Based on a series of sermons preached in PCC Prayer Meetings in 2023-2024
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?
Romans 8:32
God’s people are much in need of comfort. We need comfort because we live in a fallen world amongst a fallen people. We need comfort also because God has appointed that we should enter into our eternal rest through much tribulation (Acts 14:22). We need comfort because this life is full of pains and sorrows, losses and hardships, disappointments and vexations, and sadness and anger.
Many verses in the Holy Scripture deal with these issues specifically. But no doubt, the source and basis of all Christian comfort is the Lord Jesus Christ and the fact that He has been given to us by the Father. The apostle Paul says:
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?
Rom 8:32
This statement is straightforward and yet profound. Let us meditate on it briefly to find comfort for our present trials.
Consider three questions: (1) What is it to be spared? (2) What is the Son not spared from? (3) What are the “all things” that shall freely be given us with Him?
1. What Is It to Be Spared?
What is it to spare someone? To spare someone is to withhold him from a particular trial. God instructed Abraham to offer his son, Isaac, as a sacrifice on Mount Moriah. Abraham was willing to go through with the sacrifice, but the angel of the LORD stopped him in the nick of time. And the LORD said to him, “Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.”
The Greek word translated ‘spared’ in our text is the same as that used in the Septuagint for the word ‘withheld’ in our version. Abraham withheld not his son, so he spared not his son from what was appointed for Him.
God the Father God spared not His own Son. Therefore, He withheld not His own Son. But unlike Isaac, who was more or less passive, Christ Jesus, the Son of God, willingly and actively submitted to His Father’s will.
Unlike Isaac, who was spared when God gave Abraham a ram to offer in his place, Christ Jesus had no substitute. Indeed, He is the antitype of the ram offered in place of Isaac. He is the Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world, and is our substitute.
God spared Him not so that we might be spared.
2. What Is the Son Not Spared From?
Well, the answer has been given repeatedly from the beginning of this letter. In a word, He is not spared from the wrath of God. “The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men,” says Paul in chapter 1 (Rom 1:18). Paul will go on to describe how all men deserve God’s wrath because all have sinned in Adam and fall short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23).
But what does the wrath of God look like? Among other things, Paul talks about tribulation, anguish, and death (Rom 2:29; 6:23).
God spared not His own son from these things because of His love for us. “God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him” (Rom 5:8-9).
So instead of continuing to enjoy eternal blessedness and glory, He was conceived in the womb of the Virgin Mary and born of her, and that in a low condition. He suffered dishonour and poverty. He endured the pollution and corruption of life due to sin in this fallen world. He was tempted in all points, like we are, yet without sin. He suffered daily the pains and sorrows, losses and hardships, disappointments and vexations, and sadness and waves of anger—the things that make us crave comfort.
But that is not all. As He headed to the Cross, He suffered persecution by His enemies. They mocked Him and beat Him. They scourged Him and crucified Him. Not only so, but He suffered abandonment and denial by His disciples and friends. And that’s not the end, for before He died and was buried, He suffered the pains of hell on the Cross. For three hours, He faced the intense wrath of God that we deserve for our sins against God.
God, our heavenly Father, spared not His son so that He might spare us. Every cut He suffered, every tear He shed, and every drop of perspiration that fell from his brow was for our sake.
Having sinned against an infinite God, we deserve the infinite wrath of God. God spared not His Son, but delivered him up for us. The Son of God paid our debt by suffering God’s wrath for us so we might enjoy God’s love instead.
If that is so, what would God withhold from 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?”
3. What Are We Freely Given with Him?
The simple answer is everything.
The story is told of a very wealthy man, Mr McFarent, who passed away after losing his only son to the war. Mr McFarent instructed the trustee of his will to auction off everything in his estate. Finally, the day came for the auction. A big crowd gathered on the lawn for the auction. There was a lot of interest because Mr McFarent was known to be a collector of some fine art pieces. The auction began with the trustee of the will announcing that according to the wishes of Mr McFarent, the first item to be auctioned off would be a self-portrait of his son.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we are starting our auction with bids for this self-portrait of Mr McFarent’s son. There will be no minimum bid for this piece. Do I hear any offer?”
Silence! No one was interested in the painting. The auctioneer repeats the call. Everyone was getting impatient. Finally, a scruffily dressed man at the back put up a hand gingerly. He was the gardener of the estate. He said, “Sir, I don’t have much, but I love my master’s son. Could I bid £5, please?” The auctioneer says, “Of course you may, sir.” With that, he started to seek a higher bid. “We have a bid for £5! Do I hear £6? Do I hear £6?” There was a murmur in the crowd. Someone shouted, “Give it to him… and get on with the rest of the auction!” The auctioneer says, “£5 for the self-portrait of Master McFarent. Anyone with a higher bid? Going once, going twice… sold to the scruffy gentleman at the back. And with that, I declare this auction over, for it is Mr McFarent’s will that whoever has the portrait of his son will inherit everything in his estate!”
Thank God we do not need to bid even £5. But he who has the son has everything.
We are not only freed from the bondage of sin and death, but we also have eternal life, love, joy, peace, and hope. No one can condemn us because it is God who justifies us in His son. Nothing can separate us from God’s love— the same love with which He loves His Son. Nothing can rob our joy, for we know God is working all things together for our good. Nothing can destroy the peace that we have in Christ. Nothing can dampen our hope in Him as long as we continue to walk by faith. Nothing can ultimately harm us.
By His grace and intercession by the right hand of God, we will continue to walk by faith in Him and persevere to glory, lacking nothing needful.
Conclusion
May the Lord comfort and encourage you with the thought of Christ and what He has done for you. May you find comfort and confidence in your current trials knowing that “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, … shall … with him also freely give [you] all things?” Amen.
—JJ Lim