And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Ro 8:38–39). Tyndale House Publishers.
We have reached the end. Paul concludes this passage by telling us how convinced he is that we cannot be separated from God’s love. Ironically, he seems to start really big. Even if you enter into Christianity with a preexisting concept of an afterlife, death likely looms larger than today’s fears or tomorrow’s worries. Nevertheless, these verses span just about everything that one could think might separate us from God’s love. Nothing can. Not because of anything we may do but because God is greater than the entire list Paul wrote.
We should be drawn to this word “convinced.” Paul is not writing this letter on his first go-around. Paul also came from Pharisaic Judaism to Christianity. He already had fleshed out ideas of who Yahweh is. If Paul is convinced, everyone should have their ears perked up. Paul has traveled, ministered, mentored, and faced persecution. Through all of that, he is convinced that absolutely nothing stands a chance of separating us from the love of our Father.
Despite what Paul says, and the certainty with which he says it, we are still prone to believe we can be separated from the Father’s love. Our sin is not greater than the cross. Even our repeated sin can be washed by the blood. Some people will take full advantage of this truth while marginalizing other people who were made in God’s image. “I was a glutton for the seventh time this week, but at least I’m not homeless and addicted to heroin.” News flash! Subjecting your body to high cholesterol, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease is not a sign of holiness. It is reasonable to be thankful that your shortcoming is less damaging than other options. Legality in America does not determine what God can wash clean. God will forgive someone for destroying their own property out of anger. He will also forgive the person who destroyed someone else’s property out of anger. Nothing can separate us from His love.
I would be mistaken to close any other way. God was not human. That could not stop Him from coming to earth as Jesus. The penalty for sin is death. That could not stop Him from dying on the cross for our sins. Jesus died on the cross and was buried in a tomb. That could not stop Him from rising from the dead. Jesus ascended to heaven. That could not stop Him from sending the Spirit to dwell within us and among us. Paul is an expert at telling the Gospel story in a sentence or two. Romans 8:38 and 39 are what anyone should conclude after reading Matthew 1 through Acts 2. In light of what Jesus did, God’s love is something that will withstand any and all situations.
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