October 26 – There Is Nothing Whatsoever

“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:38-39 (NASB)”

 

An in-depth study shows us that this subdivision of Romans, chapters 5-8, ends just as it began. The same reference is made to “God through our Lord Jesus Christ” and “the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 5:1, 8:39). Paul references four pairs of things plus two more powers which are individually mentioned.

•     neither death nor life:  we cannot be separated in our life and even death won’t bring about any divorce between God and the believer.
•    nor angels nor principalities: all angels, whether good or bad, real or imagined, (principalities are fallen angels or demons) are unable to separate us from the love of God in Christ.
•     nor things present nor things to come: present circumstances or a foreboding future—can do nothing to separate us from the deep love which God grants us.
•      nor height nor depth: even distance of space fails to separate us from God’s love,
•      nor powers: this refers to miracles or to persons in positions of authority.
•    nor any other created thing: in case anything or anyone might be left out, nothing created, even oneself can cause separation between God and the believer.

 

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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 18 – Nothing Means Nothing

“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. Romans 8:38-39 (ESV)

Paul is so thoroughly convinced; he is willing to throw down a challenge. He challenges heaven, and earth, and angels, and men, and principalities and powers; and not only that, but all things past, present and to come; all creatures, internal or external, including ourselves; all states, death or life, height or preferment, depth or dungeon, prison or stripes. There are no exceptions in this affirmation. Any thought that anyone of us who truly believe will ever be able to sever our unbreakable union with Jesus, our Savior, is misunderstanding this truth.  It is absolute. It is Jesus who paid the price to purchase our lives from eternal damnation and secure our lives with Him for eternity. Jesus never has and never will and cannot go back on His promises. When we have times of doubt, we should at that time recall this promise. We have not been separated; we cannot become lost again. The regenerated cannot become unregenerate. Some who think they have managed their salvation by their means will find themselves still lost, not lost again. God’s promise is so strong and unbreakable that we are kept for eternity by that promise.

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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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September 16 – Nothing, Nada, Zilch

“ 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.”  Romans 8:38-39 (ESV)

Certainty is a rare state of mind.  We may claim to be certain of things in our life but absolute certainty mostly escapes us. The enemy of certainty is doubt and seeds of doubt are sown by lies, by falsehoods. Such as first woman Eve and first man Adam were certain of what God had told them, the lies of the deceiver Satan shook that certainty loose and they doubted what God had said about eating fruit from the one tree “for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.” Their doubt led to disbelief and that to sin and death for all.  But in the mercy and grace of our Lord, He has made a way for us to believe and our relationship with Him can be restored. When that happens by the Holy Spirit, we are promised that nothing will ever separate us again from the love of God. We are in Christ Jesus secure from all nine threats listed and then a tenth which includes security from anything left out of the list.  Once we with faith believing receive Jesus Christ, with absolute certainty, we cannot be separated from God’s Love. Period.

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October 8 – No, Nothing At All

“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.”  -  Romans 8:38-39  (ESV)

In our 90 Seconds yesterday, the question was asked if there was anything at all that could separate us from the Love of Jesus Christ.  Paul declares us to more than conquerors of the threats that come our way.  He then goes on in our verses today to declare his conviction that nothing in all creation is able to separate us from the love of God.  God loves us.  Our Father God's love for us is the same as His love for Jesus His Son because we are in His Son Christ Jesus. This is an amazing promise and one that we can cling to while facing the tests that we encounter.  Look again at what is covered that might threaten separation – nine forces plus, anything else in ALL creation.  Nothing — however dark or hard — can separate us from him. We who have believed and received Jesus as our Lord and Savior cannot be separated and are secure in His love. Not only that, but all things now work for us.  Let's rejoice in our security today. 

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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 26 – Only From God

“Among those who approach me I will be proved holy; in the sight of all the people I will be honored.”   Leviticus 10:3 (NIV)

We often take advantage on this daily visit to remind ourselves that we have a wonderful God.  No matter which attribute of our Lord that we consider, we realize how wonderful He is.  He has great power, great knowledge, great love and great patience.  These are just a few of His wonderful attributes.  Today's verse reminds us of another attribute.  Here Moses is quoting a statement which God Himself had made and what He wants you and me to remember – He is HOLY.  This means "to separate or cut off." And in this context God is separate, or cut off, from everything that is sinful and evil – He cannot tolerate sin.  To say that God is holy means there is no trace of evil in his character.  God wants us to recognize His holiness and to respect and honor him for it.  He then is the one that brings holiness into our lives through the promised Holy Spirit.  Without God's Spirit, we have no chance at holiness.  Only God is Holy. 

Please share with your friends if you are encouraged by these daily words. 

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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. 

January 31

“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31 (NIV) 

This question is really meant to encourage us in our Christian life. We have many Bible verses which remind us that God loves us. That He accepts us and His Children when we believe in Jesus. In the verses before this in Romans 8 we are told that He is involved in our lives each day in every way and that there is nothing that will ever be able separate us from His love. If all that is true, then we can be sure that God is for us. So the question in today’s verse is “who can be against us?” It does not mean that no one can be against us. Satan is still the great enemy of our souls as He is God’s enemy. What our verse means, of course, is that God is greater in power than any enemy. We can know that whoever is against us is not able to defeat God who is for us. We have victory in Jesus.