"If God is for Us" (9)

[Romans 8:35-39]

Look at Romans 8:35: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?”  Here, who are the "we" that cannot be separated from the love of Christ? We can think of this in three ways:

(1) "We" refers to those whom God has chosen (Rom 8:33).
When did God choose us? Let’s look at Ephesians 1:4-5: “Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.”
God chose us before the foundation of the world. He predestined us according to His good pleasure.
Therefore, who can separate us from the love of Christ? Never!

(2) "We" refers to those whom God has justified (Rom 8:33).
God has justified those He has chosen. He did not just declare them justified with words; He treats them as righteous and rewards them as such.
Look at Ephesians 1:5: “Having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.”
God has chosen and justified us, and made us His sons. Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Never!

(3) "We" refers to those for whom Christ Jesus, who is at the right hand of God, intercedes (Rom 8:34).
Since the Son, Jesus, is interceding for us at the right hand of God, who can separate us from the love of Christ? Never!

The Bible is full of Christ’s love (Rom 8:35). From the beginning to the end, the Bible speaks of Christ’s love.
Look at Matthew 1:1, 16: “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham... and Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ.”
In the genealogy of Jesus Christ, we can also find Christ’s love. That is, Jesus, the Son of God, was conceived by the Holy Spirit before Mary and Joseph were married (v. 18), and He was incarnate to be with us as Immanuel, which is why we cannot help but feel Christ’s love.

Look at Revelation 22:20-21: “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”
In the words “Surely I am coming quickly,” we can find Christ’s love. Why is Jesus coming quickly?
Look at John 14:31: “But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do. Arise, let us go from here.”
The purpose of Jesus returning to this world is to receive us to Himself, so that we will be where He is.
The Lord, the Bridegroom, will come to take His Church, the Bride, and He will lead us to the new heaven and the new earth, the new Jerusalem (Rev 21:1-2), and we will participate in the marriage supper of the Lamb (Rev 19:9).
Therefore, we cannot help but give thanks, praise, and worship for the love of Christ.

We cannot fully meditate on all the love of Christ that is filled in the Bible, but I would like to meditate on only Romans 8:34: "Who is he that 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."
When we see this verse, we can understand the love of Christ: His death on the cross, His resurrection from the grave (His resurrection), and His intercession at the right hand of God for our eternal life.
We cannot fully grasp the breadth, length, height, and depth of this love of Christ (Ephesians 3:19). In other words, we cannot measure the size, width, depth, and height of the love of Christ.
Thus, the hymn in the new hymnal, song 304, verse 3 and the refrain, praises the love of God in this way:
"Though the heavens were a scroll, and the sea were ink,
We could not record God's boundless love.
How could we ever write of God's great love?
Even if it were piled high in the sky, it would not be enough.
God’s great love cannot be measured;
It is an eternal, unchanging love.
O saints, praise Him."

In today's passage, Romans 8:35, the Apostle Paul starts with the word "Who," and here, "Who" refers to seven things:

(1) "Tribulation" (Rom 8:35): This refers to the "tribulum," a tool used in Roman times for threshing grain. In Korea, a "dorikkae" was used to thresh grains like beans or barley. When we think of the tribulum hitting us—those who believe in Jesus, not grain—that is what "tribulation" means. The Bible tells us that we must go through many tribulations.
Look at Acts 14:22: "Strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, ‘We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.’”
These words are from when Paul and Barnabas returned from their first missionary journey and visited the church in Antioch to encourage the disciples. The exhortation includes the statement that "we must go through many tribulations to enter the kingdom of God."
Jesus said: “… In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33b).

(2) "Distress" (Rom 8:35): Here, "distress" refers to mental or emotional pain.

(3) "Persecution" (Rom 8:35): Here, "persecution" means "oppression" or "persecution" in a more intense sense.
Look at 2 Timothy 3:12: "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution."

(4) "Famine" (Rom 8:35): Here, "famine" refers to hunger or starvation. When going through tribulation, distress, or persecution, we might also experience hunger and famine.

(5) "Nakedness" (Rom 8:35): Here, "nakedness" refers to being without clothes.
Since Jesus was crucified naked, His disciples, including us, will also face persecution in a similar way.

(6) "Danger" (Rom 8:35): The Apostle Paul went through many dangers.
Look at 2 Corinthians 11:26: "In journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils from my own countrymen, in perils from the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren."
Just as Paul faced various dangers while doing missionary work, many missionaries today, who labor for Jesus Christ and His gospel, are also facing various kinds of dangers.

(7) "Sword" (Rom 8:35): Here, "sword" refers to a long sword, typically one used to behead people. Therefore, "sword" symbolizes death.
In the Bible, the first apostle to be killed by a sword (martyrdom) was James, the brother of John. King Herod killed James with the sword (Acts 12:1-2).

Ultimately, the apostle Paul in Romans 8:35 says that tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, or the sword cannot separate us from the love of Christ. The reason is that God has chosen us and declared us righteous, and because Christ Jesus is interceding for us at the right hand of God (vv. 33-34).
Therefore, these seven things [“Who?” (v. 35)] cannot separate us from the love of Christ.
The book of Romans was written by the apostle Paul to the saints in the church of Rome. Within less than ten years, the saints in Rome endured these seven forms of persecution under Emperor Nero. Many were killed, and many saints were martyred.
Looking at this age, we can see that the day of the Lord’s return is near. Before that, a great tribulation will come. Though we do not know when, we must hold on to the certainty that Christ loves us and that no one can separate us from the love of Christ. Therefore, we should not be afraid. Even if we face tribulation, we must be bold, because Jesus Christ has overcome the world (John 16:33b).
Let us pray that when the Lord returns, we may all welcome Him as victors.