“If God is for us” (8)

[Romans 8:31-34]

                Look at Romans 8:34 – “…  Christ Jesus, who died--more than that, who was raised to life--is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.”  The phrase “who died – more than that” here refers to the death of Jesus Christ (v. 34).  Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures (1 Cor. 15:3).  Also, the word “was raised” here refers to the resurrection of Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:34).  Jesus Christ rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Cor. 15:4).  The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are like the heads and tails of the same coin.  In other words, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are inseparable.  Without the death of Jesus there is no resurrection of Jesus, and without the resurrection of Jesus there is no death of Jesus.  Just as we believe, thank, praise, and testify to the death of Jesus Christ, so we must believe, thank, praise, and testify of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  This is because Jesus Christ not only died, but rose again.  This is the gospel of the gospel.

                Christ Jesus, who died according to the Scriptures and rose from the dead according to the Scriptures (Rom. 8:34) is the Son of God and also the Son of Man.  In other words, Jesus Christ is both God and Man.  That is why Jesus Christ became the mediator between God and man.  Look at 1 Timothy 2:5 – “For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”  God has reconciled us to Himself through His Mediator, Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 5:18).  Therefore, we are saved only through Jesus Christ.  Look at Acts 4:12 – “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”  We have access to God the Father only through Jesus Christ.  Look at John 14:6 – “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.’”

                Jesus Christ, who died according to the Scriptures and was resurrected according to the Scriptures, lived on this earth for 40 days to testify of His resurrection and ascended to heaven (Acts 1:3, 9).  And Jesus Christ is/sit at the right hand of God.  That is why the Apostle Paul says in Romans 8:34, ‘He is at the right hand of God.’  The Bible testifies that Jesus Christ is/sit at the right hand of God.  Look at Hebrews 1:3 – “And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.”  Look at Hebrews 8:1 – “Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens.”  Look at Colossians 3:1 – “Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.”  Here, “the right hand of God” is the word of the parable, and it is compared to the right hand of God or the right hand of God that there is authority or power.  In other words, God gave authority or power to Jesus Christ, who died according to the Scriptures, rose from the dead according to the Scriptures, ascended into heaven, and is seated or at the right hand of God.  Look at Matthew 28:18 – “And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.”  The saying that He is seated at the right hand is a parable that means that He has all or absolute authority.  Look at 1 Peter 3:22 – “who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.”  The Bible says that all the spiritual creatures in heaven will ascend into heaven and submit to Jesus Christ, who is at the right hand of God.  Look at Ephesians 1:20-21: “which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.”  The power of God worked in Christ, raised Him to life, and seated Him at the right hand of God in heaven, exalted above every name.  Look at Acts 2:33 – “Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear.”  God raised Jesus Christ to life according to the Scriptures, and Jesus Christ received the promised Holy Spirit from the Father and poured out the Spirit.  Where is such authority?

                This Jesus Christ says, ‘He is also interceding for us’ (Rom. 8:34).  In “Christ Jesus” who intercedes for us (v. 34), “Christ” means anointed, and in Old Testament times only prophets, priests, and kings were anointed.  That is, Jesus Christ is the Prophet, the High Priest, and the King of kings.  The statement that Jesus Christ is the High Priest here refers to two important responsibilities:

(1)    The first responsibility is to offer sacrifices.

Jesus Christ, the High Priest, offered himself as a sacrifice to God once for all through His own body.  Look at Ephesians 5:2 – “and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.”  Here, “a fragrant aroma” means joyfully or voluntarily, and Jesus Christ is saying that he presented Himself as a sacrifice to God with a joyful or voluntary heart.  Look at Hebrews 9:26 – “Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.”  Jesus Christ is saying that He offered Himself as a sacrifice to God once for all to take away our sins.

(2) The second responsibility is to offer prayers.

The High Priest, Jesus Christ, intercedes to God for us.  Look at Hebrews 7:25 – “Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”  How mighty and powerful is this, since Jesus Christ, the High Priest who intercedes for us at the right hand of God (which speaks of power and might in parables).  This prayer of Jesus Christ has power and can be answered and saved us completely (v. 25).  In other words, the mighty supplication of Jesus Christ will bring us to the consummation of salvation.  The perfection of that salvation is God's glorifying us (Rom. 8:30).  God has not only raised us up with Christ but has given us to sit with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:6).  In this way, since God is for us (Rom. 8:31), God's saving us must come to completion.  Therefore, we must be steadfast with the assurance of salvation, unwavering, and always diligent in the work of the Lord (1 Cor. 15:58).

                Jesus Christ prayed a lot while He was on this earth.  A good example is the 17th chapter of the Gospel of John, the prayer of the High Priest Jesus Christ.  Look at John 17:9 – “I ask on their behalf; I do not ask on behalf of the world, but of those whom You have given Me; for they are Yours.”  Look at Hebrews 5:7 – “In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety.”  Jesus Christ, who, while He was in the flesh, offered supplications and prayers to God the Father with intense weeping and tears, is now interceding for us at the right hand of God.  Jesus Christ, who died according to the Scriptures and rose again according to the Scriptures, is praying to God for each of us.  Jesus Christ knows the circumstances and needs of each one of us, and He is still interceding for us at the right hand of God.  The indwelling Holy Spirit who helps us in our weakness intercedes for us according to God's will.  He intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words (Rom. 8:26-27).  Therefore, we must ask God by trusting this word of God.  We must ask according to the Scriptures.  In other words, we must ask God according to the Word of God or according to the will of God under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.