Romans 8:31-32 - What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 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?
What a precious gift these verses are to the body of Christ. In a world where we may face many persecutions and suffering, feel the weight and consequences of our sins, and feel the lack of so many needed things, Paul tells us just how wonderful it is for us to know God and be known by him.
Think about the phrase, “God is for us”. It’s not just that he is with us, or that he knows us, but also that he is “for” us. Think of how undeserving it is that God would be for a person who still sins against him. God sees you, knows your failings and your weaknesses, and yet if you are in Christ, then he is for you. He supports you, he walks with you, he provides for you and he protects you. If the God who created all things, knows all things, and is king over all things knows you and loves you, what could possibly get past his protection? We will face sufferings, no doubt about it, but having God in our corner when trials come means that the trials and sufferings cannot ultimately destroy us. Who can win a battle against the Lord? No one.
How then do we know that he is for us? Because he gave his own son for us. The Father gave the Son as a willing sacrifice to bring you back to himself. God the Father gave Jesus up to the violence and wickedness of men so that you could be freed from your sin and have new life in Christ. If you want an example of what it looks like for God to be for someone, look at Jesus. Not even death could hold him because of the Father’s love for him. Look at the disciples who suffered many things but their promised gift of salvation and a future home could never be taken from them.
There is so much good news in these verses! Nothing can stand against God, so nothing can stand against his church. God wants us to have life and freedom from sin so he gave us Jesus to die in our place. If this was all there was to the story, this would be enough to praise God for an eternity, but Paul isn’t finished. In addition to this, Paul writes that God will not only give us Jesus, but all things.
Now, don’t misunderstand Paul here. Just because you are a child of God doesn’t mean that you will get whatever you ask for. What this means is that God will give you everything that you need when you need it, and sometimes we don’t even know what that is until God provides it for us. Because of God’s grace, he will give us everything that pertains to life and godliness. In other words, there is simply no end to what God does for his children.
Hold fast to these truths today and rejoice in what he has done for you. Think of the strength and hope that you can have today in your great God who is for you, gave his son to save you, and provides for you time and time again. We certainly have much to be grateful for!
