“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38–39
Indwelling sin is an inescapable reality for every believer. Though the penalty of our sin has been dealt with in Christ, until glory the lingering reality of sin remains. Old sins raise their ugly head, and new sins emerge. When we look inwardly, we see death, decay, and discouragement. Like our first parents, our temptation is to run away and hide among the fig leaves of our shame.
It is not uncommon, then, for believers, when faced with the reality of their sin, constant backslidings, lack of joy, and coldness towards the Lord, to experience the crippling weight of discouragement. This can inevitably leave us wondering: does God really love me?
Perhaps you feel it too?
Can we even be sure he does?
The cure for our guilt is to see a fresh picture of the Father’s heart. It is to take our eyes off of our self, and gaze to the overflowing fountain of loving kindness found in Christ. It is to gaze at him—on the cross, lifted up.
For in him, no charge shall be brought against God’s own. Why? It is God who justifies. We cannot be condemned. Why? Christ Jesus has died, rose, sits in glory, and is interceding for us. He has made us his own (see Romans 8:33–34). Taking the sin, shame, and condemnation that was ours, and giving us righteousness, right standing, and the status that is his. Making us one with him.
Now, before you go on thinking the Father is merely putting up with you, look what Scripture says:
He [the Father] who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? (Rom. 8:32)
So abundant is the Father’s love that he sent his all-sufficient Son. He doesn’t love because Jesus died; rather, Christ died because of the Father’s love. This is how far love is willing to go. In our worst, he gave us his best.
Who then shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Shall backsliding, lack of joy, or coldness towards the Lord? Shall trials? Shall hardship?
What about continued failure to overcome that one sin? Crippling depression, mental illness, or moments of utter weakness?
Never.
Neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom. 8:38–39)
Why? Because everything that needed to be done has already been accomplished by the all-sufficient Saviour. We are held secure in his hand. No one is able to, and no one will, snatch us out of the Father’s hand (see John 10:28–30).
Dear believer, nothing good you do will cause the Father to love you more, and no failure will cause the Father to love you less. The benevolence and loving kindness of the Father far outweighs your sin and circumstances.
Behold Christ the Son—the friend of sinners who, as eighteenth-century pastor James Hinton (b. 1761) said, “is ever present with you, sees every thought of your heart, and listens with infinite delight.” The most honourable thing you can do is to lean your full weight upon Christ: flee to him for refuge in his perfect righteousness and sufficient work as Mediator. Trust that you are fully welcomed into the privileges of a child of God and co-heir with Christ (Rom. 8:17).
Friend, don’t look to yourself. You’ll only find death and decay and despair and discouragement. Look instead to the One who “in your place, condemned he stood, sealed our pardon with his blood.”
Is no wonder why Hinton told his daughter struggling with assurance, “Though you were a thousand times worse, it would not prevent your acceptance” before the Father.
Contrary to what we’d expect, it is here, this realisation and reality, which is the heart of Christian growth. It is here that our cold hearts are enflamed in love for God, the enticement of sin loses all vibrance, and the Spirit transforms us into the likeness of the One we behold.
