Monday, June 20, 2011

SECURED IN THE LOVE OF GOD (ROMANS 8.31-39)

Romans 8.31-39 does not simply serve as the ending of Romans 8, but also of a larger unit of Paul's argument in Romans 5-8. In Romans 5.1-11, Paul said that God offered his love to us when we were weak, sinful and still the enemy of God. We were not actually deserved to receive the love of God, but God loved us anyway. This type of love is unconditional and undeniable. A love from a man to a woman simply because of the outward beauty at her youth is vulnerable since everybody is growing old. God's love is however different. God loved us even when we were enemies of him. We who were actually deserved of eternal punishment, are saved by God's love.

Believers are inseparable from the love of God at least because of three reasons. Reason #1 can be read in verses 31-32, in which Paul argued that God has given us his only most precious own Son, Jesus Christ. If God has given the best and the most precious gift he could give, then the rest are minor, inferior and no longer significant in the life of believers. God's love is attached to us with the strongest glue ever exists that is through Jesus Christ the most and only beloved of him. If the least of God is bigger than all human's endeavors, then the most precious of God is unparalleled.

Reason #2 is explained in verses 33-34. We are saved and justified by the precious blood of Christ. We are already purchased by the right amount and method of payment. The payment is once and complete. No one or no party should question what Christ has done for us on the cross. Paul argued even stronger saying that Christ not only has died for us, but Christ has risen and ascended to the right throne of God, a position that is unrivaled. And this powerful Christ is indeed our (believers') advocate. Thus, our love bonding with God is absolutely secured.

Paul continued with reason #3 in verses 35-39. Both now and in the future there are and there will be no power and authorities who are able to separate us from the love of God (vv.38-39). Sufferings may come everyday in so many various unexpected forms of accident such us war, hunger, poverty, sickness and tortures (vv. 35-36) - Paul seemed to say: do not be surprised! Paul quoted Psalm 44.23 to say that those kinds of sufferings are not unnatural, and thus we need to be prepared. The good news is: the work of Christ on the cross has transformed us from our old deadly life into a new victorious life. This transformation is not a subject to be cancelled and is not reversible. The most difficult, the most painful and the most miserable accidents in life - though they are real - will therefore not change our status as victorious people of God.

Combined with Romans 5.1-11, Romans 8.31-39 argues for the superiority and the undeniably of God's love. God's love is eternal and most powerful. God's love is comforting, strengthening, life-changing and transforming. 

To close the large unit of Romans 5-8, allow me to point to two fundamental truths: (1) God's love is superior over against the problem of sin and the helplessness of the law (Romans 5.25-7.25). Unlike the law, the love of God is able, powerful and willing to save us. The love of God is also transforming our life from the old slavery of sin to the new slavery of righteousness; (2) God's love is superior over against the deepest and the most painful problems of human earthly suffering (Romans 8.1-30). The salvation given to us by God is waiting for its consummation. The waiting period is not painless and free from infliction. The love of God and the presence of the Holy Spirit among us however to go through the miseries of life victoriously.

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