Romans 8:38-39
Praise the Lord everybody. When Paul wrote the book of Romans, he was addressing both the Jewish and Gentile believers who were converted at Pentecost. The Church at Rome was suffering from strong persecution at the time and Paul was trying to “rally the troops” so to speak in chapter eight. He wanted to re-enforce the fact that Jesus was alive and well and seated at the right hand of God the Father making intercession for us believers.
In verse 38 the key words are “I am persuaded.” In another translation it says, “I am fully persuaded,” Paul is letting us know that he did not arrive at this conclusion without careful consideration. He had experienced situations and spiritual revelations that had changed his previous point of view. Throughout chapter eight of Romans, we see Apostle Paul talking about the fact that as Believers we have died to the flesh and now live by Christ’s spirit which lives in us, and as such we will be persecuted, and face many trials and tribulations. “We are considered as sheep to be slaughtered” Paul states, but the good news is that with all the things we have to fear as Christians in this world, Christ by His spirit has given us the ability to conquer those fears.
It is the ability to conquer those fears, through Christ, that has persuaded Paul that “nothing can separate us from the love of God.” And what is the love of God? John 3:16 tells this, “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.” God’s love is expressed to us in His Son, Jesus Christ. In Him we find the propitiation for our sin.
We as Christian believers have this knowledge to hold onto in these last and evil day, that no trial or tribulation, no person or spirit, and not even death can keep us from gaining the prize, the forgiveness, and salvation, that comes with being in Christ Jesus. God bless you all.
King James Version (KJV)
“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 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.”
New International Version (NIV)
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 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.”
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
New American Bible (NASB)
“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.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
The Living Bible (TLB)
“For I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can’t, and life can’t. The angels won’t, and all the powers of hell itself cannot keep God’s love away. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, or where we are—high above the sky, or in the deepest ocean—nothing will ever be able to separate us from the love of God demonstrated by our Lord Jesus Christ when he died for us.”