“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 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.” — Romans 8:38-39
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Separation, especially from something or someone you need or love, is always difficult and sometimes traumatic. These days, companies follow a so-called “separation policy” when they fire you. God’s separation policy for the believer in Christ is found in 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?”
You don’t need some theologian with a Ph.D. to interpret this. No amount of adversity in this world can separate us from Christ’s love. It is a divine love — He loves us just like God the Father loves us (John 15:9). Christ’s love is also a sacrificial love (John 15:13).
Some churches and denominations teach that you can lose your salvation. You did not receive salvation from God based on your performance; you receive salvation based on God’s grace and Christ’s blood. So how can you lose it based on poor performance? God’s salvation is like an “all in, every dollar guaranteed” contract.
Just as your mother gave physical birth to you and you had nothing to do with it, so God has given you a new spiritual birth when you become a follower of Christ. You can’t be un-birthed from His family. You don’t hold on to God, God holds on to you. Not even the devil nor death itself can cause God to turn His back on you (Romans 8:38-39, above).
— Jerry Birch, Cleveland Cavaliers chaplain
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