We Have an Intercessor!
If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his Son but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? Who will bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed interceded for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?...No, in all things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Rom. 8:31-37, NRSV.
As Christians, we never stand alone. We have a friend in heaven who ensures the eternal salvation of all who come to Him. Part of Christ's work in the heavenly sanctuary is to be an intercessor who guarantees the salvation of each of His followers. Leon Morris refers to today's passage as "the Christian's triumph song."
Nothing can separate us from the love of God because we have a Friend in heaven. Perhaps it is more accurate to say Friends, because God so loved us that He gave His Son. And it is God who justifies all who come to Him through Christ. Then who is left to condemn? Paul asks in Romans 8:34. His answer is emphatic. It is Christ Jesus. And that is good news.
Why? Because, the apostle says, Christ is on our side. Here we need to remember that while He was on earth He told us that "the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son" (John 5:22). Thus even though "we must appear before the judgment seat of Christ" to answer for our lives (2 Cor. 5:10), Christians (those who have a continuing faith relationship with God through Jesus) have absolutely nothing to fear. Again, why? Because He (1) died for them, (2) was raised from the dead, (3) is sitting at the right hand of God, and (4) is presently interceding for Christians as their heavenly High Priest.
Here is the best of good news. Christ gave His life for the sins of His followers. As a result, there is "now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 8:1, RSV). Having absorbed the penalty for those "in Him." He will not turn around and pronounce judgment against His followers for the very sins that He died for.
To the contrary, Jesus is currently "at the right hand of God" in the heavenly throne room, where He intercedes for us as our High Priest.
The biblical doctrine of the judgment is a reality. But if the judge is on our side, there is no way that we can come under condemnation. We are safe in Jesus. Nothing can separate us from the love of God except our own personal decision to reject the One who is currently interceding for us in the Temple above.
If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his Son but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? Who will bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed interceded for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?...No, in all things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Rom. 8:31-37, NRSV.
As Christians, we never stand alone. We have a friend in heaven who ensures the eternal salvation of all who come to Him. Part of Christ's work in the heavenly sanctuary is to be an intercessor who guarantees the salvation of each of His followers. Leon Morris refers to today's passage as "the Christian's triumph song."
Nothing can separate us from the love of God because we have a Friend in heaven. Perhaps it is more accurate to say Friends, because God so loved us that He gave His Son. And it is God who justifies all who come to Him through Christ. Then who is left to condemn? Paul asks in Romans 8:34. His answer is emphatic. It is Christ Jesus. And that is good news.
Why? Because, the apostle says, Christ is on our side. Here we need to remember that while He was on earth He told us that "the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son" (John 5:22). Thus even though "we must appear before the judgment seat of Christ" to answer for our lives (2 Cor. 5:10), Christians (those who have a continuing faith relationship with God through Jesus) have absolutely nothing to fear. Again, why? Because He (1) died for them, (2) was raised from the dead, (3) is sitting at the right hand of God, and (4) is presently interceding for Christians as their heavenly High Priest.
Here is the best of good news. Christ gave His life for the sins of His followers. As a result, there is "now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 8:1, RSV). Having absorbed the penalty for those "in Him." He will not turn around and pronounce judgment against His followers for the very sins that He died for.
To the contrary, Jesus is currently "at the right hand of God" in the heavenly throne room, where He intercedes for us as our High Priest.
The biblical doctrine of the judgment is a reality. But if the judge is on our side, there is no way that we can come under condemnation. We are safe in Jesus. Nothing can separate us from the love of God except our own personal decision to reject the One who is currently interceding for us in the Temple above.
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