This passage begins to round off the argument of the book, so far, by describing the blessings that are ours through faith in Christ. In that sense it serves as a stepping stone into the next stage of Paul's argument where he defines God's new community of faith.

v31. "So what can we draw from all that has been said so far?" In chapters 1 through 8, Paul has developed his argument concerning the right-standing that is ours through faith in Christ. Both the "weak" (those who are tied into law-obedience as a means to confirm their standing before God, please God and/or advance their perfection) and the "strong" (those who have found freedom from the law through faith in Christ), are equally sinners. Yet, it is those who have faith in Christ, apart from the law, who experience God's righteous vindication (salvation), rather than his righteous judgment, Rom.3:21-24. By being identified with Jesus in his death and resurrection we stand before God shrouded in the righteousness of Christ, justified - just-if-I'd never sinned. "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ", Rom.5:1. As for this present state of ours in Christ, through the indwelling renewal of the Spirit we are shaped into the person we already are in Christ, and this through faith, Rom.6:14. Through the indwelling power of Christ we are set free from the power of sin and led toward holiness, Rom.6:22. "We have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code", Rom.7:6. This process having begun, glorification is assured, Rom.8:28-30. So then, what conclusion can we draw from all this? "If God is for us, who can be against us?" Seeing that God has done all this for us, our standing in his sight is totally secure. Nothing, no person or circumstance, can "prevail against" us. We can have complete assurance of our place before God.

v32. If God was willing to give up his dear Son as a sacrifice for rebellious humanity, undertake an action of immeasurable cost to achieve our right-standing in his sight, it is obvious that he will complete this work by giving us all that is necessary to perfect our salvation in glory.

v33-34. Who then can lay any charge against God's people, or who can condemn us? Imperfection still resides in our lives. We may have asked for mercy, but still each day we can only but aim at perfection, always falling short. Yet, no one can condemn us, or bring any charge against us before God for our sin. We have an advocate before God who speaks on our behalf at the throne of God, cf. 1John.2:1, Heb.7:25. So no one, either ourselves, others, or even the powers of darkness, can bring any sustainable charge against us. In Christ we are perfect, so no charge of imperfection can stick.

Little or no assurance is one of the most substantial problems facing believers today. Gladly, our passage for study affirms assurance and therefore has much to say on the issue of perseverance.

Some believers are not at all confident in their salvation because they are just not fully convinced of the existence of God and/or of the person and effective work of Christ. Yet, this problem is probably not as widespread as we may think it is. Most often our confidence in the existence of God grows as our belief is confirmed through the experiences of daily life. Mind you, we have to accept the danger of selective reasoning - we absorb what is supportive of our belief and discard what is contrary. None the less, life does seem to assure our step of faith. Stepping out for Christ is like stepping out on a pathway covered by mist. We become confident that the path is there as we step out on it. Having made those first steps, our confidence grows. The scene in the film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade when Indiana has to fulfill the last test, the leap of faith, well illustrates this truth.

The prime lack of assurance in the Christian life is much more subtle. We are often not quite sure that we are truly acceptable to God, given that sin is constantly with us. We can easily doubt our salvation in the face of recurrent sin. Yet, when we understand the simple truth of the gift of "righteousness that is by faith from first to last", we can then identify with the confidence expressed by Paul in Romans 8:31-34. There is no force, no power, no circumstance, no person, no anything that can undermine, interfere, intervene, obstruct, destroy our relationship with God in Christ. Our standing in his sight is totally secure, because we stand perfect in Christ. There is nothing we can do to add to it, or to detract from it. Indwelling and habitual sin is no longer seen by God, and as for overcoming it, that's something he deals with. There is no circumstance or trouble that can separate us from the love of God in Christ. Not even death can take us out of his hand.

Our assurance rests on the person and work of Christ, not on our imperfection, or the limitations of our existence.

1. "I am persuaded that he is able"........ to do what?

2. Discuss the issue of assurance. Are there any areas where you feel unsure in the Christian life?