Preached at Las Vegas Presbyterian Church
Sunday, August 8, 2021.
Today, we’re going to be looking at a very famous passage that I’m sure we’ve heard in the past. It’s the famous question, “Who can separate us from the love of Christ?”
To do this question it’s fair justice, we’ll begin looking at the person of Paul, the author who wrote this timeless question.
The Apostle Paul, author of Romans, was born in Tarsus of Cilicia which was in the southeastern part of Asia Minor. During his life, this city was the capital of the Roman Province Syria-Cilica. It was prosperous, privileged, cultured and famous for its’ schools. Paul, was considered a Hebrew of Hebrews by nationality, but somehow he was a citizen of Rome. It was a rare occurrence, for someone to be able to claim dual citizenship as a Jew and Roman. This was in fact a high honor, because the majority of those who lived in Rome weren’t even citizens. Though the majority of foreigners living in Rome were Jews at the time, most didn’t have citizenship. While not fully understanding how Pauls’ family line had received it, it was assumed that it was received for some noble act for the empire.
Paul was thoroughly a Hebrew before his conversion and call to apostleship. In fact, He was part of the “strictest sect” of Judaism, called the Pharisees. A name that we are all familiar with as opponents of Jesus Christ during his ministry on earth. Associated with such a high zealous and devout sect of Judaism, he was trained a great deal in the “Oral Law’ Torah and the Mosaic Law. He was zealous for his beliefs, YHWH and Judaism. This zeal he had in his heart for Judaism was the reason why he persecuted the early Christian church. Before his conversion and name change to PAUL, His name was Saul and he put many Christians to death.
The sight was horrific. One moment, the Christian family sitting together and sharing a meal and suddenly, the door breaks in. There is loud shouting and aggressive pushing and shoving. They aren’t even sure what is going on at first, but quickly the family members realize that they are being persecuted for having faith in Jesus Christ. They will be asked if they are Christians or not, if they believe in Jesus Christ or not. If they say yes, they will be punished for their beliefs. If they say no, their lives will be spared. What great tribulation has come upon our brothers and sisters. What suffering and distress they are going through. How easy we have it now with our freedom to believe.
Home after home, they shake their heads and rattle their brains. Do you believe in Jesus Christ as the son of God? Do you believe this blaspheme? With their body bruised and head unclear, they confess Jesus Christ as Lord. They were beaten, stripped of their possessions and dragged…
This was happening because of Saul’s zeal for Judaism. He made it his life goal to go out and wither Christianity down to nothing by persecuting it day and night. When Christians were brought into the courthouse to be voted on for the death penalty, Saul always voted yes. He chose yes, because he thought he was following God’s will.
“I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to death I case my vote against them. And I punished them often in the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme, and in raging fury against them I persecuted them even to foreign cities.” Acts 26 9-11
“I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my Fathers.” Galatians 1:13
The author of this letter was the worst persecutor of the Christian Church. When we read our passage for todays sermon, I want you to remember who it is that is writing this. It will bring a profound weight to the words, and they will be life to your spirit.
As one who tried with all his being to destroy the Christian Church, this Sunday, he speaks to us with all his being to build the Christian Church, with these words from Romans 8:35, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?”
I want us to see the emphasis on WHO. A person or group of people that tries to separate you from the love of Christ. Saul, the great separater. Saul, the great segregator. He grabbed hold of Christians and ran them to the ground, literally until death. A man whose life purpose was going to be the separation of man and Christ is writing to you this morning.
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?”
Saul, who became Paul, when he met Jesus. The sweet sweet Jesus. The Jesus who had great plans for this separator. The Jesus who had written down Paul’s name in the book of Life that the grace of God may abound for see in it’s full splendor and display.
Jesus doesn’t just save people who are more prone to his message.
Jesus doesn’t just save people who would have been a better person.
Jesus doesn’t save people who could of demonstrated good and noble behavior.
No, Jesus saved unconditionally.
Because if there were conditions, Paul should of failed them.
Because if there were conditions, Paul couldn’t of met them.
Because if there were conditions, Paul would have been left alone.
But instead, in the goodness and good pleasure of our heavenly Father, saved not only a friend, but now one of his greatest enemies, a separator of Christ and his church.
We see this right here, as Saul, who became Paul poses this question to us today.
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?”
Can you guys hear what I’m trying to say here?
Do you feel the weight of the words?
Do you see this fearful question turn into a preposterous one? A foolish one?
Do you see the weight of the world’s tribulation lightening and the power of God rooting in your heart?
