No one! He will! No one! Not Christ! No one! Those are the answers . . . now let’s go take the test . . .

You gotta love Romans 8. Need a lesson in salvation? . . . Need a primer on sanctification? . . . Need your basic, everyday “pick-me-up”? . . . read Romans 8. It causes the soul to soar . . . the mind to spin . . . the praise and worship to ascend. And this morning, as I’m reading it, there are five questions at the end of the chapter that have got me thinking. I know that they are rhetorical questions . . . not really expecting an answer as, to the believer, the answers are obvious. But there’s something about whispering the answers that brings comfort, hope, joy, and praise. No one! He will! No one! Not Christ! No one!

First question, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (8:31). Answer: No one! And God is so for us . . . having foreknown us and predestined us to be conformed to the image of His Son, He called us . . . and justified us . . . and glorified us . . . declaring our heavenly destination as a done deal even though we are yet to fully enter into it (8:29-30). God began the work . . . God has promised to complete work . . . and so all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose (8:28). Is God for us? Yeah! Who can be against us? No one! Move on . . question two . . .

“How shall He not with [Christ] also freely give us all things?” (8:32) Answer: He will! God, who did not spare His own Son, delivered Him up for us all. God gave heaven’s best . . . He pulled out all the stops . . . held nothing back . . . in order to redeem our souls. We couldn’t earn an ounce of salvation . . . but, as I was reminded this past Sunday at church, we have redemption through the blood of Christ, the forgiveness of sins, “according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight” (Eph. 1:7-8). We have already been lavished upon according to the riches of God’s grace . . . everything from here on in is “gravy” . . . the overflowing heart of the Father manifest in the giving of His Son. How shall He not also freely give us all things? He will!

Are you sure about that? What about all the junk in my life? What about the times I’ve tripped up and messed up? Question 3 . . . “Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect?” (8:33) Answer: No one! Why? ‘Cause it is God who justifies. Sure, bring it on Satan . . . be the accuser of the brethren (Rev. 12:10) . . . dredge up the failings of my past and bring them before God . . . make sure He knows about the failings of yesterday . . . but, guess what, the One who is Just is also the Justifier of those who have faith in Christ (Rom. 3:26). The One who in holiness demands payment of sin, paid the price through the giving of His Son in my stead. Bring on the charges . . . I know them . . . but the blood of Christ is sufficient to cover all my sin — past, present, and future. Mine is to confess my sins . . . to repent of my sins . . . to seek by His grace and through the power of the Spirit to live free from sin. And God is faithful and will forgive my sin and cleanse me from all righteousness (1John 1:9). Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? No one!

And then check this one out! “Who is he who condemns?” (8:34) Well, I know that Christ will judge the living and the dead (2Tim. 4:1). That He has all authority and all things are subject to Him as He sits at the right hand of God (1Peter 3:22). But I’m reminded this morning that the Son of God who died, and is now risen, who is at the right hand of God, is actually making intercession for me (8:34). Far from condemning me before the Father, He is pleading on my behalf. Far from being against me, He is so for me (refer back to question 1). There is now therefore no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus (8:1). Who is he who condemns? Not Christ!

Ok kids . . . let’s wrap up this morning’s quiz with the last question: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” (8:35) Answer: No one . . . not a thing . . . nada . . . zippo . . . can’t happen! Paul was absolutely persuaded that nothing could separate us from the love of God which is in Christ (8:39) . . . that in Him we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us (8:37). Told ya’ this portion of Scripture could be a bit of a “pick-me-up”. How great is our God? How wonderful is our Savior? How cool is this quiz?

To Him be all praise and honor and glory . . . amen!