October 25 – It’s Unbreakable

“Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”  “–  But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.” -  Romans 8:35,37 (NASB)

Paul asks another rhetorical question, to say “no one will ever be able to separate us from the love Christ has for us.”  This is not our love for Christ but Christ’s love for us. In  verse 37 Paul emphasizes that we have the victory, because we have conquered each of the threats “through Him who loved us.” The word translated ‘tribulation’ in the version we use here is also translated ‘affliction.’ In fact this Greek word means ‘persecution, affliction, and distress. Friends, each of these threats are real matters in the lives of those who believe in and profess Jesus as their Lord and Savior. This is not simply Paul spouting philosophical concepts. No, for if we read 2 Corinthians 11:23-29 we find Paul had already suffered the first of these seven hardships before he took to writing this letter* to Christians in Rome who were facing them as well. The apostle was speaking not only by inspiration but also from experience, therefore, when he stated that none of these things can bring about separation between believers and their Lord. He knew what he was saying!* Nothing exists that can separate us from God’s love. It is unbreakable!

 

*William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, Exposition of Paul’s Epistle to the Romans, New Testament Commentary, (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 12-13:291.

 

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January 17 – Secure Because

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, 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.” Romans 8:35 & 37 (ESV)

Now, who or what is going to do it? Will it be times of tribulation or persecution? Perhaps it will be when we have nothing left ⸺ nothing to wear and no food to eat? Will distress over a perceived danger or death? That might do it? Or not. The Apostle Paul is writing to Christians in Rome. He tells them that none of these threats, which are real, and may even be visited upon us, defeat us. We have won the victory through the power of Him who loved us ⸺ Jesus, the Son of God. It’s a promise that nothing is able to separate us from the love of Christ. Is this true for you? It is promised to all who in faith have believed and accepted the gift of eternal life from Jesus. If we have, let our enemies come collectively or singly, we need not care. Let them come one and all. we have no foes that can overcome us. Why? Because God has justified all who believe. We do not dread death. Why? Because Christ has suffered death for us. Our judgment is past, we dread no separation, and we anticipate no failure.

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October 7 – Anything At All?

“Who will separate us from the love of Christ?  Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ”  - Romans 8:35   (NASB)

Perhaps one of the things we as followers of Jesus become anxious about is not becoming separated from the love of Jesus Christ.  We are in Christ because we have believed and accepted the sacrifice He made for us on the cross.  Yet, our faith is tested from time to time by many things.  The Apostle Paul lists some pretty severe means of faith testing.  Can something ever happen or can something we do when tested sever our relationship with Jesus?  Might we do something that God is so displeased with that we become disqualified for His love?  The short answer is, No, Nothing.  The truth we find in the question asked in today's verse is posed to give us reason to reflect what we know of the love of God.   It come in the context of assurance that only Christ Jesus can condemn us but instead, (v. 34) He intercedes for us before God the Father.  None of these threats are more powerful than the intercession of Jesus before our Father in Heaven. 

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August 2 – Love Inseparable

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” Romans 8:37 (ESV)

We want to always remember that we have a Lord in heaven who loves us. The verse that proceeds the one we have chosen today asks the question of whether anything is able to separate us from the love of Christ. No, is the answer. The question was about troubles or hardships, persecutions or dangers. All such problems can only make God's love more real to us as we trust in Him. Our verse tells us that we are “more than conquerors.”  What can be more important than being a conqueror in the battle? How about reigning as king after conquering? Trusting God's love promises us that one day we will be past the battle, we will be more than conquerors, we will be reigning with Christ who is our King.

April 20 – Inseparable Love

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?” Romans 8:35 (NIV)
“…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.” Romans 8:39 (NIV)

Sometimes we learn truth from the Bible through questions that are asked.  This is what our verses today do. The question is posed in verse 35 and then answered in the following verse with the powerful clear answer in verse 39. There is nothing in this world that can separate us from the love of God. We can let things in this world entangle us and encumber us and cause us to forget that God loves us but God will never cease from loving us. God will still be loving us no matter what comes in between us and Him. It is up to us to remember that God loves us and then allow him to demonstrate His love in our lives. Remember also that God’s love is inseparable from us. That is something to rejoice about. 

March 31

“…sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.” 2 Corinthians 6:10 (NIV)

There is a big difference between the human way of thinking and God’s way. We see the contrast in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians. This contrast is what makes it worthwhile to live for God. While most of us may not suffer as much persecution as Paul did, or have to get along with as little as he did, we can thank God for taking care of us. And we can appreciate how much we really have as His children. Although we may not have much of this world’s goods, yet we do have the blessing of God in this life and the prospect of being taken care of through eternity. So we can think of ourselves as Paul did in this verse – “having nothing, and yet possessing everything.”

January 30

“And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” 1 Peter 5:10 (NIV)

Peter was writing to believers who were suffering great persecution for their faith. Even though we may not be experiencing that kind of suffering, we will likely admit that we do have difficulties. This verse reminds us that God is personally involved in our lives. I’m impressed by the words which state that He “will Himself restore you and make you strong.” God does watch us and knows how to encourage us, and personally gets involved. Be assured that in your time of need He will Himself restore you to make you strong, firm and steadfast.