Romans 8:31-39
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died - more than that, who was raised - who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded 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 sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Sin creates shame, and shame takes away hope. But we do have hope, not from our own weak flesh, but from God. In the words of verse 31, "If God is for us, who can be against us?". The truth is that God is indeed "for us". This is not just a passive fondness, but Jesus is actively "interceding for us" (verse 34). God loves us, and nothing "will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord" (verse 39). This unconditional, overwhelming love is our source of hope, and is what can heal our sense of shame. For it is not based on our abilities but on God's ability, for "it is God who justifies" (verse 33). This is good news indeed.
Jesus, it is amazing to think of You interceding on my behalf. Thank you for being on my side.
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died - more than that, who was raised - who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded 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 sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Sin creates shame, and shame takes away hope. But we do have hope, not from our own weak flesh, but from God. In the words of verse 31, "If God is for us, who can be against us?". The truth is that God is indeed "for us". This is not just a passive fondness, but Jesus is actively "interceding for us" (verse 34). God loves us, and nothing "will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord" (verse 39). This unconditional, overwhelming love is our source of hope, and is what can heal our sense of shame. For it is not based on our abilities but on God's ability, for "it is God who justifies" (verse 33). This is good news indeed.
Jesus, it is amazing to think of You interceding on my behalf. Thank you for being on my side.