“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? (Romans 8:32 ESV). This verse has two “gives” that are very different but very connected. In the Greek the first give is about “handing over to powers for trial, condemnation, suffering, etc”. The word is also used as to “yield oneself up to”, as the grain yields itself to the sickle (Mark 4:29). If we believe in the Trinity, both the Father and the Son are equally into this cruciform giving. It is not the Father imposing something on the Son; this is the Trinitarian God giving Himself. The second “giving” in this verse is from the word grace; this is why the ESV translates it “graciously give”. The word here is tied to pardon and forgiveness; the next verse (33) ties it to justification. The first gift is “for us all”. The second is “give us all things”. This means, “all things” here are the gifts of grace that flow to us from the sacrifice of the cross. This should change our desire from material “things” to the main thing; it should change our desire for trinkets to the great things grace bestows on us. The Father, with the Son give, love (38-39), forgive, justify, and pardon. These, and more, are the gifts of the God who is for us (31). Oh my, this calls for our highest worship; this calls us to give ourselves fully to God (Romans 12:1).
