"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)

In the first eight chapters of Romans, Paul has laid out an amazing summary of what God has done for us. He started with how sin had separated us from God (Romans 1). He showed us that by our works we could never obtain a right standing with him (Romans 2). Next he illustrated how God provided a way apart from the law in which we can be justified by faith (Romans 3). He then described that faith was how the patriarchs were also justified and that this has always been God plan for salvation (Romans 4). Then he told us that since we had been justified in this way we have peace with God. He revealed that the gift of His grace was much more than the trespass ever was (Romans 5). To prove this, Paul taught that we have been freed from the sin nature by faith in Christ (Romans 6). Paul then warns us about living according to the flesh and following it's desires instead of living according to our new nature (Romans 7). Lastly, Paul teaches us how to live according to the spirit so that we will not fulfill the desires of the flesh (Romans 8). He teaches that our obligation stems out of a love debt to the Lord because he first loved us.

Paul's revelation of God love was so amazing. He closes Romans 8 with wonderful words expressing the extent of His love for us. We are his children ( Romans 8:16 ), we were predestined, we were called, we were glorified ( Romans 8:30 ). In fact who can stand against us if God is for us. God is the one who justified us ( Romans 8:33 ), Jesus is the one who died for us and was raised again to continually intercede for us ( Romans 8:34 ). So in light of all of these things, Paul was convinced that nothing would separate him from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

He was persuaded beyond a doubt that not even death could separate him from God. He goes on to list several things noting that not one of them could separate him from God's love. Not death nor life, not angels nor principalities, not things impending and threatening not things to come, not powers, Not height nor depth, not anything in all creation... What an amazing thing to understand. Knowing this empowered the Apostle Paul to do amazing things because he knew that his life was hidden in Christ. Understanding this in our own lives will enable us to fulfill God's plan for our lives. His love is a foundational truth that we must grasp in fullness to really be who we are called to be.

The truth is that God loves you so much, but so many people I talk to do not understand the depth of how God loves them. They may know it intellectually but they have not experienced it personally. Many try to earn his love, when all along he has freely given it. Many feel like they do not deserve His love, but seeing how He sent Jesus to die for us, this alone makes us worthy of this love. Many are afraid to be loved by God because they do not understand who He is. John tells us, "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love" ( I John 4:18 ). All of these emotions can keep you apart from really knowing God. Not because he removes himself from you, but because you keep him at a distance not understanding your position before him and place along side him. On the other hand, Paul understood the depth of his love that is why he was confident that nothing would separate him. He was perfected in love.

Today, it is my prayer that you evaluate your heart and remove any barriers that keep you out of the love of God. He is waiting for you with open arms ready to build this foundation in your life. This foundation is built with Christ as the chief cornerstone and God's love for you is the mortar that holds it all together. Today I am blessed to encourage you that nothing can separate you from God's love. It is my prayer that you internalize this truth and get a revelation of His love so that, like Paul, you can be fully persuaded in it, amen.

Previous: Romans 8:37  Next: Romans 9:1-3

"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us" (Romans 8:37)

Everyone loves to watch an exciting football game. We hold our breath and root for the underdog, but some teams excel to the point where they cannot be beat. This fall was a great example of this. The country watched the Iowa Hawkeyes win nearly ever game they played. Even in the last moments of the game, when they were down and all seemed lost, they would miraculously come back for certain victory. Their name alone struck fear in their opponents. No matter how strong and highly ranked their rivals were, the Hawkeyes would crush them and send them home defeated. This football team was victorious everywhere they played even when outmanned or outranked. They didn't listen to the media who said they were a poor team, they listened to their hearts that told them they were winners and proved it based on this knowledge.

In today's passage, Paul is writing that we are winners. The victory is ours through Christ Jesus. This knowledge will keep us going in life when all seems hopeless. What a marvelous perspective to have. In the midst of trouble, persecution, being beat and run out of town, Paul writes to us that in all these we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. He knew the love of God and his position in the Kingdom and this knowledge brought him victory in all things.

Many times, we act like our circumstances and opposition is too overwhelming for us to be victorious. But Paul said, "in all these things we are more than conquerors..." The Greek word in this passage for conquerors denotes that we are literally hyper-conquerors. We are pre-eminently victorious through Christ Jesus. We will gain a decisive and surpassing victory because Christ was victorious and he conquered death. Not only is this so, but he passed along this victory to us. Paul said in Colossians, "When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross" ( Colossians 2:13-15 ). Christ made a public spectacle of all powers and authorizes and hyper-conquered them. He defeated them so badly that there was no hope for a counter attack. This victory was passed along to us through faith in Christ. We are more than conquerors because Christ loved us.

Paul knew that this victory stems out of the fact that God loves us. Victory in life only comes through Christ's strength displayed in us. The power of God's love for you will changed circumstances in your life. This is the most important thing that you can know and understand. God loves you. Paul tells us that we should be rooted and established in this love. "I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God" ( Ephesians 3:16-19 ). How are we filled to the full measure of God? It is by understanding the breath, the length, the depth and height of His love for you. This will make you rooted deep and founded securely in him. This knowledge will prove to your circumstances that you are more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus who loves you.

Today, I pray that your spiritual eyes are opened to understanding the depth of God's love for you. May you understand your victory in Christ Jesus. May you be fully convinced, rooted securely and strengthen in power through in him alone, amen.

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