Romans 8:31: What Then Shall We Say To These Things?

Romans 8:31
[31] What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? (ESV)

There is always some people who hear the promises of God and have questions or misunderstandings. The same would have been true when the first readers of Paul's epistle to the church at Rome heard his description of salvation through grace. Paul closes out this particular section of his letter by saying, "What then shall we say to these things?"

What shall we say? There has likely been some questions stirred up by what people had read so far. The idea for a first century Jew to believe that all of their sin could be forgiven without any works being required would have been scandalous. If such a forgiveness could be forgiven could it be later lost? These are the kinds of questions that the next few verses will address.

Let's also consider the misunderstandings that inevitably come from the declaration of the beautiful promises of God. "If God is for us, who can be against us?" This question that Paul raises rhetorically has to do with the idea of God declaring us to be justified by faith in Christ Jesus. If God vouches for our righteousness who can stand against what he has said?

Sadly, there are many charlatans and phony faith preachers that take this verse and bend it way out of it's intended context. They will say that God is for us so that means that we should never be in want of any kind of worldly possession. They will claim that sickness is not for us either because "God is for us." Those who say such things are more familiar with heresy than the truth.

Take some time and read again the words of the first 8 chapters of Romans. Perhaps you will have questions. Perhaps some misunderstandings. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to the truth of God's Word. Look at Scripture through the lens of God's glory. It is always all about him.