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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:

“For your sake we face death all day long;

    we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:35-39

Nothing?

Yup, that’s right. NOTHING can separate us from God’s love through Jesus.

C’mon, that can’t be true.

Trust me, it’s just the way it is.

What about sin?! I’m pretty sure sin gets in the way of God’s love, yes?

Nope, not even that.

So, what can separate us from God’s love through Jesus?

NOTHING. The love of God that is in Jesus Christ our Lord is unbelievably, completely, emphatically, categorically, inseparably present 24/7 for you and me, no matter what tries to squeeze between us.

Whoa. That’s huge.

It’s hard to accept the reality that it’s impossible to name anything that can separate us from God’s love through Jesus. We live in an imperfect world where humans typically resist absolutes. Honestly, we prefer exceptions way more than rules. Gravity as a law is fine, but can we please find a loophole for taxes and death?

Even the Apostle Paul wrestled with putting limitations on God’s love through Jesus. Only after he’d personally experienced trouble, hardship, persecution, and so on (v. 35) did Paul pen his challenging conclusions. By the time he says, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (v. 37), his mind and heart had exhausted all the situations and reasons that might affect the Lord’s loving posture toward all people. 

As you read verses 38-39, what have you tried to add to Paul’s comprehensive list that you think or feel can separate you from God’s love through Jesus? I bet you attempt to add sins like your temper, mistakes, impure thoughts, unforgiveness, and more. I know I have and will again, but none of it changes what’s true about the Lord’s favor.

Try as we might, we’ll never uncover something that separates us from God’s love through Jesus. Next time you wonder, “Can or did [fill in the blank] cut me off from God’s love through Jesus?” Listen for the clarifying, convincing, and convicting whisper of the Holy Spirit to tell your heart, “Nothing. Not even that.”

Next Steps 

• Reflect: Write a personalized version of Romans 8:38-39. Replace Paul’s list with what tries to cut your heart off from God’s inextinguishable love.
• Discuss: Talk with God, a trusted friend, or both about your personalized verses. Allow the Holy Spirit to convince you that NOTHING can separate you from God’s love through Jesus.