A Broke Evangelist

November 26, 2024

Romans 8:33-39

Inseparable

33Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

There is a lot to cover in this final section of Romans 8, so I’ll keep the personal thoughts short (relatively).

I was talking with a friend of mine today, who celebrated her birthday yesterday. She celebrated by going to the movies to see Wicked and absolutely loved it. If you’ve been watching TV over the past few weeks, you’ve probably noticed plenty of marketing aimed at getting people to the theater. About four weeks ago, I was watching a commercial for it with my wife when a lightbulb went off in my head. I said, “Hey, it’s kind of like The Wizard of Oz but from a different perspective!” My wife responded with something like, “Good call, Captain Obvious,” and joked that I needed to go back to the home. That’s how much I pay attention to Hollywood (or whoever produces these things) and show business in general.

My friend, who attended the movie with her children and some of their friends, told me that some of the kids didn’t even know what The Wizard of Oz was—and had never seen or heard of it! I was amazed. It’s like trying to imagine not knowing how to read or breathe through your nostrils—it’s just something you grow up knowing automatically! But more and more, we’re seeing that young people are living through different lenses and can’t relate to something that was made 85 years ago.

This evening, my wife had Singin’ in the Rain on the TV, and watching Gene Kelly and Donald O’Connor hoof it without breaking a sweat made me appreciate the incredible talent that graced the big screen all those years ago.

Young people today don’t understand the “suffering” we endured—and our struggles pale in comparison to what our parents went through. And that doesn’t even come close to the hardships their parents faced. My grandmother once told me a story about how, during the Great Depression, a neighbor’s chicken wandered into their yard, and they ate it because there was literally nothing else to eat. Compare that to today’s “suffering,” like not getting your latte made just right at Starbucks. It’s not the same.

Paul wrote about real suffering, and let’s be honest—most of us would walk away from the job of sharing the Gospel if it got too tough. But God is with us through it all, and that makes all the difference, as we will get to see in 

Romans 8:33–39…

Romans 8:33 - Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.

Here’s something to grasp: No one can bring a charge against us that sticks! If the ultimate Judge, the highest authority in existence, has looked at us and said, “Not guilty,” who could possibly argue otherwise? It’s like winning a court case with an unbeatable defense team—once the ruling is made, it’s final! And unlike some jurisdictions, where we’ve seen all sorts of made-up laws used to try and railroad people into felony convictions, God’s jurisdiction is above anyone’s jurisdiction—in fact, it is a perfect jurisdiction! Imagine trying to overturn a decision made by the One who knows everything, sees everything, and holds all the power. Spoiler alert: you can’t. When God Himself declares us free and clear, every other accusation falls flat.

Romans 8:34 - Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

So, who’s out there trying to condemn us? Absolutely no one can! Why? Because Jesus Christ has already handled everything. He didn’t just die for us—He took it a step further and came back to life! And now? He’s seated in the most important spot in the universe: at God’s right hand. But that’s not all—He’s also speaking up for us, cheering us on, and making sure we’re covered. It’s like having the ultimate VIP on your side. Imagine walking into a room with the person who has the final say on everything standing next to you, saying, “They’re with me.” Nobody would dare question it! That’s what Jesus is doing for us every single day. He’s not just sitting around in heaven; He’s actively working on our behalf, making sure nothing and no one can bring us down. With Him interceding for us, we’re unshakable, unstoppable, and completely secure!

Romans 8:35 - Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

What could ever come between us and the love of Christ? Seriously, what’s strong enough to break that bond? Is it trouble? Nope. Hardship? Not a chance. Persecution? Try again. Famine? Nakedness? Danger? Even a sword? None of it can touch the connection we have with Jesus. Think of it this way: it’s like being strapped into the world’s most secure roller coaster. No matter how wild the ride gets—twists, turns, steep drops—you’re locked in tight. That harness isn’t budging. Trouble and hardship may feel like the ride’s scary loop-de-loops, but Christ’s love is the unbreakable restraint that holds us steady. Life can throw some heavy stuff our way—loss, fear, uncertainty—but none of it is stronger than the love of Christ. It’s not like a fragile thread that snaps under pressure; it’s more like a steel cable, impossible to cut. So, bring on the trials, the chaos, the danger. Nothing—absolutely nothing—can separate us from His love!

Romans 8:36 - As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

This is a quote from Psalm 44:22, where even though Israel claimed to be faithful to God, they still faced tough times, with enemies closing in and no strength to fight back, like sheep caught in a wolf pack—a completely helpless feeling! But the key words here are “For Your sake,” which are powerful words! They mean that the suffering wasn’t random or because God abandoned them—it was because they were sticking with Him. Their faithfulness brought challenges, not as punishment but as a badge of honor. This is contrary to the usual thinking. In a world that pushes against God, suffering can be like a battle scar—proof of loyalty and courage.

