Lesson for June 18, 2023
The Doctrine of Undeserved Suffering
Lesson 6
Romans 8:31, “What then shall we say to all these things? If God is for us, who can be [successful] against us?”
What then shall we say to these things? Once again, the Apostle Paul used a Greek idiom to set up a debater’s technique. The rhetorical question is a debater’s way of making a direct assertion without appearing to do so. Paul uses a rhetorical debater’s technique in order to force a correct conclusion. The idiom is better translated, “Therefore considering these things that I just communicated to you, to what conclusion are we forced?” It is a reference to Romans 8:28-30 specifically. And the principle is that the plan of God is greater than any problem of undeserved suffering. The plan of God is greater than our circumstances.
If God is for us, who is against us? The question is a first-class condition (if and He is) as a conclusion from the previous verses. The first-class condition recognizes that every believer is in the plan of God and therefore God has made provision for every believer, including disaster and difficulty. No one has more power and ability than God. Therefore, He has provided everything we need as believers to successfully live His plan for us.
Romans 8:32, “He Who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?”
This is an “a fortiori” (from Latin) principle from God. If God can do the greater (and He did) by not sparing His only Son, it follows that He will not hold anything back from advancing believers who develop the capacity for greater blessings in time including, but not limited to our 40 spiritual assets, the Problem-Solving Devices, logistical grace blessings and much, much more.
Romans 8:33, “Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the One Who justifies.”
Satan is a source of bringing charges against advancing believers. (Job 1:6-11; Zechariah 3:1-2; Revelation 12:9,10) Satan is judging believers constantly. Another source of bringing charges is other people, including other believers. (Matthew 7:1-2; Romans 14:4,10) In the plan of God there is no provision for either Satan or another person judging or condemning another believer. The justice of God does not need help.
When Satan brings accusation against us as believers, Jesus Christ acts on our behalf as our “attorney.” (I John 2:1,2) Only God has the facts. Only God has the ability to either bless or condemn from His perfect justice. There is no place for believers judging or bringing accusations against another believer. This is the work of the justice of God.
Romans 8:34, “Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He Who died, yes, rather was raised, Who is at the right hand of God, Who intercedes for us.”
Who is the one who condemns? Condemning another person or making the statement that someone could not be a Christian and commit certain sins is a false assumption. Since Christians are human and possess a sin nature, there is no sin a Christian cannot commit. And committing sin after salvation does not cancel a believer’s salvation. (John 10:29)
The plan of God is greater than the legalistic opinion of some ignorant, carnal, or reversionistic believer or of an unbeliever. The act of declaring that, a believer is no longer saved is a challenge to the plan of God, and obviously a challenge to the grace of God. Our salvation does not depend upon human opinions from legalists, any spiritual bullies, or any maligner. Our salvation depends solely upon the grace of God. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Christ Jesus is He Who died, yes, rather was raised. A lot of believers take it upon themselves to condemn others for what they are doing. Since Christ Jesus was the One Who was died for our sins, no one can condemn us. His Resurrection guarantees us a glorified body and that negates any condemnation by anyone.
Adam’s original sin is what condemns us, not our behavior. Therefore, when anyone condemns a believer for committing a sin, they are guilty of the sin of judging. To imply that a believer can lose their salvation because of some sin shows ignorance of God’s Word. Setting oneself up as a judge and jury is arrogance. The grace of God is greater than the worst sin ever committed by a believer. The sins of believers are subject to divine punishment and discipline, but not the loss of salvation.
Christ was raised from the dead by God the Father and God the Holy Spirit, according to Colossians 2:12; I Thessalonians 1:10; I Peter 1:21; Acts 2:24; Romans 1:4; 8:11 and I Peter 3:18. Christ will evaluate all believers at the Judgment Seat of Christ. If a person is at the Judgment Seat of Christ, it means they have not been condemned because only believers will be there for this evaluation.
Who is at the right hand of God. The Church Age is the dispensation for calling out the Royal Family of God. Believers in the Church Age are unique compared to believers in past dispensations. Every believer in the Church Age is in union with Christ. The acceptance of Christ in Heaven by God the Father after the Resurrection indicates the acceptance of every Church Age believer in Heaven as well as, the Royal Family of God. This is the meaning of Christ as our “First Fruit.” (Ephesians 1:6)
Who intercedes for us. When Christ sat down at the right hand of the Father, He began a ministry which has continued for over 2000 years. This ministry is Jesus Christ as our Great High Priest and Mediator. Only Christ has the right to judge anyone. (John 5:22) The intercessory ministry of Christ is the fact that He functions as our defense lawyer, defending us against the false accusations of Satan. (I John 2:1-2; I Timothy 2:5)