Nothing Can Separate Us

December 18th, 2024
by Dr. D. Lance Waldie

Romans 8:35-37 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 Just as it is written, “For Your sake we are being put to death all day long; We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.

So, Christ died, was raised, is at God’s right hand resting from His completed work of salvation, and He is praying (8:34) for those His Father foreknew, predestined, called, justified, and glorified (8:29-30). Christ won the victory over sin and death, and those who trust in Him alone for salvation are co-heirs with Him (8:17) for eternity. Nothing can take that victory away from Christ or His people. Christians will surely suffer in some form for being united to Christ (8:17), but nothing can divorce them from the “love of Christ”—a phrase with reference to salvation in this context, for believers love Christ “because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19).

The greater context of Romans 8:35 begins in 8:17 which speaks of Christian suffering as it relates to being co-heirs with Christ. Paul lists seven types of suffering Christians typically face, none of which are any match for the victory won in the believer’s life through Christ’s death and resurrection. First, believers face “tribulation” (Gr. thlipsis)—physical, emotional, mental, social, or economic oppression. Second, “distress” (Gr. stenochōria)—harsh or unjust treatment. Third, “persecution” (Gr. diōgmos)—enduring pain, physical or otherwise. In spite of all this, Jesus said that those who are persecuted for His sake are “blessed” (Matt. 5:10-12).

A fourth kind of suffering that cannot separate a believer from Christ is “famine” (Gr. limos), typically tied to persecution. From the beginning of the Church age to the present, Christians are discriminated against in their jobs and often go hungry as a result. Proceeding from this is “nakedness” (Gr. gumnotēs), causing humiliation. Sixth, “peril” (Gr. kindunos) speaks of being vulnerable to danger; being at risk. Finally, the “sword” (Gr. machaira) points to the threat of death many Christians throughout the centuries have endured for their faith.Certainly many believers throughout the Church age have suffered horribly, even unto death. Paul himself endured prison time, beatings, a stoning (2 Cor. 11:23-28), and martyrdom for his faith. He thus quoted David’s words in Psalm 44:22: “For Your sake we are being put to death all day long; we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” Paul wanted all to know that trials are part of one’s faith in Christ. None of them, however, can overcome true faith.

It is in the midst of life’s trials associated with faith in Christ that believers “overwhelmingly conquer” (Gr. hupernikaō)—literally, over-triumph, or utterly defeat beyond the norm. This entails coming through all of life’s trials spiritually unscathed yet with more power and greater faith than before the trial. To conquer in this way means to endure any kind of physical loss and draw closer to Christ as a result. When Paul later lamented his own physical weaknesses in prayer to God, God revealed to him, saying, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9). Paul responded with, “Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me” (2 Cor. 12:10).

Food for Thought

Soon after Paul wrote to the Roman church, the blood of Christians soaked the soil as many were mauled by wild beasts or slain by gladiators during the latter part of Nero’s reign as emperor (AD 54-68). Nero even turned some Christians into candles by having hot wax poured all over their bodies in order to add light to his garden at night. Perhaps the same fate awaits us? If it does, may we be found singing hymns as the fire is lit, praying a prayer of gratitude as the lions are unbridled, or preaching a sermon of God’s grace on our executioner before the axe falls.