“If God is for Us” (5)

[Romans 8:31-34]

Look at Romans 8:33-34, the first part: "Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns?" The purpose for which God chose us is to conform us to the image of His Son, the only begotten Jesus Christ.

Look at Romans 8:29: "For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters." The only begotten Jesus Christ came to this earth, shed His blood on the cross, died, rose again on the third day, ascended, and now sits at the right hand of God, interceding for us. God has glorified the only begotten Jesus Christ in this way. And now, the only begotten Jesus Christ sits at the right hand of God in the glorious heavenly realm, praying for us.

God chose us to be conformed to the image of His only begotten Son. So, who could dare to accuse us? No one can. Furthermore, the purpose for which God chose us is so that Jesus Christ would be the firstborn (v. 29). The only begotten Jesus Christ is the firstborn, and all of us who are saved are the younger siblings of Jesus Christ. So, how could anyone accuse us, the brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ? No one can.

The Bible tells us that Jesus Christ is not ashamed to call us "brothers" (Hebrews 2:10-13). So, who could dare to accuse us? No one could.

However, in Zechariah 3, Satan accused the high priest Joshua. Joshua, as the high priest, was supposed to be wearing clean clothes, but he was wearing dirty clothes (v. 3), and Satan accused him for that. At that time, Jehovah, who had chosen Jerusalem, rebuked Satan sharply and severely (v. 2). Why? Because God had chosen him, and Satan had no right to accuse him.

So, why did God rebuke Satan severely? The reason is that God had already forgiven all the sins of those He had chosen. Look at Zechariah 3:4: "The Lord said to those standing before Him, 'Take off his filthy clothes.' Then He said to Joshua, 'See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put fine garments on you.'" God had removed all the sins of those He had chosen, so how could Satan accuse him? No one could.

This is why God rebuked Satan severely, and Satan had no choice but to retreat.

In Genesis 2:17, God clearly commanded Adam, saying, "You shall not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for in the day that you eat of it, you shall surely die" (2:17). However, Adam and Eve were deceived by Satan and disobeyed God’s command by eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Look at Genesis 3:6: "When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; she also gave to her husband with her, and he ate." As a result, Adam and Eve became enemies of God (Romans 5:10).

When Adam and Eve sinned and became enemies of God, God showed mercy to them. God came to them (Genesis 3:8-9). This is a great act of grace. The fact that God came to Adam and asked, "Where are you?" (v. 9) is such a precious gospel.

In Genesis 3:15, God spoke of a covenant of grace to save Adam and Eve. He promised that salvation would ultimately come through Jesus Christ. That’s why Jesus said on the cross, "It is finished" (John 19:30). What a great grace this is!

Also, in Genesis 3:21, God made garments of skin for Adam and Eve. To make these garments, an animal had to be killed. It seems likely that it was a lamb. At that time, God did not provide plants but gave animals. By killing a lamb and making garments of its skin for Adam and Eve, God showed that just as the lamb died, so would they die. And afterward, Adam lived 930 years and died (Genesis 5:5).

The reason for sacrificing animals was for the offering. So, the lamb was sacrificed, and its skin was made into garments for them. This symbolizes Jesus Christ, who is the atoning sacrifice and the peace offering. It also shows that God will clothe His chosen people with the garment of Jesus Christ.

Look at Romans 3:25-26: "Whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus." God has justified those He has chosen, those who have faith in Jesus Christ.

Look at Romans 8:30: "Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified." God has called, justified, and glorified those whom He predestined. So, the Bible asks, "Who shall bring a charge against God's elect?" (Romans 8:33-34). Since God has loved and chosen them beforehand and justified them, who could possibly accuse them? No one!

Look at Romans 8:1: "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus." Those who are united with Christ, those who resemble Christ, those who are brothers of Christ, have no condemnation.

Look at Romans 8:2: "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death." The Holy Spirit has set us free from the law of sin and death, so who could condemn us? No one!

Look at Romans 8:4: "That the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit." God’s chosen and justified people have fulfilled all the righteous requirements of the law, so who could condemn us? No one!

Look at Romans 8:14: "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God." We are sons of God; how could anyone condemn us? No one!

Look at Romans 8:15: "For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father.'" As children of God who call God "Abba, Father," who could possibly condemn us? No one!

Look at Romans 8:17: "And if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together." As heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, who could condemn us? No one!

Look at Romans 8:30: "Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified." If God has justified us, who could condemn us? No one!

Look at Romans 8:33 (second half) - 34 (first half): “… It is God who justifies; who is the one who condemns...?” The one who justifies is God. Who can condemn us? Never! Not only has God justified us, but He has also glorified us (v. 30).

Look at Zechariah 3:5: “And I said, ‘Let them put a clean turban on his head.’ So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments; and the angel of the Lord stood by.” The prophet Zechariah asked that a clean or glorious crown be placed on the head of the high priest Joshua. Immediately, they put a clean turban on his head, and clothed him with clean and glorious garments. God glorifies those whom He has justified.

Look at Ephesians 2:5-6: “Even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” This is how God glorifies us; who can condemn us? Never! This is what God does. God overcame the power of death through Jesus Christ, raised Him from the dead, made Him ascend, and seated Him at His right hand, so that everyone must bow and worship before Him.

Since this is what God does, our salvation is certain. Therefore, with the assurance of our salvation, let us stand firm and unshaken, working more in the Lord’s service, and when we stand before Him, may all of us be worthy to receive His praise.