Then he goes on to list afflictions that a man, a person, or even a conqueror can cause upon us, “Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?”
These are the very same ways that Saul persecuted the early Christian Church. He placed the church under tribulation as he broken their front doors and forced himself into their homes. Chaos ensues while with a loud voice they threatened them with death, calling them names because of their faith in Jesus Christ. Distress, as they have lost everything on their way to court to be put to death. Persecution, such as his singling out the Christian church in hopes of dwindling them down to nothing. Famine, as the Christians were held in dire situations well under normal means. Nakedness, some because of putting up a struggle they could have been left without clothes, naked, walking in shame. Danger and sword, as he came not with words, but with threat of life.
One of the greatest persecutors of the Christian faith, turned into a Christian himself by a miraculous encounter with Jesus Christ, is confessing that even in his most zealous moment, in his highest of God fearing Christian destroying frenzy, he was powerless to stop the plan of God which was prepared before the foundations of the world and set in motion by Jesus Christ, the son of God, Messiah of all nations.
The plan that would even include himself.
Something, only God can do. A miracle.
The power and gravity of this question doesn’t just rest solely upon who Paul is, but even more so with who Jesus is.
Next take a look at the next word in the question, “Separate”
Paul is asking us, “Who can SEPARATE us from the love of Jesus?”
Let’s take a moment to think about the word separate and I will show you how it’s in direct opposition to the will of God and plan of redemption for Christians.
Did you know that separation is exactly the opposite of the mission of the Father God to save the world through his son Jesus Christ? The Father God didn’t send Jesus Christ to further separate man from God. The Father God sent Jesus Christ so that he could RECONCILE us to himself.
We could even say with confidence as later stated, that the Love of Jesus Christ is actually the Love of God the Father in Him. As he has come, not to do his own will, but the will of the father. He was sent by the Father.
In order to further clarify this question, I’d change it a little to state it this way.
“Who can separate us from the love of God, The Father, made manifest in Jesus Christ through whom we were reconciled to the Father?”
As said by the greatest persecutor himself, Saul turned Paul.
Even in great tribulation
Even in unending distress
Even in persistent persecution
Even in the brutal season of famine
Even in being brought down to the point of nakedness
Even in sensing great danger for your life
Even in facing a sword drawn against you
Even when Christians are brought out of their homes and killed.
Even when Christians are gathered and slaughtered.
These are times where Christians should separate from God.
These are times where Christians should say God I’m tired of running the race I’m done.
These are times where Christians should begin to doubt.
But instead, like you have experienced and so have I…
We have inexplicable, unspeakable joy.
We have peace in times of tribulation.
We have faith in Jesus Christ our Lord.
At first glance, it may seem like we did something right to get here.
When quickly looking over, it seems that this love was made manifest in myself.
I was able to make these things happen.
If this is the case, we can say that we did something to attain eternal life.
But the bible makes it clear, even the faith that we have is a gift from God.
Ephesians 2:8, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
This faith that enables all that comes from being a Christian, this faith, even this is a gift. That means that the one who started your faith journey isn’t yourself, but it is God.
Do you know why this is a good thing that we didn’t start our own faith?
First of all, of course so that we have nothing to boast, but secondly so that we can even moreso put more of our faith in Christ knowing that he loved us so much that he gave us the first and only requirement of eternal life. “FAITH”
What this means is that salvation isn’t dependent on us, but rather it’s 100% dependent of Jesus Christ and his work in us. This is a good thing. Actually it’s a really good thing.
Why? Because we as humans have a tendency to mess things up. We have a tendency to break things. We have a tendency to make things more complex then it is. BUT, with Jesus Christ, it doesn’t matter, because it’s not about what we’ve done or what we may do in the future, but more so about what Jesus Christ is doing to us and through us.
Don’t believe me?
Let’s take a look at 2 Corinthians 5:14-19.
“For the love of Christ controls us.”
Let’s stop here for a minute. When you think of Faith, don’t think of you on a spinner cycle peddling away and making things happen. Instead, the truth of the matter is, When you think of Faith, you’ve been overtaken by Christ. You have been overcome by Christ. He controls you. He transforms you.
Further in the verse it says, “because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died. And he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves, but for him who for their sake died and was raised.”
What this means is that Christ controls us, that we may no longer live for ourselves, but for Christ who died for us. We join Christ in his death. As Christ put his body to death on the cross in place of a sinful body, so our sinful body is being put to death by Christ in this life. Just as Christ died for us, we too have died. It’s no longer we who live, but Christ in us who was raised in the tomb.
