"If God is for Us" (11)

[Romans 8:35-39]

Look at Romans 8:38-39: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor rulers, 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.”

In the Korean Bible, there is no conjunction "for" at the beginning of verse 38, but the original Greek text contains it. This conjunction connects the statement made by the Apostle Paul in verse 37, “But in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us,” with the statement in verses 38-39. In other words, after the Apostle Paul says that "in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us" (v. 37), he then says, “I am convinced” (v. 38) to the believers in the Roman church.

To be more specific, even if we face tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, or the sword (v. 35), or the risk of death (v. 36), "yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us" (v. 37). And it’s not because we are the ones winning, but because we are more than conquerors through Him who loves us. The reason for this victory is not that we win by our own strength, but because we win "abundantly" or "easily" (according to the modern version). This is because the Son, Jesus Christ, who loves us, has already overcome the world (John 16:33).

The Apostle Paul told the Roman church, "I am convinced" (Rom. 8:38), and here "I am convinced" is a verb in the passive voice and perfect tense, meaning "I have already been convinced." In other words, when the Apostle Paul confesses, "I am convinced," it is not that he himself has convinced himself, but that the Holy Spirit gave him this conviction, so he says, "I have already been convinced."

So, how did the Holy Spirit give this conviction to the Apostle Paul? The Holy Spirit freed Paul from the law of sin and death through the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:2), and now, for those who are in Christ Jesus (Paul), there is no condemnation (v. 1), and this gave Paul the assurance. Furthermore, because the Holy Spirit dwelled in Paul and governed him (v. 9, modern version), the Holy Spirit gave him assurance. The Holy Spirit led Paul (v. 14), and this gave him assurance. The Holy Spirit also testified with Paul's spirit that he was a child of God (v. 16), which gave Paul assurance. Additionally, the Holy Spirit helped Paul's weakness, interceding for him with groans too deep for words (v. 26), and interceded for him according to God's will (v. 27), giving him assurance.

Based on the verses 26-37, the Apostle Paul made this statement of confidence and then made a conclusive confession in verses 38-39.

So, how certain was the Apostle Paul? How deep or intense was his certainty?

One example we can consider is that of Stephen, the deacon, mentioned in Acts 7.
Let’s look at Acts 7:59-60: “As they stoned Stephen, he called out, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ And he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not charge them with this sin.’ And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”

The word “fell asleep” here means that Stephen was resting in Christ. Although his body was “buried” (8:2), his soul went to heaven. In other words, before he died, Stephen was 100% certain that his soul would live forever with the Lord in heaven. The Apostle Paul also had this 100% certainty of salvation.

Look at 1 Thessalonians 4:14, 17: “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”

The Apostle Paul was certain that when the Lord returns, God would bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus (which of course includes Stephen, who had already passed in the Lord). He was also certain that, at that time, the dead in Christ would rise first (that is, their bodies would be resurrected). The Apostle Paul, even though he was writing this letter from prison, was confident that just like Stephen, when the Lord returns, God would bring his soul as well.

Moreover, the Apostle Paul was certain that those who remain alive when the Lord returns would be transformed and made like the glorious body of the resurrected Christ [“Who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body” (Philippians 3:21, modern version)] (see also 1 Corinthians 15:51-53).

The Apostle Paul was also certain that the dead in Christ would be resurrected (1 Thessalonians 4:16), and that those who remain alive until that time would, after being transformed, be caught up with the resurrected dead, and together meet the Lord in the air, and from there, live forever with the Lord in heaven (verse 17). In other words, the Apostle Paul was certain that when the Lord returns, the dead in Christ would be resurrected and, united with their souls, live forever with the Lord in heaven. He was also certain that those who remain alive at that time would be suddenly transformed, made like the glorious body of the Lord, and live forever with the Lord in heaven.

Look at the second part of Romans 8:39: “…nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Here, the “us” refers to those believers who are still alive in Christ, including the Apostle Paul and the believers in the Roman church (since Paul and the Roman believers were still alive when he wrote this letter). More broadly, the “us” refers to those whom God foreknew (those He loved before the foundation of the world) (verse 29), those whom God predestined, those He called, those He justified, and those He glorified (verse 30).

The Apostle Paul had the assurance of salvation because he knew that nothing could separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord (verse 39). This assurance of salvation is given to us by the Holy Spirit through the Word of God. With this assurance of salvation from the Holy Spirit through the Word, we rejoice even in the midst of tribulation (Romans 5:3). And as we give thanks and praise to God, we stand firm, immovable, and always abounding in the work of the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58, modern version), especially comforting those who are suffering, evangelizing, and doing missionary work.

Let us all memorize Romans 8, so that the Holy Spirit may also give us this assurance of salvation.