A Broke Evangelist

November 25, 2024

Romans 8:31-32

The Victory of Life in the Spirit

31What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

Isn’t it funny how we think we’ve got life all figured out—only to realize we’re way off, and the solution is staring us right in the face? No big drama here, just a little hiccup with my iPhone.

For years, my iPhone’s Face ID has been flawless. It’s like magic, unlocking with a glance—no fuss, no hassle. But tonight, out of nowhere, poof! It stopped working. I mean, seriously? I’ve got an older iPhone, bought it three years ago, and while I could upgrade, why bother? It still works perfectly fine, as does my wife’s. Spending money on a new one feels unnecessary—at least until this little debacle.

So, there I was, fiddling with my phone like a tech detective. First step: reboot. Nothing. Next: check the settings. Still nothing. I even contemplated resetting my Face ID but quickly decided, “Nah, too much hassle right now.” Then I discovered something odd—if I held the phone at a weird angle and took off my glasses, it sort of worked. But who wants to do yoga with their phone every time they need to unlock it? And punching in my six-digit passcode every time? No me gusta.

After about 15 minutes of sighing, huffing, puffing, and muttering under my breath, my wife chimed in. “What’s the problem?” she asked, in that calm, all-knowing way wives do. I explained my Face ID dilemma, and without even missing a beat, she asked, “Is there something blocking the camera?”

Cue the lightbulb. I looked at her, then at my phone, and said the most brilliant thing anyone could say in this situation: “I don’t know… let me check.” And there it was—a tiny piece of relish from the burger I had at dinner, smugly sitting on the selfie lens like it owned the place.

Relish! Of all things! My Face ID wasn’t broken; it was just too polite to tell me, “Hey idiot, maybe clean up a little after that burger.” To be fair, it was a really good burger, from a local spot—not fast food—and I figured I deserved it after losing 11 pounds on Ozempic. (self-kudos for progress!) But still, the idea of a rogue pickle condiment foiling my tech? Hilarious.

The best part? For a solid minute, I thought my phone didn’t recognize me because I’d lost so much weight. “Wow,” I thought, “I must look like a whole new person!” Nope. Just me, and a smear of burger toppings.

Lesson learned: don’t eat like a slob and expect your phone to keep working. Also, relish apparently has a great sense of humor. At least I can laugh about it—and I’m sticking with my healthy eating plan (burgers only on special occasions)!

What can one say in response to this? I don’t know, but Paul had one of the greatest lines in the Bible and we can read about it here in Romans 8:31-32…

Romans 8:31 - What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

If all we had were the first few chapters of Romans, we might be tempted to think God was out to get us. I mean, those early chapters can feel like a wake-up call we didn’t know we needed. Paul doesn’t pull any punches as he lays out humanity’s mess: our sin, our rebellion, our inability to get it right. It’s heavy stuff, and if we stop reading there, we would tend to wonder, “Is God against us?”

But thankfully, Paul doesn’t leave us hanging in doom and gloom. As the letter unfolds, he shows us something incredible: the depths of God’s love and the lengths He went to rescue us. God’s wrath isn’t about being against us; it’s about dealing with the sin that separates us from Him. And He didn’t just stop there—He gave us the ultimate gift in Jesus, a way to not only escape judgment but to live in victory over sin and death.

When we step back and see the big picture, the question flips completely. Instead of “Is God against us?” we’re left marveling, “If God is for us—and He totally is—who can possibly stand against us?” Paul doesn’t just want us to know this truth intellectually; he wants us to feel it and to live in it. God isn’t some distant judge waiting to catch us in our failures. He’s a loving Father who gave everything, holding nothing back, to bring us into His family.

So if the first few chapters of Romans are the storm, the later ones are the rainbow. They remind us that God’s story isn’t about condemnation—it’s about redemption. It’s about a love so strong, so unshakable, that nothing in heaven or on earth can separate us from it. That’s the God who is for us. And with Him on our side, what’s left to fear?

But there is more to this, and we’ve all heard it before—or maybe even thought it ourselves: “God is on my side.” It’s a pretty common sentiment, and if we’re real, most people assume God’s got their back no matter what. Even some pretty awful people—like terrorists, for instance—do unspeakable things, claiming they’re acting in God’s name.

But here’s where the Holy Spirit steps in, waving a big red flag with a little word that makes all the difference:

If.

“If God is for us…” That “if” reminds us that just thinking God is with us doesn’t mean He actually is. Wishful thinking isn’t enough; there’s a condition to be met.

How do we know if God is truly for us? It all comes down to reconciliation. And no, we’re not talking about burying the hatchet with your neighbor (though that’s important too). Reconciliation with God only happens through Jesus Christ. He’s the bridge that reconnects us with God, the one who makes the relationship right again. Without Him, we’re just guessing—or worse, kidding ourselves.

