Verse 31
What then shall we say to these things? Once again, the Apostle Paul used a Greek idiom to set up a debater’s technique. The rhetorical question is a debater’s way of making a direct assertion without appearing to do so. Paul uses a rhetorical debater’s technique in order to force a correct conclusion. The idiom is better translated, “Therefore face to face with these things to what conclusion are we forced?” It is a reference to Romans 8:28-30 specifically. And the principle is that the plan of God is greater than any problem of adversity, including opposition. The plan of God is greater than its opponents.
If God is for us, who is against us? The question is a first class condition as a conclusion from the previous paragraph (if and He is for us). The first class condition recognizes that every believer is in the plan of God and therefore God has made provision for every believer, including opposition (any disaster and any difficulty.) The plan of God is greater than any opposition the believer will ever face. You do not have to apologise for the plan of God. No one is God’s equal. No one has more power and ability than God.
Verse 32
He Who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?
This is an obvious “a fortiori” principle from God. If God can do the greater (and He did) by not sparing His only Son, it follows that He will not hold anything back from the advancing believer who has developed the capacity for divine blessings in time.
The all things in this verse can refer to many things in the life of the believer, but it certainly refers to the 40 spiritual assets received at salvation. It is also a reference to the Problem-Solving Devices, logistical grace blessings and much, much more.
Verse 33
Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the One Who justifies.
The first erroneous source is Satan—Job 1:6-11; Zechariah 3:1-2; Revelation 12:9,10. Satan is judging believers constantly. The second source of unauthorised judging and maligning is the believer—Matthew 7:1-2; Romans 14:4,10. In the plan of God there is no provision for either Satan or another believer judging or condemning another believer.
When a believer judges another believer he is guilty of a sin, but he is also guilty of subtle and blasphemous legalism and spiritual bullying. Every believer is responsible to God for his own spiritual life. Maligning, judging, gossiping or condemning is blasphemy against the justice of God. In effect, such gossiping and condemning suggests that the believer doing the gossiping and condemning is more capable of exercising justice than God is.
The justice of God does not need help. The only time a believer is authorized to evaluate another believer is for the purpose of separation, recommendation or evaluation as one in authority (a supervisor). When one has authority over others he must evaluate any believer or anyone else, under his command or authority, in accordance with the principles of evaluation authorized for that command or that office.
In the Christian way of life, however, there is no authorization for judging, gossiping, maligning, accusations or revenge tactics. God has not seen fit to ask our advice or solicit our help. Furthermore, even when Satan brings accusation against us as believers, God the Father has assigned us a defense attorney, the Lord Jesus Christ. (1 John 2:1,2)
The integrity of God [righteousness and justice] will either judge or bless the believer in time as well as in eternity. Only God has the facts. Only God has the ability to either bless or condemn from His perfect justice. There is no place for the believer to judge or bring accusation against another believer. This is the work of the justice of God. The responsibility of the believer is simple. Either you adjust to the justice of God or the justice of God will adjust to you. God is the one who justifies.
Verse 34
Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He Who died, yes, rather was raised, Who is at the right hand of God, Who intercedes for us.
Condemnation by another believer or making the statement that a person could not be a Christian and do such a thing is a false assumption. In reality, since Christians are human and possess a sin nature there is no sin a Christian cannot commit.
The plan of God is greater than the legalistic opinion of some ignorant, carnal or reversionistic believer. The act of declaring a believer not saved is a challenge to the plan of God, and obviously a challenge to the grace of God. It should be noted that our salvation does not depend upon human opinions or observations of any legalist, any spiritual bully, any gossip or any maligner. Our salvation depends solely upon the grace of God.
A lot of believers take it upon themselves to condemn others and what other believers are allegedly doing or really doing. Since Christ Jesus was the One condemned for our sins no one else has the right to condemn us. Personal sin is not an issue in condemnation from the justice of God; Adam’s original sin is the only issue. Personal sin is not the issue in salvation because Christ received the judicial imputation of our sins on the Cross. Therefore, when you make an issue out of someone else’s personal sins you are in a state of blasphemy, as well as being sinful in the area of gossip, maligning and/or judging.
To imply or to state that a believer can lose his salvation because of some sin is the quintessence of legalism and arrogance. It is arrogance because it is setting one’s self up as a judge; legalism because it is depending upon works for gaining salvation and keeping it. The grace of God is greater than the worst sin ever committed by a believer. The sins of the believer are subject to divine punishment and discipline, but this does not include loss of salvation.
Christ was raised from the dead through the agency of God the Father as well as God the Holy Spirit according to Colossians 2:12; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 1 Peter 1:21; Acts 2:24; Romans 1:4; 8:11 and 1 Peter 3:18. The fact that Christ has been resurrected also indicates that He will evaluate all believers of the Church Age at the Judgment Seat of Christ. It is the Lord Jesus Christ Who after His resurrection was ascended and seated at the right hand of the Father.
The Church Age is the dispensation for calling out the royal family of God and every believer in the Church Age is absolutely unique compared to believers in past dispensations and believers in the future after the Rapture. Every believer in the Church Age is in union with Christ. The acceptance of Christ in Heaven by God the Father after the Resurrection indicates the acceptance of every Church Age believer in Heaven as the Royal Family of God. So regardless of earthly criticism and judgment from any person, every believer has been accepted in Heaven. (Ephesians 1:6)
When Christ sat down at the right hand of the Father He began a ministry which has continued for over 2000 years. Jesus Christ is our Great High Priest and He is also our Mediator. Therefore, what right does anyone have to judge us? The intercessory principle in this verse is the function of a lawyer who approaches the judge’s bench on behalf of His erring clients and petitions the court on behalf of His clients. Jesus Christ approaches the throne of God as our defense attorney. Satan accuses us and Jesus Christ defends us.