God's Twofold Support: Allowance and Assistance for Believers

What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? The apostle Paul presents this "if" not as doubt, but as certainty and assurance grounded in Scripture (Psalm 46:7, 124:1, 118:6–7).

God stands for His true believers in two essential ways. First, by way of allowance—He owns and approves His servants in three particulars: in their persons, endorsing who they are; in their principles, the doctrines and graces by which they are moved, for whatever is of God's planting is of God's keeping; and in their practices, the righteous actions of those who serve Christ acceptably (Romans 14:18).

Second, God is for believers by way of assistance—not merely to acknowledge them, but to help and advance their greatest advantage. This rests upon two foundations: His interest in them as His own possession, which engages both affection and active aid; and His covenant with them, binding confederates to mutual support.

Yet this divine alliance carries qualifications. God assists in His own time, His own manner, and upon His own terms: faith, repentance, new obedience, and close walking with Him (2 Chronicles 15:2). Reciprocally, if God be with us, we must be with Him, owning Him and all that is His—this is what He both requires and expects.