Tuesday, 30 July 2013
He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Romans 8:32
In verse 31, we were asked that if God is for us, who can be against us. In continuation of that thought, Paul explains why. “He who did not spare His own Son” is obviously speaking of God the Father. Father-ship implies Son-ship. However, this Father/Son relationship does not imply something which occurred in time. God created time and we are living in it. We cannot apply family concepts to the Godhead in a one to one comparison with that of humanity.
The humanity of Jesus is united to the deity of Jesus without intermingling or separation of any kind. Jesus, the Son of Man was born into the stream of humanity, but the divine Son eternally exists within the Godhead, just as the Spirit does. God the Father, did not spare His own Son (Jesus), but delivered Him up for us all. The fault which occurred in the stream of time demanded that action be taken to correct the fault. This is the incarnation; the uniting of God and Man in the Person of Jesus.
This is the One whom God did not spare. He “delivered Him up for us all.” This thought can be taken in one of several ways. Note: this list is not all-inclusive –
1) Jesus was delivered up for “all the elect” only – limited atonement
2) Jesus was delivered up for “all” meaning everyone, and everyone is saved – universal salvation
3) Jesus was delivered up for “all” everyone (unlimited atonement potential), but not everyone will receive Christ and be saved (limited atonement actual)
Based on the entire scope and premise of the Bible, the nature of God, and the obvious (and yet often denied) truth of free-will, the third option is correct. God delivered Christ up for all people. To those who have received this offering, “how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” The term “with Him” is meant to show that even though Christ was delivered up for us, He prevailed over the ordeal and is Heir to all things.
Because He is Heir to all things and God delivered Him up for us, then it is evident that we also are given all things. This takes us back to verse 17 which noted that we are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. We were crucified with Christ, meaning that when He went to the cross, we likewise were there with Him. Our sin-nature was nailed to it. Because of this we are the recipients of what the Son receives – given freely by God to us because of the work of Another. Simply amazing.
Life application: Time and again we can see that Romans 8 is a wonderful place to go when life has us down. Though we lose all in this life, so much more awaits us in glory. Yes, things may be tough, but God will bring us through to riches unimaginable.
Lord, would I trade the riches of Your word for an easy message which doesn’t truly satisfy? Would I cling to a hope which isn’t grounded in the truth? Would I be wise to listen to the fading sounds of clanging cymbals and the cackling of thorns lit under a pot? Rather Lord, I will listen to You as You have spoken to me through Your wondrous word. Give me wisdom and insight into this glorious gift – the Holy Bible. Amen.