Romans 8:31-39

NOTHING CAN SEPARATE US FROM GOD’S LOVE

Romans 8:31-39

Life Application New Testament Commentary: Alongside the theme of glory in the Christian life is the theme of victory. We get to be on the winning side, though our contribution is almost insignificant. We are protected by a God whose love cannot be measured and from which, as Paul will eloquently explain, absolutely nothing can separate us. Paul’s questions fall into three categories:

(1)    Will opposition from people or Satan be too great (Rom_8:31-32)?

(2)   Will we fail because of our tendency to sin (Rom_8:33-34)?

(3)   Will we be overcome by difficult times (Rom_8:35-39)?

Rom 8:31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Rom 8:32 Since He did not spare even His own Son but gave Him up for us all, won't He also gives us everything else?

Even though sometimes overwhelmed by Satan and our days are dark Satan has been defeated. We live in an era that when you turn the news on some terrorist group has killed more innocent people. We talked earlier why God allows this to happen, but even if you were to lose the battle here on earth you will still be God in Heaven when it is all over. God is in charge.

Rom 8:33 Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for His own? No one—for God Himself has given us right standing with Himself. Rom 8:34 Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and He is sitting in the place of honor at God's right hand, pleading for us.

Once you have accepted Christ as your savior that cannot be taken from you. You have your name in the book of life. Christ made the sacrifice for us and as long as we hang on to that in this world of terror we are good to go. The question in my head is can you throw that ticket away and go to the dark side? A church I attended before we moved to Mineral Point stated that you never really accepted Christ if you denounce God. I do not know that those words are true but, I think it is best just to love God and realize that for a while Satan has the earth in his grasp. We no longer are of this world but are in the hands of God.

Rom 8:35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ's love? Does it mean He no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? Rom 8:36 (As the Scriptures say, "For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.") Rom 8:37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. Rom 8:38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. Rom 8:39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Life Application New Testament Commentary:

8:35 The next questions help seal our assurance in God. Nothing can separate us from Christ’s love for us. Then Paul lists several situations we might think could come between us and God. Paul knew from experience that these could not separate believers from God—he had already experienced them (see 2Co_11:23-28). This means that the love of Christ doesn’t separate us from these experiences, but that even in the most devastating of these, the love of Christ is with us.

8:36 Paul quotes from Psa_44:22 to remind the believers that people who trust in God must expect to face persecution, even death. In that psalm, the poets made the specific point that difficulties and suffering were coming to people who had been faithful. Believers who suffer are the rule, not the exception.

8:37 No, instead of being separated from Christ through all these things (the trials and hardships mentioned in Rom_8:35), we have overwhelming victory. This does not mean that we will be superheroes, but that our victory will be intensified by virtue of our union with Christ.

8:38-39 Yes, we are secure in Christ—Paul was convinced of this, and so should we be. Nothing can ever separate us from God’s love for us (Rom_8:39). In both death and the trials of life in this evil world, we will be in God’s presence. No spiritual forces, such as angels or demons, are powerful enough to undo what God has done for us. Nothing in the sphere of time itself (fears and worries) can threaten us; nothing that can happen in the present and nothing that can happen in the future, such as persecution and hardship, would cause God to leave us. No powers that exist (Satan, human governments, etc.) are more powerful than God; they can have no effect on our relationship with him. Nothing in space, from high above or in the deepest ocean, can take us away from God’s love. Nothing in all creation can take us away from God’s love or thwart his purposes for us.

Paul’s point is simple and compelling: once in his care, it is impossible to be separated from Christ. His death for us is proof of his unconquerable love. Nothing can stop his constant presence with us. God tells us how great his love is so that we will feel totally secure in him.