SCRIPTURE: Romans 8:31-39 (ESV)
DATE: 5-23-21
As always it’s a joy to be with all of you this weekend at Gateway Church. And the one thing I always want you to know — and this is true if you’re worshiping with us in person at our North Main campus or are joining us online — the one thing I want you to know is that God loves you and I love you too.
SERIES INTRODUCTION
We’re nearing the end of our time in Romans chapter 8. We’ve got this week and next and then we’re through the entire chapter. And — today — we’re going to talk about something that I hope will be uplifting to your souls — ease your burdens and doubts — and stir joy in your heart. What are we going to be looking at today? The unwavering love of Christ for his people. So let’s turn to our passage for today.
ANNOUNCE THE TEXT
If you have your Bible please turn with me to Romans chapter 8. We’ll be looking at verses 31-39. And as you probably remember — if you’ve been with us — you know we’ve been looking at these final nine verses for a total of six weeks — this being our fifth week in them. Wonderful promises found in these verses — so let’s look at them now.
We’re in Romans chapter 8. Beginning in verse 31.
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 8:31-39 ESV)
SERMON INTRODUCTION
We’re talking about love today — specifically Christ’s love for his people. But you probably wouldn’t be surprised if I told you that we Americans are obsessed with love. In 2020, we spent roughly 27.4 billion dollars on Valentine’s Day gifts. Now we had a six billion dollar dip in 2021 — spending just over 21 billion dollars — but that’s still a lot of money. From the 1960s to the 2000’s, over 60% of the top 40 pop songs were about love. We’re a nation obsessed with love.
Yet — we have a love hate relationship with love. Why? For starters, love is elusive for many.
Many know the heartache of being in a relationship with someone who’s love for you ended up being temporary or conditional. Maybe you tried everything you could to earn their love. From simple things like rooting for their favorite sports team, listening to their kind of music, going to their favorite restaurants, watching their favorite movies, and so on. Some even go to greater lengths to keep someone’s love — even things that lead to abuse. But — no matter what you did — you couldn’t keep their love.
Yet despite our experience with love, we all — Christian or not — we all can imagine the perfect love of someone else, can’t we? An unconditional love where — in spite of your past mistakes, or present hardships, or future shortcomings — their love for you doesn’t waver. A love based — not on circumstances — not based on what you do or don’t do for them — but a love for you that isn’t earned — but joyfully given — a love that can’t be unearned.
Now — because we all imagine this kind of love — there’s been a push for tolerance and acceptance in our culture — an unconditional love towards others.
But our various desires for tolerance and acceptance clash with one another. One group’s values and identity — what they want others to accept and love — clash with another group’s values and identity. Thus — even though we’re a society that claims openness, tolerance, and inclusivity — this clash of values and identity results in various groups not demonstrating love towards each other. We humans fail — again and again — to demonstrate love for others that’s unconditional. Our love has limits to it — it often comes with conditions. Yet we still desire to experience the unconditional love of someone else.
So we have two views of love in our culture — two clashing views. “I must earn your love” and — “if you love me you’ll accept me how I am.” “I must earn your love” — that’s one view — and — “if you love me you’ll accept me how I am” — that’s the other view.
Now — spiritually speaking — many view their relationship with God with one of these two views of love.
For example, many believe they must earn God’s love — thus they always live in fear of never having done enough to ensure God loves them. I mean — if we earn God’s love by what we do — then we can also lose God’s love by what we do — at least according to this view of love. This view of love doesn’t offer much assurance to us.
But — more common in our day — is the belief that God loves and accepts us just the way we are. This is heard in the words of one woman who said, “What Jesus taught was a radical message of welcome and inclusion and love, I feel certain God loves me just the way I am.” Unlike the “I must earn God’s love” view — this view puts us in the driver’s seat. Either God accepts me how I am or I won’t accept him as he is. In essence, this view says, “God you must earn my love” — though it’s not stated that honestly.
Now both of these views come up short in giving any sort of assurance — in regards to God’s love — and this is where the Christian faith comes in and offers us assurance.
For Christianity teaches us that God loved us when we were at our very worst. He didn’t just accept us the way that we were — no — he loved us despite the way we were. In love, God sent his Son to demonstrate his love for us — unconditional love that requires a conditional change to those loved by him. But not conditional in the sense that we earn — or keep earning God’s love — conditional in the sense that God has guaranteed that his love will change us into the people he desires us to be.
Meaning, you can’t be loved by God and be unchanged. His love is more powerful than our desire to remain who we are — thus everyone who experiences the love of God in Christ will be changed. And this view of love is in opposition to both of culture’s views of love. We don’t earn God’s love and he doesn’t accept us the way that we are without expecting any change. God’s love is unconditional and it’s life-changing.
