Introduction: I read this past week about diplomatic immunity and how it shield perpetrators of crimes from prosecution, from almost any law on the books. Reports of sexual abuse, slavery, extortion, and every imaginable crime. That is not to mention 150,000 parking tickets in N.Y. City in a 5 year period. This is the protection given to foreign diplomats and they are totally immune.
As believers, we have a protection far greater than that and our is based on righteousness, the righteousness of Jesus Christ.
Many are those who argues that once is a person is saved that he can be lost. And added to that is the teaching that not only can he be lost, he can be saved over and over again. Then there is the argument that if he is saved, then lost , he can never be saved again under any circumstance. We must be interested in this subject because the answer to the question “Can a Saved person ever be lost?” impacts our mind and our emotion right now but it dramatically impacts our eternal state.
I Know Whom I Have Believed
I know not why God’s wondrous grace
To me He hath made known,
Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love
Redeemed me for His own.
But I know Whom I have believed,
And am persuaded that He is able
To keep that which I’ve committed
Unto Him against that day.
Spurgeon: Jesus Christ struck his hands in sacred suretyship long ere the first of the stars began to shine and it was in Him that the elect were ordained unto eternal life. Thus in the divine purpose a most blessed covenant union was established between the Son of God and His elect people, which will remain as long as the foundation of their safety – when time shall be no more.
Our great text in Romans today brings us before
God’s courtroom. We are there in the presence of God, Christ, angels, redeemed ones, and are allowed to see what God sees and hears. Many voices are raised to accuse and to condemn those who are the elect, the redeemed, the born ones.
The two questions of Romans 8:33 & 34 are:
Who shall accuse? (Who shall bring a charge?)
Who shall condemn?
Text: Rom 8:33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 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.
Lenski: It could not and should not be that God acquits, as though nobody will then dare to condemn. Almighty judicial authority does not thus squelch condemnation. It does not stand on power and might where the question is one of right and wrong, of just and unjust judgment. No person can condemn, every person must assent to God’s acquittal for the overwhelming reason that Christ Jesus has taken our part: he died, arose, sits at God’s right hand, even intercedes for us. What Christ has done not only answers all condemnation, it makes every condemnation on the part of any person impossible.
1. Who is he who condemns? v.34
Jesus Is Our Judge and Defense Attorney
Rom 8:34 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.
Murray: The phrase “It is Christ who died” is not the answer to the question “ who is he that condemns?”
It supplies the basis for the question and challenge of verse 35 (who shall separate).
MacArthur: It is not that the accusations made against believers by Satan and the unbelieving world are always false. The fact that we are not yet sinless is obvious. But even when a charge against us is true, it is never sufficient grounds for our damnation, because all our sins——past, present, and future——have been covered by the blood of Christ and we are now clothed in His righteousness.
It was the Father who ““so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life”” (John 3:16). If anyone could take away salvation, it would have to the One who gave it. We might argue theoretically that, because God is sovereign and omnipotent, He could take away salvation if He wanted to. But the idea that He would do that flies in the face of Scripture, including the present text.
Bible Knowledge Commentary: Who is He that condemns? The Greek participle ho katakrinon can have a future sense, "will condemn," - seems preferable here.
Calvin: As no one by accusing can prevail, when the judge absolves; so there remains no condemnation, when satisfaction is given to the laws, and the penalty is already paid. He who seeks hereafter to condemn us must bring back Christ himself to death again.
Lenski: God’s righteousness and justice must be and will be vindicated before the universe so that no one will acquit where he condemns or condemn where he acquits. Many now condemn the elect and condemn God along with them; but as God’s acquittal silences their accusations, so Christ’s mediation silences their condemnations,
Jesus Christ is God’s appointed Judge
John 5:22 For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son,
John 5:27 (The Father) has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.
Acts 17:31 He has appointed a day on which He will
judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead."
So Paul answered this question (Who will condemn?) by stating, Christ Jesus. But Jesus is The One whom the believer has trusted for salvation.
The One who died -
The One who was raised to life -
The One who is at the right hand of God (cf. Luke 22:69; Acts 2:33; 5:31; Eph 1:20; Col 3:1; Heb 1:3,13; 8:1; 10:12; 12:2; 1 Peter 3:22) and is also
The One who is interceding for us.
Barnhouse: God is satisfied with the death of His Son instead of our death. God Himself will never look upon our sin and will never open a hearing in any case involving us in a cause that might bring us into eternal jeopardy.
The purpose of this section of Romans is to strengthen the child of God in his assurance of salvation and to let him know that , being in Christ, he is safe forever.
Count Zinzendorf wrote the following lines in the glorious hymn ““Jesus, Thy Blood and Righteousness,”
Bold I shall stand in that great day
For who ought to my charge shall lay?
Fully absolved through Thee I am
From sin and fear, from guilt and shame.
Hodge: By His death, as an atonement for our sins, all ground of condemnation is removed. The death of Christ could not be a proof that the believer cannot be condemned, unless his death removed the ground of condemnation; and it could not remove the ground of condemnation unless it satisfied the demands of justice. His death, therefore, was a satisfaction, and not merely an exhibition of love.
Barnhouse: It is impossible for any soul to be
condemned except by God. God alone has the right of life and death in the spiritual realm. It is true that He has a case against all humanity, a case that brings all to condemnation and from which none can escape. But He has intervened because of His love and has justified a multitude because of the work of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross.
Vincent says, "’Our faith should rest on Christ’s death, but it should also lean on His resurrection, dominion, and second coming’ (Bengel).
Note the verse again - the resurrection
Rom 8:34 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.
