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.
(Romans 8:39)
This verse is one of the most powerful verses in scripture. It gives a clear straightforward
declaration of God love for all of humanity. I can remember my preaching professor (Dr.
Tom Ridenhour) talk about this verse—he used to say that is one of the verses that really
should not be preached for it is a clear statement of gospel truth. He thought that this
verse is one that we should just let stand on its own.
It is clear statement of fact that nothing can separate us from God’s love. Think about
Paul’s list—neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor ruler, nor things present, nor things
to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in creation. Did he leave
anything out? If so, I cannot think of what it would be—he pretty much covered all
components of creation and life to say that there is not anything at all that can take away
God’s love from us.
I think that the amazing this about this verse is that there are people who do not believe
this verse (or act like they do not believe the verse). There are people who think that they
have done something that negates God’s love or puts them beyond God’s redemption.
And there are others who think that there are some who are beyond God’s love (the vilest
people of the world). This verse, I think, clearly contradicts these thoughts. Paul clearly
states that nothing—and I think he mean just that—nothing can separate us from the love
of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. That God’s love reaches out to all people and that there
is nothing we can do or nothing that someone can do to us that invalidates God’s love for
us. This is the good news that we need to proclaim and hold true to.