In Paul’s final segment which ends at verse thirty-nine, the apostle caps off the entire chapter of Romans eight with the primary motivation for all he has discussed up until now, the love of God. He does it with six power packed questions.

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Romans 8:31–32 (KJV) 31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

Six Power Packed Questions

• Paul summarizes this entire chapter with the primary motivation for all he has discussed up until now, the love of God.
• Because the Lord loves us, we can have victory in every realm and over every conceivable combination of difficulties.
• As we walk this Christian life together with God, we can rest assured that nothing that comes upon us we will ever have to face alone.
• He will be there for us.
• Nothing can ever separate us from His love.
• Paul starts out this last section with a question.
• What shall we then say to these things?
• It is the first of six questions in this last nine verses.
• The questions are:
  1. What shall we then say to these things? – vs. 3
  2. If God be for us, who can be against us? – vs. 31
  3. He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? – vs. 32
  4. Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? – vs. 33
  5. Who is he that condemns? – vs. 3
  6. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? – vs. 35.
• Let’s look at the first of these questions.

Question 1: What Shall We Then Say to These Things?

• What does ‘these things’ refer to?
• These things could easily refer to everything that has already been stated in this chapter.
• These last nine verses, would then act as a conclusion to all that has been previously put forth.
• There is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.
• Because we are in Christ and in the Spirit we have victory over the flesh.
• The Spirit Himself helps us in this arena making sure we know that we are God’s children fully adopted into the family.
• In like manner, the Spirit helps our prayer life to be successful.
• He infuses our cries to God so that all things work together for our good.
• And why wouldn’t all things work together for good?
• Aren’t we conformed to his image, foreknown, predestinated, called, justified and slated for glory?
• Out of this, the next question arises.

Question 2: If God Be for Us, Who Can Be Against Us?

• Another way of stating this would be to take this out of its question form and make it a declarative statement.
• God is on our side; and, not only is He for us but He is also with us.

Matthew 28:20 (KJV) 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

• The Lord is so with us that He has taken up residence in us.
• That’s pretty close company.

2 Corinthians 6:16 (KJV) 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

• The Greek sense of the words ‘against us’, in the phrase ‘who can be against us’ is that of being an enemy, an adversary or an antagonist.
• Who could try to ‘put us down or subjugate us’ might also work.
• The answer, of course, is no one.
• This rhetorical question could further be stated in the words of one writer, ‘If God be for us, what difference does it make whose against us?’
• Isaiah 54:17 is an Old Testament version of this same thought.

Isaiah 54:17 (KJV) 17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; And every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.

• We will end today’s blog with Paul’s third question.

Question 3: He that Spared Not His Own Son, but Delivered Him Up for Us All, How Shall He Not with Him also Freely Give Us All Things?

• The Greek word ‘spared’ means to refrain.
• God did not hold back on humanity.
• He didn’t refrain but willingly gave the best He had to ensure our glorification.
• How many times do earth-bound beings give grudgingly with ulterior motive and underlying currents?
• Not God.
• Here Paul establishes beyond all argument the ultimate proof that God is ‘for us’.
• No one can doubt His intentions where we are concerned.
• He demonstrated His singular intent and the magnitude of His commitment to that thought once and for all.
• In any situation a child of God may face in this walk, he can have this very confidence as a buttress to shore up any doubt of their eventual outcome.
• We will have the victory because God will see to it that we have everything we need to put us over and make us a success.
• God proved that when He ‘delivered him up for us all.
• The Word ‘delivered’ is defined as to hand over or give over.
• God, your heavenly Father, handed Jesus over to the will of man.
• He delivered Him to a satanically possessed betrayer in the form of Judas (John 13:27).
• He gave him over to a demon inspired crowd (Luke 23:21), a selfish ruler (John 19:15-16), and to the desire of the religious elite (John 19:6).
• Having done all of this for us, ‘how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?’
• The words freely portray has in mind the thought of giving graciously or freely.
• This is the only way God ever gives anything.
• He always gives graciously and freely.
• If God did the greatest thing, securing our salvation, by giving the greatest gift in Jesus, then along ‘with Him’ easily comes the smaller things of redemption, our present deliverance, our future redemption, and every spiritual and physical blessing in the heavens (Ephesians 1:3 and Matthew 6:33).

Call to Action:

Are you tempted with feelings if discouragement? Take heart in these questions Paul uses at the of Romans eight. God is for you. That means He is ‘all the way’ for you. God never does anything half way. If He is for you, you can take heart in that reality and forever throw off despondency and depression.

Question: How has knowing that God is ‘for you’ changed your perspective on life? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.