more than a conqueror

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. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

something that stood out to me for the first time as i read this passage this morning (and romans is one of the books i have memorized) is what it means to be more than a conqueror. jesus often takes the world’s “rules” and turns them on their ear.

You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.

for jesus to be “more than a murderer” meant to not even get angry.

to be “more than a luster” meant one who doesn’t just not look at a woman, but who’s heart is in such a place that they actually don’t desire to take advantage of her that way.

so, for the disciple of jesus, what does it mean to be “more than a conqueror” ?