For I am convinced (Romans 8:38-39)

Sermon on 16 August 2026 by Pastor Paul

Introduction

Paul wrote this letter to the Romans, about who Jesus is. In Romans chapter 8, Paul talks about walking in the Spirit versus walking in the flesh (Romans 8:1-17), present suffering versus future glory (Romans 8:18-30), and God’s everlasting love (Romans 8:31-39). Nothing can separate us from God’s love.

Message

For I am persuaded (convinced) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 8:38-39

What was Paul convinced about?

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. - Romans 8:31-37

1. It is God who loves us

Nothing that we do can ever change this. There is nothing we can do, whether more or less, that can change God’s everlasting love for us. He died for us while we were sinners.

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. - Romans 5:8

God says “I love you with an everlasting love”.

The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.” - Jeremiah 31:3

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. - John 3:16

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work. - 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

2. God’s love for us is so great

God did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us.

He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? - Romans 8:32

God’s love surrounds us and preserves us. It is God who justifies us, and no one can bring a charge against us (Romans 8:33). It is Christ who died, is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, and also makes intercession for us, that no one can condemn us (Romans 8:34).

3. Nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord

None of these can separate us from the love of God - tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, sword, death, life, angels, principalities, powers, things present, things to come, height, depth, nor any other created thing (Romans 8:35,38-39).

The bible tells us that godly sufferings (James 1:2-4; Matthew 5:10-12), sickness (Psalm 73:25-26), poverty (Mark 12:41-44; James 2:1-10), and even death (Psalm 116:15; Revelations 2:10; 1 Corinthians 15:50-58) do not separate us from the love of God.

Our corruptible body will be transformed to an incorruptible body forever, overcoming death (1 Corinthians 15:50-58). When we die, we are not perished forever. Our bodies will be transformed to what is glorious and live forevermore with Christ Jesus. Those who were dead will rise again. Those who are alive will be caught up together in the clouds to meet the Lord. They will always be with the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

4. Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us

We are conquerors not because of what we have done, but because of our faith in Jesus Christ. Do we fully trust and believe in Him? Do we love Him with all our hearts, our souls and our minds? Do we fully submit to, obey and follow Him? Do we praise and thank Him, worship Him, and walk with Him?

Closing

God has done His part. How about us? Are we convinced? Do we willingly love Jesus wholeheartedly, follow after Him, and keep the faith till the end?