The Inseparable Love of God

Are you persuaded that nothing can separate you from God’s love? Are you blessed by the inseparable love of God? God’s love persuades us that His love prevails over all suffering and trials. His love unites us with God and His sons and daughters. Romans 8:38-39 tells us that God’s love is revealed in Jesus Christ our Lord. May you be persuaded that God’s love prevails over all and unites you with Him and other believers.

I pray that as you dwell on Romans 8:38-39, you will be blessed by the inseparable love of God and that His love will cause you to share His love with others.

Below the video is a version of the meditation.

“In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.” 1 John 4:9

The Background

Paul wrote the letter to the Romans from the city of Corinth as he wintered there on his third missionary journey. Although he had been God’s bond-servant for approximately 20 years, he hadn’t visited the church in Rome yet.

Are you persuaded that nothing shall separate you from God’s love like Paul was?

Romans 8 begins with the declaration that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus and walk according to the Holy Spirit.

Paul compares people who are trying to live by the Law with those who live according to the Spirit. We know that we’re dirty, rotten sinners and can’t keep the Law. Don’t we?

We can’t keep one command like don’t eat the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

We see the futility of living by our flesh. BUT have you experienced the overwhelming joy of knowing that you are a child of God? Joint heirs with Jesus! Because of the inseparable love of God revealed in Christ Jesus, our Lord.

5 Questions

Because of God’s inseparable love, Paul asks the Romans and you and me five questions.

Verse 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Verse 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
Verse 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.
Verse 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
Verse 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

If you meditated on Paul’s questions, what would your answer be? Like Paul, would your words crescendo into a shout?

“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus.“ (Romans 8:38-39)

Are you persuaded?

1. God’s Love Persuades.

The word, “persuade” is Peithō (pi’-tho) means to trust and be confident, and because of the trust and confidence we have in God, obedience results.

Paul writes of Abraham in Romans 4:20-21, “He [Abraham] did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He [God] had promised He was also able to perform.”

Where’s your trust? A trust that God is for you? A trust that convinces you to step out into unknown territory like Abraham? A persuasion that leads to obedience.

Are you persuaded that God is for you and will take you by the right hand and lead you through the storms of life—prevailing to your destination?

2. God’s Love Prevails

What makes Paul so adamant about the inseparable love of God? He writes in 2 Corinthians 11 and 12 that he suffered beatings, whippings, shipwrecks, sleeplessness, hunger, nakedness, a thorn in the flesh, and more.

Yet, he writes in 2 Corinthians 12:10, “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.“

Through his trials and sufferings, Paul saw God at work in and through him. He saw God’s strength through his weakness. He was persuaded that God’s love carried him through.

Are you persuaded that God’s love will carry you through your suffering?

How strong is God’s love?

Verse 38: Neither death nor life—

Romans 14:7-9 “For we don’t live for ourselves or die for ourselves. If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Christ died and rose again for this very purpose–to be Lord both of the living and of the dead.” (NLT)
Jesus conquered death when He rose from the dead. We have eternal life through Jesus. We’re not citizens of this world, we’re just walking through on our way to meet Jesus face-to-face.

Again, verse 38: Nor angels nor principalities nor powers.

Ephesians 6:12 “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual [hosts] of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
No spiritual forces can separate us from God’s love.

Still in verse 38: Nor things present nor things to come.

John 17:3 “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”
Time can’t separate us from God’s love. We have eternal life because Jesus is our Lord and Savior.

Verse 39: nor height nor depth.

David wrote in Psalm 139:7-8, “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You [are] there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.“
God is omnipresent—God is with us wherever we go, wherever we are. Nothing shall separate us!

Verse 39: nor any other created thing.

God is our Creator.

Are you persuaded that God is with you—united with you?

3. God’s Love Unites.

Verse 39, “the love of God which is in Christ Jesus.”

In Christ Jesus, we experience God’s love displayed for all the world to see. Agape, divine love. A love that gives everything.
Agape love. What kind of love is this?
Paul writes in Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

And with steadfast love, Jesus walked to Jerusalem that last time.

Why? John 17:21 tells us that Jesus prayed to the Father for you and me. He prayed, “that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.”

United with Jesus and the Father, “the love of God which is in Christ Jesus.”

In Christ (Christos) khris-tos’” “anointed One” Christ was and is the Messiah, the Son of God
Jesus: (iēsous), ee-ay-sooce’ Jesus = “Jehovah is salvation”
Lord: (kyrios) koo’-ree-os; master, lord

Our Anointed One, the Messiah, the Son of God, our salvation, master and Lord gave Himself for you and me. He endured false accusations, spitting, mocking, portions of His beard being pulled out, the crown of thorns cutting into his head, a scourging that shred His back, nails hammered into His hands and feet, His bones out of joint, lungs gasping for air. The sins of the world placed upon Him. God’s wrath poured out.

“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?

Finally, “It is finished.”

And Jesus gave up His spirit. They buried Him and three days later, He rose from the grave. And He’s sitting at God’s right hand speaking on our behalf.

Jesus made it possible to be united with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. All who are in Christ and new creations and walk in newness of life. We’re one with God and one with each other. United

All for you and me! All because God loves us and desires to be one with you and me—for eternity!

The inseparable love of God!

Are you persuaded that nothing shall be able to separate you from God’s love which is revealed in Jesus Christ our Lord?

Let’s Pause to Ponder

How has God’s love persuaded you that He is near?
How has God’s love prevailed in your life?
How has God’s inseparable love united you with other believers? With Him?

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The Inseparable Love of God