32 God’s Everlasting Love

While in some ways, the last section of Romans 8 summarizes much of the preceding two chapters, it is much more than a summary as it presents us with some of the most important promises to a believer, about God’s unending love for His children.

1 God is for Us

The final section is connected with the idea that believers justified and glorified because of Christ:

Romans 8:29-30

God’s plan is to transform His children into the image of Jesus, which will be completed when we are glorified in His presence in eternity.

Those statements, prompted Paul to say the following:

Romans 8:31

The greatest proof of God’s love for us, is that He sent His Son to pay for our sins at Calvary. Therefore, the plan of redemption is the profoundest example of His love:

Romans 5:8

Another proof is shown from the following verse:

Romans 8:28

The fact that God causes all things to work together for the good of His people, is because we are His children, who He loves so dearly.

Paul then began his summary, by employing a teaching style he used in other epistles, as well as earlier in this one. He began by asking a series of rhetorical questions, all with the purpose to reassure the believer of God’s great love for them.

The believer can and should know that no matter what difficulties they might face here, they have the expectancy (expectant hope) of heaven.

2 Continued Evidence

Romans 8:32

While Paul had earlier written in this epistle, that we are all sinners deserving God’s condemnation, in the text under consideration, he shows how the Father didn’t spare His own Son, but rather “delivered Him up for us all.”

Jesus, therefore, became “condemned” in our place, so that we would no longer be under condemnation.

Paul then posed another rhetorical question:

Romans 8:32b

Because God sacrificed His Son, who became sin for us, it would be unrealistic to believe the Father would then withhold blessings from His children. This becomes even more evident, as He’s given us the greatest gift – eternal life.

3 The Believer’s Security

Romans 8:33-39

Paul had shown in the last three chapters, that God no longer holds any charges against those who belong to Him, those who are His chosen and elect.

And while God no longer has any charges against His children, our adversary, the devil certainly does:

Revelation 12:10

While Satan certainly lies about (and to) the believer, all his accusations aren’t lies. Even so, believers are now longer under condemnation, because of the redemptive work of Christ:

Romans 8:1-2

In verse 34, Paul speaks of the fact that Jesus went to the cross, died, and then overcame the grave, and now He sits at the Father’s right hand, interceding for us.

And a byproduct of Christ’s intercession, is that all condemnation has been removed.

And the wonderful promise is that the believer is continually cleansed of sins which we confess, because of God’s faithfulness:

1 John 1:9

The Greek word John used for “cleanse” speaks of “perfect and continual cleansing”.

Paul, then continued his rhetorical questions in verse 35:

Romans 8:35

Paul begins by listing several conditions or stressful situations, which, even though they might be extremely difficult, still will not separate the believer from God’s love.

He began by speaking of “tribulation” – using the Greek word <thilpsis> which means to experience “great pressure or distress”. The Roman church Paul was writing to, certainly would have understood that idea, since they were at the beginning of what would become greater later in the first century.

Next, he spoke of “distress” which describes difficulty, but not to the degree of tribulation. The word speaks of being in extreme pain, whether emotional or physical.

Paul then listed “persecution” which again, was only at the infancy stage when Paul wrote this epistle. However, the church of Rome would experience greater persecution firsthand.

Next, Paul listed other stressful conditions such as famine and nakedness, which are issues which plague much of the world. Yet, those things will also, never separate the believer from God’s love.

Paul then mentioned “peril, or sword”. This also spoke of the persecution they were facing and would face. The word “sword” was often used when speaking of an “execution”.

In verse 36, Paul quoted from the sons of Korah from Psalm 44:

Psalm 44:22

He was using that psalm to show the Roman church that they would indeed be facing persecution soon.

Paul then began his conclusion in verse 37, by stating that the believer is “more than a conqueror”.

The idea of the believer being “more than a conqueror” points to us as being overcomers through Christ, and speaks of being completely victorious in Him.

In the final two verses, Paul provides his resolute conviction that nothing will separate the believer from God’s love:

Romans 8:38-39