Well Soul Podcast

Ep. 31 | ROMANS | God, I Need You: Nothing Can Separate Us From God's Love

March 27, 2023 Seana Scott Season 3 Episode 5
Well Soul Podcast
Ep. 31 | ROMANS | God, I Need You: Nothing Can Separate Us From God's Love
Show Notes Transcript

Have you ever felt a loss for following Jesus?

Whether we struggle with loneliness, judgement, or worst for following Jesus, Romans 8:31-39 offers us encouragement.

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BOOK OF ROMANS OVERVIEW
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ROMANS CH. 3 TERMS DEFINED:

  • JUSTIFIED: To be made right legally before God
  • RIGHTEOUSNESS: The right way of living (thoughts, actions, and beliefs) according to God's standard. (There is no one righteous. That is why we need God! See Romans 3:21) 

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Welcome to the Well Soul Podcast, where we pause to drink and scripture, reflect and pray. I am your host, Shauna Scott, and sometimes life leaves our souls feeling parched, so come to the well of living water that never runs dry.

Welcome to our Lent series. God, I need you, a journey in the book of Romans.

In this series, we have seen the gospel that we are made right with God through faith in God's promises in Jesus. Like Abraham was credited righteousness when he believed that God would do what God said he would do. And now Romans 8 reminds us that we live by the Spirit—not by trying to keep rules perfectly, although we do seek to live righteously as our right response to God's grace. 

But it does not mean that life is easy. We suffer in various ways. So, Paul writes that the Spirit helps us in our sufferings as we trust His good purpose to work all things out, even when we don't see it this side of eternity.

And so now, we will meditate on the end of Romans chapter 8. This passage is longer than normal because I want us to hear the whole thought of Paul's encouragement.

Before I read, take a deep breath, set aside all that is on your mind and heart, and put it all in God's hands to prepare your heart to hear God's word. 

Come Holy Spirit. Wash us in your word. Romans 8 31 to 39. 

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.”[a]

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,[b] 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.

What did you hear as you listened? Meditate on this for a moment.

The Christian life is one where we face trouble or hardship or persecution or nakedness or danger or sword. We are not promised safe passage or financial prosperity. Paul echoes Psalms and Isaiah. Like we are lambs that are being led to the slaughter, just like Jesus was. The lamb led to the slaughter. 

We follow in the footsteps of our Savior who did not count the sufferings before him because of the glory to be revealed. As CS Lewis wrote about Aslan, the lion from the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe book. God is not safe, but he is good. Just like Aslan. 

Since the beginning of the church, followers of Jesus have been outed, discriminated against, mocked, and even killed whatever we face for following Jesus. Whatever sacrifices we make, we are not alone for 2000 years. Our brothers and sisters in Christ have done the same, but our hope, our strength, our promise is that nothing separates us from the love of God.

As I reread the passage, again, keep in mind whatever resistance you have faced because you follow.

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.”[a]

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,[b] 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.

What did you hear? Take a moment to soak it in.

Now take some time to reflect and pray. How do you need God's strength? Or maybe you just need to soak in as love for you. Take a moment to pray about whatever is on your heart.

Let's pray. Father, son, Holy Spirit—one and only true God, we worship You. Thank you for your love that never is separated from us. No matter what we suffer through, no matter what we face now, help us, oh God, to believe and to walk—by the hope we have in Jesus. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.

Thank you for joining me today on the Well Soul Podcast for “God, I need you a Lent journey in the book of Romans.” Lent is a season of preparing our hearts for Jesus' passion and resurrection. To help with this download, a free reflection and confession guide to help you renew your relationship with God or download this Seder devotional to see and taste the gospel this Lent season. See the link in the show notes.

Please remember to subscribe and review so that more people can be encouraged in their faith. 

If this episode has encouraged your faith, I invite you to help support the production of the podcast by visiting www.BuyMeacoffee.com/wellSoulpodcast.

In closing, I would like to give a special thanks to my late friend Brian Vasquez, who made this podcast possible. God bless you, and I pray that you have a well soul.