There can be no separation from the love of Christ.

Romans 8:35 "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?"

"Shall tribulation"

That is, direct troubles that come our way in fulfilling His commission (Matthew 28:19-20 ), rather than separate us from Him, tribulation brings experience of His overcoming power and presence. (John 16:33; Mark 16:20. )

"or distress"

No calamity or anguish can separate us from Him and His love. He alone can alleviate our stress with the all comfort of His unfailing presence (Psalm 46:1 ).

"or persecution"

Suffering harm because living as a Christian. They persecuted Jesus, and living like Jesus we too will know persecution (John 15:20 ). The same active antagonism will be experienced. We can respond by praying for our persecutors (Matthew 5:44; Romans 12:14 ). This will bind us closer to the Lord, not separate us.

"or famine, or nakedness"

Want and need will cause us to turn to our unfailing supplier. Like Paul (1 Corinthians 4:11 ), devotion should be unlimited.

"or peril, or sword"

It may cost us to present the gospel to others. (2 Corinthians 11:24; 1 Corinthians 15:30 ). In sharing Christ with others the ties to Him grow stronger. even if the sword of martyrdom falls, there is no separation from His love for the honoured saint. (Hebrews 11:37; Psalm 44:22 ). "We are more than conquerors" (Romans 8:37 ) In all these things that the foe would assume would separate us from His love, we are conquerors - and more than, through Him, as the recipients of His love, that grants unlimited supernatural help, so that we divide the spoil in victory over any foe.

God's word brings heart-persuasion that expresses itself in unshakeable confidence.

Romans 8:38,39 "For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

"For I am persuaded"

Having gone through all that is described in Romans 8:35, Paul was proof that nothing can separate from the love of God in Christ Jesus - God's word is true.

"that neither death nor life"

The fear of death for the believer is gone. (Hebrews 2:14-15 ). It cannot separate from Him, nor can any circumstances of this present life.

"nor angels nor principalities nor powers"

Not malignant angels united with Satan, nor good ones that serve God, can separate - God's love is unchangeable to us in Christ.

"nor things present nor things to come"

No matter what is happening today or ahead of us tomorrow - there is nothing to separate from God.

"nor height nor depth"

There is nothing in the vastness of the universe, nor in the lower parts of the earth that can in any way separate us.

"nor any other created thing"

There is nothing in the universe out of God's control - so nothing can separate us from His love.

"which is in Christ Jesus"

In Christ God is for us, and we in Christ are inseparable from Him. We could not ask for more.

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QUESTIONS FOR GROUP INTERACTION

Share in answering these questions that Paul asked:

1. "Who shall bring a charge against God's elect?" (Romans 8:33 ).
2. "Who is he who condemns?" (Romans 8:34 ).
3. "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" (Romans 8:35 ).