Memorial Sermon for Betty Berends based on Romans 8:31-39

Let us pray: Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. Amen.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Betty will be remembered for a number of different things. Some of you will remember Betty as a mother or a grandmother or a great-grandmother. Others will remember Betty as a relative or friend. Betty was a longtime member of St. John Lutheran Church. Betty and her husband, Al, had participated in the Couple’s Club and were counselors for the Walther League working with youth in the church. Betty was also a dedicated Sunday School teacher for many years. I remember Betty and how she used to sit in the front pew with a few other elderly women. I would give Betty and the rest of those women the sacrament of Jesus’ body and blood with the wine and bread in the front pew on Communion Sundays. The last few years Betty stayed out on the farm in her home. I took private Communion to her from time to time at her home. Sometimes, like about one month ago, her son, Paul, was there on the farm and I would give the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper to both of them.

Betty enjoyed visiting with people. She liked to visit people in the area hospital when she was able to do that. She cleaned homes for many years. Betty also enjoyed doing bead work, photography, and some carpentry work. She liked to talk about her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Now I would like to share some thoughts about one of my favorite Bible passages in Romans 8. Romans 8:31-39 gives us the following comforting words: “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” (Romans 8:31–39).

The answer to those questions is that no one and nothing can separate believers in God from His great love for us. God is for us. God proved that He is for us by sending His only Son, Jesus, to live the sinless life for us that we fail to live. Jesus died the terrible death on the cross for us that we should have died due to our many sins and wrongs. Jesus was raised from the dead for us to be at the right hand of power beside God the Father in heaven. Jesus continues daily to intercede or pray for us. Jesus prays for us when life becomes difficult for us. Jesus prays for us when temptations threaten to get the best of us. Jesus prays for us as we mourn for Betty this morning. Jesus will continue to pray for us in the days ahead for our comfort as we miss being around Betty. No one and nothing can separate a Christian from God’s love for us in Jesus Christ.

As the final verses of Romans 8 say so beautifully to every Christian: “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” (Romans 8:37-39). The words from the Gospel of John are good news from Jesus to believe and remember: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. … Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” (John 3:16-17 and John 11:25) Amen.

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.