In the first eight chapters of the Book of Romans, Paul reveals to us the gospel of God. As believers, we are justified from our sins and acquitted from sin. We have a completely new standing in Christ before God. There is no condemnation for us, and we boast in the hope of the glory of God (Romans 8:1; 5:1).
The Eternal Purpose
At the end of the eighth chapter, Paul introduces a new theme: the counsel of God (Romans 8:28-30). God foreknew and predestined us in eternity to be conformed to the image of His Son. In time, He called and justified us. And it is already determined that we will one day be glorified.
With these words, Paul emphasizes that not only do we have a glorious standing in Christ, but we will never lose it.
The Response
After presenting God’s eternal purpose, Paul poses a series of questions:
31What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, freely give us all things? 33Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34Who is there to condemn us? For Christ Jesus, who died, and more than that was raised to life, is at the right hand of God—and He is interceding for us.
35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
With the initial question, “What then shall we say to these things?” the Apostle opens our hearts: We begin to reflect on how great God’s grace is and how it must lead us to steadfastness, confidence, and gratitude.
In the following verses, Paul answers his opening question himself: He poses six rhetorical questions and formulates six triumphant statements of faith. This makes it clear that we are forever united with God.
Questions of Faith
1. “If God is for us, who can be against us?” If the great God has taken our side, what power could successfully fight against us? The answer is: No one.
2. “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” If God gave His Son for us, is it conceivable that He would withhold any good thing from us in time and eternity? The answer is: Never.
3. “Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect?” Who can successfully accuse us before the highest court, since God has chosen and predestined us for eternal blessing? The answer is: No one.
4. “It is God who justifies; who is he who condemns?” If God, the judge of all, has declared us righteous, who can cast us into hell? The answer is: No one.
5. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” What person can separate us from the love of the Lord Jesus, who died for us and intercedes for us at the right hand of God? The answer is: No one.
6. Finally, Paul lists seven experiences and asks if they can separate us from the love of Christ. The answer each time is: Never. In the seven experiences listed, we see a certain escalation in the degree of threat:
• Tribulation – various external difficulties.
• Distress – the internal reaction to tribulation.
• Persecution – targeted hatred.
• Famine – without food, one can only live for a few days or weeks.
• Nakedness – exposed to cold without protection, one can freeze within hours.
• Peril – life is acutely threatened.
• Sword – a single stroke of the sword can end life.
When believers are counted as sheep for the slaughter, their killing is only a matter of time (Romans 8:36). But the sword does not separate a Christian from the love of God, rather from the sufferings on earth. Those who realize this become superior victors, who not only endure difficulties but see them as opportunities through which God’s power can be manifested (Romans 8:37).
Statements of Faith
Paul then makes six strong statements of faith:
“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 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” (Romans 8:38-39).
In six terms or pairs of terms, the Apostle makes it clear that nothing can separate us from the love of God. In his list, he alternates between circumstances and creatures:
1. “Death and life” (Circumstances): all events that end life and all that can happen in life.
2. “Angels and principalities” (Creatures): all (ordinary) angels and all higher-ranking angels that form a power structure.
3. “Things present and things to come” (Circumstances): everything that is currently happening and everything that is yet to come.
4. “Powers” (Creatures): all authorities on earth.
5. “Height nor depth” (Circumstances): everything that exists anywhere in the universe.
6. “Any other created thing”: all other creatures that exist (like wild animals).
Paul traverses space and time to find something that can separate us from the love of God—and he returns empty-handed. It is rock solid: No one can separate us from the love of God.
What God has purposed will come to pass. We will reach the glory of God! This gives us courage and confidence, even when the terrain of our life’s path becomes difficult and the devil tries to disturb us with doubt.
35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
- Romans 8:35