The Inseparable Love of Christ
Bible Text: Romans 8:35-39 | Preacher: Alan Conner | Series: 2004, Romans
INTRO
In 8:31-34 Paul said that God is for us and that means that no legal charge will be leveled against us on the day of judgment. Now in vv. 35-39 Paul asks a relational question: “Who can separate them from the love of Christ?” The answer is NOBODY or NOTHING.
I. THE LOVE OF GOD IN ROMANS
In v. 35 we learn several things about the love of God.
#1 It is a discriminating love.
#2 It is a gracious love.
#3 It is a redemptive love.
#4 It is not just theoretical but a known love.
#5 It is a love which cannot be taken from us. Rom. 8:35-39
II. TROUBLES THAT CANNOT SEPARATE US FROM CHRIST’S LOVE (8:35-37).
A. The list of troubles (v. 35). There is an expected NO answer to all of these.
Tribulation? –
Distress? –
Persecution? –
Famine? –
Nakedness? –
Peril? –
Sword? –
B. The Scriptural warrant for our troubles (v. 36). Ps. 44:22
C. The triumph of the afflicted over their afflictions (v. 37).
“Overwhelmingly conquer” – one word hupernikomai = to win a super victory. We are super-victors.
Conquer what?
And who gives us this victory?
WE CONQUER NOW –
WE CONQUER IN THE END –
III. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING CAN SEPARATE US FROM GOD’S LOVE (8:38-39).
A. Paul’s confidence.
B. An exhaustive list of failures. Mostly in pairs.
1) Neither death, nor life –
2) Nor angels, nor principalities
3) Nor things present, nor things to come –
4) Nor powers –
5) Nor height, nor depth –
6) Nor any other created thing –
NOT EVEN THE CHRISTIAN CAN SEPARATE HIMSELF FROM GOD’S LOVE:
[1] Everything in the universe is created except God. So this includes every other possible thing in the universe that has not already been mentioned, even the believer himself. Nothing is omitted, nothing is left, all the bases are covered. Case shut.
[2] To believe that the believer himself can separate himself from God’s love would contradict 8:29-30 and its unbreakable chain of salvation.
[3] the broad “who” in v. 35 would seem to include the believer too.
[4] The witness of other Scriptures. Jn. 10:27-29.
CONCLUSION