Romans 8:35 – What shall be separating us from the love of God?

What shall be separating us from the love of God in Christ Jesus? Affliction, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

Condemnation by Christ? On the contrary! He died for us and he was resurrected and now he is on God’s right side. His presence there pleads for us. Is there anything that could separate us from his love? That is impossible!

The seven circumstances Paul goes on to mention are all in the realm of tribulation for Christ’s sake. He lists them in an ascending series of vehemence. Beginning with affliction and ending with the sword. Tribulation is pressure that comes from without. Distress is more intense because it is experienced from within. Persecution means being chased. Hunger and nakedness refer to a lack of basic necessities of life: food and clothing. Danger speaks of life-threatening circumstances while the sword actually puts an end to life. All these circumstances Paul experienced firsthand in his ministry. So what he writes is by no means a theory.

All these states are mentioned here because they are intended to separate from Christ. But however extreme, “the love of God that is in Christ Jesus” (8:39) endures all. Nothing can resist that love!

Delen: