Romans 8:31 (ASV)

Passage

What then shall we say to these things? If God [is] for us, who [is] against us?

Nearby Context

Romans 8:29 For whom he foreknew, he also foreordained [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren:

Romans 8:30 and whom he foreordained, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

Romans 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God [is] for us, who [is] against us?

Romans 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not also with him freely give us all things?

Romans 8:33 Who shall lay anything to the charge of God`s elect? It is God that justifieth;

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "shall", "things", and "against". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "shall" and "things", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 30's "and whom he foreordained them he also..." into verse 32's "He that spared not his own Son...", so "shall" and "things" belong inside that flow. In Romans context, the local focus is righteousness by faith, union with Christ, life in the Spirit, and God's covenant faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "shall" and "things" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.