The Security of God's love

Read Romans 8:31-39

Title: The Security of God’s love

In Romans Chapter 8 verses 31-39 the text asks 6 different questions.

These questions help magnify Pauls main point of this section.

and that is Nothing can separate us from God’s love.

The word nothing often does not have the weight that it should. Im sure many of you can relate to this but often I can ask someone what is wrong and they would nothing when something is clearly wrong. Or ask what are you doing, and they saying nothing, and while they think they are doing nothing, they are usually doing something.

The dictionary would describe nothing as, not anything, no single thing. It’s suppose to mean nothing.

More often our definition of nothing is more like the urban dictionaries definition which says, Actually means something, but is used when you don’t feel like explaining.

The word nothing has meaning. In a world that often does not have value language. The Bible does and in this text today we will see that nothing can separate us from God‘s love.

What then shall we say to these things?

what are these things? I believe these things can go all the way back to Romans chapter 5, but I just want to name a few from Romans 8 and things things are incredible impactful giving evidence of the Love of God.

Verse 15 we are adopted into the family of God.

Verse 17 we are co-heirs of Christ.

Verse 23 we have recieved the Holy Spirit and its guarantee of final redemption.

Verse 26 God hears our prayers.

verses 28-30 God works all things for Good of those who love him. Remember not all things are good, but all things work for good.

That God foreknew, predestined, and called believers into saving faith. That is was nothing that anyone could do but an act of love for sinners, in calling them to righteousness.

In that calling he justified them, and that justification came because of the work on the cross, and all those who love God, and are foreknown by God, and all those who are predestined by God, and all those who are called by God will respond to Christ in Faith.

and all those who respond to God in Faith will be glorified one day. All believers in Christ will be with Christ in heaven one day.

These things things, specifically in chapter 8 give us many reasons to rejoice and to know that Nothing can separate us from God’s love.

If God is for us who can be against us?

This question does not mean that Christians will have no opponents. Christians have many opponents, the church of Rome were often persecuted daily for their own beliefs.

In the times we live in today Christian values are challenged so much so where it often seems like everyone is against us.

But nothing compares to God, and his love for us. If God is for us who can be against us. Christian’s dont have a little God who cannot overcome even the greatest of enemies Christians have a God who has overcome all things, and is for us.

This means that no matter the circumstances, no matter the troubles, no matter the results of something, God is for you if you are a believer. Even when things dont seem like he is for you, he is. Though the opposition may seem great, God is for you.

The answer to this question is nobody, and we see as we continue in this text how that plays out. No body can separate us from God’s love.

How will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

God giving believers in Christ his son was the greatest gift in all of eternity

He did not just give Christ to us by the the way of incarnation, or his teaching, or his example, but he gave him up for us.

How did he give up his son? Through the cross. The wrath of God was poured out on the cross. Poured out on Jesus Christ, the one person in history that did not deserve it.

God gave his son for us.

He didn’t spare anything when it came to giving his son.

His son is worth far more than any possession God could ever give you. For the Romans this meant that it was of greater value than moving from slave to aristocrat.Which is the bottom to the top. For us it means moving from the ghetto to Beverly hills, and with all the luxurious that come with that. The value of Christ far exceeds those things.

The giving of his son brings hope that he will give us all things. John Piper said its a piece of cake to give us all things if he has already given you his son.

God didn't spare giving his own son for you, God is going to give you all things in Christ. All things needed in this life, and the life to come, and he is going to do so graciously, and willingly Because he loves you

The the answer to this question, because God gave the son, he is going to give believers all things.

Which in turn means that nothing can separate us from Gods love.

Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect?

Another powerful question, and this question it answered perfectly by Paul, It is God who justifies. Our standing before God is not guilty. He is the one justifies us.

no one can accuse us. Not Satan, not people, not your family or your friends. Believers are justified and in right standing before God

In our country the way courts work is their are lower courts and higher courts and in order to elevate a case you must appeal the decision that was made by the lower court. And if the higher court decides to take it. The lower courts decision can be null and void by the higher courts decision.

for a Christian this would be like, us appealing to the Supreme Court, knowing what its verdict would be.

Christians would need to do this because of the decisions the lower courts made about our standing before God. The lower courts said guilty, but we are appealing to the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court in our case is made up of God and God alone. And God says not guilty. And he says this because we have loved God we have been for known by God we have been predestined by God and we have faith in Christ alone for salvation.

no one can bring a charge against God‘s elect because it is God who justifies. Which means nothing can separate us from God‘s love.

Who is to condemn?

The next question is who is to condemn? Well we know all the way back in Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

And Paul is going magnify why that is. He is going to list reasons why we are not condemned.

The first reason is Christ Jesus is the one who died. Christians know that Christ is the one who died. He died for sinners, and because he died for sinners we stand before God not guilty. Jesus died the death that we all deserve. He took the wrath of God upon himself. And because he did that we are not condemned.

The second reason why we’re not condemned. Is he was raised. The good news is Jesus Christ did not just stay dead he’s alive and because he is alive we can have eternal life. Listen to the words of Romans 4:25 says, “who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.” The raising of Christ means we can have justification before God, and we just read if you are justified nothing can separate you from the love of God in Christ. And because of that we are not condemned.

A third reason we are not condemned it’s because Christ is at the right hand of God. He is in a place of honor now. In fact he’s in the place of highest honor. Psalm 110:1 says, “The Lord says to my Lord:“Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” jesus has authority and that has gives us confidence we are not condemned.

A fourth reason we are not condemned condemned is his interceding for us. Part of the saving work of Christ he is that he is interceding for us. Not just when he saved us but everyday of our lives. and because he is interceding for us we are not condemned

Those who are in Christ are not condemned and Paul gives reason for this confidence. If we are not condemned then nothing can separate us from the love of God.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

The final question he asks deserves the most unpacking.

