Romans 8: Nothing Will Separate Us from God’s Love
Key Verses:
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
“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.”
Daily Message:
These are two of the most frequently quoted verses of the entire New Testament. They give us the reassurance that if indeed we focus on the leading of the Holy Spirit and not on the sins articulated in the law, and if we follow God’s calling for us, we will be rewarded with spiritual growth and continued progress toward a more Christ-like existence. They also reassure us that nothing “will be able to separate us from the love of God, that is in Christ Jesus.”
Many view the Bible as an articulation of laws and rules to live by. They attempt to gain God’s favor by abiding by the rules and complying with all of the “shoulds” and “should-nots.” In the earlier chapters of Romans, Paul tells us that God’s grace is a free, unmerited gift that we don’t deserve. We cannot earn God’s grace by our good deeds or by following His commands; rather, His grace is simply given to us. By focusing on the laws and rules, we can easily lose sight of the Lord and the potential we have for a personal relationship with Him.
It is wonderful to know that God accepts us with all of our imperfections, knowing that we often fall short of goodness. Yet it is Christ’s presence in us that allows us to make positive progress toward achieving His likeness.
A Moment to Reflect:
We all have a long way to go. Have you come to understand, through your prayer life, your Bible studies and your understanding of the character of Christ, that you indeed have become more like Him?
Can you identify ways in which you have noticeably changed since you first accepted Christ? Do you now react differently to both your friends and foes? Do you love God with all your heart, mind and soul? And do you love your neighbor as yourself?
If you have experienced this transformation in your own life and in your relationships with God and with others, was it because you were following biblical laws and rules, or was it because you focused your being on the Lord and were guided by the Holy Spirit?