Romans 8:33-34

Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died--more than that, who was raised to life--is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

Who will bring a charge against us, knowing that God is the judge and is biased in our favor? Who will condemn us, knowing that Christ has paid our ransom and even lives to intercede for us? Paul’s point here is simply that there is no condemnation for those in Christ. No one, not even Satan, can make a hearable, valid accusation against those for whom Christ died, and it’s because God, the creator of all existence, is the judge. This is the same rhetorical question that Paul asked in v31-32, but here Paul provides a legal illustration. Picture the judge giving His perfect Son not only to forgive sins but also to bear the punishment price for sins. Paul is saying to his audience, “Ask yourselves, ‘Who could bring a charge before this judge?’ and ‘Who could possibly condemn the defendant in this situation?’” And the answer that Paul wants his audience to give is “No one.”

In v33 Paul shows how God the Father is for us. In v34 he shows how what God the Son has done for us assures us that God is for us. It’s the same point from different perspectives. Paul is giving a certain answer to fear and guilt in v33 by pointing to the Father’s love and justification. Paul is giving a certain answer to fear and guilt in v34 by pointing to the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul is practically writing this right from Isaiah 50:8-9. This passage is amidst the portion of Isaiah’s writing often called “The Song of the Suffering Servant.” The prophet is writing as if Jesus Himself was speaking. But notice how Paul makes the transfer as if we are saying those same words that Jesus spoke of Himself as if we were speaking about ourselves. That’s exactly what Paul wants us to see! And this goes back to Paul’s understanding of the believers’ union with Christ. Christ appeared to Paul on the road to Damascus saying, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?” But Paul hadn’t persecuted Christ. Oh but he had. He persecuted those in union with Christ, and that’s the same as persecuting Christ. There’s the union. Same goes the other way around. If Christ said it, it’s just as if those in union with Him have said it.

The judge is already biased in our favor because He chose us. He loved us savingly before the foundation of the world. We believers are His elect. Because He chose us, we are united with His Son in the death, burial, and resurrection of His Son. If the judge who justifies is biased, what good can it do to file a charge? What good can it do try to condemn one the elect? They are justified by God the Father and judge. And furthermore (and most importantly), the punishment that would fit the charge has already been carried out on Christ. So that makes God both just in judgment and the One Who justifies. This takes us back to what Paul said in Romans 3:26. God is not just forgiving us! He remains just in forgiving us, because the punishment we deserve is still carried out. And this is what should give us such a great confidence. God cannot punish me. He has punished Christ in my place. And God cannot punish anyone for sins that have been punished in Christ at Calvary.

Paul is asking, “How can a person stand unafraid before God on judgment day?” And v34 offers 4 answers: (1) Christ died. Paul is talking about Christ as the substitutionary, atoning, propitiatory sacrifice for the elect. Those for whom Christ died will never face the wrath of God, because the Son has faced the totality of the wrath of God in their place. And therefore, they will not be condemned. (2) More than that! Christ was raised. And the resurrection is essential for our salvation. It shows God the Father’s acceptance of Christ’s work on our behalf, and thus, since God accepted Christ’s work as payment in full, those for whom Christ was raised cannot be condemned. (3) Christ is at the right hand of the Father. When we say that, we are talking about the fact that God has made Christ to be sovereign and exercise dominion over the universe for His people. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free, and if He has set us free, we cannot be held captive by sin and death. (4) Jesus Christ intercedes for us. Many people picture Jesus somehow pleading in prayer for His Father to bless His people. And that picture is wrong from two perspectives. First, it doesn’t do justice to the status and authority of Christ. He is seated at the right hand of the heavenly Father. In other words, He is the power in the universe. His dominion and authority is unquestioned. Second, it depicts the Father as uninvolved in the salvation of His people. Remember, He’s already on their side. He’s already justified them. He’s already given them the Son. So, here’s the picture: Christ is ruling all of creation in providence for the good of His people, whom He bought. For whomever He died and rose and rules and intercedes, there is no condemnation. If God is for us, Who can be against us?