Reflection on Rom 8:33-34
Holy Scripture assures us that we who have been chosen, that is, who have received Jesus Christ, cannot be accused by anyone before God because God justifies us. Furthermore, it says that no one can condemn us either, because Jesus Christ who died and was raised for us is at the right hand of God and is interceding for us. This is the essence of the good news.
“And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.” (1Jn 5:11-13)
We must know that we have eternal life. And we must also know that this eternal life is in Christ Jesus, that the condition of salvation is to have the Lord Jesus. On the other hand, those who do not have Him, that is, who have rejected Him by unbelief, do not have eternal life.
The question is who God’s elect are. This question immediately gives the false impression that some have not been chosen by intent. Therefore, we must know that God gives everyone the grace necessary for salvation. “He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him.” (Eph 1:4) And the Scripture also says: “God desires all men to be saved.” (1Tim 2:4) Here we are faced with the mystery of free will: man can reject salvation. Those who have received Jesus, i.e. God’s elect, can be condemned neither by the devil nor by demons nor by the damned in hell. By no one. The Scripture says that God justifies them and Jesus Christ intercedes for them. There is only one problem, namely that people can condemn themselves to eternal damnation by their unbelief, obstinacy in evil and lies, that is, by their reluctance to repent. By their reluctance to admit their fault, to admit it time and again, and by their determination to persist in spiritual blindness. All this characterizes those who have excluded themselves from God’s kingdom, rejected God’s election and salvation, despised the sacrifice and suffering of the Son of God for their sake, and betrayed Christ like Judas. They have chosen to do evil works and finally condemned themselves, that is, rejected God’s election. So we must always bear in mind that we have the poisoned seed within us called original sin which is programmed to lead us away from Jesus Christ, to separate us from Him and to unite us to lies and evil. Inconspicuously and covertly, it drives us onto the downward path to destruction. Therefore we must watch, we must repent all our life! The Apostle Paul says: “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” (Phil 2:12) And then he says: “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” (1Cor 10:12) And in another place: “But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” (1Cor 9:27) Or he says: “We have this treasure in earthen vessels.” (2Cor 4:7) So the Apostle points out the spiritual battle. The battle going on in the human heart, the battle against evil thoughts, images, feelings or plans. The words of Jesus are clear: “Deny yourself.” (Mt 16:24) The Apostle says: “We always carry about in our body the dying of the Lord Jesus.” (2Cor 4:10) Our life is a battlefield, and especially today we are facing a fierce psychological struggle in which the strongest weapon is a method of professional lying through the mass media as well as through people pursuing a plan for their own self-destruction and of many others.
We can see that God’s election is associated with heroism. The assurance of our salvation is based on the fact that we have Jesus, that we are with Him. The Scripture says: “He who believes and is baptized will be saved.” (Mk 16:16) Some of the saints said: “Those who pray will be saved and those who do not will be damned.” Prayer is a sacrifice. Jesus humbled Himself and offered Himself as a sacrifice for our sake, and we should follow Him. We do so when we follow the order of prayer, fight to overcome laziness or distraction, and sacrifice time. God will then give us the light and strength so that we may be able to guard the treasure of our faith in Jesus until the moment when we cross over the bridge of death to eternity. We must keep the faith because it is the condition of salvation. The Apostle says: “I have fought the good fight, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of eternal glory.” (cf. 2Tim 4:7f) Speculation about who has been chosen and who has not is a waste of time to say the least. You must know that God has chosen you and your life’s task is to keep the faith and to obtain the crown of eternal salvation. Apart from that, you must seek the salvation of others – by word, by a good example, by sacrifice, and especially by prayer. Do you pray for someone’s salvation? Do you pray for your nation’s spiritual awakening and resurrection? If you do, persevere! It matters very much. Sooner or later you will see the fruits, either in this life or in the life to come.
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