Who? No One!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rwfowzoGvA

Water is Wild ~ (feat. Chris Brown & Brandon Lake) Elevation Worship

 

While studying Romans 8:38-39, in preparation for writing the devotional that was churning in my mind, I spent a lot of time studying “who” in Romans 8:

If God is for us, who can be against us? (v.31)

Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? (v.33)

Who then is the one who condemns? (v.34)

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? (v.35)

Perhaps, like me, you assumed the devil. Afterall, he is “the accuser of the brothers,” (Revelation 12:10).

 

Hebrews 2 tells us Jesus declared us to be His brothers, and that because we are flesh and blood, He chose to, “share in [our] humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free [us]…” (vv. 12,14-15). Because the devil held the power of death, the assumption—by many—is that he still holds it. But the truth is Jesus took the power through His atonement for us, (Hebrews 2:17). In Revelation 1:18, Jesus declared, “I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.” Holding the keys gives Jesus the power and authority to open and shut doors that no one can shut or open, (Revelation 3:7).

 

Therefore, the answer to the Romans 8 questions is no one, not even the devil. Though he will try to convince you otherwise, we are assured, “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death,” (Romans 8:1-2). The devil is a liar, tempter, and an accuser, but he no longer has authority over you and his power pales in comparison with God’s. As one Bible commentator said, “Satan is a finite, created being. He may be opposite to Gabriel or Michael, but never to God. And thus, though the forces of hell be gathered against you, they are nothing compared with the power that is available to you because God is for you,” (Chuck Smith, blueletterbible.org).

 

When the devil comes in to attack and tempts your mind with questions of who is against you, hoping you will start a list, you can counter his attack by boldly and confidently declaring, “No one!”

 

no weapon forged against you will prevail,
    and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
    and this is their vindication from me,”
declares the Lord.

~Isaiah 54:17 NIV

©Heather Potts 2022