Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?… No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Romans 8:35, 37-39 NIV)
This must be one of the most beautiful passages in all the Bible—but I never gave it much thought until today. If you take four minutes to think through it with me, my prayer is that you’ll come away believing God loves you.
Do you ever doubt God’s love for you?
The presence of this passage in the Bible tells us that God knew that those who belong to him by faith in Jesus would doubt his love for them. He gave us this precious promise to cling to when our faith in his love for us comes under attack.
Consider with me what this passage says. Notice how it includes two lists. First it talks about “trouble, hardship, persecution…” then it talks about “death, life, angels, demons, etc.”
Both are lists of things that, the Bible says, will not separate us from the love of Christ. Why are these things listed? Because they are the very things that will tempt us to believe we have been separated from God’s love.
Walk with me through them.
What Tempts Us to Believe We are Separated from God’s Love?
When trouble befalls us and frustrates our way, don’t we fear we’ve done something to bring it upon ourselves? Aren’t we tempted to assume that our foolishness or distress has snuffed out God’s compassion for us?
When hardship comes our way, don’t we fear we are being punished? Aren’t we tempted to believe that God’s love for others is greater than his love for us?
When we are persecuted, don’t we fear that God has left us to our enemies? Aren’t we tempted to believe he does not care about our physical wellbeing?
When we are hungry and without what we need, don’t we fear God has abandoned us? Aren’t we tempted to believe he has forgotten his loving care for us?
When we are naked—ashamed—don’t we fear the degrading thoughts we believe of ourselves have somehow crept into God’s mind too? Aren’t we tempted to forfeit our identity as the beloved of God and let shame define us?
When we are in danger, don’t we fear that this breach in our safety indicates neglect on God’s part? Aren’t we tempted to conclude that if God loved us, he would keep us safe?
When we are faced with the sword, don’t we fear that God may not actually accept us when we enter eternity? Aren’t we tempted to believe God’s love is weaker than the grave?
Nothing Can Separate Us from the Love of God
To all these things the Bible teaches us to respond with No! In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
There is nothing—no experience, no being, no power in all of creation—that can separate you from the love God has for you in Christ. God’s love for you is a fact—an irreversible reality.
So, let’s look at the second half of that verse. May you too be convinced of this truth:
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39 NIV)
If you have put your faith in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and to make you right with God, then God loves you with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3).
In death, Jesus loves you.
In life, Jesus loves you.
When faced with demonic opposition, Jesus loves you.
Right now, Jesus loves you.
Tomorrow, Jesus will love you.
Ten years from now, Jesus will love you.
When you feel the power of temptation’s pull, Jesus loves you.
When you feel the power of the gift of human love, Jesus loves you.
When you have succeeded in your field of expertise, Jesus loves you.
At your lowest, Jesus loves you.
When you are joyful, Jesus loves you.
When you are grieved, Jesus loves you.
List any other experience, state of being, circumstance, and situation. None of these can separate you from the love of God.
Do You Believe That God Loves You?
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
No one.
Nothing in all creation will be able to separate you from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus your Lord.
Do you believe this?