Romans 8: 32-39 - “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all-how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. 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. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
“‘For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’
“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

In v. 33 there is the fear of accusation, of being called in question. Every man who has known conviction of sin has experienced a little of what it means to be called in question by God; to have the foundations of self-confidence shaken and shattered by the knowledge of his justice and holiness. It can be an agonizing and bitter discovery to see that one’s whole life counts for nothing. But when the believer comes to that arena where his life may be called in question, he discovers that God is his justifier! What then of the opposition mentioned in v. 32? It is possible, says Paul, but insignificant when we know that God is for us. Who can then ultimately be against us, when he works all things together for our good according to his purpose?
This leads to the ultimate question. How do we know that God is for us, that he will be our justifier, that Christ is on our side, that we are more than conquerors? The ultimate ground of our assurance, expressed in one of the most moving statements in the whole of the New Testament, is this: He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, How shall he not with him, also freely give us all things? (8:32)

How does this bring assurance? It does so objectively because it provides the answers to my deepest doubts and fears. It shows me proof of God’s grace, in that, Abraham-like, he did not spare his own Son. It indicates the certainty of pardoned guilt. Christ was ‘delivered up,’ not merely by the hands of Judas, or the chief priests and rulers, or by Pontius Pilate, all of whom, we are told ‘delivered him.’ He was delivered more profoundly and mysteriously by the hand of his own Father, and according to his determinate counsel and foreknowledge. It pleased the Lord to bruise him. He hath put him to grief !
From such a premise, only one conclusion is possible. It is the conclusion of assurance. If this be true, then how shall God not also freely give me everything else I need, in Christ, for eternal salvation? The assured faith rests on Christ, clothed in the facts of the gospel, and the apostolic interpretation of these facts which makes them a gospel (The Assurance of Salvation, Sinclair B. Ferguson).

Take time to read through this passage several times and pray, thanking the Lord for His great salvation! Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ! No more doubt, no more fears! Worship Him and praise Him for we are secure in His great love for us.

-DP