Romans 8:31-33
What is written? (ESV)
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.
What does it say?
What should we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?. The One that didn’t spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies.
What is its immediate context?
Directly on the heels of Paul’s oft-quoted (out of context) statements in vss 28-30, Paul is drawing a conclusion about “these things” or facts about the Christian’s justification process before God. He further asks, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?” (vs 35)
How Romans 8:31-33 is applied across Bible answers
Is God’s grace irresistible?
Lifting just these verses might leave one thinking that Paul is advocating for some sort "irresistibility" of God's grace. However, just in the immediate context, he could be making the point that God's "team" is superior to all other "teams". In other words, if you're on God's team ("the elect"), you are playing for the best, and you will win if you just hold on.
The passage alone would not answer the question "yes" or "no" definitively. However, its context lends itself more toward a "yes" than a "no".
