Today, we take a look at Romans 8:38-39, and closely examine God’s unconditional love for us. The Apostle Paul confirms that there is truly nothing in creation that can separate us from His love!
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Transcript: Welcome to Five Minutes With Pastor Lutzer. I’m so glad that you joined us as we continue our study titled Children Of An Awesome God. All of these studies are taken from the eighth chapter of the book of Romans. And today we come very near the end.
The Apostle Paul picks up the topic of the love of God. I consider it one of the most difficult attributes, because we look around and we say, ‘Does this seem like love?” Some of you are going through very difficult circumstances—economically, health wise, relationally. In all these different ways, we look around and we say, what makes us think that God loves us?
The Apostle Paul actually tackles this head-on. What he does is, he gives seven possibilities of what can happen to Christians. And these possibilities count against the idea that God loves us—unless, of course, we have His promises. Let me go through the list very quickly.
It says, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” This is verse 35. And shall tribulation, will that do it? Will distress do it? Persecution, famine? Famine. Can’t pay your bills? Does that separate you from the love of Christ? Nakedness? Total destitution. Danger, the sword? You die for the faith, will that separate you from the love of Christ? And then the Apostle Paul quotes actually Psalm 44. One day I was reading through the book of Psalms and I was so shocked by 44. I almost thought I had not read it previously; of course, I had. The Psalmist there, it’s a Son of Korah is the author. He’s talking about the fact, “God, You’ve turned Your back on us. You’ve let us die. And our enemies are taking over. And if we were worshiping foreign gods, I’d understand it. But here we are, we’re trying to trust You, and You’re just letting us be slaughtered like sheep.” Paul quotes that here. There are times when it is very difficult for us to see the love of God.
But is Paul finished? No! He now lists 10 different things that one might think can separate us from the unconditional love of God. Perhaps you are acquainted with this list. He says, by the way, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.
I need to comment on that phrase, “More than conquerors.” It’s actually one word in Greek. And it is” hyper”—I’m giving you the English translation— “hyper,” and then, “nikomen;” from which we get the word “nike,” which means victory. We know what “hyper” is, don’t we? We talk about a hyper child. And what Paul is saying here is, we are hyper-victorious in all these things. As I mentioned, the only place in the New Testament where this occurs. Paul almost made up a brand new expression to get his point across.
And then he lists 10 possibilities. “In all these things,” he says, “we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am sure that”—here’s the list—death won’t do it; life won’t do it; angels can’t do it; rulers can’t do it. Things present can’t; things to come can’t; or powers, they can’t do it. Height. Depth. And then he thinks, “I might have missed something.” So he concludes, “Or anything else in all creation”—that includes everything—“is able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
That is unconditional love. And when we look around and we don’t see it, it is because God has a higher agenda. But we are always unconditionally—and I’m talking about believers, of course—unconditionally loved by God. Will you remember this? There’s nothing that you can do to get God to stop loving you if you are one of His children, one of His sons or one of His daughters. Unconditional love of God.
Now we come to the end of the chapter, and you might think that that is the end of our sessions together. I have one more. I want you to join me next time, because I think we need some good illustrations of people who believed in God’s love in very difficult circumstances. But remember this: you, today, are loved; and nothing can separate you from that love. So join us next time, and as for today, just go with God.