Author: Rev. Lek Aik Wee

The believer’s life is filled with many trials and temptations described as distress, persecution, famine, destitute of convenient or decent clothing, danger and even violence. But none of these can separate him from Christ’s love for him. What a powerful truth that still every aching heart. Oftentimes, he feels as if this is the end. He will not go through this impasse. But he needs to realize that he has a Sufficient High Priest who will help him.

In ancient Israel, the Levitical priests had to succeed one another because they kept dying, as one generation comes, another goes, time and tide waits for no man. But Jesus Christ needs no successor because He will not die. The fact that Christ will not die and need replacement by another priest means that He can see His work of delivering His people through to the end.

The believer stands justified to receive the past, present and eternal heavenly blessings because of what Jesus Christ had done for him. Christ died, rose from the dead and ascended into heaven and seated in a position of authority to plead the believer’s cause before the Father! Jesus Christ will also be the final Judge. Hence, the believer is in a secure position having entrusted his soul to Jesus Christ. Jesus is both Chief Advocate and Judge. The courtroom metaphor best describes what Jesus has done and will do for the believer.

The Apostle Paul assures believers that God will not withhold anything good from them seeing that He has given His own Son for our redemption. God will do us good. He is working out His good will in our lives. Will he withhold anything good from us? Surely not! It is cause for praise and thanksgiving. There must be that assurance and restfulness of God’s abiding presence to help us.

The believer has the assurance that since God is with him, he will be kept safe under God’s protection. He expresses it by a conditional sentence stating that if God is for us, the outcome will surely be that none can overpower the will of God for our lives. The Apostle Paul has just described God’s salvific work in the believer’s life from election to calling, from calling to justification and from justification to glorification. He stills our heart by stating a truthful supposition.

The believer has yet to see the glory of God’s salvation in his life. The Apostle Paul is showing us the infinite preciousness accorded to every believer from beginning to end. He is special and unique in God’s sight. And there is a unique purpose for his existence upon earth.

God choose beforehand, determine in advance in eternity past, whom He will save to bear the name of His Son upon the earth in his lifetime. To be chosen by the Father, purchased by the Son and sealed by the Spirit. What a great privilege it is to be called into faith and to live the life of faith.