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"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?"

Text: Romans 8:35

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LOVE OF CHRIST

Would “critics” be silent for long? Not really! Where they may not be able to lay charges effectively against God’s elect, they can sow doubts about the strength of Christ’s love! How much can Christ love people who are so prone to sinning? Surely there must be a limit to the love of Christ? To these critics who seek to sow doubts, Paul has this to say.

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine,
or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
As it is written:
‘For Your sake we are killed all day long:
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.'”
Romans 8:35-36

1. Could anything cause us to be separated from the love of Christ?

This is the first general question that must first be given consideration. But to Paul this was no more than a question of rhetorical value! There is no need to give a reply because the answer is so obvious!

2. Pressing the point

a) Supposing believers get themselves into trouble?

b) Supposing they end up being persecuted or being in distress because of:-

i) Their foolishness

ii) Their sinfulness

iii) Their weaknesses

Paul’s reply covered all these questions. It does not matter the situation believers find themselves. Nothing separates believers from the love of Christ!

3. “It is written”

a) Paul finds his authority for such a strong position from the Scriptures.

b) There is no greater assurance than appealing to the Scriptures.

c) The Scriptures intimate an important truth- that trials and tribulations are to be expected! Believers are “accounted as sheep for the slaughter”. But they are not separated from the love of Christ!