Romans 8:35: Who's love? And thoughts on upcoming Christian persecution
Romans 8:35 is often used to defend a Christian’s unconditional eternal security, with reasoning like, “Nothing that I do can separate me from God’s salvation of me.” Based on this verse’s context, I would propose that it may mean something more like, “Nothing that happens to me will make me stop loving God”. Don’t agree? Let’s dig in.
The verse in question states (in ESV translation):
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? (Romans 8:35, ESV)
The primary theme in Romans 8 is not an individual’s salvation, but rather persecution against Christians, their suffering, and God’s eventualy redemption of creation. See these verses which build up to Romans 8:35:
First, we are, in a sense, Christ’s brothers and sisters, if we suffer with him:
[we Christians are] heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him (Romans 8:17 ESV).
Next, verse 29 states that one of God’s goal for us believers is to be made more like Jesus, the ultimate martyr:
For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers (Romans 8:17 ESV).
Finally, look at the two verses which follow the verse in question, altogether:
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us (Romans 8:35-37 ESV).
In this context, we see that nothing that happens to us will make us stop loving Christ, even facing literal death. The word conqueror is special; in the New Testament, that term is usually identified with a faithful witness, of persevering, even unto death. For example, in Revelation, Jesus exhorts his followers, numerous times, to faithfully endure persecution, even unto death, making them conquerors.
I don’t think this interpretation of Romans 8:35 is a slam-dunk exegetical case, but I do think it’s worth considering. Further, I think this interpretation has serious consequences for today’s Christian in America.
Why? The upshot is that we’re in the midst of a constitutional crisis. In the name of immigration law enforcement, many people are being removed from the country without due process. A government allegedly intent on “law and order” is determinig that they don’t have to follow the law, when handling certain groups.
If you think this American government will stop with alleged Venezualen gang members, you’re wrong. Immigrants now, citizens later. If you’re publcly part of the wrong group, prepare to be prosecuted, without your rights.
American Christian: Our time of easy life may be ending. We may join our international brothers and sisters in their persecutions. We may end up in a prison in El Salvador or lose our job or lose our life. Now is the time to prepare to conquer, spiritually.
May we follow King Jesus in conquering as he did, not in taking up arms, but in laying down our lives.