Life is filled with questions, isn’t it? I just began this message with a question.
From the time we are young we ask questions. Some questions we ask because we want to gain a certain amount of knowledge. The way to learn is to ask questions. Some questions are serious in nature; some are silly and some can be just dumb. Then there are some questions that are designed not to be answered. These are known as Rhetorical questions. They really have no desire for an answer, because the answer is so obvious that it needs no answer.
As Paul wraps up Chapter 8, he does so by asking five rhetorical questions that have obvious answers. Each of these questions point to the undeniable truth of God’s love for his children. In this marvelous hymn consisting of 9 verses, Paul shouts encouragement to us today.
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31
Question 1 speaks of the of God’s love for us.
“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
Question 2 speaks of the of God’s love for us.
“Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.” Romans 8:33
Question 3 speaks of the of God’s love for us.
“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 8:34
Question 4 speaks of the of God’s love for us.
- Jesus for us.
- Jesus was from the dead.
- Jesus is at the of God.
- Jesus is for us.
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” Romans 8:35a
Question 5 speaks of the of God’s love for us.
: Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, Romans 8:35b
: or danger, or sword? Romans 8:35c
“As it is written, ‘For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.’” Romans 8:36
“…far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.” 2 Cor. 11:23-28
“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, now 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 8:37-39
You are more than a conqueror when these enemies are actually turned for the good of the believer and the glory of God. The word in the Greek is actually super conqueror. When we allow the troubles and persecutions of the world to defeat us then those things win. But when we realize that these are only tools that God uses for our good and his glory, then we overcome. That which was meant to weaken us has actually been the means of our strength. So suffering believer, don’t let trials deceive you for these are not a sign that God’s love has abandoned you. It’s the opposite. His love for you can never be separated by anything or anyone.