Remember that Nothing can Separate You from God's Love
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
As I mentioned last week, we are talking about how we can continue to live a faithful life even when things seem bleak or difficult. And I have argued through the book of 1 Peter that this is the role of the Christian, to continue to live faithfully even though the world is coming undone.
I mentioned last week that the first way we can do that is by remembering that we remember through it all that God is in control. You have to remember that because that is not what you are being told through tv or social media.
But, my point today is that you have to not only remember that God is in control, you also have to remember that there is nothing that can separate you from God’s love.
Karl Barth was at Rockefeller Chapel (really a Gothic cathedral!) on the campus of the University of Chicago during his lecture tour of the U.S. in 1962. After his lecture, during the Q & A time, a student asked Barth if he could summarize his whole life’s work in theology in a sentence. Barth allegedly said something like “Yes, I can. In the words of a song I learned at my mother’s knee: ‘Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”
So, this is the question posed today. Do you, in the depths of your heart, believe that God loves you, that Christ died for you and that nothing can separate you from God’s love? Do you really, honestly, sincerely believe that with all of your heart? This truth needs to be burned in your heart and life so that you might live faithfully before God.
So, as we get into our text,
I. The Response to Paul’s Argument. v.31
I. The Response to Paul’s Argument. v.31
The book of Romans is a legal argument that points out how all of humanity is sinful in chapter 1-3. We then see how God has provided righteousness through Christ, which is our only hope in ch. 4-5. And this righteousness is what helps us grow in Him. WE move from being no longer slaves to sin, to not being condemned by the law, to living in the Spirit, which is what we see in chapter 8.
And then we get to the principles outlined in this chapter.
•In Christ, I am free from any condemnation.
•In Christ, I have kept the righteous requirements of the law.
•In Christ, I am obligated to be led by the Spirit.
•In Christ, I am a child of God and a coheir with Christ.
•In Christ, I will be redeemed from this cursed creation.
•In Christ, I am certain of my eternal glorification.
•In Christ, I fear nothing either in or out of this world.
And then Paul asks,
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
What can you say to these things? What is your response to the reality that Christ has freed us from condemnation, that Christ has led us by His Spirit, that Christ has guaranteed our eternal glorification?
This is not the only question that is asked. Notice that there are five questions asked, not as in I want to have an answer, but rather in, an interrogative, rhetorical fashion.
So, questions one and two, out of verse 31.
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
What then shall we say to these things?
If God is for us, who can be against us?
Question 3 found in verse 33.
Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.
Question 4, v.34
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.
And question 5, verse 35
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?
Even though, as I said, these are more interrogative questions, not really designed to seek information, but rather to get you to think, Paul does provide answers.
Look at Romans 8:32 and the questions of what shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? The answer is,
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?
The answer is, God did not spare His only Son. God was willing to let His only Son die on our behalf. This speaks to us of Abraham and Isaac.
After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”
When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son.
But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.”
Yes, God provides the ram, caught in the thicket to prevent Abraham from sacrificing Isaac, but look back to Calvary and see if there is a ram. Look at the Garden of Gethsemane and the prayer to let this cup pass and see if it does.
The answer is no. God did not spare his only son, but freely gave Him up for us all. And if God did not spare His own Son, will he not graciously give us all things? Again, another question, not really seeking an answer. The answer is implied. Of course He will. Unquestionably He will give us all things.
But it’s not just the questions of who can be against us, it’s also the question of who can condemn us. Who can charge us with wrong, with sin? God is the one who justifies.
According to a website titled, uscourts.gov, which appears to be a government run website seeking to educate on the role of the judicial system in our nation, The Supreme Court plays a very important role in our constitutional system of government. First, as the highest court in the land, it is the court of last resort for those looking for justice.
That may be true in American jurisprudence, but sorry Chief Justice Roberts. Sorry, Justice Ginsburg, Justice Thomas, Justice Sotomayor, God is the one that justifies. God has the final say, not you.
Who is against us? Who can charge us? Who condemns us? After all, Christ died, and is raised to life, and is now interceding on our behalf. It’s not just that he died, or is raised to life, but now He is interceding on our behalf. He is speaking to the Father on our behalf, pleading that His sacrifice paid the price for our sins.
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
So, we have these questions, and then we have this final question.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?
Paul asks this last question, and notice his response to this question. His response is to highlight my second point, which is the reality of life.
II. The Reality of Life.
II. The Reality of Life.
We have the response to Paul’s argument that God has worked this grand plan of salvation, and the response to this is to consider, to think, to realize that if God went to these great lengths to purchase and provide salvation, we need to get the truth that God loves us. But, despite the fact that God does love us, we also have to face the realities of life.
so, look at
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?
