More Than Conquerors

Romans chapter 8 is a wonderful chapter that begins with the words, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”. Paul goes on to tell us how, through Christ, the law has been fulfilled, freeing us from sin and death. It goes on to say, “For what the law was powerless to do..., God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us”. By faith, we have been set free, not to indulge in our sinful desires, but free to serve God with all our being. Then we jump all the way down to Romans 8:31, “What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?” The answer to this question is so fundamental to our faith and dictates all that we do. How can I say that? Imagine if you saw a power line down from a storm. Someone told you that they heard the power had been turned off. How confident would you be to walk over the area where the power line was? For me, I don’t think I could do that. If I saw someone else walk over to the downed wire, then I would feel ok. I would want proof. This is the same mind set that we see in this passage. It is one thing to say, “If God is for us, who can be against us”, but it is an entirely different thing to act accordingly. So, how does that affect me in real life. Picture being called to serve as a missionary, even if it is a short term mission, in a area of the world that is hostile to Christianity. Do you have the confidence to leave everything and go? If you do go, will you proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ as God enables you to? Do you really trust that God can protect you, and if God doesn’t rescue you physically, are you willing to die for Him? That might seem extreme. What about when the world mocks us and accuses us because of our faith? Is there anything that has the power to pull us from God? Not for those walking by faith. We are even told in James to resist the Devil and he will flee from us. Romans goes on to say, “...in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that [nothing] will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord". So... what is holding you back? Father, fill us with that absolute confidence in You and Your word so that the Devil, the World, and our sinful nature has no power. Amen