The Inseparable Love of God (2)
[Romans 8:38-39]
Romans 8:38–39 says, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor rulers, neither things present nor things to come, nor 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.” Based on this phrase — “nothing can separate us from the love of God” — we received the first message under the title “The Inseparable Love of God” in last Wednesday’s service. The reason we cannot be separated from the love of God is that God’s love is eternal. Romans 8:29 (first half) says, “For those God foreknew…” The word “foreknew” refers to before the creation of the world — to eternity past — and “those he foreknew” refers to those whom God loved. Thus, the first half of verse 29 teaches that God loved His people from eternity past.
Amos 3:2 (first half) says, “You only have I known of all the families of the earth.” The meaning of this statement is, “Of all the families of the earth, I have loved you only.” The all-knowing God certainly knows all the peoples of the earth. Yet through the prophet Amos, God said to Israel, “You only have I known.” This means that among all peoples, God loved only Israel. At this, we might wonder: How can a loving God love some and not love others? Malachi 1:2–3 (first half) says, “I have loved you,” says the Lord. But you say, “How have you loved us?” “Is not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob, but Esau I have hated.” This verse clearly states that God “loved Jacob but hated Esau.” God loved Jacob and hated Esau even before they were born. Romans 9:13–16 says, “As it is written: ‘Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.’ What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! For he says to Moses, ‘I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.’” The God who loved Jacob and hated Esau is by no means unjust! From a human perspective, one might think, “If God loved Jacob and hated Esau, then He must be unfair.” But Scripture answers firmly: “Not at all!” (v.14). God is never unfair.
The God who loved only us among all the peoples of the earth also predestined us (Rom. 8:29). The God who loved us from eternity past also chose us before the foundation of the world. The same God who loved Jacob and hated Esau chose Jacob before the twins were born, before they had done either good or evil. Romans 9:11 says,
“Even before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad, the Lord said to Rebecca, ‘The older will serve the younger.’ This shows that God’s choice depends not on what people do, but on what He decides.” This verse teaches that God’s choice is not based on human deeds but on His sovereign will. Romans 9:15–16 says, “God said to Moses, ‘I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose.’ So then, everything depends not on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.” Therefore, regarding God’s sovereign love and election, “Who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’ Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use?” (vv.20–21).
The God who loved only us among all the peoples of the earth has also called us, justified us, and glorified us (Rom. 8:29). The phrase “glorified us” means that although we have not yet experienced glory on this earth, we surely will be glorified in heaven. Those whom God has loved and chosen will reign forever in heaven (Rev. 22:5). Therefore, nothing can ever cut us off from this eternal love of God!
However, in Romans 8:38–39, Paul mentions various forces that attempt to separate us from God’s eternal love. They are: “death,” “life,” “angels,” “rulers,” “things present,” “things to come,” “powers” (v.38), “height,” “depth,” and “anything else in all creation” (v.39). For example, death may separate family members from one another, yet even death cannot sever us from God’s eternal love. God’s love endures beyond the grave! Even life, with its strong instinct for survival and its temptations, cannot separate us from God’s love — no matter how far worldly desires draw us away. No hardship in life — whether mental illness, dementia, or any other trial — can sever those whom God loved and chose before creation from His love. Another example is angels. Here, “angels” refers to the good angels who serve God. Yet even if these were evil angels, they could never separate God’s children from His eternal love. Finally, “rulers” — some scholars interpret this term to mean Satan. If so, then Satan tirelessly strives to cut off God’s children from His love (just as he led Adam and Eve into sin in Genesis 3 to separate them from God). But the final word of God is clear: “Nothing in all creation can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:39). Therefore, we too must hold the same conviction as the Apostle Paul: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor rulers, neither things present nor things to come, nor 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” (vv. 38–39).