David Bahn – Reflections

Romans 8:31-39

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8 is a chapter of the Bible with powerful promises and truths from beginning to end. It starts with the bold declaration: “here is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” It ends with these verses of promise that nothing can separate us from God’s love in Christ Jesus our Lord. Sometimes we must simply hold tightly to those truths. Sometimes we face danger and challenge from every side. In fact we do so more often than we realize.

Paul knew all about tribulation, distress, persecution, danger, and all manner of difficulty in his life as a servant of Christ. He was imprisoned, beaten, suffered shipwreck, falsely accused, and challenged on every side as he brought the gospel message to the peoples of many places. He would ultimately be imprisoned in Rome, and according to Christian tradition died a martyr’s death there. When he wrote the book of Romans he was yearning to go there, but had not yet been able to do so.

Paul also knew of the grace of God, and believed deeply in the goodness of God and the faithfulness of his promises. So while not yet in Rome, longing to go there, yet to meet his death there, he held tight to the promises of God, and the love of God in Jesus Christ.

Sometimes that love is so sweet and vitally precious. Sometimes I take it for granted. Sometimes I don’t even think about it. But here’s the promise: “Nothing in all creation will be able to separate me from God’s love in Jesus Christ. It is the constant. It is unshakable. It spans time and space, is above all spiritual powers and angels, and is constant in life and death. That is very good news, which I hope to embrace more fully today.