Romans 8:33–34

"Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? Shall God, who justifies?" These three verses give us three steps. First, God for us. Second, God blessing us. Third, God justifying us — clearing us from every charge. For who has the right to bring a charge against us? God alone has such a right. But will He do it — when He is the One who has justified us instead?

Notice how the passage attributes everything to God. It does not say that we are justified before God. It says, "It is God who justifies." So the apostle may well exclaim, "Who is to condemn?" — whoever that person may be.

God Himself is not only the Source of our justification but the One who justifies us. "It is God who justifies" (Rom. 8:33). From His lips came the sentence against us as sinners. Equally from His lips comes the declaration of our clearance as believers in Jesus. Our justification is therefore complete and authoritative. No one can condemn us.

"It is God who justifies" (Rom. 8:33). Justification is an act of the Judge. He passes a sentence of declared righteousness in favour of the one He justifies. Justification is not something that happens in the heart of a sinner, but a change in his standing before the Judge. The sinner once stood guilty, waiting to be banished forever from the face of the Judge. Now he is justified — declared not guilty — and received into God's eternal favour. This is what God does for the repentant sinner who puts his trust in the work of Christ on the cross.

God Himself raises this question, and then at once goes on to say, "It is God who justifies." He has cleared us of every charge our guilt could bring against us. And He has done it righteously. He sets us in His presence completely clear of all charge, just as though we had never sinned at all. No accusation can be brought against us. God has justified us. Election is with God — that is His side. Our side is that we came to Him in our need as poor sinners and obtained salvation.

God brings no charge against His elect. Instead He justifies them — people who loathe themselves before Him, admitting not only their sins but that their nature is vile and corrupt.

"Who shall bring any charge against God's elect?" Paul here issues a challenge, just as we see the Lord issuing one to Satan on behalf of Joshua (Zech. 3). "Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?" The answer lies in the question: who will dare accuse these people before God? It is God who justifies — God who has chosen them.

Satan — the enemy — may still accuse. He can list sins no one could number. But if God has justified the man, Satan protests in vain. No court will hear his charges, for God has decided the case, and there is none higher than God.

The apostle Paul cites this passage in Rom. 8:33, and applies to the Christian what the Spirit here says of Christ... it is a precious hint that the same Spirit now applies to us what He said then in God's vindication of the rejected Christ.

Secondly, "Who is he that condemns?" If God justifies, who can condemn? To answer this question the Apostle brings together in one verse, the death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ. The letter has already shown that God justifies the believer through the death of Christ. It also shows how perfect this justification is in the resurrection of Christ. Now in the glory He intercedes on behalf of those whom He has justified. If there is an active enemy ever ready to accuse the saints, there is a living Person who intercedes on their behalf.

Notice how the words build: "rather," then "even," then "also." The apostle boldly challenges the right of any to condemn... Christ has died for him and borne the condemnation of sin in his place. How then can that condemnation fall on the believer? But more; He has risen again out of it, above it, and above the place it brought Him into. So where is the accusation of sin now, or the condemnation?... He goes on: "who is even at the right hand of God." There He must be out of reach of every accusation. On top of that He "makes intercession" about the sin whose judgment He bore, and out of which He has risen... The One who took that sin on Himself and became answerable for it is now not only risen, but at the right hand of God. His place there, and His title to be there — which God Himself has owned — would have to be overthrown before anything could be charged to the believer now.

The answer is "It is Christ that died." By His death He made full expiation for all our offences. But how do we know that? "Yea, rather, that is risen again." His resurrection is God's seal upon the value of His death; the proof that the price paid in it was enough... "Who is even at the right hand of God." His exaltation is the declaration of God's entire satisfaction and delight in His work which He accomplished for us. The believer's Substitute and Representative is at the right hand of God. Could He have been there if one sin had remained on Him? Impossible!

Some say this means He appears for us on the question of sin. It is nothing of the kind. Intercession means going to someone, on behalf of another, to get what you want for that one. It is the same word in Romans 8:26 and 34; the Spirit works in our hearts, but He does not appear anywhere for us. But Christ is standing in the presence of God, and He is the One actively engaged in obtaining for us all that we need. It is not that we go to Him, but that He goes to God for us. He is our righteousness there, He has made propitiation, and therefore He can use the grace that is in God... He ever lives to carry on this constant service on our behalf.

Now the enemy who deceived Eve would step in here and say: All that is true if you never sin after your conversion. But if a Christian does sin, surely that sin will separate him from the love of Christ. Dear young believer, make sure your shield is not down when the devil gives you this thrust. Precious answer: "Who also makes intercession for us."... From how many sins does that intercession preserve us!

There is however one mention of Christ in heaven... How wonderful to think of this. Men rejected Him. Now, in His place at God's right hand, He is occupied with intercession for those who have trusted Him. On the cross He interceded for sinners; on the throne He intercedes for those who have believed on Him.