The Inseparable Love of God (3)

The Inseparable Love of God (3)

 

 

 

 

 

[Romans 8:38–39]

 

 

 

Romans 8:38–39 says: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor rulers, neither 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 that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Centering on the phrase “will be able to separate us from the love of God”, we have already received two messages under the title “The Inseparable Love of God.”  The first message was about why we cannot be separated from the love of God — because His love is eternal, a love that loves us forever.  Psalm 103:17 says: “But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s steadfast love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children.”  The second message taught that there are many things that try to separate us from God’s love — “death, life, angels, rulers, things present, things to come, powers, height, depth, or anything else in creation” (Rom. 8:38–39).

 

Today’s third and final message is: The reason we cannot be separated from God’s love is that this love is “the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

 

Romans 8:39 (latter part) says: “…nothing else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  If the love of God were outside of our Lord Christ Jesus (as Romans 3:21 says, “But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been made known…”—that is, “apart from our Lord Christ Jesus”), then we might be separated from that love.  But we cannot, because God’s love is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Thus, there is a deep relationship between “in Christ Jesus our Lord” and “the love of God.”  In John 1:1 we read, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”  And in verse 18, “No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.”  The only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, came to reveal God to us.  So in John 14:8–9, when Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us,” Jesus answered, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?”  Thus, the inseparable love of God is the love of God revealed in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:39).

What is the love of Christ like?  We can think of it in three ways:

 

(1)   The love of Christ is a love that died for us.

 

Romans 8:34a says, “Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died…”  When did Christ die for us?  When we were still weak (5:6), ungodly (5:6), still sinners (5:8), and even enemies (5:10).  “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (5:8)

 

(2)   The love of Christ is a love that rose again.

 

Romans 8:34b says, “…more than that, who was raised to life…”  Christ rose from the dead to justify us.

Romans 4:25 says, “He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.”

 

(3)    The love of Christ is a love that intercedes for us.

 

Romans 8:34c says, “…who is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.”  The second verse of the hymn “Saviour!  They Dying Love” says: “At the blest mercyseat, Pleading for me, My feeble faith looks up, Jesus, to Thee; Help me the cross to bear, Thy wondrous love declare, Some song to raise, or prayer, Something for Thee.”

 

Thus, the love of Christ can be seen in three ways: (1) He died for us, (2) He rose again as the firstfruits of our resurrection, and (3) He is still praying for our salvation.  Through this love of Christ, God gives us His own love. Without the love of Christ, we could not receive the love of God.  Therefore, nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 8:39).  Just as the Apostle Paul was convinced of this—“For I am convinced…” (v.38)—so we too must have this same conviction: that nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

               While meditating on Romans 8:38–39, I read a commentary through which God gave me a precious insight.

It is this: If Christians are satisfied merely with receiving God’s grace as a free gift, our faith life is incomplete and self-centered.  If we truly have assurance in the unbreakable love of God, then because God loves us, we must also love God and love and serve our neighbors.  Jesus Himself gave us the example of this loving service: “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mt. 20:28).  If we seek to be served, we are pursuing our own benefit, which is not love for others.  1 Corinthians 13:5 clearly says that love “does not seek its own benefit.”  If we live only for our own gain, then we are not living as those who are assured that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.  1 John 3:16 says: “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.”  Therefore, if we truly know and are convinced of the unbreakable love of God shown in Christ who gave His life for us, then it is right and fitting that we love our neighbors and humbly serve them just as Jesus did.