Romans - Week 19

What Can Separate Us?

READ

Read Romans 8:35

35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?

Some live their entire lives and do not feel loved. This verse assures an individual that nothing can separate the believer from Christ’s love. When facing difficulties or even death threats, Jesus still loves those who have believed in Him for salvation and will never leave or forsake them. This verse can be especially helpful for those suffering in the hospital or facing death.

REFLECT

Think about how blessed you are to have a Savior who loves you so much.

RESPOND

Take the message of this verse with you as you minister to a world of people who feel no one loves them. Show by your life that you care about them.

Overwhelming Victory

READ

Read Romans 8:36-37

36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

Paul referred to Psalm 44:22 to express that the believer may be treated as if he’s is about to be slaughtered. It is one thing to experience victory before human spectators, but believers can have “overwhelming victory” because of the love of the Lord Jesus and what He has done for them. Christ-followers are assured that Jesus will be with them through all circumstances and at death will take them home to be with Him.

REFLECT

How are you being treated? Do you especially need to claim these promises from God?

RESPOND

For your encouragement, with your disciple, read Hebrews 11:1-20. Your faith will be encouraged by what others experienced as they were living by faith.

Nothing

READ

Read Romans 8:38-39

38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Paul ends the 8^th chapter of Romans with the assurance that nothing can separate the believer from God’s love—“neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell.” This triumphant message should encourage every believer who reads and believes it. Nothing else in the world can bring peace like the knowledge of what Paul writes here.

REFLECT

Think some more about the assurance you have of God’s love. Thank Him for how much He loves you.

RESPOND

The last time, you read the first 20 verses of Hebrews 11. Now read the last 20 verses. This great faith chapter reveals that many before you lived by faith. They served as the “cloud of witnesses” mentioned in Hebrews 12:1. This does not mean they are witnessing us now, but that they have been the testimony of what it is like to live victoriously even when persecuted.

Utter Truthfulness

READ

Read Romans 9:1-3

1 With Christ as my witness, I speak with utter truthfulness. My conscience and the Holy Spirit confirm it. 2 My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief 3 for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed—cut off from Christ!—if that would save them.

Romans 9 opens with Paul sharing his burden about his fellow Israelites. Seldom has such grief been expressed for unbelievers. Paul was willing to be cut off from Christ if it would save them.

In other words, he was willing to go to hell himself if that would deliver them from condemnation, but he knew that would not save them. This is an example that a passion for Christ should be accompanied by a compassion for unbelievers.

REFLECT

To what extent have your grieved over the possibility that some of your loved ones will be lost eternally if they do not trust Christ as Savior?

RESPOND

With your disciple, pray for some loved ones by name that you are concerned they do not know Jesus as Savior.

The People of Israel

READ

Read Romans 9:4-5

4 They are the people of Israel, chosen to be God’s adopted children. God revealed his glory to them. He made covenants with them and gave them his law. He gave them the privilege of worshiping him and receiving his wonderful promises. 5 Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are their ancestors, and Christ himself was an Israelite as far as his human nature is concerned. And he is God, the one who rules over everything and is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.

For any who might doubt whether God is through with Israel, Paul lists some things God has done for the people of the nation. They have been chosen by Him: God made covenants with them; He gave them the law; He gave them the privilege of worshipping Him and receiving His promises; God provided the human nature of the Messiah through the ancestry of Israel. Paul concludes by saying of Jehovah, “He is God, the one who rules over everything.”

REFLECT

Regardless of your background, thank the Lord that the human nature of your Savior came through the ancestry of the Israelites.

RESPOND

Although the Jewish people do not need the New Testament to explain their existence, Christ-followers need the Old Testament to explain theirs. To verify this, see what Jesus said as recorded in John 4:22.