Our savior, Jesus Christ, didn’t defeat a mere human or another conqueror on earth, but rather HE DEFEATED SIN AND DEATH which would have been hellfire for eternity. The scope of Christ work isn’t natural, but supernatural. The victory we receive in Christ, it isn’t merely natural, but supernatural. This is why our question this morning erodes even more.
Dear brother and sister, listen close to the words of Paul in our passage this morning.
“In all these things, WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS through him who loved us.”
The scope of the victory of Jesus Christ is so large, that whatever battle may seem to be of no hope and defeat, whatever schemes of the enemy that you must endure, it’s just a moment in the grand scheme of Christ victory on the Cross. We may suffer defeat or even endure heavy pressure, but the war has been won. The victory has been secured and accomplished by Jesus Christ, the son of God.
This is another reason why we can have peace and joy in times of hardship and trials. As believers of Jesus Christ, we have confidence that He has conquered sin and death. In this, we’re able to take on our trials knowing that what is waiting for us in the next life in the new heavens and new earth is surpassing in glory compared to whatever tribulation, distress, trial, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger or sword that we can experience in this life.
Let’s take encouragement from the words of Jesus Christ in John 16:33, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation but take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
Jesus Christ has overcome the world, therefore we have become more than conquerors, for conquerors may be able to fight against flesh and blood, but, in Christ, we have defeat sin and death! No man has ever been able to conqueror this other than Jesus Christ, the son of God!
This is why Paul presses on and makes this claim even larger. He writes, “Neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord!
When we put the two together, that the one we believe in is the son of God who was promised by the Father throughout the Old Testament. This God isn’t any God of million Gods, but the God, the only God who created the world.
Who shall separate the creator God from his children?
As I was studying, doing word studying in my bible program, I came upon a very interesting observation that I’m not sure if it’s been pointed out yet, at least I haven’t seen it myself. As I was doing study on the love of God, I came upon the word Steadfast. I quickly remembered the song, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning. New every morning. Great is thy faithfulness Oh Lord. Great is thy faithfulness.”
Then I looked up the word “Steadfast” to see what kind of phrases would come in the Old Testament.
I though it would be phrases such as, “ISRAEL, YOU ARE NOT STEADFAST.” Or, “ISRAEL, YOU MUST BE STEADFAST” Or, “ISRAEL, STEADFAST BE GOOD.”
But I didn’t see any of that. In fact, 99.99% of the word steadfast in the old testament is linked with the word love. “Steadfast love” Steadfast comes out 202 times in the old testament. “Steadfast love is 194 of those 202.
In all of the Old Testament, God placed the law before them. The purpose of the law wasn’t to give them life, but to expose their sinfulness. In all of the Old Testament, their sins are exposed, sacrificial festivals are in place to cleanses them, God is so disappointed in them, he is constantly punishing them. But all the while, we thing, OLD TESTAMENT IS SO WORK ORIENTED 100% WORK BASED, this isn’t true.
The Steadfast Love of the Lord was faithful to them. All throughout Genesis all the way to the book of Micah, The Heavenly Father uses the phrase, “Steadfast love” again and again again.
The love of the Heavenly Father has been Steadfast since Genesis. He is still steadfast now. He will be steadfast for eternity. It’s the nature of the Heavenly Father. He is true, he speak truth and keeps promises.
I could phrase it this way, “Who can separate us from the steadfast love of the Father?”
Paul writes in verses 38-39, “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Notice the shift in Paul’s answer from the Love of Christ to the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. When we look deeper into Christ love, we realize that it was the Father’s love. He is the exact imprint of the Father.
Hebrews 1:2, “But in these last days he has spoke to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.”
Be encourage today, my brothers and sisters in Christ.
This Faith we have, at times we may feel like it’s on wobbly ground or even that it may not survive. It may be scary in times of disbelief or doubt, but the bible is clear that the author of our faith isn’t ourselves. In fact, it isn’t based upon anything that we’ve done or will do. Everything is based upon the redemptive work of the Father as set forth from the foundations of the world, that he would send his own son to die on the cross for the sins of the world in order that those who believe in Him may be forgiven and have eternal life. This faith that we have, even that is a gift. We didn’t bring anything to the table. This should give you confidence in your faith, it should give you more thankfulness in your heart to God. It’s not that we loved God first, but God first loved us.
As we have heard all these things, I ask you once again this question, I hope to God that this message has given you more confidence to know what is the answer…
“Who can separate us from the love of Christ?”
No one and nothing, can separate us from the love of Christ.
We are, inseparable.