Nothing Can

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31 NIV

Read Romans 8:31-39

Yesterday, I met a gentleman, Juan, at L Street Mission, whom I had seen previously but never had the opportunity to speak with. Juan shared with me a little of his life story. Four years ago, quite suddenly, he became very ill, leading to two years in the hospital, breathing with the help of oxygen and being fed through a feeding tube. The doctors gave him a slim chance of survival; if he did, it was almost sure he would never walk again. A deeply religious man, he prayed daily, trusting in God for healing. While today he continues to have some physical limitations, he is profoundly grateful to God for all He has done.

Romans 8:31-39 is a powerful passage emphasizing God's unstoppable love for those in Christ Jesus. It reassures believers that nothing can separate them from God's love, demonstrated through His Son's gift, Jesus Christ. The passage uses a series of rhetorical questions to affirm that if God is for us, no one can be against us. God's justifying work and Christ's intercession secure believers from any condemnation.

Here are some things we can gather from the passage:

• God's Unfailing Support: The passage begins with the question, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" This highlights that no opposition can prevail against believers with God's support.

• Christ's Sacrifice: It points out that God did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, indicating the extent of God's love and the assurance of His provision.

• Justification and Intercession: It assures that no charge or condemnation can stand against believers because God has justified them, and Christ Jesus, who died and was raised, is at the right hand of God interceding for them.

• Inseparable Love: The climax of the passage is the affirmation that nothing can separate believers from the love of God in Christ Jesus. It lists various trials and powers, including death, life, angels, rulers, present or future things, powers, height, depth, or any other created thing, and concludes that none can sever the love bond between God and His people.

While we may not have been raised from the hospital bed and nearly certain death like Juan, what Jesus Christ has done for us and what he continues to do for us is no less miraculous. God, in his steadfast mercy and love, has lifted us from our sorrowful, sinful state to a place of purity, newness, and righteousness with him. Whatever trials we may face this day, even should it be our death, we walk confidently, knowing there is nothing that can separate us from His love.

Heavenly Father, we come before you with hearts full of gratitude for the promises you have given us. We thank you for the assurance that nothing can separate us from your love, not trials or tribulations, not the fears for today nor the worries about tomorrow. We ask the faith to trust in your unfailing support and remember that no one can stand against us if you are for us. May we find comfort in knowing that your Son Jesus intercedes for us and that your love is a shield that protects us in all circumstances. Help us to live in the victory of your love, to face each day with the courage and strength that comes from knowing we are more than conquerors through Christ who loved us. May your love be the foundation upon which we build our lives, and may it be the light that guides us through the darkest valleys. We pray that those who feel separated from your love may come to experience the depth, width, height, and breadth of your love in Christ Jesus. May your Spirit remind us daily that nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from your love. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Blessings,

Pastor Tim