Nothing Can Separate Us

Scripture: Romans 8:31-39 (NRSVue)

Romans 8 concludes with Paul’s rapturous sense of confidence and assurance of God’s love, even in the midst of hardship. N.T. Wright writes in Into the Heart of Romans: A Deep Dive into Paul’s Greatest Letter that the search for confidence (i.e. how can we know?) has long been a human quest. Philosopher Descartes’ thought we could gain confidence in our knowledge with his famous dictum: Cogito, ergo sum (I think, therefore I am). We Americans added our more materialistic take on what gives us assurance in our lives: Tesco ergo sum (I shop therefore I am). Paul, however, provides for us the most convincing assurance of them all: Amor, ergo sum (I am loved, therefore I am). God took the initiative in our world by his generous self-giving love through Jesus Christ’s birth, life, words, actions, death, resurrection, and ascension. By this we know the good news: God is for us. And if God is for us, who can be against us? With our hearts filled with God’s love, we can then love God, others, and ourselves. Nothing and no one can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. That’s something we can most assuredly count on!

October 29, 2023

8:30 am – Alternative Worship Service Bulletin (click) 
11:00 am – Traditional Worship Service Bulletin (click)

Sermon Art: Romans 8:38-39, Bible.com images
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Bible Study Questions – for Romans 8:31-39 sermon

• If God is for us, who can be against us?
• What is the “everything else” that God gives us?
• Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? Who is to condemn us?
• Who will separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord?
• Can affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sword separate us from Christ?
• What does it mean that Christ intercedes for us at the right hand of God?
• Why do you think suffering (and glory) come hand in hand with faith in God?
• What do you think it means to be “more than a conqueror” through the one who loved us?
• Why do you think God will never let us go?

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