And — in our verses — we see the power of God’s love and his unwavering commitment to love us.
We’re not going to see the changes his love produces in our life in our verses. Today we’re simply soaking in the wonder and awe and joy producing assurance of this great promise: Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Now I know we American Christians love to walk away with something to do. Often we act as if we’re human-doings instead of human-beings — but no to do list items today — this is an opportunity for us to be present and experience God’s love and the soul-lifting, hope-giving assurance that comes in God’s promise to his people: Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
So let’s look at two things. First, does the word nothing — in “nothing can separate us from the love of God” — does the word nothing actually mean nothing? Because this is tremendous news if it really means that nothing can separate us from the love of God. And — second — we’ll look at the unwavering love of God towards his people.
And — again — I hope you’ll be thrilled by the love of God for his people. Don’t squash the joy that’s going to build up inside you today — let joy and gratitude and hope fill you and overflow out of you as your heart, soul, body, and mind are assured by God’s love for you in his Son.
DOES NOTHING MEAN NOTHING?
Alright. Where are we beginning? With the question, “Does nothing really mean nothing?” Back to our verses. Let’s begin in verse 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 8:35-39 ESV)
The New Living Translation records the beginning of verse 38 this way. “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love.” (Romans 8:38a NLT)
So this is where we’re getting the word “nothing” from. When Paul says, “Nothing can separate us from God’s love” does the word nothing really mean nothing?
Well, Paul gives us a long list of things that cannot separate us from God’s love. Can this list really be summed up with the word “nothing”? Well, let’s look at what Paul wants us to be assured of — let’s look at the things he wants us to know — with certainty — “these things cannot separate you from God’s love!” So what can’t separate us from God’s love? Well — all I can say — is it’s quite the list.
- Tribulation can’t separate us from God’s love.
- Distress can’t.
- Persecution can’t.
- Famine can’t.
- Nakedness can’t.
- Danger can’t.
- Swords can’t.
- Death can’t.
- Life can’t.
- Angels can’t.
- Rulers can’t.
- Present things can’t.
- Future things can’t.
- Powers — or the powers of Hell — can’t.
- Height can’t.
- Depth can’t.
- Nothing in all of creation can separate you from God’s love.
Paul begins with a group of seven things that can’t drive a wedge between the Christian and God’s love. And these seven things — tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, and sword — have a growing intensity to them.
Tribulation. Think of an oppressive experience of physical, mental, social, or economic adversity. The English word tribulation comes from the Latin name for a flail that was used to separate wheat from chaff. As Christians began to experience persecution, they began to use the word “tribulation” because they felt like they were being beaten like wheat.
Distress. Think of an especially oppressive and constricting condition.
Persecution. The systemic hunting down of people to inflict pain or death because of their faith.
Famine. A severe shortage of food resulting in hunger, starvation, and/or death.
Nakedness. Having no clothes to cover yourself with.
Danger. Constantly living under the possibility of being harmed or injured.
Sword. The threat of being killed — death by the sword.
Now — in second Corinthians — Paul let’s us know that he’s pretty much experienced all seven of these things. In describing what he’s endured — in his service for Christ — Paul says, “I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. 24 Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. 26 I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not.
27 I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.” (2 Corinthians 11:23b-27 NLT)
Now — if it’s up to us to earn God’s love — or to keep earning his love — I don’t know who’d pass this kind of test. Paul’s certainly not saying that he endured all of these things in his own strength. In fact, these kinds of circumstances are the very things that would drive all of us to loosen our grip on God’s love — “God, I think we need a relationship timeout until all of this is over.”
How many of us would continue trying to earn his love — if doing so means starving to death? How tempting would it be to abandon your faith in order to put food on your table? But it’s not our grip on God that keeps us from falling away — it’s God’s loving grip on us that empowers us to endure tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, and the sword.
Then — after this first list of things — that cannot separate us from God’s love — Paul quotes from Psalm 44 when he writes, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
Well ain’t that an encouraging verse. A verse to put on your bathroom mirror to read first thing every morning, right? “You wanna know what it’s like to follow Christ — Paul asks — it’s like being a sheep led to the slaughter house.” Not exactly a “where do I sign up Paul” kind of statement, right? I usually hate waiting in lines but I’ll let a few of you skip in front of me if you’re eager to sign your name on the dotted line.
All joking aside, what Paul’s saying is that when we identify ourselves with Christ — who was crucified — we shouldn’t be surprised when we encounter suffering. In fact, a reason why we should expect suffering is because of our identity with Christ. Suffering shouldn’t surprise us — not suffering should surprise us. In fact, the Christians living in Rome probably said “amen” — which means “I agree” — after verse 36.
