Nothing

NOTHING

The title of my message today is Nothing. An interesting title. Does it mean I have nothing to talk about?

No, that's not it. There are 22 verses in the Bible about nothing! I am going to talk about one of these nothings today.

Romans 8:31-39 NLT

Nothing Can Separate Us from God’s Love

31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? 32 Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? 33 Who dares accuse us, whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. 34 Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honour at God’s right hand, pleading for us.

35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:31–39 Paul ends this chapter by emphasizing how believers can look forward to Christ’s ultimate victory over earthly suffering and supernatural oppression. God’s plan of salvation has resulted in total victory. Nothing on heaven or earth can separate believers from the love of God in Christ

I want to take a few minutes and go through these verses. I will be referring to the notes in the Zondervan NIV Study Bible.

v. 31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? If. The “if” here does not imply that there is any uncertainty or conditions attached. It means since God is for us, nothing can stand against us. There is that keyword again: “nothing”.

If God be for us, who can be against us? —If God be resolved and engaged to bring us through, all our enemies must be His; and “Who would set the briers and thorns against Him in battle? He would go through them. He would burn them together” (Is 27:4). What strong consolation is here! Nay, but the great Pledge of all has already been given; for,

v. 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

The argument (from the greater to the lesser) here is similar to Romans 5:9-10. If God gave the supreme gift of his son to save us, he will certainly also give whatever is necessary to bring to fulfillment the work begun at the cross. See Gen. 22:16 note

v.33 & 34 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

A court of law is in mind. No charge can be brought against Christians because in Christ their penalty has been paid and their sentence has been served.

Jesus’ death accomplished the justification of believers.

Who then is the one who condemns? Echo’s the language of Isaiah 50:9: “it is the Sovereign Lord who helps me. Who will condemn me? They will all wear out like a garment; the moths will eat them up.” Paul gives three reasons why no one can condemn God’s people: (1) Christ died for us; (2) Christ is alive and seated at the right hand of God, the position of power. (3) Christ is interceding for us.

Vv. 35-39 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:

“For your sake, we face death all day long;

We are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 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.