Who shall seperate us?
Jul 21, 2017 09:00 AM
Romans 8:31- 37 reads:
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? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
In this passage, there is one central question, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" At the heart of this question is Paul's statements on the security of the believer. We are secure in the love of Christ and Paul presents five statements that prove that there could be no separation between the believer and the Lord:
Each of these statements are statements of hope and life. I hope you will take a great deal of peace in these words of Paul.
"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" (vv. 38-39). Amen!
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? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
In this passage, there is one central question, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" At the heart of this question is Paul's statements on the security of the believer. We are secure in the love of Christ and Paul presents five statements that prove that there could be no separation between the believer and the Lord:
- God is for us (vs. 31). When I think of this point, I think of the power as a child of knowing your parents believed in you. I can remember the tough situations I dealt with as a child and the knowledge that my parents were behind me brought a great deal of confidence to my struggles. If I can receive hope from my parents being in my corner, how much more would I receive from my heavenly Father?
- Christ died for us (v. 32). If God loved us enough to give His own Son, do we not know that He will give us more. Again, I look at this statement from the eyes of a parent. Just because my child wants something, it might not be the best for them. What I do for my children grows out of my love for them.
- God has justified us (v. 33). God has declared us righteous in Christ. As the world changes around us, we can stand in the hope that God's work in Christ is complete and that work is taking place in His people as well.
- Christ intercedes for us (vs. 34). On Sunday I mentioned the divine conversation between the Spirit and the Father (vs. 26). This conversation includes Jesus as well. Not only is the Spirit helping us pray in our weakness, Christ is praying for us as well.
- Christ loves us (vv. 35-39). This passage is a reminder for us when we go through trials. God assures us that the difficulties in life are working for us and not against us. The trials we face in life can feel isolating, but Paul reminds us that God does not leave us. In fact, there is nothing that can separate us from Christ's love.
Each of these statements are statements of hope and life. I hope you will take a great deal of peace in these words of Paul.
"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" (vv. 38-39). Amen!
