How to conquer the 7 types of spiritual attacks against us part 1

The seven categories of spiritual attacks against us are listed in Romans 8:35

Romans 8:35
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

But before we dig into all the glorious details of this verse, we first need to understand the context of Romans 8.

Romans 8 is the pinnacle of doctrinal truth of the book of Romans to the believer.

That enables us to be more than a conqueror in all situations as we believe God’s word to overcome the world.

But sometimes we choke in the ocean of chaos, lies, and darkness.

An in-depth and accurate knowledge of God’s truth can heal our hearts, enlighten our path and inspire us to victory.

The purpose in handling this section of Romans 8 with such an intricate overview, depth & detail is summed up in one of my favorite verses.

Nehemiah 8:8
So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.

By having a deeper understanding of God’s word, we can believe it greater and love God even more, which energizes our believing even greater.

See the pattern of growth?

In part 1 we will get a broad overview on how to conquer the 7 methods of spiritual attack against us with some enlightening figures of speech on Romans chapter 8.

In part 2 we’ll dig into the many deep diamonds of truth in Romans 8:35 and get our answer to life’s questions once again.

Overview: figures of speech on the structure of Romans 8:1-39

Figures of speech are an exacting grammatical science.

Their objective is to precisely and deliberately deviate from the normal pattern of grammatical rules in a specific and documented way.

The purpose of figures of speech is to reveal what is most important in God’s word by emphasizing a particular word or phrase, a verse, a whole group of verses, or even an entire book of the bible or perhaps just a concept.

Figures of speech eliminate a trainload of confusion and conflict about what any given bible verse really means.

The beautiful symmetry and profound truth of figures of speech inspire awe, love and trust in God’s word.

The first figure of speech we’re going to look at covers the entire 8th chapter of Romans and is called Correspondence, which has 3 sub categories: alternate, introverted and combined.  Combined, as the name implies, is simply a combination of the previous two.

Correspondence enables us not merely to perceive the symmetrical perfection of the passage, but to understand it’s true sense; to see its scope and thus be guided to a sound interpretation.

What may be obscure in one element may be clear in its corresponding element.

The way introverted correspondence [introversion] works is, for example, let’s say there are 2 series of elements.

The first of one series of elements corresponds to the last element of the second series.

The second element of the first series corresponds to the second-to-last element of the second series, and so forth as illustrated below.

Correspondence is by far the most stately and dignified presentation of a subject; and is always used in the most solemn and important portions of scripture.

Screenshot of Companion Reference Bible; Figures of speech overview of Romans 8

If we rearrange the sections we can better understand the correspondence.

1. Beginning [1-4]: no condemnation to those in Christ and why
2. Ending [28-39]: no separation from Christ and why  [this is the context of part 2]

1. First middle [5-15]: holy spirit in us, leading us
2. Second middle [16-27]: The Holy Spirit’s [God] witness with our spirit, leading it

Screenshot of Companion Reference Bible. Romans 8:33-39 figures of speech.

• Beginning section [33]: God’s love in securing us against all who would accuse
• Ending section [38 & 39]: God’s love in Christ in securing us against all separation from the nature of things

• First middle section [34]: Christ’s love [manifested in death & resurrection] securing us against all who would condemn
• Second middle section [35 – 37]: Christ’s love [thus manifested by Him that loved us] securing us against all separation arising from the operation of things.

Another way to summarize the attacks against us in verses 33 – 39:

1. Accuse
2. Condemn
3. Separate by operation of things
4. Separate by nature of things

But of course, God has already covered us from all of these!

screenshot of companion-reference bible – Romans-8:28-39 – figure of speech

The third screenshot references standing and state.   What are they?

Our standing with God is that of a son, which can never change because we are born of incorruptible spiritual seed.   Seed is always permanent because it’s what determines the true nature of things.

Our state is our fellowship with God, which can vary, depending upon how well our thoughts, beliefs, actions, communications, etc line up with God’s will, which is his word, the bible.

We are secured by God’s purpose and perfect love, in regards to our sonship and fellowship with him.

In Romans 8:31 – 35, there are 9 rhetorical questions in a row, which is a figure of speech, but you can’t see this in the KJV unless you really work at it.

I have bolded & italicized the same words as the KJV does so we can have an accurate starting point, then we will see the real impact of what God has already done for us.

Romans 8
31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.
34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

In verse 33 in the Greek, the word “charge” means to summon, to accuse, to [legally] charge someone with a crime.

Who would do that to us and why?

Revelation 12:10
And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

The accuser is one of the many names of the devil, emphasizing his accusative nature, which can attack us in the form of self condemning thoughts [internal attack] or false accusations against us from others [external attack].

