We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined he also called; and those he called he also justified; and those he justified he also glorified. 31 What then shall we say to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but handed him over for us all, how will he not also give us everything else along with him? 33 Who will bring a charge against God’s chosen ones? It is God who acquits us. 34 Who will condemn? It is Christ [Jesus] who died, rather, was raised, who also is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. 35 What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword? 36 As it is written: “For your sake we are being slain all the day; we are looked upon as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Paul stated that man’s ultimate destiny is a share in God’s glory (Rom. 8:19-22) and the Christian’s longing for glorification will be fulfilled. Paul reassures the Christians in Rome that God’s divine purpose and plan will be fulfilled no matter what trials Christians experience because God is in control and does not leave the future to chance. Their response to God’s call, God’s merciful love for us in Christ Jesus, was a life of faith on Earth, and God’s providential care will lead that life to perfection in heaven (Phil. 1:6; Jas. 1:12). That does not mean that God will allow only good things to happen to Christians, but God will give them the strength to overcome all adversity (Ps. 46:2-3). Christians are disciples of Christ and will be persecuted (Jn. 15:20). Christians who have responded to God’s divine call and truly live a life of faith, as Christ taught, are destined for adoption by God through the risen Christ (Eph. 1:5). If they put their faith in Christ, they will share in his glory. That is the culmination of our invitation from God (our call), our election (our acceptance), our predestination (the consequence of imitating Christ), and our justification through faith in Christ, earned for us through his death and resurrection. We have been redeemed by the blood of Christ and reconciled with God so we can attain the final glory.
Once we have faith in Christ, God’s plan of salvation makes it clear that he is on our side. Out of His great act of love for us God did not spare his own son (Jn. 3:16). He wills the best for us no matter the circumstances so if we are sanctified by God we should not fear accusations by anyone. No one can condemn us when we are judged because we have been redeemed by Christ. God is a just judge and has forgiven true followers of Christ so Satan cannot bring charges against them because the risen Christ continues to intercede for them. None of the dangers or vicissitudes of life, not even death, can make the true Christian forget the love Christ and his Father showed to mankind through Christ’s death and resurrection. Christians will not be separated from the love of God in Christ Jesus no matter what difficult circumstances they find themselves in.
Almighty God, help us to remember that you are always near to us like a loving father helping, teaching, inspiring, protecting, guiding, forgiving, and blessing us. In your mercy teach us to turn to you not only in bad times but more importantly to give thanks in good times when we can clearly feel your presence. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
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