We love to know the reasons why, but life’s struggles don’t always come with a simple explanation. We might find ourselves wondering, “Why is this happening? Did I mess up?” But the truth is, being part of God’s family means there will be moments of pain that have nothing to do with our mistakes. They’re part of the incredible privilege of walking closely with Him. The best part about this is that even in the worst defeat or our deepest embarrassments, none of it can drive a wedge between us and the love of Jesus. No matter how bad things look, we don’t have to scrape by—we are conquerors in Him, destined for something greater. Every challenge is just another chapter in our victory story!

Romans 8:37 - No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

It doesn’t matter what life throws our way. We can have bad days, weeks, months, seasons or even years, or even just a few moments when it feels like our world is falling apart. But no matter the situation, there is absolutely nothing that can separate us from God’s love. Seriously, nothing. Not stress, not failure, not even the biggest curveballs life can pitch at us. His love is unshakable, like an anchor that keeps us steady even in the stormiest seas. This love doesn’t just help us get by—it makes us conquerors and more! We’re not just scraping through or surviving by the skin of our teeth. Nope, we’re winning—big time. With God’s love fueling us, we rise above challenges, turning them into stepping stones instead of stumbling blocks. It’s like a championship team with God as our coach. We don’t just play to win; we play knowing the victory is already ours. That’s what being “more than conquerors” is all about—walking through life with confidence, hope, and joy because His love has already secured our victory.

But how is the Christian more than a conqueror? Some things to think about:

We have a greater power, in that the Christian doesn’t fight life’s battles alone or with mere human strength. Instead, we rely on the unbeatable power of Jesus, the ultimate backup—who takes the wheel when things get tough, and His power never fails.

We have a greater motive as many conquerors fight for fame, wealth, or personal gain, and the Christian’s goal is higher—the glory of Jesus. Every victory, big or small, points back to Him, making it about something far bigger than us.

We have a greater victory because while some battles come with losses, even for the winners. But as a Christian, we don’t lose anything of eternal value. Even in the hardest struggles, we’re not just surviving—we’re gaining strength, faith, and unshakable hope. That’s a win-win!

We have a greater love, and this is where it gets powerful—Christians conquer not by crushing enemies, but by loving them. This kind of love transforms lives. It’s the kind of love that turns haters into friends and shows patience to those who oppose us. Instead of revenge, there’s forgiveness; instead of hatred, there’s grace.

Being more than a conqueror means living with a power, purpose, and perspective that no earthly battle can take away. It’s about winning the most important battles in the most extraordinary way—with love, hope, and faith leading the charge!

Romans 8:38 - For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,

Paul was resolute in his belief that there was nothing that could convince him otherwise from the fact that God’s love was inseparable no matter the circumstances. Before writing the book of Romans, he had endured immense suffering for the sake of the Gospel. He narrowly escaped death in Damascus when Jews plotted to kill him, and in Jerusalem, his bold preaching led to threats against his life. During his missionary journeys, he faced severe persecution: he was driven out of Antioch, nearly stoned in Iconium, and stoned and left for dead in Lystra. In Philippi, he was beaten and imprisoned, while in Thessalonica, Berea, and Corinth, angry mobs and opponents forced him to flee or defend himself against false accusations. In Ephesus, his preaching sparked a riot, and throughout his travels, he endured dangers from robbers, shipwrecks, hunger, and sleepless nights. Paul himself recounted receiving 39 lashes five times, being beaten with rods three times, and suffering countless hardships, all while carrying the weight of concern for the churches. Despite it all, Paul’s faith remained steadfast, shaping the powerful themes of perseverance and hope in his writings.

Romans 8:39 - neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I read social media comments from some Christians who spend all their time complaining about perceived “injustices” that happened to them in the past and constantly try to convince others to jump on board their sinking ship. After so many years of living in a social media era, I can start to see the physical deterioration in their faces as they continue to mock God’s people and God’s Word through their own ignorance.

Where does this sit in relation to the inseparability of God’s love? Well, it’s not God who pulls away from us—it’s we who do the separating! We get our feelings hurt because the youth pastor didn’t put our kid on the worship team, or we get mad because the pastor picked someone else to lead the church bake sale. Because of that, some people decide that fellowship and God aren’t for them anymore just because they got their feelings hurt.

I’ve had my feelings hurt plenty of times by people in the church, but that hasn’t changed my opinion of God. He loves me no matter what the situation. I’ve come to learn that what happens to me isn’t really about what happens “to” me—it’s more about what happens “for” me! When we can reach that point in our spiritual walk, we experience an amazing freedom, knowing that God is always at work “for” us! It’s a powerful reminder of God’s faithfulness, and we should spend our time wisely, speaking about His goodness and all that He provides for us to enjoy in this world.

Even though we stop and think about how there can’t be much more to learn from this book of Romans, just wait…

More to come…

A Broke Evangelist – November 26, 2024

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