Romans 8:38–39 Context
The book of Romans was written by the apostle Paul, likely in AD 57 on his third missionary journey.
It is a letter intended for the people of the church of Rome, which was mostly Gentile but probably also had a substantial Jewish minority.
Paul really wanted to visit this church in person but had not been able to, so this letter is in preparation for his hoped-for eventual visit.
“For I Am Convinced That Neither Death Nor Life” Bible Verse
Paul didn’t personally know this church yet, so his letter focuses on the basics of the gospel: salvation from sin and righteousness through God’s grace, both Jews and Gentiles.
Romans 8:38–39 Meaning
Paul spent the first eight chapters of Romans talking about the need for salvation through Christ because of sin.
Those who have accepted this freedom from sin will gain righteousness through sanctification, and fully experience God’s love. The argument Paul has been making is concluded here on a very triumphant note!
Paul’s phrase “For I am convinced,” tells us that he’s speaking from his heart and his own experience.
He has such strong confidence in the permanence of God’s love that he wants to make sure all other believers fully understand the scope and power of God’s love too.
Bible Verses About God’S Unchanging Love
He’s declaring to the church that God will never stop loving them, and his love can never be taken away from them, not by anything.
To illustrate and solidify his point, he lists out all the possible things the Romans might worry could take God’s love away from them.
Paul’s intention is clearly to cover all the bases here. This list can be taken both literally and figuratively.
For example, “neither height nor depth” can mean nothing above us, like a storm in the sky, and nothing below us, like the waves in the sea, and it can mean no matter how low we go or feel or how high we go or feel.
Romans 8:38–39 Application
Even at your most worried and anxious, nothing you dream up or imagine can come between you and God’s love for you.
No matter how lonely, attacked, or weak you feel, God still loves you just as much as he always has and always will.
Nothing Can Separate Us From God’S Love (Romans 8:38-39)
He is more powerful than anything and anyone else, and his love wins out over everything and everyone: the natural and the supernatural, the now and the later, the actions of others, and even your own actions.
No matter how unloved and alone you feel, God’s Word is crystal clear—you are never unloved and you are never alone.
When your ever-changing feelings threaten to overwhelm you, you can fall back on the unchanging truth of God’s promises that are never overwhelmed.