Persuaded

Persuaded

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities nor powers, neither things present nor things to come, neither 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 8:37-39

We need the hope and understanding now more than ever that God is for us and that He is with us and that He loves us. He is our hope, He is our our strength and He is our salvation in all things. In this eighth chapter of Romans Paul encourages us with many truths and in many cases he reminds us of what we already know to be true. (v.1-17)>He starts off by reminding us that there is now no more condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus and for those that are led by the Spirit of God, he confirms the fact that we are in fact sons of God. (v.18–30)>Paul goes on to remind us that what although what we may be experiencing in regard to suffering or sorrow isn’t easy, it still doesn’t compare to what we will one day experience, thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. He also assures us that the Spirit helps us in our weaknesses and that the Spirit searches our heart and know its depth. (v.31-36)>Paul then introduces a foundational piece of our faith by telling us that all things work together for our good. He then reveals the universal truth that if God is for us- who or what can be against us! Paul then concludes the chapter with the verses above: Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities nor powers, neither things present nor things to come, neither 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 8:37-39).

Paul tells us that we are more than conquerors through Christ and that he is persuaded that nothing can separate us from the love of God! The word persuade means: to convince by argument; an inward confidence that produces a change of mind by way of argument or analogy; to win over, persuade or prevail. Paul uses extreme conclusions to support the fact that nothing can separate us from the love of God. Take note of the extremes: (1) Neither life nor death- neither one! (2) Neither angels nor principalities nor powers- neither one! (3) Neither things present nor things to come- neither one! (4) Neither height nor depth- neither one! (5) Nor any created thing shall separate us from the love of God! Paul is persuaded and he wants you and I to be persuaded too. He wants us to know beyond a shadow of doubt that there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God! Nothing that is dead and nothing that is alive! Not an angel or a demon- nor a spiritual power to be or that is! Not anything that currently exists in the present moment, or anything that will ever exist in the future! Nothing that is high above us or anything that is deep below us! And, in case you have a doubt he reiterates by saying, “Nor any created thing!” Paul wants us to know that NOTHING can separate us from the love of God!      

3 Things to Remember About Being Persuaded: 

1. When you are persuaded no one has to convince you.
2. When you are persuaded you will desire to persuade others.
3. When you are persuaded it will bring you joy, peace and hope.

Paul was persuaded by the personal evidence of his own experience and we can be persuaded by the evidence and proof of God’s love through Christ’s sacrifice for us.