If God is for us

So often, even as Christians, we fight feelings of guilt and condemnation. We make a mess of things by the decisions we make, and we think, “Why do I keep messing up like this?”

Or we struggle with temptation, and we wonder, “Shouldn’t I be over this by now? Why do I still struggle with this?”

Or we look at things like the fruit of the Spirit, then look at ourselves, and say, “Love, nope. Patience. Nope. Gentleness, nope.”

And then we ask, “Why don’t I have these things in my life? What am I doing wrong?”

But as I mentioned in the last blog, it’s important to remember that before the creation of the world, God knew you.

He knew what you would be like. He knew what sins you would struggle with. He knew what fruit would take a long time to bear.

And he knew exactly how long the process would take to make you like his Son.

Knowing all of this, he chose you anyway.

Then he called you. He justified you. And the day will come when he will glorify you. We will be like Jesus for we shall see him as he is. (I John 3:2).

And Paul says,

What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)

God is for you. He loved you enough to choose you. Who then can be against you?

He then expands on this idea.

He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all–how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:32)

In other words, if God met our greatest need, the forgiveness of our sin, will he not meet our other needs? As Jesus said,

So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’

For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:31-33)

Paul then goes further, taking us into the courtroom of God, saying,

Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. (Romans 8:33)

Put another way, God is not bringing any charges against you in his court. He’s the one justifying you.

Paul then asks,

Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died–more than that, who was raised to life–is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. (Romans 8:34)

So Christ is not condemning us.

For one thing, he died for us so that we wouldn’t have to be condemned. More, he is right now at the right hand of the Judge and is the one interceding for us.

Talk about a “fixed” case. The judge and the prosecutor are both on our side.

And if that’s the case, why do we beat ourselves up? They’re not. Why should we?

So whenever you’re feeling guilty and condemned, unworthy of the grace God has given you, remember these verses.

God is on your side. He was on your side before you were even born. And he will be on your side for all eternity.