Romans 8 — Nothing Can Separate Us

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 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? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 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. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, For Your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 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. This is Romans chapter eight, the end of the chapter. One of the high peaks of all Scripture. Saint Paul, after wrestling with the deepest questions of theology for seven chapters, breaks into a song of triumph. Tonight I let it be true for me. If God is for me, who can be against me? Many things may be against me. People. Circumstances. The enemy of souls. My own weakness. But none of them can match the power of God on my side. He gave His Son for me. The greatest possible gift. After that, every other gift is small. He will not withhold what I need. He has already given the most. Who can bring any charge against me? The accuser of the brethren makes a list. The voice in my own head agrees. The whispered shame of past sins. But God justifies. The verdict is in. Not guilty. Forgiven. Loved. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is interceding for me. Right now. At the right hand of the Father. Praying for me. The same Jesus who died for me did not stop loving me when He rose. He prays for me even now. Who shall separate me from the love of Christ? Saint Paul lists everything that might. Tribulation. Distress. Persecution. Famine. Nakedness. Danger. Sword. None of them can. Not the worst situations on earth can separate me from His love. In all these things I am more than a conqueror through Him who loved me. More than a conqueror. The phrase in Greek means hyper-conqueror. Beyond winning. Already victorious because of the One I belong to. I am sure. Sure. The Greek word means utterly persuaded. Saint Paul does not hedge. He is sure. I want to be sure too. Neither death nor life. Death cannot separate me from God's love; it brings me into His face. Life cannot separate me; even in the hardest seasons He is here. Nor angels nor rulers. The visible powers and the invisible ones. None can separate me. Nor things present nor things to come. The current crisis cannot. The future fears cannot. Nor powers, nor height nor depth. The principalities of darkness. The depths of my own failures. Nothing. Nor anything else in all creation. Saint Paul exhausts the list. Then to be safe, he adds the all-encompassing clause. Nothing else in all creation. There is nothing left. Will be able to separate me from the love of God in Christ Jesus my Lord. I am held. I am loved. I am safe. The God of the universe has set His love on me, and there is nothing in heaven or earth or hell that can change that. I sleep tonight in the love of Christ. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.