His verdict in our favor. So what separates us from this verdict? When we fail to live with the results of the verdict, we reopen a case that has been closed. If the certainty of our salvation has been secured, there is no reason to second guess God-hallelujah!
Pray with me: Lord, many times I have focused my attention on life’s experiences as a barometer to my security in You. Help me to remember to accept without question that nothing will separate me from the love of God through Jesus Christ my Lord.