Key Verse: "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come," - Romans 8:38 KJV
Paul began Romans 8 with one of the greatest declarations of freedom in Scripture: “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1 And now, at the end of the chapter, he gives us another great declaration: “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come…” Romans 8:38
Paul is persuaded. He is convinced. His confidence is not based upon optimism or wishful thinking. It is based upon what God has done through Jesus Christ.
Paul continues: “Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:39
Think about the completeness of that statement. Paul has searched every direction imaginable:
- Death cannot separate us.
- Life cannot separate us.
- Angels cannot separate us.
- Principalities cannot separate us.
- Powers cannot separate us.
- Things present cannot separate us.
- Things to come cannot separate us.
- Height cannot separate us.
- Depth cannot separate us.
And then Paul closes every possible door by saying: “Nor any other creature…”
In other words, there is nothing in all creation capable of separating the believer from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. What a promise.
The Love of God
Notice that Paul does not say that nothing will ever hurt us. He does not say that Christians will never suffer. In fact, only a few verses earlier he had written: “As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Romans 8:36
The Christian life is not a promise of freedom from hardship. It is a promise that hardship cannot separate us from Christ. There is a tremendous difference.
- We may lose possessions.
- We may lose opportunities.
- We may experience rejection.
- We may experience physical suffering.
- We may walk through grief.
- We may face uncertainty about the future.
But none of these things has the authority to take us out of God's love.
More Than Conquerors
Paul says: “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” Romans 8:37 Again, notice the phrase “in all these things.”
Paul does not say we are conquerors because we avoid the things listed in this chapter. We are conquerors in the midst of them. And the source of that victory is not ourselves. It is Christ.
This is important because sometimes we think Christian victory means never being afraid, never becoming discouraged, never suffering, and never struggling.
But Scripture presents a deeper kind of victory.
- Victory means that suffering does not destroy our faith.
- Fear does not have the final word.
- Trials do not separate us from Christ.
Even death itself cannot ultimately defeat the believer. Why?
Because Jesus has already conquered death.
“O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?”
1 Corinthians 15:55
The resurrection of Jesus changes everything.
Nothing Can Separate Us
Paul's final words in Romans 8 point us back to the foundation of our security: “the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:39
Our security is not ultimately based upon how strongly we can hold on to God. It is based upon God's love and His faithfulness.
That does not mean we should become careless about our relationship with Him. Quite the opposite.
When we understand how deeply God loves us, it should cause us to love Him more. John wrote: “We love him, because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19
Our love is a response to His.
Devotional Thought
There are times when we may feel far from God. Feelings are real, but they are not always reliable indicators of spiritual reality.
- You may wake up one morning feeling discouraged.
- You may go through a season when prayer seems difficult.
- You may experience disappointment and wonder where God is.
But God's love is not measured by how you feel on a particular day. It was demonstrated at the cross.
Paul says: “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
Think about that. Christ did not wait until we became worthy. He loved us while we were sinners. He did not wait until we had everything figured out. He came for us in our need.
And now Romans 8 assures us that nothing in creation can separate those who are in Christ from God's love. That means we can face tomorrow without knowing everything that tomorrow will bring. We don't need to know every detail.
We need to know the One who will be with us.
Life Application
When fear about the future begins to overwhelm you, remember “things to come” from Romans 8:38. You don't know what tomorrow holds. But God does.
When you look back at your past and regret things you cannot change, remember “things present” and “things to come.” Your past is not greater than God's grace.
When you face a difficult season, remember “tribulation, or distress, or persecution…” Hardship is not proof that God has abandoned you.
And when you face the ultimate uncertainty, death, remember that even death cannot separate the believer from Christ. Because our Savior conquered the grave.
So live today with confidence. Not confidence in yourself. Confidence in Christ.
Prayer
Father, thank You for Your unfailing love. Thank You that nothing in all creation can separate me from Your love in Christ Jesus.
When I am afraid of the future, help me trust You. When I am discouraged by the present, remind me that You are with me. When I look back at my past with regret, help me remember the grace You have given me through Christ.
Give me faith to face whatever comes. Help me not to live in fear of circumstances I cannot control.
Thank You that Jesus died for me, rose again, and has given me a hope that nothing can destroy. Help me rest in Your love and live each day with confidence in Christ.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
