Romans 8:31-39

8:31 | After presenting the five links of salvation, Paul asks for a response to a question that has none. Some realities are so awe-inspiring that the only proper response is silence. “Who can be against us?” would have so many answers. But Paul’s question is If God is for us, who can be against us? Anyone able to take away salvation would have to be greater than God.

8:32 | God doesn’t stop with justification. He gave up His Son; He will surely freely give us all things required for sanctification and glorification.

8:33 | Satan is called “the accuser of our brethren” (Rev. 12:10). But those charges cannot stand because the One who justifies is also the One who judges (John 3:18).

8:34 | Believers are protected by Christ’s crucifixion, resurrection, exaltation, and intercession.

8:35 | Paul is not talking about one’s love for Christ when he speaks of the love of Christ but of Christ’s love for people. Christ’s love is a safeguard against the difficulties of life. None of the seven threats Paul lists can separate believers from God.

8:36 | According to Leon Morris, when Paul quotes from Psalm 44:22, his words “bring out the truth that for God’s people there is real risk and a call for real devotion. Christians might be tempted to think that because the love of Christ is so real and so unshakable they need not fear that they will run into trouble. Scripture shows that, while the love is sure, so are troubles. Paul says, ‘We are being killed all day long.’ It is real and not imaginary peril that Christians face.”

8:37 | More than conquerors is translated from hupernikomen (Greek). Nike means “to overcome.” Huper means “over and above.” Together they mean “over and above victory.” Believers are super conquerors!

8:38 | Paul begins this section with “we know” (8:28) and ends with the more personal “I am persuaded” (8:38). In the Greek perfect tense the latter can mean “I have become and I remain convinced.” Knowing truth and being persuaded of it are different things. Paul knows God’s truth, but because he has also experienced most of what he is writing, he says with confidence that nothing can separate him from God’s love.