In this section of Romans it would be possible to stop and make a comment at almost every verse. Every little phrase is worth a “gleaning,” but I have to stop when I get to a phrase like “We are more than conquerors.”
As we know by now Paul has been addressing the problem of sin and the flesh. We have learned that sin has no more dominion over us. We have been instructed that we need to reckon ourselves dead to sin and quit submitting to a power it doesn’t have. We have learned that there is no condemnation to those of us in Christ Jesus. We have seen that since God is for us no one and no thing can stand against us.
These are all powerful truths leading to a powerful conclusion to this section of the letter. Yet, right in the middle of building to a dramatic conclusion Paul makes an wonderful, powerful, and encouraging statement- “In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loves.” In all what things we might ask. Well, to be specific we just need to look back a verse or two.
- Tribulation
- Distress
- Persecution
- Famine
- Nakedness
- Peril
- Sword
That’s quite a list! But if we go back a little further we find out the counterbalance.
- Sin has no power over me
- There is no condemnation on me
- I can call God, the Creator of the universe, “Daddy”
- I have an inheritance
- The trials of today are no comparison to the glories I will see
- I have a glorious liberty
- All things in my life work together for good
- I am destined to be conformed to the image of Christ
- God is for me
The first list is temporal – the second is eternal. Indeed, we are not only conquerors, but we are MORE than conquerors through Him who loves us! When you balance the tow lists above it is obvious that things are stacked in our favour!
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