Secure in Your Love

This morning I am just reflecting on the amazing message of hope found in these verses from Paul's letter to the Romans.

Romans 8:28-39 NIV:

[28] "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. [29] For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. [30] And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

[31] What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? [32] He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all---how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? [33] Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. [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. [35] Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

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

[37] No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. [38] For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, [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."

My heart settles on verses 31 and 34 and just rests in these truths.  If God is for us, who can be against us (of any consequence)?  If God will not condemn us, but has called us to life, then who would condemn us?

We may become convinced through the forces of religion, those who sell a works mentality, that we stand condemned and our only hope is through constant purification, sacrifice and penance.  Yet the message of these verses is quite clear.  God has done all the work. God is the only one who judges and whose condemnation we need worry about, for His is eternal, and He is the very one who defends us and has chosen us.  This is the very message of the Gospel of grace, it is a free gift not because of anything we have accomplished, but because of God's love for us, and His actions on our behalf.

The bookends of these verses is love, us loving God (verse 28) and God loving us (verse 39).  God is Love (1 John 4:8) and if we embrace Love, for Him and for each other, we live in Him and He in us (1 John 4:12).  How then could we ever be separated from Him?

Lord, help me to Love all. Help me to rest in the truth of these verses.  In Your love I am secure.