“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:37).

As the apostle Paul heads toward the final stretch of Romans 8, he cranks up the rhetoric and hammers home his confidence manifesto, declaring, 

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

Then, as if to say, “Nevertheless, friends in Rome, I have heard your concerns and am prepared to put every one of them to rest,” Paul addresses the unease that was top-of-mind among some first-century believers. (One or two may even sound familiar.)

Am I truly loved? (8:32)

Do I face condemnation? (8:34) 

Is there security in my salvation? (8:35)

Am I under attack? (8:36)

Can God protect me from the enemy? (8:37)

Will I ultimately prevail? (8:38)

Paul does not just acknowledge their concerns but responds to the issues that trouble their hearts and rattle around like noise in their heads. 

And here are Paul’s answers:

Yes. No. Yes. Yes. Yes. Definitely! (v. 31–39)

By tackling every adversary, addressing every fear, and encompassing every realm, Paul consoles the Romans with unflinching confidence that they “are more than conquerors…”

Concluding this chapter with its litany of “neithers,” the apostle stares down any remaining doubts—like the spirit-filled action hero he is—rhythmically swatting away the lies of the accuser with a flurry of blows, vanquishing the foe and cutting through the NOISE with the TRUTH of God’s love and protection. 

“For I am convinced that 

neither death nor life       BAM!

neither angels nor demons       POW! 

neither the present nor the future        KABOOM!

nor any powers     CRUNCH! 

neither height nor depth       THUD!

nor anything else in all creation       SMASH!

…will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (vv. 38, 39).

Can’t you picture the adversary, bloodied and bruised. Summarily tossed like a heap of garbage into a nearby dumpster as Action-Hero-Paul brushes himself off with nary a scratch after demonstrating what victorious spiritual warfare looks like? 

No? OK, maybe I read too many comic books as a kid.

Nevertheless, Paul expresses confidence that God secures our victory. 

Over human enemies. 

Over life and death. 

Over angels and demons. 

And over attacks both present and future!

Oh, and in case you were picturing a hero with bulging muscles, tights, a cape, and a red belted speedo, Paul reminds us that our super-powers do not come courtesy of spinach, smoothies, or steroids. The enduring strength to withstand spiritual attacks comes from the atonement for sin through the death of the Son of God. 

Without Jesus we would be powerless. Consigned to that very same dumpster in the blink of a nano-second. With animations of BAM! POW! and KABOOM! circling our heads. And the NOISE of defeat ringing in our ears. 

Instead, the TRUTH is—we’re more than conquerors. We’re spirit-filled action heroes!

Be confident! Our Father can secure the ultimate victory over the distraction of the world, the temptation of the flesh, and the opposition of the enemy.