They knew personal suffering for Christ. They knew what it felt like to be slaughtered — to be persecuted without mercy. Those receiving this letter were the ones who didn’t abandon the faith when it meant less food on the table.
We’ll skip verse 37 — which is our verse for next week — as we come to Paul’s second list of things that cannot separate us from the love of God. Verses 38 and 39 have been called the “grandest sentence in Greek literature.” And what these words reveal to us is the impossibility of anything or anyone driving a wedge between God and his love for his people.
Paul lists ten more things that cannot separate us from God’s love — eight are listed as pairs. He says, “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 8:38-39 ESV)
Here are the ten again.
- Death and life.
- Angels and rulers.
- Things present and things to come.
- Powers.
- Height and depth.
- Nothing else in all creation.
Not one thing listed can separate us from God’s love if we believe in Christ. Yet — if we’re honest — we so easily doubt the assurance offered to us in these words. So why do we do this?
I think one reason why is because these things — though promised not to separate us from God’s love — do separate us from the love of other people. For example, death separates us from experiencing the love of the one who has died. And — because of our experience — it’s easy to doubt the assurance these words are meant to give us — that nothing can separate us from the love of God.
Death can’t separate us from God’s love. In fact, death does the opposite for the people of God. Our death actually draws us closer to God’s love as we enter into his eternal presence.
Life can’t separate us from God’s love. One of the prayers I pray for my children is that they would know that — by being in Christ — there’s nothing they can do to make God love them any more and nothing they can do to make God love them any less than he already does.
Angels, rulers, and powers refer to the spiritual world — including the demonic — and the war raging on all around us in the heavenly realms. Demons can’t separate you from God’s love. Not even the Devil can. Nothing can.
Things that happen today can’t separate you from God’s love. Nothing that will come tomorrow or any day in your future will ever separate you from God’s love. Nothing can separate you from his love, dear Christian.
There’s no height you can travel — nor depth you can descend to — that will separate you from God’s love for you in Christ Jesus. In fact, there’s nothing in all of creation that can break God’s commitment to love you.
And remember who’s writing these words. Paul didn’t have an easy go at following Jesus. Every day wasn’t a Friday for Paul — “I’m just heading into the weekend for some rest and relaxation.” And yet he’s sure — he’s persuaded beyond any shadow of doubt — that nothing can separate God’s people from his love for them in Christ.
Paul’s seen too much — he’s been through too much — he’s experienced God’s loving kindness and faithfulness in so many different circumstances that this promise of assurance has teeth to it in his life. Paul would say, “Be assured brothers and sisters. When God loves someone he loves them forever.”
However, not all of us have Paul’s experience — in fact — most of us haven’t had his kind of life experience.
We haven’t experienced the hardships he faced for following Christ. So this all sounds like assuring news but — because it may not have the teeth to it in our lives — like it does for Paul — for many of us — a voice in our head asks, “Yeah, Josh, but what about me? Can I separate myself from God’s love?”
THE UNWAVERING LOVE OF GOD
If you’ve ever asked this question — maybe you’re asking it right now — let me give you some good news — assuring news. It’s found back in verse 35 — in one of Paul’s rhetorical questions.
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?…the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:35a, 39b ESV)
Remember — Paul asks these questions not because the answer is up for debate — but to make a point. And what’s his point? No one can separate us from the love of Christ.
So — are you someone? Yes you are. Are you a who? Yes you are. This means that you’re included in the “who” of Paul’s question — you’re part of the “no one’s” who can’t separate you from the love of Christ. You’re part of the “nothing else in all of creation” that Paul mentions in verse 39. For the person who sincerely believes in Jesus Christ — who’s turned from their sin and turned to Christ in faith — God’s grip on you is stronger than your ability to run from him. This is how much God loves you.
When my family lived in West Virginia, we lived in a small town that had one main road in and out of town — it was called Big Tyler road. Now — being the main road in and out of town — it was always busy. It was a three lane road — two lanes for traffic and a middle turn lane — and quite a few folks used the turn lane as their own private gateway to freedom — as they used it as a passing lane.
Now there was a season when I’d run on the sidewalk along the road with Happy our dog when she was in her younger years. And as we ran I held tightly to her leash.
My power was stronger than both her physical power and her puppish desire to get away from me. My love for the dog — honestly, my love for my kids who love the dog — kept my grip tight on the leash. There was no way Happy was going to get away from me.
No matter her strongest desires — no matter how much she tried to enforce her will — my grip was more powerful than her ability to get away, run through the oncoming traffic, to chase after the squirrel that caught her eye. “Josh, I see what you’re trying to do. But come on man, we’re humans. Not a dog.”