Who is it that can separate us from the love of Christ? This who can be anyone when looking at these things. It can be the Devil, it can man, it can can even be God himself.

We know the who could be anyone, but what are the things that cannot separate us from God.

Paul says, Tribulation or trouble. This includes all suffering, and affliction in this life.

Paul says distress, or hardship.

Paul says persecution, the people in Rome would face times of great persecution, Revelation 2:10 gives us an example from the church of Smyrna and it says,”Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life”

Paul also says, famine. Rome had often been a place where famine, and hunger would be at the forefront of many peoples lives.

Paul says nakedness. Nakedness would be often an act of shame, Jesus himself was naked when he died. It could also be a sign of poverty .

Paul says danger, this life is full of things that are dangerous, and yet we cannot be separated by the love of Christ.

Finally Pauls says the sword, the sword was a representation of capital punishment, which would often result in beheading of a Roman citizen.

These things are all things the Church of Rome would face, and things the church todays faces as well, but Paul does not end there. He quotes Psalm 44:22, and for context I want to read Psalm 44:20-22 which says, “20  If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread out our hands to a foreign god, 21  would not God discover this?For he knows the secrets of the heart.22  Yet for your sake we are killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.

Why does Paul brings in this scripture, because the people of God are not going to always have it easy. The people of God are not immune from the troubles of this life. The prosperity gospel crumbles at the feet of this reality. Believers in Christ will face, tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, and the sword, BUT this doesn't mean we are separated from the love of Christ. It doesn't mean we are punished in this way by God. It may feel like you are being killed all day long, but this is not the case.

Peter the man who was closest to Jesus on earth suffered greatly for Jesus. He experienced everything that Paul listed. Jesus loved Peter despite all the things he did wrong in his life yet Peter died in a horrific manner. He didn’t just die this way by chance, it was prophesied by Jesus himself.

John 21:18–19. “‘Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.’ Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God.”

Tradition says he was crucified upside down, because he told him he was not worthy to die in the same way, Jesus did. Some people even believe that he had to watch his own wife crucified first, before he was. Outside of John who was greatly persecuted in his life every disciple was killed for their faith in Jesus.

One Man said it like this, “Suffering and persecution are not mere evils which Christians must expect and endure as best they can; they are the scene of the overwhelming victory which Christians are winning through Christ.”

Peter’s life did not end at his death, though he died, he is now with Christ forever.

Verse 37 helps answer the question even more Who shall separate us from the love of Christ. It does this by providing us with an amazing truth. It says no we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

The original language helps us understand this a little better.

It means that we are over conquerors, that means that we have conquered completely without any real threat to personal life or health.

One man I was reading said it like this Your enemies are dead at your feet, and even though they are dead they get up and serve you.

Think about that Tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, or the sword are serving you. They bring us closer to Christ, and we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

Remember Romans 8:28, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” His purpose could be going through those very things I just listed, and despite how bad those things may seem, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

As good of news is this, Paul doesn’t end there though.

English Standard Version Chapter 8

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 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.

Paul has a rock solid conviction that this is true. He again lists several things that believers in Christ need to hear.

That neither death nor life can separate us. In Philippians 1:20-21 Paul says, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Death takes us to our lord, and life lets us live for him. Neither death nor life can separate us from the Lord of God.

Paul then lists, angels, rulers, powers. Though these things seem like they are in control, and have great power they are no match for the love of God.

Paul also lists time, time in the present, and things that are going to come. Everyday struggles that we deal with which includes the things we saw earlier in verse 35 can not separate us from the love of God. Neither can the uncertainties of the future As scary as they may seem.

Paul continues, Nor height, nor depth. We know the universe expands millions of miles, and below is full of uncertainties. Heaven is filled with the things of God, and hell is filled with Satan, fallen angels, and the unsaved. Yet as big and as scary as that must be, not even those things can separate us from the love of God.

Just in case Paul thought he missed anything he says the word anything else in all creation. Anything else. Believer if you still feel that after these verses that something is separating you from Christ, remember these words nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the Love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

This love that is holding everything together is agape love. I am sure if you have been with agape for awhile you know that agape love is the type of love that that has a strong positive emotion. Its an unconditional type of love, and this type of love is what is needed in order that believers can know with full confidence that nothing can separate us from God’s love.

There is a song called, Promises by Sanctus Real. Its one of my favorite songs, and in this song there is some powerful lyrics, that are fitting for this last month that I have been with you all.

part of the lyrics are And all things work for the good of those who love God He holds back nothing that will heal you, not even His own son His love is everlasting, His faithfulness unending Oh, if God is for us who can be against us So, if you feel weak Just hold on to the promises (hold tight) Hold on to the promises (all right) Jesus is alive, so hold tight Hold on to the promises Neither life nor death could separate us From the eternal love of our God who saves us.

nothing can separate us from the love of God. L

What does separate you from God?

Unbelief in him, not trusting in him alone for salvation, I believe the good news was made clear today, that Christ came, and him coming means that we can have eternal life, and eternal life is found by repenting of your sin, and putting your faith in Christ alone for salvation, and if he is calling you to do that very thing you can leave here today knowing that nothing can separate you from God’s love.

Believers in Christ the word nothing actually means nothing, not like when my wife said nothings wrong after I have done something wrong, and not like the nothing when you know someone has someone going on, and yet they said they dont say it, When it may seem like God is against you I want you to fill in the blank, and know that nothing can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus our lord.

Know that the uncertainness of this life never outweighs the promises of God. Or his love for us in Christ.

Lets pray.