Subject: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?”
33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.
34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
35 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 Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”
Romans 8:33-36
INTRODUCTION
1. A series of valid questions
a) Paul had taught deep and insightful doctrines
b) He was well aware that there would be some who may have doubts
2. The questions he raised up
a) They could have come from people he came into contact with
b) These were raised so that we can have an even greater certainty of faith
QUESTIONS THAT NEED ANSWERS
1. Charges brought against believers
a) Some object to the idea of being “God’s elect”
b) This seems to make believers “very special”
c) This also seems to “exclude people”
d) Paul’s answer
i) It is God who justifies
ii) Salvation is from God
iii) Every blessing is from the LORD
2. Condemnation of God’s elect
a) Some condemn believers as being “naïve”
b) Others condemn believers as “hypocrites”
c) Still others mock believers as “weak and useless”
d) Paul’s answer
i) The Lord Jesus died for the believers
ii) He is risen and makes intercession for the believers
3. A question about the Love of the Lord Jesus Christ
a) It is a profound love
b) It is a huge love
c) Would anything separate us from the love of the Lord?
4. Things that could have triggered off this question:
a) Tribulation
b) Distress
c) Persecution
d) Famine
e) Nakedness
f) Peril
g) Sword
5. A quotation from Psalm 44:22
“For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Romans 8:36
a) Psalm 44 was written by the sons of Korah
b) In this Psalm the sons of Korah lamented their lot in life
c) The writers expressed much misgiving about why the LORD allowed them to suffer so much
6. Paul’s use of this text from Psalm 44:22
a) Not to lament
b) Nor to complain
c) He cited this text with a totally different spirit
i) There may be problems in life
ii) But the believer may adopt a positive stance amidst suffering
iii) The love of Christ the Lord remains indisputable no matter how much suffering may be experienced
iv) The believer must be assured that the Saviour is praying for us