The Inseparable Love of God (1) [ Romans 8:38-39 ] Why can nothing separate us from the love of God? 1. Because God’s love is eternal. Romans 8:29a says: “For those whom He foreknew…” The word “foreknew” refers to before eternity began —before the creation of heaven and earth . The phrase “those whom He foreknew” does not simply mean knowing about someone intellectually, but rather loving them. In other words, it refers to “those whom God loved from eternity past.” Amos 3:2a says: “You only have I known of all the families of the earth.” If “known” merely meant intellectual knowledge, that would imply that God only knew Israel and did not know the other nations—which cannot be true, because the all-knowing God lacks knowledge of nothing. Therefore, “I have known you only” means “I have loved you only.” God loved Israel among all the nations of the earth. Hosea 13:5 says: “I knew you in the wilderness , in the land of great drought.” The “wilderness” was where the Israelite...
‘I was encouraged about you because of your faith’ [1 Thessalonians 3:1-7] Have you ever felt the limits of patience? Therefore, have you ever prayed to God, 'God, how long should I endure this affliction?' The longer and worse the pain and adversity we have, the more we feel the limits of patience. At that time, we ask God "How long?" and cry out to God. In Scripture Psalm 119, the psalmist did so. Even though he put his hope in God’s word and longed for God’s salvation (v. 81), there was no answer from God. So he prayed to God, “My eyes fail, looking for your promise; I say, "When will you comfort me?” This is what Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 3:7 to the Thessalonian church saints: “Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith.” I would like to think about Paul who was encouraged by the Thes...