The following words should bring us joy and inspire confidence that all will be well with us, no matter what situation or adversity we may be facing. The words are found in Romans 8:31 that reads as follows: ?What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?? What does this mean and why should it give us joy and fill us with confidence?

In its context, Romans 8:31-34 give us a view into the future; a view of the greatest challenge we will ever face. I?m referring to Judgment Day, that day where outside of Christ no human being will have a chance to escape God?s eternal judgment. Paul raises the following questions and offers the following answers on behalf of those that have placed their faith in Jesus Christ:

• 32 ?He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?? Paul informs us that since God gave his Son to die for our sin that we can be sure that there will not be judged for our sin. Instead of condemnation God will give us ?all things.? The things that God will give us include the future glory that he will share with us, plus everything else that we will inherit with Christ Jesus. But ?all things? also refer to things in this lifetime, including everything we need in order to complete the purpose that God has given each of us to fulfill.

• 33 ?Who shall bring any charge against God?s elect? It is God who justifies.? Without Jesus we all stand guilty of all accusations brought against us before God. But God has laid our sin upon him in order to declare us righteous. There is, therefore, no accusation that will stick because the judge is the very one that justifies us in Christ.

• 34 ?Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died?more than that, who was raised? who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.? On Judgment Day we will not be condemned because Jesus, our attorney, died for our sin, was raised for our justification and now intercedes for us (pleas our case) at the right hand of God. Who can condemn us if our attorney died for our sin and now fights for us in the heavenly court?

Therefore, if God has already intervened in the greatest challenge we will ever face?namely Judgment Day?then let?s have confidence that he will intervene for us in this lifetime as well. He will see us through because he is for us! He wants us to succeed and be victorious and he stands by our side to cause all things to work together for our good (cf. Romans 8:28).