The why is because of the devil’s dark and unholy nature [more on that later].

What was God’s response?

Verse 33 – “It is God that justifieth”.  [justifieth definition below]

Strong’s Concordance #1344
dikaioó: to show to be righteous, declare righteous
Part of Speech: Verb
Phonetic Spelling: (dik-ah-yo’-o)
Definition: I make righteous, defend the cause of, plead for the righteousness (innocence) of, acquit, justify; hence: I regard as righteous.

HELPS Word-studies
Cognate: 1344 dikaióō (from dikē, “right, judicial-approval”) – properly, approved, especially in a legal, authoritative sense; to show what is right, i.e. conformed to a proper standard (i.e. “upright”).

The believer is “made righteous/justified” (1344 /dikaióō) by the Lord, cleared of all charges (punishment) related to their sins. Moreover, they are justified (1344 /dikaióō, “made right, righteous”) by God’s grace each time they receive (obey) faith (4102 /pístis), i.e. “God’s inwrought persuasion”

Verse 33 – “It is God that justifieth”.

The italicized words were added by the kjv translators, so they have no divine authority.    They should be reversed to make more sense in English.  A question mark and exclamation mark belong at the end of the sentence to see the divine impact of the figures of speech, i.e. the rhetorical questions.

33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect?  Is it God that justifieth?!

The answer to the first question is: “Nobody!”

The answer to the second question is: “Of course not!”

How can the one who acquits us be the same one who accuses us?  In a court of law, the defense cannot be the prosecution.

34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

Contrast the definition of condemneth with intercession!

Strong’s Concordance #2632 [condemneth]
katakrinó: to give judgment against
Part of Speech: Verb
Phonetic Spelling: (kat-ak-ree’-no)
Definition: I condemn, judge worthy of punishment.

HELPS Word-studies
2632 katakrínō(from 2596 /katá, “down, according to” intensifying 2919 /krínō, “judge”) – properly, judge down, i.e. issue a penalty (exactly condemn); to judge someone “decisively (decidedly) as guilty.”

Is mankind guilty?  Absolutely.   Although it’s not our fault, it’s still our problem.

Psalms 51:14
Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

All mankind has a corrupted bloodstream, courtesy of Adam.

God has already accomplished our redemption, justification, made us righteous and sanctified us through the work of Christ almost 2,000 years ago.

Matthew 27
3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
4 Saying, I have sinned in that  I have betrayed the innocent blood [Jesus Christ] And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.

Romans 5 has an absolutely magnificent explanation and soul – ution!

Romans 5
12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.
17 For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

We are still contrasting the definitions of condemneth with intercession in Romans 8:34.

34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

Strong’s Concordance #1793 [intercession]
entugchanó: to chance upon, by impl. confer with, by ext. entreat
Part of Speech: Verb
Phonetic Spelling: (en-toong-khan’-o)
Definition: (a) I meet, encounter, hence: (b) I call (upon), make a petition, make suit, supplication.

HELPS Word-studies
1793 entygxánō (from 1722 /en, “in,” which intensifies 5177 /tygxánō, “to obtain by hitting the mark”) – properly, “light upon (meet with), obtain” (LS); “to go and meet a person to converse, consult,” i.e. to intervene (“intersect with”).

The root of 5177 (tygxánō) means “to strike, hit the bulls-eye” (“spot on”). Accordingly, it is used in classical Greek as the antonym of harmartia (“to miss the mark, sin”)

God’s solution to mankind’s guilty blood was spot on.  He hit the bull’s eye with Jesus Christ’s innocent blood.

So here is the better translation:

34 Who is he that condemneth?  Is it Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us?!

Who is he that condemneth?  Nobody!

Is it Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us?!

Of course not!

Romans 5
6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

All of the questions in this 9-step section are answered by a profound rhetorical question, to which the literal answer is a resounding no!

Here is the final version so we can feel the real impact of what God has done for us:

1. What shall we then say to these things?
2. If God be for us, who can be against us?
3. He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
4. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect?
5. Is it God that justifieth?!
6. Who is he that condemneth?
7. Is it Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us?!
8. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
9. Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

The number 9 in the bible is the number of finality and judgment.   God’s final judgment is that we are justified in his sight and nothing shall separate us from his perfect and eternal love.

Stay tuned!  In part 2, we are going to see what the 7 attacks against us actually are, how to defeat them and how all of them are intertwined with Maslow’s hierarchy of needs pyramid and how God fits into all this.

For a very unique overview of the entire book of Romans that will really open up the book for you, take a look at this: A unique parenthetical overview of Romans