GOD'S EVERLASTING LOVE "For I am persuaded 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 . . . " I AM PERSUADED "For I am persuaded . . . " Other versions read, "For I am convinced" (NASB,NIV), "For I am sure" (DOUAY-RHEIMS), "For I am certain" (BBE), and "For I am certain of this" (NJB). This is by no means a casual expression. An Aspect of Faith Persuasion is an aspect of faith, and is described in the words, "Now faith is the SUBSTANCE of things hoped for, the EVIDENCE of things not seen" (Heb 11:1). One in possession of "substance" and "evidence" CANNOT be ruled by doubt. Some versions use the following words in the place of "substance" and "evidence:" "assurance" and "conviction" (NASB), "being sure" and "certain" (NIV), and "guarantee" and "prove" (NJB). Those who believe are not persuaded by physical evidences or tangible substance. Their personal faith (and there is no other kind) is their evidence. That faith substantizes the things of God, making them real to the soul. Faith proves to be all of the evidence one requires to take hold of the promises of God. Those who require more evidence are in the grip of unbelief. – Tomorrow:
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 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. For I am persuaded 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 8:35-39, NKJV)
The power of faith is revealed in these words. The declaration of Divine intent has been made, and faith has taken hold of that word.
First of all, let it be clear that Paul is not merely speaking for himself. THIS IS THE REASONING OF FAITH, and is something available to all the children of God. If this were not the case, the text would be nothing more than the boast of a sort of hero. But that is not the case. This is a response that belongs to all who are in Christ Jesus.
And what is it that brought such a strong persuasion to the Apostle. It certainly was not the experiences of life! If he were to look at them alone, this is what he would see: "we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears . . . we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life . . . We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed . . . after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus . . . and there are many adversaries . . . Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness" (2 Cor 7:5; 1:8; 4:8-9; 1 Cor 15:32; 16:9; 2 Cor 11:24-27). Of themselves, such experiences do not bring a powerful persuasion of the keeping power of God. In fact, if they are NOT confronted in faith, they have the capacity to crush the human spirit.
In this regard, our father Abraham is a noble example. It is written of Him, "And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; and being fully persuaded that, what He had promised, He was able also to perform" (Rom 4:19-21).
And what was it that enabled Abraham to be "fully persuaded" of God's ability? Ponder the circumstances in which he found himself.
1. He had no children.
2. His own body, when it came to reproduction, was "dead."
3. He was about a hundred years old.
4. Sarah's womb was dead.
What wise man upon earth could have confirmed the possibility of the Divine promise that he would "become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be" (4:18). What archaeological find could have supported such a commitment? Was there some ancient manuscript that could confirm what was said? What form of mortal logic could confirm the promise? Was there a human feeling that could do it? Could our father Abraham find some hermeneutical principle that could console his heart, and persuade him he could have offspring as multitudinous as the stars of the heavens and the sand of the sea shore? No physician, using the laws of child birth, could have assured him that God's promise was sure. The truth of the matter is that only faith could take hold of what God promised.
Indeed, the ONLY way he could be fully persuaded is to believe what God had promised. That was the ONLY evidence He possessed that the promise was true: God said it! However, this fully satisfies faith. It needs no more than God's word. Those who stumble at the word, therefore, of God shut the door of faith.
So it is with our text. The ONLY way we can be persuaded that nothing can separate us from the love of God is to believe what God has said. That is the sole proof of the matter! Appearance seems to contradict the affirmation. Abel died. Joseph was unjustly imprisoned. The prophets were slain. John the Baptist was beheaded. James was killed by Herod. Stephen was killed. The early church was scattered abroad by a vicious persecution. Paul was imprisoned. On and on we could go. Such circumstances do not seem to justify a persuasion that nothing is able to separate us from the love of God. But if, in faith, I reckon on the truth of God's word, I will experience the blessing!
Flesh erroneously reasons, "If God loves me, why does He allow such things to happen to me?" Such questions are foolish, and unworthy of any attention from the child of God. The described circumstances are the lower view. They are very real, and have very real affects upon us. In Christ, however, we are given to rise higher, and perceive things from a loftier and more comforting perspective. The Holy Spirit is calling us up to that higher view.
We will find that faith does not gloss life. It does not ignore difficulties, or pretend they are not there. Rather, it looks them squarely in the face while taking hold of the promises of God.
What follows are very real experiences. They are matters the saints of God will, in some measure, confront. Their magnitude is determined by God, not man, and not even the devil. Not a single one of them has power to drive a wedge between the saved and the Savior, or the children and the Father!
PRAYER POINT: Father, I thank You for faith, for Your grace was exceeding abundant with it. I praise You that faith can obtain what You have promised.