Victory in Jesus

What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?...Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us. Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.” No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. Romans 8:31-37 NLT

From the text, Paul is providing an encouragement to Christ’s followers who are facing difficulties in life. Life’s struggles can overwhelm us and render us ineffective living the life that God gave us. The ruler of this world wants Christ’s followers immobilized and paralyzed using the cares of this world. But Paul asserts the fact that as followers of Christ, nothing should prevent us from serving God and living our lives for His glory. This is not just the logical conclusion that prompts us to be faithful but a proclamation that because of God’s love, we can live victorious lives. God had shown us His love by not sparing His Son to die for our sin and since He did that, then there is no reason for us to think that He will ignore us. The presence of God living in us through the Holy Spirit should encourage us to be strong and courageous even in the midst of difficulties. We need to grow in profound appreciation of what we have in Christ. Since our salvation belongs to Christ for He alone accomplished it on our behalf, then there is no one can bring any charge against us. God had shown to us that we can live in accordance with His will by providing us the resources we need. He was raised to life proving that we too will be raised from the dead. On the basis of His death and resurrection, because we trusted Him as our Lord and Savior, we are assured that no one can separate us from the love of Christ. No matter how much difficulties we will be facing, whether they come in the form of calamity, persecution, poverty, isolation, or even death itself can separate us from the love of God. “Despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us” (Romans 8:37).

Blessings,