If God Is For Us, Who Can Be Against Us
May 2023
Sarah Chambers
Sarah Chambers is a Christian writer, sharing stories of faith from the heart. Raised Catholic, she found solace in God during tough times. Now a mother, she uses her writing to inspire and uplift others.
As we grow older, life becomes tough and we hopelessly come to realize that we are on a personal journey. No one is coming to save us. Everyone else is fighting their battles, making sure that they withstand the storms of their own life. The Christian life doesn’t get any easier. But when we look to the Bible for hope, there’s the scripture that seems to stand out amongst all.
“What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?”
At first sight, it can be very relieving to have the backing of God expressly stated in the Bible. Better still, taking a deep dive into what it means contextually would help you stamp the scripture in your mind and apply it to your life as a Christian.
This article will explain all you need to understand about this phrase including its biblical context, how to get God on your side in life, and how these principles can make your life better.
Biblical Context of Romans 8:31
The Book of Romans is a letter written by Paul to the believers in Rome around A.D. 56-58. The letter came a few years before the prosecution against the Christians as organized by Emperor Nero started. The Christians, as seen in the later years, were blamed for the burning of Rome. Already, at that time, the people began brewing hatred toward Believers. “…If God be for you, who can be against you” seemed like the perfect consolation to the brewing trouble.
In the previous verses of Romans chapter 8, Paul extensively spoke about the life controlled and led by the spirit, the help made available by the Holy Spirit, the fact that you have been duly chosen by God, and you will be conformed into the image of Christ.
The main scripture came after Paul stated an assurance of a believer’s place in God as seen in Romans 8:28-30 NLT,
“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.”
Paul continued by asking rhetorical questions in Romans 8 verse 31 and subsequent verses. These rhetorical questions mixed with Paul’s answer to them gave an apt, hopeful description of God’s love for us. As said in Romans 8:32, it doesn’t make sense for God to withhold good things from us when he has given us the life of His only Son.
Paul went on to explain that nothing can separate us from God’s love, giving extreme examples of things and circumstances that could separate human love. Finally, he concluded with this, “No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
This is such amazing expression of just how unshakeable God’s love is for you. The confidence that believers have in God should have risen a ton!
“If God Be For Us, Who Can Be Against Us” Meaning In The Bible
God is for us. God is for us.
There is this confidence that comes with knowing you have backing. Now, this confidence becomes better when the one backing you is God, the owner of everything that lives and breathes. The summary of the chapter is the resolute secure reliance we have in the love of God and the work He is doing in us. No one can stop God from his transformational good work in you.
The second part, Who can be against us, is rhetorical. Simply put, no one can be against us when God is with us. He is much bigger than people or the challenges we face as humans. Since His ultimate goal is to bring us to the image of Christ and crown us with His glory, all other things do not matter.
How Does God Empower Us?
The Holy Spirit is dynamic. He searches for ways to help us according to our respective personalities. This involves giving us the strength and empowerment to fulfill our God-given purposes. In Romans 8, Paul spoke about human weaknesses but also spoke about the undue strength that we get from the Holy Spirit to trump these flaws. The one way by which we receive empowerment from God is through His Holy Spirit.
“And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.”
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
By receiving the Holy Spirit, we already have the help of more than a thousand men. All that is left is your acknowledgment of this help by trusting and believing that God is in control. Without that trust, it is as good as not having any help.
A perfect example of empowerment from scripture was when the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples on the day of Pentecost. The boldness to preach surpassed the initial concern they had for their safety. By trusting in God for the gift of the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit Himself, they spread the gospel throughout the world. That’s how you and every other Christian in the world got to hear the good news of Christ.
How Can We Have God On Our Side?
Do you want God on your side? It’s quite easy. In fact, He is also chasing after you. 1 John 4:19 says that “We love him, because he first loved us.” Here are the necessary steps you need to take to have God on your side;
- Step 1: Accept Jesus as your Lord and Personal Savior. Before you can have God on your side, you have to be willing to surrender your life to Him and ask Him to take control of your life
- Step 2: Get baptized by water and the Holy Spirit. These two baptisms are significant in Christianity. Inquire from a good local church on how to go about this.
- Step 3: Fellowship with Him by praying and studying the word of God. Also, act on His instructions as written in the Bible.
Steps 2 and 3 must not occur subsequently as written in this article. You can begin your fellowship with God without the baptism of water and the Holy Spirit. But it is required in your walk with God. As long as you commune with God after you have given your life to Him, you can have Him on your side.
How Can Believers Apply Romans 8 31 Today
Now that you have a good understanding of this verse, how can you apply this to your life in our current world?
- Meditate on the Scripture Daily: The first step to applying the Scripture is meditating on it. You can’t act without proper knowledge and insight from the word of God. Meditate daily. Meditate often. Keep the scripture with you at all times and ask God for a personal revelation. When you have a proper personal revelation of the scripture, acting on it would be very easy.
- Relinquish your strength and Have a Resolute Confidence in Him for all Things: This should be very easy if you meditate on the scripture. By virtue of the light you receive from the word of God, acknowledge your weakness and trust in Him. Ask Him for strength also. Now, He has become your primary source of strength and not yourself. This is where you let His take control as you continually commune with Him and read His word.
- Act on the Instructions of God: if you don’t obey Him, it means that you don’t trust Him enough. By letting God take control, you are automatically giving Him room to lead in your life. Give Him the room to lead in your life by obeying what He says. It’s a team work: He provides the strength and directions while you act upon them with faith.
- Focus on the Eternal Life: This world means nothing when compared to the eternity God has in store for us. As advised in Colossians 3:1, “Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.”
Final Thoughts
With the security we have as God’s children, life might still not be easier to handle, but the strength and the backing we get from God will pull us through. The earth awaits your manifestation, child of God.
Remember that God is for you, and no matter what comes your way, you’re no longer alone. You have the King of Kings standing right beside you to fight for you. Dont be afraid. Instead, step into the fulfillment of your purpose.
If any issue arises, keep chanting this in your heart: If God is for me, who can ever be against me? As Philippians 4:13 reminds us, ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.’ With this verse in mind, we can confidently face any challenge that comes our way, knowing that God’s strength is within us.
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