More than Conqueror

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
Romans 8:37

Romans 8:37 has always sounded like an awesome verse to me. It makes me feel strong and confident, but I never really understood what it meant to be more than a conqueror. If we are more than conquerors, then what exactly are we meant to be? I have read this from time to time and thought and prayed about it, never really coming to a conclusion. One day, I thought maybe we are supposed to conquer but to go above and beyond somehow. This line of thought did not feel right so I kept chewing on it.

Sometime later, I was praying for someone, and the Lord laid this verse on my heart. I decided to put the verse in context so I read Romans 8:31-39. Verse 31 starts out with, “What then shall we say to these things?” Whenever we read the Bible, we should always put the scripture in context. So to know what “things” Paul is talking about, I backed up to verse 18.
So lets start by looking at Romans 8:18-30:

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

These verses were challenging to read. The main thing that I took from verses 18-30 in regards to verse 37 is

• What we suffer through now does not compare to the glory that God gives to those who persevere. So if we never conquer the things that we suffer with, that is okay because the best is yet to come.

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 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? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 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. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?
Romans 8:31-35

Honestly, I am still not sure what things Paul is talking about in the first half of verse 31. The second half of verse 31 though says that if God is for us who can be against us. God is our conqueror and Jesus conquered the sin of the world and death for all (2 Peter 3:9?) through His sacrifice on the cross. Verse 32-35 continue to lay the foundation that it was Jesus that put in all of the work toward our salvation.

Verse 35 lists things that we can struggle with: tribulation, distress (severe and/or prolonged stress), persecution, famine (hunger), nakedness, danger, or a sword (death). These are all things that cause suffering, but they will not compare to the glory that is to come. But that list is not comprehensive. Paul could have just as easily included whatever you struggle with in this list. Jesus chose to die on the cross so that he could cause separation between us and our struggles rather than the things that we struggle with causing separation between us and God.

1 O God, we have heard with our ears,
our fathers have told us,
what deeds you performed in their days,
in the days of old:
2 you with your own hand drove out the nations,
but them you planted;
you afflicted the peoples,
but them you set free;
3 for not by their own sword did they win the land,
nor did their own arm save them,
but your right hand and your arm,
and the light of your face,
for you delighted in them.
Psalm 44:1-3

6 For not in my bow do I trust,
nor can my sword save me.
7 But you have saved us from our foes
and have put to shame those who hate us.
Psalm 44:6-7

Psalm 44 starts out describing how in the past God defeated the enemies of the Isrealites, then it goes on to say that they put their faith in God, not their swords, bows, and might. Then Psalm 44 continues with the author saying that now, God has not been going out with Israelite armies and that the Israelites are like sheep for slaughter to their enemies.

14 You have made us a byword among the nations,
a laughingstock[b] among the peoples.
15 All day long my disgrace is before me,
and shame has covered my face
16 at the sound of the taunter and reviler,
at the sight of the enemy and the avenger.
Psalm 44:14-16

Psalm 44:14-16 says that they are now a laughingstock to their enemies and that their disgrace and shame have consumed them. In spite of feeling abandoned by God, they continue to put their faith in Him, and praise His name.

25 For our soul is bowed down to the dust;
our belly clings to the ground.
26 Rise up; come to our help!
Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love!

Verses 25 and 26 are the end of Psalm 44. This Psalm ends with the people calling out to their God begging for His redemption because they know that He is their strength and salvation.

Picking back up in Romans 8 with verse 37 through the end of the chapter. We now have the context to understand what it means to be more than a conqueror.

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.
Romans 8:37-39

I think that the significance of being more than a conqueror is that conquerors are defined by the wins and losses. Robert E. Lee is remembered for losing the American Civil War, but Ulysses S. Grant is remembered for winning the same war. Lee married the great-granddaughter of First Lady Martha Washington, and Grant was a talented writer. The lives that these men lived have been defined in society by their wins and losses. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and savior His victory on the cross over death becomes what defines us rather than our mistakes, our addictions, and our shortcomings. If you have Christ, lift your head up because you are more than a conqueror. You are forgiven.