Find Hope and Encouragement in These 3 Questions

Is there anything better than a steaming cup of coffee first thing in the morning?

Do birds fly? Can fish swim? 

 I’m sure you’ve used these kinds of rhetorical questions before. 

The dictionary defines rhetorical question as “a question asked in order to create a dramatic effect or to make a point rather than to get an answer”.

In Romans 8, the Apostle Paul asks a series of rhetorical questions in order to prove a powerful point- God is greater than anything we will face! 

Question #1: If God is for us, who can be against us?

The world is against us.

If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. John 15:19

Our flesh is against us.

For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. Galatians 5:17

Satan is against us.

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

But God is greater!

Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. John 16:33

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?  Romans 8:31

The world, the flesh, and the devil are warring against our souls but they will not prevail if we are in Christ!

Look again at the second part of Romans 8:31…

If (since, because) God is for us, who can be against us? 

This rhetorical question is designed to give us hope that we will never face condemnation again. God, through Christ, has paid our sin debt and we are his children. There is none greater than God and if He no longer condemns us, we have nothing to worry about!

Our salvation is sealed, and until our salvation is complete and we see Christ face to face, we press on toward the mark! And because He is for us, we never give up in the midst of the intense battle of this life. We have a God who is a warrior and He is fighting for us.

You will face challenges this week. But God is greater! Do you believe it? 

Question #2: Who has sacrificed more than God?

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? Romans 8:32

Let’s talk salvation for a minute in light of this verse. 

The text clearly says...God the Father did not spare (set aside, preserve, protect) his own Son but gave Jesus up for us all, who are sinners and enemies of God.

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  Romans 5:8

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. John 3:16-17

God is not a faraway despot, an autocratic narcissist demanding our allegiance and worship at no cost to Him personally! HE GAVE HIS SON SO YOU COULD ENJOY HIM FOR ALL ETERNITY!

I cannot fully comprehend the transaction that took place on the cross 2,000 years ago. But somehow the Trinity became fractured for a time. The Father not only separated from the Son, but He punished His Son by pouring out His unmitigated wrath upon Him so you could receive forgiveness and become His child. 

He executed this plan, formulated before the foundations of the earth. 

Why? LOVE! His LOVE for you! 

If you are not in Christ, please, turn to him!

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. John 3:18

If you are in Christ, look at the last half of verse 32.

...how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 

Believer, do you see what Paul is saying here? Look at what God lavished on you while you were his enemy! He sacrificed His beloved Son so you could live eternally and not be eternally condemned in Hell! 

If God treated you that well while you were his enemy, imagine how well he is going to treat you now that you are his son or daughter! 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. Ephesians 1:3

But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”. 1 Corinthians 2:9

Believer, He has given you a new life bought not with silver or gold but with the very lifeblood of His precious Son Jesus! 

Question #3: Who can accuse the people of God?

Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Romans 8:33-34

Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? The fact is, everyone can! 

The question isn’t IF I deserve accusation. I do. I fall woefully short much of the time. 

But please notice the spirit in which Paul asks this rhetorical question. The assumed answer to this question is “no one!” No one can bring an accusation! 

But how is this possible if I understand clearly that I should be accused and condemned?

This brings us full circle back to verse 1 of chapter 8.

There is therefore now NO condemnation to those in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1

We deserve the accusation. We deserve the condemnation. But the condemnation we deserve has been laid upon the one who deserves nothing but praise and worship! 

Again we see God actively orchestrating our redemption through the act of justification. 

When accusations come before my heavenly Father –the judge of the universe –He declares me innocent because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.

My justification was born out of His substitutionary atonement –in other words my innocence is only possible because Jesus died for me. 

Believer, the only person that has the right to accuse you has figured out an amazing way to save you and not condemn you! It’s called the gospel! 

Satan can’t accuse us.

We can’t accuse each other.

God chooses not to accuse us, if we are in Christ…

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Romans 8:35

Separation from Christ’s love is impossible if we understand the gospel. The finished work of Christ has cemented our standing before God.

Paul then gives a litany of possible scenarios that demonstrate clearly His love will never leave us or forsake us. 

Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:35b, 38-39

But please notice in this list what our loving God will allow to endure as part of our journey in this life. Tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, sword...while the believer may face suffering and persecution in this life, it is not an indication that they have been torn away from the love of Christ. Jesus Himself suffered persecution and so we should expect it too. 

But we have HOPE!  We are loved by Christ and he will never leave us nor forsake us. Nothing can separate us from the love of Jesus.

I’d encourage you to spend some time meditating on Romans 8. Let these verses fill you with encouragement and joy. The word of God brings hope, truth, and healing to our desperately needy souls. Praise God for his kindness to us!