Out of Despair, I Arise
Romans 8:31-39 KJV
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. 34Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
This article was inspired by a sermon by Charles Stanley, “Out of This Wreck, I Arise,” based on Romans 8:32-39, filled with comfort and instructions on being a conqueror and not being defeated in life. The Apostle Paul teaches based on his life experiences: “I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea” (II Corinthians 11:25). Paul’s strength and perseverance came from above: “Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;” (II Corinthians 4:8). Paul teaches how to respond when diverse things happen, as he mentions in verse 35: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” Can you think of anything worse than those seven things, which include death?
The point Paul is making is that it is not the circumstances we face but how we respond to them that is important. The Lord sends some of our circumstances to teach us things we could not learn otherwise. Some circumstances we bring on ourselves, and some are because of others. Nevertheless, we can learn and mature from them all.
Paul gives us the key to victory in verse 37: “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” The word conquerors come from the Greek word νικάω, translated as nikaó, Pronounced “Ne-ki-o.” It means super conqueror. We can stand to any circumstance because we are super conquerors in Christ Jesus. Our goal should never be to avoid disrupting things in life but to accept them as challenges to overcome. Our question should not be what can I do but what can God do, and what is God’s purpose for allowing this to come into my life, and what can I learn from it? God’s plan is to make us into the person He wants us to be, and sometimes, there is no other way than through life’s trials.
We are to see the things we face not as the world sees them but as God, who resides within us, sees them. We are becoming what God wants us to be through all life throws at us. He wants to shape us into His image and His likeness.
Satan wants to convince us that we are failures, no good, and can never succeed. God wants to encourage us to become who He created us to be. Paul tells us, “I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me.” Paul means we can do anything God wants us to do by His strength. When Jesus died on the cross and arose from the grave, He had victory over sin, death, and Satan. When we receive Jesus into our life, He lives through us, doing those things which are impossible otherwise. “Christ in us the hope of glory.”
The only way we can ever receive the power of God working within us is when we have a relationship with Him through Jesus Christ the Lord. When God is in us, no power on earth can separate us from His presence and His love: “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” God the Father, Jesus the Lord, and the Holy Spirit are on our team: “If God be for us, who can be against us? 32He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. 34Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.”
Can anyone or anything, including the Devil, defeat those who are in Christ? According to God’s promise, we are in His hands, sealed by the Holy Spirit, and saved by the blood of Christ. There is no power on earth powerful enough to break the seal and remove those who believe from God’s hand. “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:4).
So, what is the key to our victory over any and all things that confront us in life? It is our faith and trust in Almighty God. There is no other way. If you have never had a relationship with God Almighty, CLICK HERE for step-by-step instructions on how you may do so.