What does it mean that we are more than conquerors (Romans 8:37)?

Response

Romans 8:37 declares, “We are exceedingly victorious through Him who loved us.” To conquer is to triumph over an opponent. Being “more than a conqueror” implies not just achieving victory, but winning decisively. For example, if a basketball game ends with a score of 142–6, it is evident that the losing team tried, but they were clearly outmatched by the winners. The triumph went beyond a typical victory.

The Old Testament provides numerous examples of God granting miraculous triumph to His people, Israel. From a human perspective, Israel was no match for their foes. However, God reassured them not to fear, as He would fight on their behalf. Exodus 14:14 states, “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Even when the Lord warned Jeremiah about bringing armies against the disobedient Israelites as a form of punishment, He assured them, “‘They . . . will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,’ declares the Lord” «And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee.», (Jeremiah 1:19). In a particular incident, an entire army fled their own camp when God made them hear the noise of a vast approaching army. The famine-stricken Israelites were able to loot the enemy camp and provide for their families without any effort on their part (2 Kings 7). They were not only saved from an imminent threat but also profited from it. They were truly “more than conquerors.”

Satan serves as our adversary, unleashing various attacks aimed at defeating life and stealing joy to undermine the well-being and faith of God’s children. Many of these assaults are outlined in Romans 8:35–39: trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, nakedness, and sword. Paul encourages us to stand firm in our faith when facing these attacks.

Trials come, reminding us that not only will we triumph in the end, but Jesus empowers us to prevail now. Satan lacks the ability to snatch our eternal destiny, and he cannot separate us from God’s love at this moment. Nothing we encounter concerns God in the slightest. If we belong to Him through faith in His Son, then we have His assurance of love and protection. In John 10:27–29, Jesus declared, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.”

To be more than conquerors means we confront life’s challenges with the assurance that we are not alone. We have a powerful Father who battles on our behalf. We face the darkest valleys with confidence, knowing that nothing can occur to us that is not allowed by our loving Father for our benefit (Psalm 23:4;Romans 8:28). We possess His pledge of eternal life (John 3:16;Titus 1:2;1 John 5:11) and the presence of Almighty God every moment of every day until we see Him face to face (Psalm 139:7-12;Deuteronomy 31:8;Hebrews 13:5;Matthew 28:20). No sin of ours and no scheme of the enemy can rob us of God’s loving care, and that is what makes us more than conquerors through Christ who loves us.