If

If God is for Us

If God is for us, who can be against us?

Romans 8:31

The word “If” is a tiny word with big meaning. In my Bible, it’s near the top of a passage dubbed “The Believer’s Triumph.” Paul used it when he posed what seemed to be a rhetorical question. Paul just explained the amazing gift of salvation God offered through the sacrifice of His Son. He also taught about the role of the Holy Spirit in believers’ lives. He then concluded, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Rather than a question, Paul actually stated a fact! God is for us, and He proved it by sending His Son and His Holy Spirit.

Paul continued with a listing of severe life experiences and declared us “triumphant conquerors.” Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?... No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us (Rom. 8:35, 37).

It seems that Paul’s heart was so full that it continued to overflow with additional possibilities for believers’ triumph. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 8:38-39). This context clarifies why Paul could confidently state, “If God is for us, who can be against us?”  

In God’s love, we are secure against anything and everything in all creation. Let that soak in for a moment or for lots-of-moments. Let’s allow ourselves to be as overwhelmed by God’s love as Paul—and to proclaim it just as loudly and clearly!  

O Lord, like Paul, may I become increasingly awed by your love and sensitized to moments for sharing it with others.

Linda Les