Romans 8:35,37
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
When I first read this Verse of the Day, I just had to smile…. This is one of my “go-to” passages when I need affirmation … when I need to be reminded that the love of God in Christ Jesus is unconditional and everlasting. In fact, to me, all of Romans Chapter 8 is uplifting. It is here that I am told there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. It is here that God affirms His Son met the righteous requirement of law for me and sent His Holy Spirit to live in me. It is here that I come to understand how a life lived in the Spirit sets me free from the bondage of sin and unites me to God … and confirms to me that I am His child. It is here that I find trust in the hand of God over my life … that He works all things for my good because I love Him and have been called according to His purpose. Yes, it is here that God affirms that He is for me … that He loves me with an inseparable, unfailing love because He gave me to His Son…. I’m overwhelmed!
In Verse 35, Paul asks “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” Well, another question might be, “Who joined us … who united us to His love?” We have to understand that our relationship with God through His Son is totally 100% HIS work. He is the initiator! God loved us first! This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. (Cf. 1 John 4:10) His love was not a response to our goodness or righteousness. His love was not merited or earned by any of us. We were dead in our trespasses and sins! But God made us alive in Christ! He resurrected us in Christ! (Cf. Ephesians 2:1-10; Colossians 2:13-14) Why? Because God, in Christ, was reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses against them. (Cf. 2 Corinthians 5:19) So if God has the will and power to join us to Himself; then the answer to the question of who can separate us from Him is ‘No one!”. No one can separate us from His love!
Paul then moves on to the question: “What can separate us from the love of Christ?” “Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?” In other words, we as Christians will have problems in this world. But these troubles, trials, sufferings, nor afflictions of evil cannot separate us from God. It is not possible. Jesus affirms that promise:
John 10:27-30 (NKJV)
27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. 30 I and My Father are one.”
So what is the implication of these assertions communicated to us through Paul? Well, let’s read the conclusion Paul brings to us:
Romans 8:37-39 (NIV)
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Is this not the greatest news you could hear today? God commends His love to us … He demonstrates His love in this:
Romans 5:6-8 (NKJV)
6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
I pray you will never question the love that God has for you. His love is not dependent upon your performance. It is not given based upon your perfection. His love is given because of your imperfection! God simply wants you and me to come to Him through the way He has prepared for us to come to Him: Christ Jesus His Son! And NOTHING can ever separate you from His love! Amen!
So Now You Know 