The very statement, or question, Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword, implies that these things will happen. It’s not that Paul is saying these things can’t separate us from the love of God so they won’t happen to us, but rather, these things will happen. And yet, they won’t separate us.
In fact, verse 36 elaborates that.
As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
This is a quotation of
Yet for your sake we are killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.
I like what this commentary states. Paul (knowingly? unknowingly?) takes on the prophet’s mantle in verse 36 as he quotes from Psalm 44:22 to demonstrate that there will always be opposition to God’s people and the work of God in the world. The world is cursed; it is an antagonistic environment; it is under the control of the evil one (1 John 5:19). There will be many natural and supernatural attempts made to convince the believer that he or she has been separated from the love of God. (Paul knows that nothing can separate us from the love of God, but he also knows that it can appear that we have been separated from the love of God. He wants to dispel both notions.)
Paul himself will become like a sheep to be slaughtered within a few short years under the brutal hand of the Roman emperor Nero. He could have included “Roman emperors” in the list in verses 38–39, but that would probably seem trivial to Paul—like a gnat bite or a speed bump on the high-way to heaven.
We have the response to Paul’s argument, the reality of life, and then the
III. The Right Perspective we should have.
III. The Right Perspective we should have.
The right perspective we should have is found in verses 37-38.
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,
Will trouble, persecution, nakedness, danger, or sword separate us from God’s love? No. WE are more than conquerors. We are more than victorious. His grace is more than enough.
For I am sure. The Greek word means, to come to believe the certainty of something on the basis of being convinced—‘to be certain, to be sure, to be convinced.
Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 370). New York: United Bible Societies.
There is no doubt in my mind that nothing can separate me from the Love of God. Paul comes to the end of this eloquent section on a very personal note with his I am convinced.174 The verb expresses certainty; Paul sees no possible shadow of doubt. And the perfect points to a permanent state. This is no passing whim. The apostle proceeds to make his point by listing potential candidates for separating us from God’s love. If none of these can effect a separation, then why should believers fear? They are assured that God will always keep them secure in his great love.175
Look at these candidates.
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.
He spends his time talking about what can possibly separate us from God’s love, but then he abandons it and states anything else.
With anything else in all creation Paul abandons specifics and settles for a sweeping generalization wide enough to cover everything else that exists.180 He does not say “will separate” but will be able to separate; he is talking about power, and no created being is powerful alongside the Creator. The love of God is, of course, God’s love for us and not ours for him. And this love is explained as in Christ Jesus our Lord.181 We cannot know the love of God apart from Christ. The cross, and only the cross, shows what real, divine love is (cf. 5:8).182
And this is really the point of the message. When you consider the cross, when you consider the incredible sacrifice of Jesus Christ, when you consider the lengths to which Christ went through to purchase your salvation, how can you think that He would abandon you in your time of need, in your time of trial, in your time of heartache and pain and suffering.
There’s a newer song out there that has a great message. It’s called, there’s another in the fire, no doubt based on the three Hebrew Children.
There’s a grace when the heart is under fire
Another way when the walls are closing in
And when I look at the space between
Where I used to be and this reckoning
I know I will never be alone
[Chorus 1]
There was another in the fire
Standing next to me
There was another in the waters
Holding back the seas
And should I ever need reminding
Of how I've been set free
There is a cross that bears the burden
Where another died for me
During World War II, a passenger ship set sail from Great Britian headed for port in New York City. The Captain of the ship being afraid of enemy vessels, sought the advice and guidance of the British Admiral. The Admiral calmly assured the captain that no matter what happens, he should be sure to sail his ship straight ahead. "Do not take any detours -- sail the ship straight ahead -- continue on-ward, heading straight towards the intended mark," he said.
After several days of sailing across the Atlantic Ocean which was undeniably filled with submarines and enemy vessels of all kinds, the Captain spotted an enemy destroyer off his forward bow. Nervously he grasped the handset and called for assistance. The calm voice replied, "Keep on straight, do not detour, just sail the ship straight ahead. Everything will be just fine. Just keep on going - straight ahead."
After a couple more days the ship pulled safely into the great harbor of New York City. Shortly after docking the great British battleship "Man-of-War" pulled into port behind the passenger vessel. The Captain realized that while he did not see the British Battleship, she was there, standing by ready to come to his defense should it prove necessary.
Conclusion
Conclusion
This is why we take communion. We need to remember, Paul said, do this in remembrance of me.