Romans 8:31–39: Nothing Can Separate Us
Paul, after exploring the magnificent work that God Himself has done to save us through His grace, turns around and asks us, “What then shall we say to these things?” Without missing a beat, Paul responds, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” This seems like a change of topic. We were just talking about God’s work in salvation. How does this connect?
Paul remembers that God is both “just and the justifier” (Romans 3:26). If God was willing to give His own Son to save us, what grounds would we have to doubt His love for us? If God Himself is the Judge, and He has justified us through the work of His own Son, who could possibly overturn His verdict?
This is where we remember where this chapter started: “There is therefore now no condemnation” for those who are “in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). No verdict of condemnation remains against those who are in Him. Not only did Jesus die for our sins, He rose from the dead! His resurrection publicly declared His victory over sin and death. But the line does not end there. He is also seated at the right hand of the Father, ruling and reigning. The very Lamb who paid for our sins now reigns supreme over all creation.
Paul then makes his argument complete. Not only is our Savior ruling as the resurrected Lamb of God, He does something deeply personal: He intercedes for us. The One to Whom every knee will bow intercedes for you. Who can bring a charge against you when the One who reigns is interceding for you?
Paul then confronts a very human objection. It is easy for us to wonder if really nothing can be against us. We see struggle and suffering in our lives every day. Surely those things have implications for our lives and might have some say in whether we are victorious. If not the physical, perhaps there are spiritual powers that might get in the way of the love of God.
Paul says, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:37). Not that these things cannot affect us, but even in those circumstances God’s love abounds.
Paul finally shows the connective tissue behind the point: “through him who loved us.”
No angel, no power, no metaphysical or physical distinction, nor anything else in all creation can separate us from the love of God.
Because we are in Christ Jesus.
We have no condemnation because we are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us (Romans 8:37). And nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:39).
So our assurance is not in our innocence. We are very guilty. The assurance is that we are in Christ Jesus.
Christ died. Christ rose. Christ reigns. Christ intercedes. The Father loves the Son, and we have been united to that beloved Son. Jesus Himself says that the Father has “loved them even as you loved me” (John 17:23). Scripture even says that God has raised us and seated us with Christ in the heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6).
Satan, the world, or even our conscience may bring an accusation against us, and we may even be guilty of the sin alleged. But what accusation can overturn God’s verdict concerning those He has united to His Son?
We are in Christ, and in Christ we are in the love of God.
-steve