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2. The Truth of Christ Guarantees our Fellowship with God in Spite of all Troubles (Romans 8:31-39)
ROMANS 8:38-39
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Paul was certain that no earthly thing or other worldly spirit could separate him from the love of God manifested in Christ Jesus. With this great, concluding statement, he closed the doctrinal part of his Epistle to the Romans. His was certainty not merely thinking or analyzing, but wrote a profound experience of great suffering and struggle based on the testimony of the Holy Spirit in his heart. Paul does not say, “If it pleases God, he will be with me”, but he confesses that the knowledge of the love of God in Christ confirmed him in the confession that it would never fail. The faithfulness of God is doubtless.
Paul did not speak about human love, nor did he speak about the merciful, loved God in general, but he saw the Father through the Son. He did not know any other way to God except through Christ. Ever since the incarnation of the Son of God, we know who the Most High, our Father, is. His fatherly love is not human compassion, for the Holy One sacrificed his Son for the unclean that we might not doubt his mercy, but be sure that he invites us into his covenant and to adoption because of the bloodshed of his Son. Because of the cross, Paul was certain that the love of God would never fail.
However, Satan is a truth, and whoever denies his existence is not aware of the condition of the universe. Paul saw several spiritual powers prepared to destroy this and the other world. He did not only face the spirit of death several times, but he also wrestled with the angels of darkness, and struggled with his prayers against the madness of hell so that he said: “If hell and heaven altogether attacked me, the love of God in Christ would not leave me. The opposing powers could not overcome me because the eternal blood of Christ has sanctified me.”
Paul had the gift of prophecy. He saw how the destroyer, liar, and murderer attacked the church, but could not overcome it, for it is in Christ, and the devil cannot pluck it out of his hand.
Even the holy law cannot move, through complaints, the faith of the apostles, because they died with Christ on the cross, and he lives in them and keeps them. The believer will be kept in the day of the last judgment, for Christ is still the faithful Victor.
Therefore, we say to you, dear brother, “Commit your spirit, your body, and your soul completely to the love of God, and take hold of the one Trinity that your name may be written in the book of life, and you may continue in the adoption of God forever.
Now observe here that Paul did not write the hymn of praise on the faithful love of God in the first person singular “I” only, but he closed his words in the first person plural “we”, covering with his full assurance all the believers in Rome and the churches of the basin of the Mediterranean Sea. The testimony of his faith will cover us as well, if we accept the persuasion in the previous chapter. Then, we do not fix our eyes on what seems to be powerful and great in this world, but we hold fast to the love of God manifested in Christ Jesus.
The last words “our Lord” appear as the end of this hymn. They confirm to us, on the other hand, that he, who triumphed in Golgotha, is the Lord of lords, in whose power we find the guarantee of our protection. He stretches out his hand over us, and does not leave us, because he loves us.
PRAYER: O Jesus, my words fail to express my thankfulness. You saved me, and I became yours. Fill me with your love that my life may become a message of praise for your power, and that I may praise you in the full assurance of faith, believing that nothing shall separate me from you, for you are faithful. As you sit at the right hand of the Father, he in you and you in him, so establish me in his righteousness that nothing separates me from the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
QUESTION:
- Why did Paul begin his last sentence with “I” and closed it with “we”?
QUIZ - 2
Dear reader,
Having read our comments on the Letter of Paul to the Romans in this booklet, you are now able to answer the following questions. If you answer 90% of the questions stated below, we will send you the next part of this series for your edification. Please do not forget to include your full name and address clearly on the answer sheet.
- What are the main ideas in our justification through faith?
- What is the meaning of the phrase, “to demonstrate the righteousness of God”?
- Why are we justified by faith alone, and not by our good works?
- How were Abraham and David justified?
- Why is man justified, not by circumcision, but by faith alone?
- Why do we receive God’s blessing through our faith in God’s promises, and not through our observation of the Law?
- What do we learn from the faith struggle in Abraham?
- How is the peace of God accomplished in our life?
- How did the love of God appear?
- What does Paul want to show us through his comparison between Adam and Jesus?
- What is the meaning of baptism?
- How were we crucified with Christ, and risen in his life?
- How do we bring ourselves and the parts of our bodies as weapons of righteousness to God?
- What is the difference between the bondage to sin and death, and the love of Christ?
- Why are all believers delivered from the requirements of the old covenant?
- How can the Law, which is good for us, be a reason for evil and death?
- What did Paul confess about himself, and what does this confession mean to us?
- What is the meaning of the first sentence in chapter 8?
- What were the two laws, which the apostle compared together, and what are their meanings?
- What is the interest of the spiritual man? What is the inheritance of those who are carnal?
- What does the Holy Spirit give those who believe in Christ?
- What is the new name of God, which the Holy Spirit teaches us? What is its meaning?
- Who are those who suffer for the coming of Christ? Why?
- Why do all things work together for good to those who love God?
- How do Christians overcome troubles?
- Why did Paul begin his last sentence with “I” and closed it with “we”?
If you complete the study of all the booklets of this series on Romans and send us your answers to the questions at the end of each book, we will send you a
Certificate of Advanced Studies
in understanding the Letter of Paul to the Romans
as an encouragement for your future services for Christ.
We encourage you to complete with us the examination of the Letter of Paul to the Romans that you may receive an everlasting treasure. We are awaiting your answers and praying for you. Our address is:
Waters of Life
P.O.Box 600 513
70305 Stuttgart
Germany
Internet: www.waters-of-life.net
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