“ For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Rom. 8:38, 39. NASB 

Footsteps #356. This is victories crescendo – I, like many others, love this passage. I love to hear it. I love to think about it. And I love to contemplate the depth of its meaning. 

Romans 8 is the great assurance chapter. It starts out proclaiming that there is “no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (v1), and it ends up with the declaration that absolutely nothing can separate us from the God who provided the free gift of salvation that Paul expounded upon in the first 7 chapters. 

In between, Romans 8 is packed with further assurance: Christians are God’s children, they have the certain promise of future glory, God has given them the Holy Spirit, God works out all things for their good, nothing or no one can condemn them, nothing can come between them and God, and they are “more than conquerors”. 

What more could Paul have said? He has hammered home, pounded down, and fully exhibited one of the greatest teachings of the Bible – that those who maintain a faith relationship with God through Jesus cannot lose! That is powerful! PTL! 

Now, at the end of the first half of Romans Paul supplies us with a victorious crescendo, stamping home anew the security of those safe in Jesus. Nothing, neither death nor life (anything that can happen to us in life), nor angels or demons (any cosmic or superhuman agencies), nor anything in time (neither the present nor the future), or space (neither height nor depth), nor any other power, nor anything else shall be able to come between us and our God. Paul leaves no stones unturned in exhibiting his certainty and confidence in God. 

Let us never forget that our confidence and assurance rests not in our love for God – which is frail, fickle, and halting – but in His love for us, which is steadfast and persevering. Our hope is to “hang in there” by faith, never to let go of the God who is more than willing to supply freely all our needs in relation to justification, sanctification, and final glorification. For those “in Christ,” Paul has the utmost confidence in the final outcome. Nothing (except themselves) can block them from final victory.  

I now have a dilemma: I have yet to cover the second half of Romans, Paul’s journey to Jerusalem, his imprisonment, and then his arrival in Rome. I originally planned to be finished the whole series by Christmas. I tarried too long in Galatians, Corinthians, and Romans. My plan now is to move quickly to the end of Romans and to the grand conclusion of Paul’s life.  God bless your Christmas and New Year.