Separate Christians from the Love of God? Impossible!

Separate Christians From the Love of God? Impossible!
By Barbara Henderson

We should look at that which is for us, as well as what is against us. Matthew Henry, 1 Samuel 1:1-8 commentary.

‘If God be for us, who can be against us?’ Romans 8:31b Remember, this is God Almighty, who did not spare His own son that we might have eternal life. Will He forsake us now, after such great cost already spent?

Nothing can separate us from the love of God. Romans 8:35-39 says:
35. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36. As it is written, For they sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38. For I m persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39. Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from teh love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

If you want to memorize scripture, then memorize that.

Christians have died for their faith. Christians are still being persecuted around the globe, and some are even killed. They counted as sheep for the slaughter. YET, they are more than conquerors through the victory of Jesus Christ. Martyrs in Christ can only face the death of the physical body, the shadow of death. No creature has power to cast Christ’s own into hell. Eternal life is theirs through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ at the cross. Though they be killed, they are not separated from the love of God for one second.

It is true that at some point we will be separated from all that we have on this earth. It may be in death. It also may be in life.
In this life:
I pray not to be separated from freedom of religion. I certainly enjoy worshipping my God and my King freely and openly. I would probably get myself into trouble immediately if an open declaration of faith in Jesus Christ was forbidden.
I pray not to be separated from my family.
I pray that my family and I and the brethren will not be in true want.
I pray that we will all be able to be content with such things as we have, and not let our lives be consumed by constant thoughts of things that we do not have.

Never the less, no matter what comes to pass while we yet live or when we die, we know that NOTHING can separate us from the love of God.
Whether we have material possessions beyond measure, or live in abject poverty, God’s love is with us. Sometimes, based on circumstances, we are more aware of God’s love, but His love is with us always.
We will eventually be ‘parted’ from all the things of this earth, both good and bad. Families, good works, evil intentions, material possessions, prestige, and everything that is accounted as valuable and worthwhile on this earth will still be on this earth when we are not here anymore.
Yet, the love of God will still be with us.
God will still be for us.
The devil and his followers will not be able to stand against us.

Sometimes, even often, when viewing the world system and the wicked and silly world leaders, we see all the things that are truly against us. It isn’t paranoid to say the government hates Christians. The government hates all those who do not look to it for salvation from every day trials. It is easy to be overwhelmed by all the frightful and wicked events that we see happening.
What we tend to forget is that God is still for us, even though the entire world is against us. God is more powerful than the world because He created the world.

We should do as Matthew Henry says; ‘We should look at that which is for us, as well as what is against us.’

We should remember that God is for us; He is for His own children, just as earthly parents are for their own children. He counted the cost of adopting us before He started. He went through with the cross for us. He is not going to leave us now.

There are those who dearly love us, and that we dearly love in return. If it was within our power, we would not be separated from loved ones by death, or even great distance. Yet, no matter how great our love for family and friends, we have no power to stay the hand of death.

Jesus Christ has the power and authority to promise that we will not be separated from His love.
Jesus Christ has the power and authority to promise that He will never leave us nor forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5)

A quick review reminds us:
Look at that which is for us as well as that which is against us.
Christ is for His own children.
Nothing can separate us from the love of God.
Jesus Christ will never leave us nor forsake us.

Ultimately, we are facing a defeated foe.
What counts is how we face him.
We can face him with an attitude of defeat,
OR
We can face him with faith in our God who loves us and gives us courage.
Christians are holding the winning hand.
We are holding the hand of Christ our Savior.

This song, ‘The Love of God’, is a good companion hymn for the scriptures written in Romans 8:35-39.

The Love of God
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/l/o/loveofgo.htm
The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star,
And reaches to the lowest hell;
The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled,
And pardoned from his sin.
Refrain
O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure
The saints’ and angels’ song.
When years of time shall pass away,
And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,
When men, who here refuse to pray,
On rocks and hills and mountains call,
God’s love so sure, shall still endure,
All measureless and strong;
Redeeming grace to Adam’s race—
The saints’ and angels’ song.
Refrain
Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade,
To write the love of God above,
Would drain the ocean dry.
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.
Refrain



‘All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name’ is also an excellent hymn to remind of who it is that stands for us against the world.

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/a/h/ahtpojn.htm