The title is a reflection of one commentator’s summation of the thoughts of Paul from Romans 8:31-39. In this section, the great apostle is speaking to the power of the cross of Jesus and he has to conclude there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. It is a conclusion reached after asking and answering four questions – notice them with me briefly:
1. If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31). In the verses that follow, Paul will remind his readers that God did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all and will freely give us all things. It sounds a lot like John 3:16, doesn’t it? When Paul thought about the cross of Jesus and His offering Himself for the sins of the world (1 John 2:2), he knew that it would be impossible to be convinced that God does not love me.
2. Who can bring a charge against the elect? (Romans 8:33). It is God who justifies. In other words, it is like a courtroom without anyone at the prosecutor’s table. By the blood of Jesus, those who are in Christ continually have their sins forgiven as they walk in the light (1 John 1:7), so there is never a charge to be brought against them. God continues to pronounce His people “not guilty.” The chief of sinners could certainly not be convinced that God does not love me.
3. Who can condemn us? (Romans 8:34). It is a rhetorical question where the answer is implied and it is “no one.” No one condemns us because it is Christ who died for us, who has risen, who is at the right hand of God, and now makes intercession for us. Because Jesus has perfect understanding of the human race, He is the perfect judge. Because He has been raised to a position of power, He will have authority to pronounce an eternal sentence that is just. Paul knew the Judge is the very One who gave His life for him and he could not be convinced that God doesn’t love me.
4. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? (Romans 8:35). After posing this question, Paul will go into a list and offer suggestions that others might provide that would separate them from the love of Christ. However, in the end, he concludes that there is nothing that will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. There was simply no convincing Paul that God doesn’t love me.
Why would we want to waste our time questioning God’s love for us? Based on all the same evidence that Paul had before him, we can reach the very same conclusion – I cannot be convinced that God doesn’t love me!
– Adam Orr
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