On the saying Rom. 8, 31-34.
Rom. 8:31-34.
What shall we say to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? Who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him for us all; how shall He not with Him give us all things? Who will accuse the elect of God? God is here who justifies. Who will condemn? Christ is here, who died, but rather, who was also raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, representing us.
1 This is a short text, but it is far from us when we are troubled by distress. Here it says: God be our friend, and give us with Christ all things; item, excuse us, as if we were wronged. Nevertheless, no one believes it when the pieces come to us.
rain: Fear, death, sword. Therefore, it is necessary that these words are only fresh. For in the fear of the words we believe none. Now it is soon spoken; but in trouble it is farther from us than heaven.
2 Therefore let us learn these words only, that we may obtain a little in the anguish, when the soul thinks it must die in the anguish and perish. Therefore, we should learn the longing that we can sigh in fear: Oh, that it were true that I have often heard. God will faithfully help and strengthen us for the sake of the little one. So it is in the fieri, it wants to become something; but it is not yet even there. We can't push it further here on earth, because sigh: Oh, if only it would be better.
Si Deus pro nobis etc. (Is GOd for ims etc.)
Let us look at three things here. The first, God is ours, as the saying goes: "Whoever has God for a friend, no creature can harm him. Now if God is for us, who will be against us? God has all things in His hand and is mighty over them; therefore all creatures must look where God looks. So they must help us and cover us, as God does. He has proven it, for the son must take his place and die. God does not keep the counsel with Him in heaven, but lets it be proclaimed to us through His Son, whom He lets die before the eyes of all men on the cross; this must be done visibly. Before God's eyes the death of Christ also took place, but secretly, Eph. 1, 4, before the foundation of the world was laid. But we could not believe it until Jesus walked the earth, and helped the whole world, and died at last, sealing his preaching.
The third piece, he satisfies the consciences. Our conscience says: I still lack; I do not yet have what he has: I am a sinner, he is righteous. I am in a bad way; I have also well deserved it. Then the consciences wriggle and say, "Yes, Christ died well, he did no sin; but I am a sinner, full of sins; therefore I have not died well. There is the fear of death. But the heart does not overcome death with such thoughts, for they weigh down the conscience. Therefore Paul refutes this here, saying, "Put out of your sight the things you feel. Do you not see that Christ has two murderers with him? See
Quis accusabit? (Who wants to accuse. *)
Here we must speak in the manner of a secular court: there is judge, culprit, cane master, executioner etc. So it goes in the conscience also. If I have sinned, the beadle comes, my heart passes judgment on me, conscience says yes, and summons me to court and points me to the strict judge, God. When he sees sourly, the heart melts. Death stands on the other side and says to the judge: "The sinner is mine; the devil has the spear in his hand and wants to snatch the sinner away. Then I become fainthearted and say, "Now I am eternally lost. This then is hell and eternal despair.
If it were not for the text, the poor sinner would be eternally lost. But here is the consolation: They may well be accused of being evil, but God justifies us, that is, he pleads our cause. It is true that we deserve death, but God defends us through His Son, who represents us before God the Father as an advocate, pleads for the poor sinner: "Oh, Father, the sinner is a mute, he cannot speak, I have done enough for him, spare him. Then Christ bends down and lets the sinner jump on his back, and thus saves him from death and the cane master. God acts like a father toward his son. When one says, Behold, thy son is cross-eyed, the father says, He is ogling. Item: The little warmth is so good for him that it is like a
is enough. So Christ also says: "Oh, it is not sin, it is only weakness in the poor sinner.
Quis condemnabit? (Who wants to condemn. *)
7 The first is "accuse," the other is "condemn. To the first, one passes judgment on the sinner; but the Son represents us. The second: If God is our friend, the judgment is on our side and says: Go, you shepherds, you have lost the judgment on the sinner, the sinner has won it, control yourselves.
8 Last of all, let no man think to be rid of all sin, lust, and evil thoughts. Then let each one see that he has done
I have a longing in me, and I sigh to God: Oh, I would like to be free of sin. This cry of Spiritus Sancti (the Holy Spirit) in us lasts until the last day; therefore, sin is always in the poor Christians. They sin, but not out of malice and intent, but out of weakness, which God can well credit. Therefore, the best consolation is that we have the testimonium Spiritus Sancti (testimony of the Holy Spirit) in us, namely, that whoever in distress can long to God to be merciful to him and to help him. For he now presents himself much differently than before he was in distress, and can trust him that he will not forsake him, he is certainly a Christian.