Verse 31 asks the question which we looked at earlier: “If God be for us, WHO can be against us.” Lets get a bit more specific: who, who, who – “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?” When Charles V went to war against Francis I, he sent a messenger with a declaration of hostility. His courier listed all of Charles titles: “In the name of the Emperor of Germany, King of Castile, King of Aragon, etc., etc., etc.” Concluding with, “in the name of Emperor of Germany, we declare war against you.” Not to be outdone, Francis’ herald responded, “I take up the challenge in the name of Francis the 1st, King of France; Francis the 1st, King of France; Francis the 1st, King of France, Francis the 1st, King of France.” Francis had only one title, but it was good enough – earthly speaking. And who shall lay anything to the charge of “God’s elect? ” There is a title which needs no embellishment or even any reiteration. “If God be for us who can be against us?”
Let’s deal with the first two “who’s” this afternoon, verses 33 and 34. Let’s consider the “Consolation of Justification.”
Once again we go back to verse 28 – “Who are the called.” We’re not glorifying those who picked up the receiver and answered the call. We’re not magnifying those who repented their sin and who have trusted the Lord Jesus. We’re not talking about those who have surrendered to the Lord. Certainly, these people have done these things, but the questions are WHY and HOW? If you love Christ today it is only because He FIRST loved you – I John 4:19. If you have repented of your sins, it’s because the Lord gave you that repentance – II Timothy 2:25. If you are a believer, it’s because of God’s gift of faith – Ephesians 2:8-9. This chapter is designed to lift up our hearts, by casting us to our knees before Lord. It magnifies the Saviour and not the recipient of the Saviour’s grace. Who are those whom the enemy wants to charge with sin and condemn? We are talking here about those chosen in Christ Jesus before the foundation world – Ephesians 1:4. The blessings of this chapter belong to those whom God foreknew – verse 29. It is for “the Elect.”
How can someone know if he is elect? I’d advise you NOT to spend a single moment trying to answer that question. Don’t loose a moment’s sleep wrestling with information that only access to the mind of God can provide. The questions to answer are of another variety. Jesus said, “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” So the question for you is this: have you come to Christ? Jehovah has said, “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth.” The questions are: Have you stopped looking at other saviors and gods; – are you looking to Jehovah. Jesus said, “I am the bread of life; he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” Have you tasted, by faith, of Christ and drunk of the water of life freely? “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.” So is your faith for eternity squarely and only on the merits of Christ? “Whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Election is proven by faith in Christ, love for Christ, repentance of sin and service for Christ. Listen to I Thessalonians 1:4-10 – “Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing. For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.”
How can we prove our election? Well, has the gospel of the Lord Jesus come to you in Holy Spirit power and assurance? Did you believe and receive the Gospel of the Lord? Have you become a disciple of Christ and an example of a faithful, loving servant? Have you turned from sin, and do you long for the presence of the Saviour? Don’t try to figure out election, get to its more practical proofs. Come to the Saviour, repenting of your sins, and trusting the Lord Jesus Christ.
So , no one should presume that they are elect of God, but we can make some inferences. If there is Bible-authorized evidence of the new birth in your life, then you are one of the elect. And who can lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect?
Not Satan, who is the anointed “Accuser of the Brethren.” SATAN probably has a 59 volume set of books on every aspect of my life. And there is a new volume being published every year. He is aware of every sin, every slight, every unbelieving sigh that I’ve ever uttered. But when he tries to throw that book down on the bench before God it refuses to leave his hand. THE LAW might be considered an accuser, for we’ve stomped on its precepts 10,000 times. But the law is silent before its Creator. And then there is that sometimes-traitorous ally who lives in our soul: the CONSCIENCE. It knows about your adolescent sins, even though not another person in congregation has any idea of it. Your conscience reminds you of your wicked thought life, your lust, and your hatred. It says that you are unworthy to call on the Name of Lord, and that is essentially true. What accusers might be brought up against you? Perhaps, the file under your name held by the State Police. Your teenage friend with whom you participated in some shop lifting. Your wife, your husband, your parents, your children and your neighbors.
“Who is he that condemneth? Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect?”
The Second Person on this defense team is the only begotten Son of God – verse 34. “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.” One of the most loved verses in the Word of God is found in John 3. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” But let’s move beyond verse 16: “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” Who is he that condemneth? …. It is Christ. Why is it that the elect cannot be condemned? The answer is found in Christ Jesus. The first verse in this chapter reads: “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.” If someone should desire to condemn me, to damn me, it is now impossible. I am clinging to the hem of the garment of the Lord Jesus Christ. I am “in” Christ Jesus by the decree of God and which is seen in my repentance and faith. I have been born again through the water and the Word.
Both God the Father and God the Son are my defense counsel.
Secondly, I am defended by the ministry of the Lord Jesus – verse 34 – “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.” Christ died on the cross bearing my sin in his own body. He died as my substitute, in the eyes of God and under the law. He didn’t become my substitute when I put my faith on Him. It was by the decree of God, made before the foundation of the earth, that Christ die for me. “Christ has redeemed me from the curse of the law, being made a curse for me.” “He was wounded for my transgressions and was bruised for my iniquities.” The only One with any right to condemn me is Christ, but He died for me. I say that He is the only One worthy to accuse and condemn me, because everyone else is worthy of death themselves. Only He who is without sin can cast this stone against me. And then Christ also rose again from death and proceeded to the right hand of Father. “He was delivered for our offenses and was raised again for our justification.” And from that position at the right hand of the father, he is making intercession for me – the sinner. The only One who could condemn me, is pleading my case before the Father. “There is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”
Beloved, it is impossible that I could ever fall from my elect position – from salvation. It is impossible that I might ever be cast into hell or into the Lake of Fire. I cannot be successfully charged or condemned, because the Lord is my defense. In one sense, I continue to be guilty and a sinner, but the Lord is my mediator, and my continuing Saviour.
Can you also say that? If you have more than one hope of salvation, then everything you hope for is in doubt. You must look unto Jesus – alone.