GOD’S PRESERVATION OF THE SAINTS
Part 21
Rom. 8:31-39
Morning Meditation 1/27/17
Verse 31-39 says, “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
THE MEANING OF MORE THAN CONQUERORS
The words “we are more than conquerors” translate “hupernikao” means “a surpassing victory.” The word “conqueror” in that day described a person like Caesar and Alexander the Great, etc. who conquered the world of their day. But I can find nowhere a person was more than a conqueror by which to compare this statement. It is a present active indicative verb. This means that the believer continues to be in the present tense of his life more than a conqueror through the Lord Jesus Christ.
This is a statement that must be received by faith.. You may be going through trials and heartaches and the circumstances of your life may at the present seem bleak. But the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to tell you that if you are saved you are more than a conqueror. You may be tempted to the point of despair but the Lord says you are more than a conqueror. You may have reacted badly to a recent circumstance and feel condemned. Remember what John said in 1 John 3:20, “For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.” Just remember in the midst of self-condemnation God says that you are more than a conqueror.
Lets notice a few points in the text of this verse. First Paul wants us to see,
THE SITUATION IN WHICH WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS
The words “Nay, in all these things” include everything that is mentioned in verse 35. We are more than conquerors in the tribulation just mentioned. Have you had severe trials? How did you come out? You say, “I didn’t make too good a showing. To be honest I failed.” You need Peter to counsel you. He would tell you, “I went through a severe trial once. It was during the trial of Jesus. I ran when I should have stood. I even denied the Lord and cursed in the process. I can tell you that even though I did this, the Lord did not cast me off. He even asked for me by name after the resurrection. I can tell you that no mater what your tribulation is, you are more than a conqueror through Jesus.” Is it hard for you to believe in the midst of all these things you are more than a conqueror? You say, “I don’t feel like a conqueror. Then you need to FAITH like a conqueror. When we begin to believe what God says over against how we feel, we will begin to feel like we are! More than conquerors! Then Paul reminds us of,
THE TIME IN WHICH WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS
The words “We are more than conquerors” translates a present active indicative verb. This means that we are right now in the present tense of our lives more than conquerors. Let’s take Peter again as an illustration. After his failure in the shadows of the trial of Jesus, it dawned on him that he had done exactly what Jesus had predicted he would do. He had denied the Lord three times. And the Lord had even predicted the preacher that would convict him of his denial, i.e., a rooster! Peter went out and wept bitterly. Had you asked at the time, “Peter, are you victorious?” He would have freely admitted that he was an utter failure. But what does the Lord say? He says that Peter did not cease to be a conqueror because he denied the Lord. You see, salvation and security does not rest on our performance. It is in Jesus Christ who loved us and died for us. His victory is our victory. And that is in the present tense. We are not trying the attain the status “More than conquerors” we have it now. Hallelujah! Then Paul draws our attention to,
THE CELEBRATION OF BEING MORE THAN A CONQUEROR
Why would Paul share these truths with the saints in Rome? Was it not to give them something to celebrate in advance? What do I mean in advance? I mean in advance of the Judgment seat of Christ. It is not too hard for believers to see that one of these days we will walk down GLORY BOULEVARD following in the train of His victory. But to celebrate it before it happens, is too much. That is just the point. It has already happened. His victory is ours right now. The songs we sing are songs that celebrate a victory already obtained. Then Paul wants us to know,
THE MEANS BY WHICH WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS
Paul says it is “ . . . through him that loved us.” The word “loved” translates “agapao” and is an aorist active participle. The aorist tense refers to a point of time in the past. It means that He loved us in a once for all act in the past. He will not change His mind! We are more than conquerors and it is through Him that loved us. Paul says in Romans 11:36, “For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.”
In closing let me say there is only one way to be more than a conqueror. It is through one who has already won the victory. Jesus is the only one who qualifies. Confucius is dead. Buddha is dead. Jesus is not dead. He is alive victorious over death, hell and the grave. He has the keys of death and hell hanging at his side. He walked away from the tomb victorious. He was welcomed into heaven victoriously. The celebration of heaven is described in the Psalm 24:7-10: “Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.” This describes Heavens reaction to our Lord after He was raised from the dead and entered Heaven with His own blood as is described in Hebrews 9:12: “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.”
We are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.
May the Lord bless these words to our hearts.
In Christ
Bro. White
