Sharper Iron — The Righteousness of God for You: The Most Beautiful Text in the Bible

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Rev. Stephen Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Vinton, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Romans 8:31-39.

With this glorious text, St. Paul draws to a grand conclusion all that he has laid out so far in the epistle to the Romans. He asks and answers multiple questions for the comfort and certainty of Christians. Considering the truth of justification by grace through faith for the sake of Christ, the only conclusion is that God is for us. He gave His own Son into death for our sake and along with Him, all things needful for us. Though enemies would try to accuse us, no charge can stand because the Judge has rendered the verdict: “Not guilty in Christ.” Though the threat of hell would frighten us, condemnation will not fall upon us because Christ Jesus has died, risen, and ascended so that He now lives to intercede for us at the right hand of the Father. The numerous threats that Christians face for the sake of Christ attack us, but they cannot take away the victory Christ has won. God’s Word convinces us that absolutely nothing will separate us from His love in Christ Jesus our Lord.

“The Righteousness of God for You” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through St. Paul’s Epistle to the Romans. Human righteousness cannot save, because all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory. Only the righteousness of God can bring life and forgiveness to sinners. This is the righteousness that He has fulfilled in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is the righteousness that is revealed in the Gospel, the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. This is the righteousness that is not earned, but is freely given by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God’s Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen.

Sharper Iron is underwritten by Lutheran Church Extension Fund, where your investments help support the work of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit lcef.org.

Romans 8:31-39

God’s Everlasting Love

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be[a] against us? 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? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 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.[b] 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Footnotes:

Romans 8:31 Or who is

Romans 8:34 Or Is it Christ Jesus who died… for us?