Useful Bible Studies > Romans Commentary > chapter 8

Who accuses God's people?

Romans 8:33

Such passages as Job 1:6-12 and Zechariah 3:1-2 describe heaven as a court of law. In that court, God is the judge, and the devil is the accuser of God’s people. In fact, the devil’s name, Satan, actually means ‘the accuser’ in the Hebrew language.

Paul said in Romans 8:1 that no judgement against God’s people can stand. He has now proved it. They have a right relationship with God, not because of their own goodness, but because of God’s work in their lives. God has placed his Holy Spirit in their lives (verse 9); he works through the circumstances of their lives to make them into the kind of people that he wants them to be (verses 28-29). In the future age, he will adopt them with the full rights of the children of God (verses 18-25); and the devil will be unable to prevent it.

Job declared that he had a friend, a defender to speak on his behalf in front of God (Job 16:19-21). In the same manner, Paul declares that the defender of God’s people is Christ himself (8:34). Christ died for their evil deeds (5:6-8): that is the legal reason which Christ declares in God’s court. Christ rose again and God gave him the most important place in heaven (Hebrews 1:3-4); that gives him both the opportunity and the legal authority to speak to God on their behalf.

In the ancient world, a close relative (and not a professional lawyer) had the duty to speak on a person’s behalf in court. So, Christ’s relationship to us as our friend is important to Paul. Christ is a friend who is closer than any brother (Proverbs 18:24). In fact God has made him our brother (Romans 8:29; Hebrews 2:11). Christ is our brother who truly loves us; and nothing can separate us from his love (8:35-39). He is therefore the best person to speak to God his Father on our behalf.

Next part: Who defends God's people? (Romans 8:34)

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