Nothing separates us from the love of God

450 nothing separates us from the good of GodAgain 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 in decline, but that is not what it should be. At the resurrection, if we are given the glory that rightly belongs to the children of God, the universe will also somehow be freed from bondage. The entire universe has been redeemed through the work of Jesus Christ (Colossians 1,19-20).

Patient waiting

Although the price has already been paid, we do not yet see everything as God will finish it. “All creation now groans under its condition, as if in travail” (Romans 8,22 New Geneva translation). Creation suffers as if in travail as it forms the womb into which we are born. Not only that, "but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, still groan inwardly, waiting for adoption as sons and the redemption of our bodies" (verse 23 New Geneva Translation). Even though the Holy Spirit has been given to us as a pledge of salvation, we too struggle because 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 are no longer subject to corruption (1. Corinthians 15,53) will be made new and transformed into glory. The physical world is not garbage 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, but we are confident that everything will be transformed. As Paul said, “For though we are saved, yet in hope. But the hope that is seen is not hope; for how can one hope for what one sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait patiently" (Romans 8,24-25).

We wait with patience and diligence for the resurrection of our bodies once our adoption is complete. We live in the situation of already but not yet: already redeemed but not yet fully redeemed. We are already free from condemnation, but not completely from sin. We are already in the kingdom, but it is not yet in its fullness. We are living with aspects of the age to come while we are still grappling with aspects of this age. “Likewise the Spirit helps our weakness. For we do not know what to pray, as it should be; but the Spirit himself pleads for us with inexpressible groaning” (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 the Holy Spirit to do what we cannot do. He'll see us through. “But he who searches the heart knows where the mind of the spirit is directed; for he represents the saints as is pleasing to God" (8,27). The Holy Spirit is on our side helping us so that we can be confident!

Called according to his purpose Despite our trials, weaknesses, and sins, "we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to them that are called according to his purpose" (verse 28). God does not cause all things, but allows them and works with them according to His purpose. He has a plan for us, and we can be sure that he will finish his work in us (Philippians 1,6).

God planned in advance that we should become like His Son, Jesus Christ. So he called us through the gospel, justified us through his Son, and united us with him in his glory: "For those whom he chose he also predestined to be in the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. But whom he predestined, he also called; but whom he called, he also justified; but whom he justified, he also glorified” (Romans 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 will separate us from the love of Christ? Tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written (Psalm 44,23): »For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered” (verses 35-36). Can circumstances separate us from God? If we are killed for faith, have we lost the battle? No way, says Paul: "In all these things we are more than overcomers through him who loved us so dearly" (verse 37 Elberfelder). Even in pain and suffering we are not losers - we are better than overcomers because we participate in the victory of Jesus Christ. Our prize of victory—our inheritance—is the eternal glory of God! This price 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