The phrase: “and furthermore” or “yea rather”
Lenski says: This does not mean that his having died was not enough; his having been raised up from the dead reveals only the efficacy, the all-sufficiency of his death by showing his blood to be that of God’s Son which cleanses from sin, the resurrection attesting to its reception.
Rom 4:24 Jesus our Lord . . . V.25 who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.
Hodge: His death and resurrection were alike necessary; his death as a satisfaction to divine justice. His resurrection was no less necessary, first, as a proof that his death had been accepted as an expiation for our sins. Secondly, in order to secure the continued application o of the merits of his sacrifice, he rose from the dead, and ascended on high, there to appear before God for us.
Rom 1:3 Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.
Rom 6:9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead , dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.
Rom 10:9 if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;
John Murray: The apostle’s appeal to the exalted glory, authority, and dominion is related directly to the assurance of the security belonging to the elect of God. Since he has all authority in heaven and in earth, no adverse circumstance or hostile power can wrench his people from his hand or separate from his love.
The intercession of Christ
Rom 8:34 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
Heb 1:4 God 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
Wuest: Paul asks, "Can Christ who is always making intercession on behalf of us, at the same time condemn us?" Even He cannot do both. While interceding on our behalf, He cannot condemn. He cannot be our prosecuting attorney and our defense attorney
Calvin: He now sits at the right hand of the Father; by which is meant, thaht he possesses dominion over heaven and earth, and full power and rule over all things, according to what is said in Eph 1:20. He sits that he might be a perpetual intercessor in securing our salvation. It hence follows that when anyone seeks to condemn us, he not only seeks to render void the death of Christ, but also contends with that unequaled power with which the Father has honored him, and who with the power conferred on him supreme authority.
Hodge: It is Christ who acts as our advocate, pleads our cause before God, presents those considerations which secure for us pardon and the continued supply of the divine grace. He intends to save those who put their trust in him, and therefore in their behalf he presents before God the merit of his mediatorial work, and urges their salvation as the reward promised him in the covenant of redemption.
Eph 1:20 He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. 22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
Heb 7:25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
Uttermost — yea to the guttermost
But that is not the meaning. Means to the end
Panteles = throughout the ages
Utterly, perfectly, in every way - to the full end
He is able to save the believer in his totality of being, body; soul, and spirit, and do all that to the point of termination, an unending state of salvation in eternity.
HE IS NOT ONLY INTERCEDING BUT INTERVENING
Wuest: The word "intercession" is the translation of
entugchano which speaks of intervention rather than merely intercession. It includes every form of Messiah’s identifying Himself with humanity, and includes the idea of intercession.
Lloyd Jones: The Father looks upon the Son and He sees us in Him. He sees all our needs. The Father looks upon Him as our representative, as the One who is concerned about us. He is there as our representative, there as our Mediator, and it is through Him that we have access into the presence of God. It is through Him that we pray and go to God; and it through Him we receive all the blessings of God which are showered upon us as we need them in the sinful, evil, gainsaying world. Grace to help in time of need. Every needed grace comes to us in and through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
MacArthur: The Lord makes no allowance for any of His people to be lost again, but promises each one of them an eternal home in His eternal presence. Jesus also assures us that the Holy Spirit will be with us forever (John 14:16), again making no allowance for exceptions. What power in heaven or earth could rob the Godhead of those who have been divinely saved for eternity?
The Message Translation
Romans 8:34 (TMNT) Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us——who was raised to life for us!——is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us.
In Jesus Christ we have been saved.
God has justified us through His merits.
We are the bride of Christ. the apple of God’s eye.
We are his beloved. We are his children by birth.
In Jesus Christ we stand before the Judgment Bar of God.
My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly lean on Jesus name
On Christ the solid Rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand
His oath his covenant his blood
Support me in the whelming flood
When all around my soul gives way
He then is all my hope and stay
Free from the law O happy condition
Jesus hath bled and there is remission
Cursed by the law, and bruised by the fall
Blessed salvation, once for all.
Chorus
Once for all, O brother believe it
Once for all, O sinner receive it
Cling to the cross the burden will fall
Christ has redeemed us once for all
Now are we free – there’s no condemnation!
Jesus provides a perfect salvation
Come unto Me, O hear his sweet call!
Come and He saves us once for all
Children of God – O glorious calling
Surely His grace will keep us from falling
Passing from to life at His call
Blessed salvation – once for all
God is our Sovereign - Author of “these things”
God is our Ally - Since God is for us
God is our Benefactor - Freely give us all things
God is our Justifier - Who .. Brings charges
Jesus is our Judge & Intercessor - Who condemns?
Wuests Translation 8:31-34
Rom 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? In view of the fact that God is on our behalf, who could be against us? Indeed, He who His own Son did not spare, but on behalf of us all delivered Him up, how is it possible that He shall not with Him in grace give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s chosen out ones? God, the One who justifies? Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus, the One who died, yes, rather, who has been raised, who is on the right hand of God, who also is constantly interceding on our behalf?
The Message Translation
8:33-34 (TMNT) 33And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God’’s chosen? 34Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us——who was raised to life for us!——is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us.
God’s amazing salvation is totally beyond human grace. It is astounding that God would predestinate us, call us, justify us, glorify us and seal us with his Holy Spirit so that no one or no thing can ever take us from him. We are his forever. We do not have “temporal life” but eternal life.
Hodge; The love of God, and not human merit or power, is the proper ground of confidence. This love is infinitely great, as is manifested by the gift of God’s own Son; and it is unchangeable.
Charles Wesley:
Stronger His love than death or helll
Its riches are unsearchable
The first-born sons of light
Desire in vain its depths to see
They cannot reach the mystery
The length and breadth and height
