More Than Conquerors

Synopsis Romans 8:1-30

 

God the Father, in sending his Son Jesus Christ to die on a cross for our sins, condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk (in conduct, in practice) not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For if we walk according to the flesh, setting our minds on the flesh, it leads to death, not to life everlasting. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

 

So, as believers in Jesus Christ, and as his followers, we are now debtors, but not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if we live according to the flesh we will die in our sins, but if by the Spirit we are putting to death the deeds of the body, we will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. And that means that we are walking in holiness and in righteousness and in obedience to our Lord, and we are doing what our Lord teaches us we must do, and we are not walking in sin.

 

And we know that for those of us who love (obey) God all things work together for good (as God defines good), for those of us who are called according to his purpose. For those our Lord foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image (likeness) of Jesus Christ. And to be called according to God’s purpose is to be conformed to the likeness of Jesus Christ, and it is to walk in obedience to our Lord in walks of holiness and righteousness. And we are the ones who truly love God.

 

Romans 8:31-37 ESV

 

“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 gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 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. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,

 

“‘For your sake we are being killed all the day long;

    we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.’

 

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”

 

So, when verse 31 says, “us,” it is in reference to the “us” described in verses 1-30 where it speaks of those of us who are walking according to the Spirit and not according to the flesh, and whose minds are set on the Spirit and not on the flesh, and who are walking by the Spirit, and who are putting to death the deeds of the flesh, by the Spirit. And we (us) are those who love and who obey our Lord, and who are being led by the Spirit, and who are being conformed to the likeness of Jesus Christ.

 

If God is for “us”, then who can be against us? Well, anyone can be against us, and they are. Satan is against us, and other humans are against those of us who are following our Lord in obedience, and who are walking in his ways, and especially if we are sharing the truth of the gospel and if we are refuting the lies of Satan. We will definitely have people against us, even others who profess faith in Jesus Christ, for the Scriptures teach that we will be hated and persecuted as Jesus was.

 

So, the question is not to imply that no one will be against us, but that God is fully sovereign and in control over all things, and that nothing can happen to us outside his control. And even when we do have people who come against us, our God is greater than them and their opposition, and he will help us and guide us and strengthen us through it all, and he will use it all for his glory and purposes and to help us to grow stronger in our walks of faith so that we will know how to answer our opponents.

 

And also, no enemy forged against us can separate us from our Lord’s love and his watch and care over our lives, nor can they thwart God’s will and purposes for our lives. So, it isn’t that we won’t go through tough times and suffering for the sake of righteousness. We definitely will! And we will come up against all kinds of things such as natural disasters and difficult circumstances, and trials which test our faith, and persecution. But none of these will separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus, our Lord.

 

So, we have no reason ever to fear bad circumstances or sickness or anything that might come against us to try to undo us, and to try to get us to be afraid and to retreat and to give up. If our faith in our Lord Jesus comes from God, and not from our flesh, then he will give us all we need to endure whatever comes our way and to keep persevering and to be conquerors over those circumstances through our Lord who loves us and who gave his life up for us on that cross so we could be free from our slavery to sin, and so we can now walk in holiness and righteousness.

 

[Matt 7:21-23; Matt 24:9-14; Lu 9:23-26; Rom 1:18-32; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14,24; Rom 12:1-2; Rom 13:11; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; 1 Co 1:18; 1 Co 15:1-2; 2 Tim 1:8-9; Heb 9:28; 1 Pet 1:5; Gal 5:16-21; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:5-17; 1 Pet 2:24; Tit 2:11-14; 1 Jn 1:5-9; 1 Jn 2:3-6,24-25; 1 Jn 3:4-10; Heb 3:6,14-15; Heb 10:23-31; Heb 12:1-2; Rev 21:8,27; Rev 22:14-15]

 

I Will Lift My Eyes  

 

An Original Work / December 12, 2012

Based off Psalms 121-125

 

I will lift my eyes to my Lord Most High.

My help comes from Him, who saved me from sin.

He will not let your foot slip, and He who watches will not sleep.

Our Lord watches over you, and your life He will keep.

I will lift my eyes to my Lord Most High.

My help comes from Him, who saved me from sin.

I give thanks to Him.

 

I will lift my eyes to my God in heav’n.

I look to the Lord. My sins, He’s forgiv’n.

Because of His great love for us, He made us alive with Christ.

Through the kindness of our Savior, He gave us new life.

I will lift my eyes to my God in heav’n.

I look to the Lord. My sins, He’s forgiv’n;

My home, now in heav’n.

 

Praise be to the Lord, who is on our side.

Our help found in Him. He gives peace within.

Those who trust will ne’er be shaken. God will supply all we need.

Our Lord has done great things for us. He’s our friend, indeed!

Praise be to the Lord, who is on our side.

Our help found in Him. He gives peace within.

I can count on Him.

 

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