The Love of God in Christ Jesus
Romans 8:31–39
Nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:39
What does “anything else in all creation” include? The answer is that it includes everything that exists except God, since God has created all these other things. Thus, if God is for us and if God controls everything else, since he has made it, then absolutely nothing anywhere will be able to separate us from his love for us in Christ Jesus.
Paul is convinced. This is Paul’s personal testimony but it is a testimony based on the soundest evidence, evidence that had persuaded Paul and should persuade us also. What are the grounds of this persuasion? Paul’s conviction is not based on the intensity of his feelings or a belief that the harsh circumstances of life are bound to improve or that any of these separating factors will somehow be dissolved or go away. Rather, it is based on the greatness of God’s love for us in Christ, and that awesome love has been made known in that God sent his Son to die in our place.
There is nothing in all the universe greater or more steadfast than that love. Therefore, nothing in all the universe can separate us from it:
Not death, not life
Not angels, not demons
Not the present, not even the future
Not any power
Not height, not depth
Not anything else in all creation
I do not know of anything greater than that. So I ask of you: Is this your testimony? Have you been persuaded of these truths, as Paul was? Can you say, “I no longer have any doubts. I know that salvation is entirely of God and that he will keep me safe until the very end”? If you are not certain of these truths, it is because you are still looking at yourself. You are thinking of your own feeble powers and not of God and his omnipotence.
As far as I am concerned, I am persuaded and I am glad I am. There is nothing in all of heaven and earth to compare to this assurance.
Taken from Come to the Waters by James Boice ISBN 9798887790954 used with permission from P&R Publishing, Phillipsburg NJ 08865
Scripture quotations are from the ESV (the Holy Bible English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.