OK — as a parent — I also walked on that same sidewalk with my daughter, Alice. She was a sweetheart — as a little girl — still is — but there were times when she didn’t pay attention to her surroundings — she was three or four years old at the time — so we’ll give her a break. But she wouldn’t pay attention to what was going on around us and could’ve easily gotten hurt with the traffic just feet away.
So what did I do as her father who loves her? When we’d walk, I made sure that we held hands. She’d hold my hand — but more importantly — as her loving father — I held on to hers. I also walked closest to the traffic — I stood between her and the potential harm.
Now who’s more powerful in our relationship, Alice or me? Me, right? So — imagine the scenario — while we’re walking — imagine what happens if she tries to let go of my hand. What should I do? I use my power to keep her safe, right? In love, I hold tightly to her hand even though she’s let go of mine.
What if Alice really wants to run out into the street? What if it’s her genuine desire to play chicken with the oncoming cars? What if she sees a shiny quarter in the middle of the road and wants to go get it?
Would it be loving for me — her father — to let her run into danger even if it’s what she desires — even if it’s her will? Would I be a loving father to let go of her hand and let her run into the middle of the road when it means that she’s running to her death?
No, it wouldn’t be loving. What would be loving for me to do is to use all of my power to keep her from running to her death. It’s loving for me to preserve her life. It’s loving for me to use my power to protect her because I’m her father and she’s my child.
Now if it’s loving for me to do this — as Alice’s father — how much more loving is it for our Heavenly Father to use his immeasurable power to preserve his children — not just from physical death — like running into the middle of a busy street — but to keep his children from eternal death and running to hell? A true Christian is God’s child and he’s a Father who loves his children and will do everything in his power to save his kids from eternal death.
He won’t release his grip on his child’s hand. He won’t let our desires — for that shiny quarter — lead us to our eternal death. He loves his children too much to let us run away from him.
And our Father’s great love for us — and his powerful grip that’s holding onto us — should give us assurance. For this is simply another astounding way that he’s demonstrated that he is for us. His unwavering love for his people is proof that he is — and will always be — for us.
CONCLUSION
And the love Paul’s writing about is the love of Christ — the love of God in Christ Jesus. You see, the height of God’s love is revealed to us in Jesus Christ. And you can go no higher — there’s no greater love — than the love of God as revealed to us in him giving us the gift of his Son.
And this love — a love for us because of what Christ has done — affirms the words of C.S. Lewis. He said, “The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because he loves us.” Thus our culture’s first view of love — that it must be earned — is blown out of the water. We don’t earn God’s love — it’s a gift. And if we can’t earn his love — we can’t unearn it either.
And the kind of love that God has for his people — and I think this is obvious — doesn’t just accept us the way that we are either. God’s love changes us — it changes everything. A love that’s defeated every enemy and foe on our behalf — and has guaranteed our eternal victory — is a love that requires a response. A change. A living for the One who loves us in this way.
Not out of obligation — though we’re obligated. Not out of duty — though there is a duty. But a life lived out of the joy and hope and assurance in knowing that the One who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us in love — will never stop loving us. For he has proven that he’s for us and nothing can stand against us. And he’s guaranteed that nothing — not a single thing — in all of creation will ever separate us from his love. And this kind of love changes the one who is loved.
So this is a love that demands a response. But it’s a response that is a delight. This love demands a change. But it’s a change that is a joy. A living for God that’s worth being led like a lamb to the slaughter house for. Why? Because not even death can rip you out of the loving hands of your God.
Christian — be assured — God loves you. And nothing will ever get between you and his love for you. And — if you’re not a Christian — there’s great hope. Today can be your day to respond to Jesus Christ — he who gave his life — in love — for you. Let’s pray.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, what a love you have for your people. Forgive us for having such a shallow view of your love. Your love isn’t shallow. It’s infinite. It’s beyond measure. It’s beyond comprehension. But man is it assuring.
Spirit of God, lift up our souls with the news we’ve heard today. Help us to trust in your love. Help us to put less confidence in our grip on our Father’s hand and put all of our confidence in his loving grip on us. Help us to put less confidence in our performance and put all of our confidence in Christ’s work on our behalf. For when we know what it means that we’re loved by you — it changes everything.
And — Jesus — it’s your display of God’s love for us that changes everything. You lived for us. You’re the Lamb who was led to the slaughter for us. By the power of God you defeated death for us. And because of all that you’ve done — by trusting in you alone — we’ve been given a wonderful promise: Nothing can separate us from God’s love. What a gift. What love. May many believe in you and receive your love today. We pray all of these things in your name. Amen.
BENEDICTION
Having believed in Jesus Christ — may you go with great assurance — knowing that nothing can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
God loves you. I love you. You are sent.