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“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.” (Romans 8.31-34).

Well, people were against Jesus, weren't they? After all, He was crucified by His political and religious enemies. Before Jesus' time, other righteous men also had enemies by the score. Jeremiah, David, Moses, and other Old Testament worthies were persistently and regularly hounded by those who had different ideas about God and other matters of consequence. Couple these thoughts with the fact that the very person who penned these words (i.e., “If God is for us, who can be against us...”) was himself the constant target of persecutions and assassination attempts, and it becomes obvious that Paul was not intending to say that believers would have no enemies! Then, what was he saying if he was not saying that we would not be opposed by anyone? That is the subject of our devotional today.

It is not the case that someone cannot be against or opposed to the believer; it is the case that no one can successfully oppose the believer. The difference in these two statements is the difference between having an opponent and having a successful opponent. In the focus text, Paul is affirming that no person can successfully oppose us if God is for us. In order to “make this work,” one has must realize that the “score” is not kept by man here in the material universe. Rather, the “score” is kept in another place and it is based on a set of values that is not the norm here upon the earth.

Jesus had opponents, but they were not successful! They killed him, yet He ultimately “won” the battle which they waged against Him. In fact, by demanding His death, they played right into His hands and enabled Him to execute the great “rescue” plan that had been formed since before time began. Paul put is in another way which we quote here: “However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” (1 Corinthians 2.6-8). The “mystery” of which Paul spoke, was the plan formulated in the eternal mind of God to send His Son to redeem any and all who would listen to and receive the gospel message.

This hidden wisdom was kept secret until the time was right to reveal it (Galatians 4.1-6). At that time it was made manifest by the open and public proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul declared that “...by revelation He [God] made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets.” (Ephesians 3.3-5).

The Gospel message is one that rings true not only for time, but also for eternity. God WILL have the last word in these matters (just as He had the last word when it came to the crucifixion of Jesus). When the final trumpet sounds, all men will be judged by the word of Christ (John 12.48) and the victory of the saints will be eternally sealed for all to see. Every knee shall bow!

Questions:

1. When Jesus was crucified, what did His opponents think they had accomplished?

2. Three days later, what happened to show that their “victory” was but a delusion of their own minds?

3. “God is not mocked.” (see Galatians 6.4). Does this mean that men will not mock Him, or only that He will have the last say?

4. Read Isaiah 54.17. How does this passage relate to today's focus text?

"Today's Little Lift" from Jim Bullington

Mercy and not Sacrifice (Sept. 30, 2010)