Nothing separates us from the love of God

Again and again “Paul argues in Romans that we owe it to Christ that God considers us justified. Although we sometimes sin, those sins are counted against the old self that was crucified with Christ; our sins do not count against who we are in Christ. We have a duty to fight sin - not to be saved, but because we are already children of God. In the last part of chapter 8, Paul turns his attention to our glorious future.

The entire creation is waiting for us

The Christian life is not easy. Fighting sin is not easy. Sustained pursuit is not easy. Coping with everyday life in a fallen world, with corruptible people, makes life difficult for us. Yet Paul says, "The sufferings of this day are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed in us" (verse 18). As it was for Jesus, so is joy for us—a future so wonderful that our present trials will seem insignificant.

But we're not the only ones who will benefit from it. Paul says there is a cosmic scope to God's plan being worked out in us: "For the anxious waiting of creatures waits for the children of God to be revealed" (verse 19). Not only does creation desire to see us in glory, but creation itself will be blessed with change as God's plan is brought to fruition, as Paul says in the next verses: “Creation is subject to corruption...yet on hope; for creation also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God” (verses 20-21).

Creation is now subject to decay, but this is not how it should be. At the resurrection, when we are given the glory that rightfully belongs to the children of God, the universe will also somehow be freed from its bondage. The entire universe has been redeemed through the work of Jesus Christ. (Kol 1,19-20).

Patient waiting

Although the price has already been paid, we do not yet see everything as God will bring it to completion. “All creation now groans under its condition, as if in labor pains.” (Röm 8,22)Creation suffers as if in labor, for it forms the womb in which we are born. Not only that, “but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons and for the redemption of our bodies” (verse 23). Even though the Holy Spirit has been given to us as a guarantee of salvation, we too struggle, for our salvation is not yet complete. We struggle with sin, we struggle with physical limitations, pain, and suffering—even as we rejoice in what Christ has done for us.

Salvation means that our bodies will no longer be subject to decay. (1. Kor 15,53)They will be made new and transformed in glory. The physical world is not waste to be disposed of—God made it good, and He will make it new again. We do not know how bodies are resurrected, nor do we know the physics of the renewed universe, but we can trust the Creator to complete His work.

We do not yet see a perfect creation, neither in the universe nor on Earth, nor in our bodies, yet we are confident that everything will be transformed. As Paul said: “For we were saved in hope. Now hope that is seen is no hope at all, for how can we hope for what we see? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” (Röm 8,24-25).

We wait with patience and zeal for the resurrection of our bodies once our adoption is complete. We live in a state of "already, but not yet": already redeemed, but not yet fully redeemed. We are already freed from condemnation, but not yet completely free from sin. We are already in the kingdom, but it is not yet in its fullness. We live with aspects of the coming age while still struggling with aspects of this age. "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words" (verse 26). God knows our limitations and frustrations. He knows our flesh is weak. Even when our spirit is willing, God's Spirit intercedes for us, even for needs that cannot be put into words. God's Spirit does not remove our weakness, but helps us in our weakness. He bridges the gap between old and new, between what we see and what he has explained to us. For example, we sin even though we want to do good (7:14-25). We see sin in our lives, but God declares us righteous because God sees the end result, even if the process has only just begun.

Despite the discrepancy between what we see and what we want, we can trust that the Holy Spirit will do what we cannot. He will bring us through. “He who searches hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because he intercedes for the saints as God pleases” (8:27). The Holy Spirit is on our side and helps us so that we can be confident!

Called According to His Purpose Despite our trials, our weakness, and our sins, “we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (verse 28). God does not cause all things, but he allows them to happen and works with them according to his purpose. He has a plan for us, and we can be sure that he will complete his work in us. (Phil 1,6).

God planned in advance that we should become like his Son, Jesus Christ. He called us through the gospel, justified us through his Son, and united us with him in his glory: “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called; those whom he called he also justified; those whom he justified he also glorified.” (Röm 8,29-30).

The meanings of election and predestination are hotly debated, but these verses do not clarify the debate because Paul does not focus on these terms here (nor anywhere else). For example, Paul does not comment on whether God allows people to reject the glorification He has planned for them. Here, Paul, as he nears the climax of his preaching of the gospel, wants to reassure readers that they need not worry about their salvation. If they accept it, it will be theirs too. And for rhetorical clarification, Paul even speaks of God having already glorified them by using the past tense. It's as good as happened. Even if we struggle in this life, we can count on glorification in the next.

More than just overcomers

"What are we going to say about this? If God is for us, who can be against us? Who did not spare his own son, but gave him up for us all - how should he not give us everything with him? (verses 31-32). Since God went so far as to give his Son for us while we were still sinners, we can be sure that he will give us whatever we need to make it happen. We can be sure that he will not be angry with us and take away his gift. “Who will blame the elect of God? God is here to justify” (verse 33). No one can blame us on Judgment Day because God has declared us innocent. No one can condemn us, for Christ our Redeemer intercedes for us: “Who will condemn? Christ Jesus is here, who died, yea rather, who also rose, who is at the right hand of God, and intercedes for us” (verse 34). Not only do we have a sacrifice for our sins, but we also have a living Savior who is continually with us on our way to glory.

Paul's rhetorical skill is evident in the moving climax of the chapter: "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written (Psalm 44,23)“For your sake we face death all day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered” (verses 35-36). Can circumstances separate us from God? If we are killed for our faith, have we lost the battle? Absolutely not, says Paul: “In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (verse 37). Even in pain and suffering, we are not losers—we are better than conquerors because we share in the victory of Jesus Christ. Our prize—our inheritance—is the eternal glory of God! This prize is infinitely greater than the cost.

"For I am sure that neither death nor life, neither angels, nor powers, nor authorities, neither things present nor to come, neither high nor low, nor any other creature can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" ( verses 38-39). Nothing can stop God from the plan He has for us. Absolutely nothing can separate us from his love! We can trust in the salvation He has given us.

by Michael Morrison