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I. THE QUESTION SUPPOSES THE EXISTENCE OF A COMBINED AND POWERFUL HOSTILITY TO THE CHRISTIAN. The Bible declares this, observation confirms it, and experience demonstrates it. The believer may be compares to an individual who has thrown off allegiance to his king, has disowned his country, and refuses obedience to its laws, yet continues to dwell in the land he had renounced, and hard by the sovereign he has foresworn.

1. Satan is against us. All his force, malice, subtlety, and skill, and all his myrmidons are marshalled in opposition to the interests of the child of God.

2. The world, too, is against us. It will never forgive the act by which we broke from it. Nor can it forget that the life of the Christian is a constant and solemn rebuke of it (John 15:18, 19).

3. Our own heart is against us.

II. BUT GOD IS FOR US. It was this assurance that calmed the fears and strengthened the faith of Abraham (Genesis 15:1); Isaac (Genesis 26:24); Elisha's servant (2 Kings 6:15, 16); David (Psalm 27:1); Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:17-19); and Paul (Acts 18:9, 10). And Christ's last words were, "Lo, I am with you alway; even unto the end."

1. God must be on the side of His people since He has, in an everlasting covenant, made Himself over to be their God. There is nothing in God, in His dealings, or in His providences, but what is on the side of His people.

2. Not the Father only, but the Son of God is also on our side. Has He not amply proved it? Who, when there was no eye to pity, and no arm to Save, undertook our cause, and embarked all His grace and glory in our salvation?

3. And so of the Holy Spirit. Who quickened us when we were dead; taught us when we were ignorant, comforted us when we were distressed?

III. It may then well be asked, "WHO CAN BE AGAINST US?" The law cannot, for the Law-fulfiller has magnified and made it honourable. Justice cannot, for Jesus has met its demands, and His resurrection is a full discharge of all its claims; nor sin, nor Satan, nor men, nor suffering, nor death, since the condemnation of sin is removed, and Satan is vanquished, and the ungodly are restrained, and suffering works for good, and the sting of death is taken away. We will fear nothing, therefore, but the disobedience that grieves and the sin that offends God. Fearing this, we need fear nothing else (Isaiah 41:10). Conclusion:

1. The subject, if most consolatory to the Christian, is, in its converse, a solemn one to the unregenerate. It is an awful thing not to have God for us. And if God is not for us there is no neutral course — He must be against us.

2. Would we always have God for us? then let us aim to be for God. God deals with us His creatures by an equitable rule (Leviticus 26:27, 28).

(O. Winslow, D.D.)

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KJV: What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

WEB: What then shall we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?