Paul reminds us that God is with us and if we have God no one can stand against us.
"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? " Romans 8:31
We often, however, overlook a word that is in this scripture. That word is "If". Do we really know that God is for us? Often people who have no doubts that God is for them are the ones who are, sadly, the most wrong.
The people of Jeremiah's time knew God was for them but they were sent into exile anyway. When Jesus walked the earth, the Jews knew that God was for them but they saw their temple destroyed by the Romans. The Pharisee praying in the temple and thanking God for not being like the publican (Luke 18: 9-14) knew God was for him and yet his prayers went unheard.
The Illusion of Self-Righteous Security
We don't want to be wrong. We don't want to be like the examples above of people who knew that God was for them when in fact He was not. How can we be sure then that God is for us?
Someone might think that doing what is right would be one way to know. God stands with the righteous. Take the story again of the Pharisee in the temple. We would certainly sympathize with the Publican. We would be on his side, the right side. But what of the Pharisee? How do we view him? Would we consider him evil and unworthy of God's love or would we pray for him with love that he would find his way to God?
We often want to tell others about all the things we do for God in hopes of finding our security. We sound like the Pharisee loudly proclaiming all the good we do. We tithe, we give to the poor, we are kind to strangers, we hold our tempers, but all this goodness that we do pales in comparison to the holy, righteousness of God. When we see ourselves as God sees us, we know there is no hope for our goodness to be enough.
True Security in Christ Alone
Paul says we can't rely on doing right to find security with God. We may have done things that other people can never forgive or maybe we can't forgive ourselves, but what does that matter? God forgives us. God justifies us. We have joy because we know we don't have to rely on ourselves to be good enough. God's gift of His blessed Son on the Cross provides a way through— a way to knowing that God is truly on our side.
Paul reminds us that God justifies and Christ makes intercession for us. Nothing can remove us from the love of Christ (Romans 8:33-35). Paul had sins in his past that many probably could never forgive him for. He had held the coats of those who stoned Stephen to death (Acts 7: 54-60). He had hunted Christians. Paul knew that because of Christ; however, he was no longer condemned. Paul knew that if God is for us, nothing can come against us.
Boasting in the Cross & Daily Discipleship
Paul boasts of the cross in Galatians 6:14. He does not glory in his personal successes but believes that anything he has achieved is because of Jesus and his sacrifice on the cross. Only if we are insecure in our relationship with Christ would we boast or brag about our good works. That insecurity makes us want the world to see and know all the good we do.
But Paul says no to this. All we as Christians can rightfully do, he tells us, is boast in the cross. Any good that we do is only good because of the righteousness of the One who died for us on the cross.
If God is For Us
Time after time, I've realized that nothing I do can ever measure up to the righteousness of Christ. If God is truly for us, then even our failures and insecurities are covered by His love. God knows us and loves us still. Jesus calls to us and tells us to rest in Him and what He has done for us.
Living Out Our Daily Commitment
If God is for us, then every day we must take up our cross and die to the world. Every day we must choose to serve a risen Savior. Every day we must find our security in His faithful love and forgiveness. Every day we must stand amazed in His presence and wonder how He could love us, a sinner condemned, unclean.
Enjoy the beautiful hymn, I Stand Amazed in the Presence, performed by Celtic Worship.
Inspiration for this post came from the book, What is Faith? by J. Gresham Machen.
Comments