We Cannot be Separated from Christ
Separated…No Way
Review
Separated…No Way
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? [36] As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. [37] Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Romans 8:35-37
Praise God…Christ protects us in every circumstances.
What a magnificent assurance.
“Who [or what] can separate us from the love of God?”
Many people, and too many Christians, feel that God doesn’t love them. They feel unworthy of HIS love, because they fall short, and fail.
How could God possibly love them when they fail in HIS will?
The results of such feelings are...
·a sense of unworthiness ·a downing of oneself ·a sense of discouragement ·an accusing of oneself ·a low self-esteem ·a defeated life
Let’s remember today and put this note around our house and our office place?
Such feelings are contradictory to Scripture and are the work of the deceiver.
“Who [or what] can separate us from the love of Christ?”
No circumstance, no situation…separated…no way.
No matter if you are in…:
Tribulation: undergoing struggle, trials, temptation, suffering, or affliction.
Distress: suffering anguish, trouble, strain, agony; not knowing which way to turn or what to do.
Persecution: being abused, mocked, ridiculed, shamed, mistreated, ignored, neglected, harassed, attacked, or injured.
Famine: having no food, starving and having no way to secure food.
Nakedness: being stripped of all clothes and earthly comforts; to be bare, having all earthly possessions taken away.
Peril: to be exposed to the most severe risks; to be confronted with the most terrible dangers to one’s body, mind, soul, property, family, and loved ones.
Sword: to be killed; to suffer martyrdom.
Do you think under these circumstances that someone might think that they have been forsaken by God?
God declares loudly and clearly in HIS Scripture that HE does love us.
Nothing, absolutely nothing—can separate us from the love of Christ.
Our daily circumstances are not evidence that God doesn’t love us. God loves us no matter the circumstance, and will love and grow us in and through each.
Remember but don’t be consumed by the fact: we will suffer while we are in this world. We will be counted as sheep for the slaughter, rejecting and persecuted (Psalm 44:22).
We will be persecuted as long as we continue to live for Christ. Our lives convict the world, because the world rejects God and godliness.
No matter our circumstances, we are more than conquerors through Christ who has loved us (Romans 8:37).
Christ meets all the material needs of life.
“Therefore, take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?...But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:31, 33).
Christ gives us rest.
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
Christ gives us peace.
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).
“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
Christ provides an escape from temptation.
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Cor. 10:13).
Christ comforts us through all trials.
“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God” (2 Cor. 1:3-4).
Christ supplies all our needs.
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Phil. 4:13).
Christ delivers us through persecution.
“For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds” (Hebrews 12:3).
“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy” (1 Peter 4:12-13).
Christ delivers us into His very presence, giving us eternal life.
“And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me [transport, take me] unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever” (2 Tim. 4:18).
“To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne” (Rev. 3:21).
Christ cares for us no matter the situation.
“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (1 Peter 5:7).
Christ enables us to overcome this world.
“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:4).
Christ shows HIMSELF strong in our behalf.
“For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him” (2 Chron. 16:9).
Review
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, [39] Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39
The grand finale of Romans Chapter 8 is Christ protects us from the most extreme experiences and forces.
Another great assurance of deliverance.
There is nothing in this universe that can separate a “true” believer from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
You and I can stand in full assurance of this glorious fact.
Consider the experiences and forces mentioned by this Scripture:
Not death: confronting death and leaving this world cannot separate us from Christ and His love (John 5:24).
Not life: no trial, pleasure or comfort of life, no person or thing in this life can separate us from Christ and His love.
Not angels, principalities, or powers: no heavenly or spiritual creature, nor being from any other dimension can separate us from Christ and His love.
Nothing present or to come: present events, beings or things, nor future events, beings, or things—absolutely nothing in existence or any thing in future existence—can cut us off from Christ and His love.
Not height or depth: nothing from outer space or from the depths of the earth can separate us from Christ and His love.
The grand finale: if there be any other creature than the ones named, that creature cannot separate us from “the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
“The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing” (Zeph. 3:17).
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
“At that day [after Jesus’ ascension] ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: for the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God” (John 16:26-27).
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved)” (Ephes. 2:4-5).
“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not” (1 John 3:1).
“In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him” (1 John 4:9).
“The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee” (Jeremiah 31:3).
Of course the question must be asked, Are you “in” Christ Jesus?
God gives all who come many assurances of our salvation and deliverance, but the requirement is that you must be one who has admitted to God that you agree with HIM that you are a sinner, and have asked Jesus Christ into your heart and your life.
We ask continually that any who have not called upon Jesus as Lord and Savior come forward so that we may pray with you…HIS call never ends…Is Jesus calling you today?
Maybe the Holy Spirit is moving you today to a new level of commitment, we ask you to come forward and let us know?
Maybe HE is calling you to formally acknowledge your belonging to this fellowship, if so we invite you to come?
God is working in our midst, we want to be right, if there is a need to get right with God we ask you to come?
Jesus loves you so very much, and assures you today that nothing, absolutely nothing can separate you from HIS love…remember this today, tomorrow and forever.