I can’t help but quietly laugh inside every time I see a grown man strutting around in a football jersey, whether it’s at a game or just running errands. You know the type—the guy decked out in his favorite team’s colors, puffing his chest like he’s about to get called in for the next play. Never mind the fact that he’s probably old enough to remember rotary phones or hasn’t seen the inside of a gym since high school. In that moment, he’s on the team. At least, that’s how it seems from my perspective.

I get it. There’s just something about pulling on that jersey that makes one feel connected to something bigger, like they’re part of the action. But to be real: no matter how many jerseys we own, how loudly we cheer, or how much we know about the team’s stats, it doesn’t mean we’re actually on the roster. Being on the team takes more than enthusiasm; it takes being drafted, signed, and ready to play the game.

Now, where it gets interesting is that the same logic applies when it comes to being on God’s team. It’s not about claiming it, or saying, “God is for me,” like we’re waving a foam finger in His direction. Just like wearing a jersey doesn’t make us pro athletes, simply saying we’re on God’s side doesn’t make it true.

So what does? Reconciliation. And the only way to be reconciled to God is through faith in Jesus Christ. He’s the one who puts our name on the roster, so to speak—making us part of God’s family, which is His team. When that happens, it’s no longer just wishful thinking or a nice sentiment. We don’t just hope God is for us; we can know He is.

We can go ahead and wear the jersey, cheer our hearts out, but only if we remember that being on the team—God’s team—is about something far greater than fandom. It’s about belonging, through faith, to the One who drafted us into His eternal victory, which is a game worth playing!

So the next time someone says, “God is for me,” we need to take a moment to reflect on that little if. It’s not a throwaway word; it’s a reminder of the amazing truth that through Jesus, we don’t just assume God’s on our side—we’re invited to live in the confidence that He truly is.

Romans 8:32 - He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

I’ll admit it—I like getting gifts. Who doesn’t? There’s just something exciting about tearing into a wrapped package and seeing what’s inside. That said, I’ve learned one very important rule: never, ever describe the gift out loud if it’s not exactly…your taste. You know what I mean—that awkward moment when you open an itchy, neon-green sweater with reindeer on it, and you say, in your best “trying-to-sound-grateful” voice, “Ohhhh…a sweater…” Yeah, that’s not fooling anyone. But if we flip the script, we think about those times when the gift is so incredible, it knocks my socks off. Like, say, someone hands me the keys to a brand-new car. Not just any car, but my DREAM car—fully loaded, every bell and whistle imaginable. (Okay, still a dream for me, but hey, one can hope!) When we get a gift like that, it’s pure amazement. Our jaws drop, our eyes go wide, and for once, we’re speechless—no fake gratitude necessary. Now, the fun part: if the person giving me the car also throws in a tank of gas or a set of custom floor mats, would I even bat an eye? Of course not! After all, if they went all-in with the car, the little extras are just icing on the cake.

This reminds me a lot of how God gives to us. He’s already given us the ultimate gift—His very best—by sending Jesus. That’s like the “brand-new car” of gifts, only infinitely better (and eternal). If God didn’t hold back on that, why would we think He’d hesitate to throw in the extras? Whether it’s grace, peace, strength, or answers to prayers, those are the little things that come naturally from a giver as generous as our Heavenly Father. So, next time we get a gift—whether it’s a sweater or something that makes our hearts race—we need to take a moment to think about the greatest gift we’ve already received. And remember, with God, there’s always more where that came from. Oh, and maybe practice our “thank-you” voices just in case.

That’s kind of what Paul is getting at in Romans when he talks about God’s generosity. The Father has already given us the ultimate gift—His very best—by sending Jesus to save us. We’re talking about the most precious, costly, once-in-forever gift imaginable. If He didn’t hold back on that, why on earth would He hold back on the smaller stuff? It’s like God is saying, “I gave you my Son—do you really think I’m going to skimp on grace, guidance, strength, or daily blessings?” The big gift—Jesus—proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that God is for us. Everything else we need in this life? That’s the easy part for Him.

So the next time we find ourselves worrying about whether God will come through, we need to take a moment to remember the magnitude of what He’s already done. If He didn’t hesitate to give His everything for us, we can trust Him with the little things—our needs, our struggles, even the prayers we think are too small to mention. God’s generosity isn’t a one-time event; it’s a continuous flow. He’s not just a gift-giver—He’s the Giver of every good thing. And if He’s already given us the ultimate, you can bet He’s got the rest covered, too.

I know this was a little lengthy, but I think these are two of the most powerful verses in this chapter, so I hope it’s worth reading in detail!

More to come…

A Broke Evangelist – November 25, 2024

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