In all the adversities, terrible persecution, the above passage reaffirms God’s profound love for His people. God’s children are more than conquerors and they will keep on conquering to a greater degree. The love of Christ for His children will enable us to triumph in all circumstances. Suffering should not drive us away from God, but help us to identify with Him further and allow His love to reach us and heal us.
- God is with us: (8:36): We should never think that just because we are not good enough, God is not for us or He will not help us but He is always with us. Paul quotes from (Ps. 44:22), that a wicked world is always against us. we endure trials for His sake. God’s faithful people would face any moment from their enemies the hatred for righteousness and it appears that there is nothing to restrain them. Since God is closer to us when we go through the difficulties of life, He will never desert us. He is with us even to the end of the world. So persecution is a part and parcel of believer’s life and they must endure it. In the first century, Christians were martyred , or faced the possibility of it almost every day. Their persecutors had no value for Christians more than animals and they butchered Christians freely without any restraint.
- No, We are more than conquerors: (8:37): Paul says that though we are in persecution, or considered as a sheep to be slaughtered, yet we are more than conquerors. Not only we survive from them, we come out more than victors, because we are going to be crowned with immortality and eternal life. But this victory is achieved not by ourselves, but because of the love of Christ who sacrificed Himself for us. The phrase “more than conquerors” is a single word in Greek which literally means “over conquerors. “This is a new order of victory” (Chrysostom).
- Can anything can separate us from the love of God?: (8:38-39): In Christ we are super conquerors and His love will protect us from all dangers. Paul enumerated 4-sets of activities or circumstances can ever separate us from the love of God.
- Neither death nor life: A Christian death or life will not deter.”For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain (Phil.1:21). No terrestrial activity can diminish the love of Christ.
- Neither angels nor demons: The celestial beings, the extreme creations of God cannot stop God’s love for us. Angels will not and the demons cannot undo the relationship a believer has in Christ.
- Neither Present nor future: The present time or the unknown time, for God is in timelessness. Nothing can thwart His plans. He is there from everlasting to everlasting. Time belongs to Him. History is His story. He is there from eternity past to eternity future.
- Neither height nor depth: Any worldly happenings, wars, earthquakes, Tsunamis, famine or any other natural calamities can diminish God’s love for His children.
- Neither powers nor anything else in all creation: No ruler, nor any kingdom, nor any calamity nor any un-natural calamities, nor any created realms, nor anything in His creation can thwart His purpose for believers in Christ. “The most High God is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and sets over them anyone He wishes” (Dan.5:21). God establishes Kings and kingdoms.
This is the climax of God’s affirmation of believer’s salvation. It is the feeling of extreme joy and overflowing emotion. Paul’s profound argument at the close of the (chap.8) are found in those who are saved by Christ. Once saved in this world, the Lord would complete our Salvation, whatever may be the circumstances. God will fulfil His promise for His children.
A few questions to answer before we move to next chapter:
- What divides people into 2-categories? (8:5-8)
- How does a Christian obligation make him to attain God’s glory? (8:12-17)
- Why creation is groaning? If so how does it apply to us? (8:18-24).
- What are the contents of our prayer? Petitions or Spirit’s intercession?
- What do I understand by conqueror and conformed to the like of His Son? (8:28-30)
- Are there any factors diminishing the love of the Father in your life?