A synopsis of the sermon delivered by the Rev. David L. Hicks at St. Paul’s Reformed Episcopal Church on Trinity XI, August 22, 2004. Please read Romans 8:26-39.
“What shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” These words, written by Saint Paul in Romans 8:31, are of tremendous comfort and encouragement to the Christian believer. Much of the Letter to the Romans is dedicated to demonstrating the great truth that God is indeed “for us.” It cannot be overemphasized, however, that this good will of God toward humanity is understood in the person of Jesus Christ – his life, death and resurrection bring salvation to all who believe whether Jew or Gentile. As Paul continues, “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?” We are assured of God continued goodness to us, because we understand the great price that he paid in order to reconcile us to himself – namely, his own Son.
It is important that we stress the centrality of Jesus Christ in any discussion of God’s goodness to us. Apart from the gospel of Christ, what basis do we have to believe that God is well disposed toward us? What makes us determine that God loves us, rather than believing that he hates us? While one may point to the beautiful and pleasant things in life as evidence of God’s good will toward us, one can equally point to the evil and tragic events that take place every day and arrive at another conclusion. Could not someone make a good case that God is really out to get us, based upon the evil that exists in the world? The truth of the matter is if it were not for Jesus, we would have the status as an enemy of God. Saint Paul says elsewhere in this letter, “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life” (Rom 5:10). Our sin puts us in an adversarial relationship with our Creator, because God’s love and justice demand that sin be eradicated. The story of salvation begins with God being against us. Thankfully, God was not content to leave things as they were, but he devised a means by which we are reconciled through Jesus Christ.
There may be many occasions in life when we are tempted to doubt God’s love and good will toward us. Perhaps our conscience accuses us when we recall our many sins and failures. We have the words of assurance that no one, not even the Christian himself, is able to bring a charge against those who are in Christ Jesus. God justifies those who trust in Jesus, because Jesus himself intercedes for those who trust in him (Rom 8:33-34). Perhaps we face persecution for our faith: does that mean God has abandoned us? No, we are assured that no distress or peril of any kind is able to separate us from God’s love (Rom 8:35-37). God is working in all things for our good (Rom 8:28), and even when we do not know how to pray as we ought, the Spirit of God prays for us that God’s will might be accomplished in our live (Rom 8:26). Be well assured, Christian, that no matter what you face in life God is for you – and if God is for you, who can be against you?
