More Than Conquerors

“If God is for us, who can be against us?”-Romans 8:31Have you ever paid attention to “bumper sticker theology”? They are the short quips that people put on their car indicating their beliefs. They’re the kinds of phrases that get stitched onto pillows or make it into graduation cards. It’s not necessarily bad or wrong; but lacking context, it can be taken to mean something that might not have been originally intended.Romans 8:31 is one such phrase. When your back is against the wall? Romans 8:31. When someone seems out to get you? Romans 8:31! When the opposing team seems bigger and stronger than you? Romans 8:31!!!Again, it’s not necessarily bad, but it lacks context, because what is Paul really talking about here? In the first eight chapters of the book of Romans, Paul has moved from the honest reality of sin, to our need for salvation, to the incredible reality of being God’s child through Jesus. And now Paul wants to draw a conclusion: “If you understand these things about God – that He wants you, that He has done everything needed to save you, and that He gives you His Spirit so that you can be part of His family in Christ – then ask yourself, ‘If God is for us, who can be against us?’”God is saying, “For those of you who worry about if you belong, or about the status of your sin, or about earning My favor, or about how to understand life; do you really think that I’m just going to give up on you? Nothing will be able to separate you from My love!”And, ultimately, that is the kind of confidence we need!Grace & Peace, Pastor Aaron