Romans 8:35-39 (WEL) Who will separate us from Christ’s love? Will tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are killed all day long. We are regarded as nothing but sheep for slaughter.” [Psalm 44:22] 37 On the contrary, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death, life, angels, principalities, powers, present things, things to come, 39 Height, depth, or anything else in creation will be able to separate us from God’s love which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
V35 Who will separate us from Christ’s love? Will tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, or sword?
Paul is asking if there is any situation that would cause Jesus Christ to stop loving us?
Everything listed here are things Paul experienced. When we experience these situations ourselves, we can know that the love of God will not be missing from our lives.
There is a tendency when experiencing difficulties we might think God does not love us anymore. Maybe God has abandoned me.
Paul goes on to comfort us by writing that when experiencing these things God does love us.
Compare 2 Corinthians 1:3-5.
“The words these things refer to God’s purpose (Romans 8:28-30). If God has done everything from foreknowledge to glorification for us, all adversaries are powerless.” (Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. The Nelson Study Bible: NKJV. Nashville: Thomas Nelson)
V36 As it is written, “For your sake we are killed all day long. We are regarded as nothing but sheep for slaughter.” [Psalm 44:22]
Death has happened since the beginning with Able (Genesis 4:8) to believers and nonbelievers. The reason is found in Genesis 4:6-7 (BSB) “Why are you angry,” said the LORD to Cain, “and why has your countenance fallen? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you refuse to do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires you, but you must master it.”
Cain didn’t do what is accepted by God (an animal sacrifice) and chose his own sinful desires. Cain had a problem with God and Abel. Often someone feels the only solution is to kill, so Cain killed Abel. It is very sad. All Cain had to do was what God had commanded.
V37 On the contrary, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
We are not losers suffering in this life. We are overcomers and conquerors. It is through Him who loved us (John 16:33). It is His love for those who believe in Jesus that He takes special watchful care of us.
Comments:
Barclay (beware): “There is the gift of Jesus–courage and conquest. Very soon something was going to be unanswerably proved to the disciples. They were going to see that the world could do its worst to Jesus and still not defeat him. And he says: “The victory which I will win can be your victory too. The world did its worst to me, and I emerged victorious. Life can do its worst to you, and you too can emerge victorious. You too can possess the courage and the conquest of the Cross.”
Albert Barnes: We gain the victory. That is, they have not the power to subdue us; to alienate our love and confidence; to produce apostasy. We are the victors, not they. Our faith is not destroyed; our love is not diminished; our hope is not blasted. But it is not a simple victory; it is not mere life, and continuance of what we had before; it is more than simple triumph; it augments our faith, increases our strength, expands our love to Christ. The word used here is a strong, emphatic expression, such as the apostle Paul often employs (compare 2 Corinthians 4:17), and which is used with great force and appropriateness here.
“Through him…Not by their own strength or power. It was by the might of the Savior, and by his power pledged to them, and confirmed by the love evinced when he gave himself for them; compare Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
V38 For I am persuaded that neither death, life, angels, principalities, powers, present things, things to come…
Material things, spiritual enemies and entities, present or future events cannot separate us from God’s love. God is that powerful. See Jude 1:24-25, Psalm 37:17, and Ephesians 3:20.
Trials have a purpose for our learning and experiencing His best for us to be more faithful to Him—James 1:2-4.
V39 …Height, depth, or anything else in creation will be able to separate us from God’s love which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Paul finishes up his list of possible events that might cause us to question if God will still love us. He still loves us.
A principle is taught: do we stay faithful to family and fellow believers in their trials?
Praise the Almighty.
We learn:
- The strength of God’s love.
- The commitment of His love.
- The assistance of His love.
Questions:
- Are we questioning His love?
- Are you now strengthened in your faith?