As we continue with Paul’s statement, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” we read how God is for us.
Everything about us that has gone against God was placed on Jesus. God did not even spare his own Son, taking on himself in a great exchange of our sin for His righteousness. It wasn’t a one-time exchange, but God graciously (continuously) gives all things to us.
It doesn’t matter what anyone says, our Father in heaven tells us we are fit for Him in Jesus, and that is a very reassuring thing. Sometimes we question ourselves when we don’t feel like we look or act like children of God. Who can tell us we are not fit? No one! Jesus, who took our sins, who died for us, who raised to life, and now is at the right hand of God is standing on our behalf. And where Jesus stands with God, that too is where we stand. That is the nature of an intercessor. What God assigns to Jesus, He assigns to you and me.
So our faith isn’t about us. It isn’t saying, “Look at me and how good I have it.” Quite differently, we actually say, “Look at him! Look at our savior who saves us from our own failings and intercedes for me to God.”
Paul would have been presenting this with only the Old Testament. We have the benefit of seeing the full picture of the events of Jesus’ life through the New Testament. But the Old Testament speak of how God would stand with us. Isaiah speaks of the accuser, but the accusers will wear out because our faith is settled in the finished work of Jesus. And just as : 25 and shows us, God intercedes for us through the person of Jesus.
So who can separate us from the love of Christ? Even through all the hardship in life, even through the killing of Christians, God stands with us. We are more than conquerors. We aren’t just those who are trying to get through salvation, you are already there no matter the circumstances.
We cannot afford conversations where we differ from this message. It isn’t just contrary to the truth, but it is contrary to the love of God. It is the love of God to provide a bridge from us to Him. We cannot pretend there are other bridges. And it would be unloving to direct someone else to a bridge that does not exist. Instead, we are to go out and show people the true bridge of salvation. Jesus is that way, that truth, and that life.
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 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? (ESV)
33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. (ESV)
7 But the Lord God helps me;
therefore I have not been disgraced;
therefore I have set my face like a flint,
and I know that I shall not be put to shame.
8 He who vindicates me is near.
Who will contend with me?
Let us stand up together.
Who is my adversary?
Let him come near to me. (ESV)
7:1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. 3 He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.
4 See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! 5 And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, though these also are descended from Abraham. 6 But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. 8 In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives. 9 One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, 10 for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.
11 Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? 12 For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. 13 For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.
15 This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, 16 who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is witnessed of him,
“You are a priest forever,
after the order of Melchizedek.”
18 For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness 19 (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.
20 And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, 21 but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him:
“The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind,
‘You are a priest forever.’”
22 This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.
23 The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, 24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. 25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
26 For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27 He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. 28 For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever. (ESV)
2:1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. (ESV)
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (ESV)