Romans 8:34 KJV Who is he that condemns? It is Christ that died, yea rather … Who Is even … Who also …”
Romans 8:34 NASB Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather … who is at … who also …”
Romans 8 is the Everest of the Epistle. Roman 8:31-39 is Paul, having climbed the summit and looking out over the vast landscape of divine purposes, exclaims with spiritual joy the absolute security of the believer.
We are not only secure relative to life but relative to love. Nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Paul piles statement upon statement. Rhetorical question follows rhetorical question in rapid sequence. So assured of the final answers, he does not even wait for the possibility of a reply. Neither time, circumstances, nor creature can possibly disturb this salvation that the wisdom of God and the cross of Christ have procured.
Unassailable facts and unanswerable questions literally pummel the dissenter into speechless submission. The conclusion is self-evident: there can be no separation. As Paul draws his argument to a conclusion, he seems to gather all the major themes of previous chapters together in verse 34. It is one of the strongest planks in his argument. Our security is:
Affirmed by the Fact of His Death
To the query, “Who is he that condemns?” Paul replies, would it be logical for Christ to condemn since He has died for us? His death for us assures us of the fact that the One Who bore the condemnation will not suddenly take the role of prosecutor and haul us into the court of justice. The judgment has been borne by Him for us. His death has placed us beyond the sphere of judgment. This harkens back to the teaching of Romans 5.
Attested by His Resurrection
To this fact is added the truth of His resurrection. “Yea rather,” not only has He died and borne our condemnation, but in His resurrection, God has attested to the completeness of that work. He died once for all. Judgment for sin has no more claim upon Him. In His resurrection, He has been shown to be the accepted sacrifice. The holy throne of God is satisfied with the work accomplished for us. So, there can be no condemnation. The great truth of the resurrection and our place with Christ is a reminder of chapter 6.
Added to by His Enthronement
But in the event that more proof is needed by any would-be objector, Paul adds that not only has Christ been raised, but He is “even” at the right hand of God. No higher, more acceptable place can be found in all of the universe. The One Who bore our sins on the tree now sits on the right hand of the Majesty on high. Paul’s use of “even” seems to stress the fact that God is giving more and more proof of the satisfaction He has found in Calvary’s finished work.
Assured by His Intercession
Who “also” makes intercession for us. Will the advocate, the defence attorney, suddenly turn prosecutor? Paul, by the Spirit of God, adds this final piece to his argument. Christ is “for us.” He is making intercession on our behalf. Here is Romans 8 and its truth. He will not suddenly accuse us and condemn us.
Consider:
Look for five unanswerable questions in these final verses.