Who shall seperate us from the love of Christ? Romans 8:35

How often we have questions for which there seem to be no answers!  The line between faith and doubt is fine.  Luther said, "If you say you have no doubts, either you're fortunate God has given you a strong faith or you're a plain fool."

Paul answers our questions with a question.  He argues that if God acquits us of our sins, who can possibly condemn us?  If Jesus died and rose again and is alive forevermore as God's instrument for our justification, what in the world could ever seperate us from our risen Lord?  He supports his thought with the statement that Jesus intercedes for us before God right now.  Paul wants to dispel our doubt with God's truth.

In his early struggles of faith, Luther thought it was all up to him.  Visiting the Erfurt Augustinian monaestery, one can the room in which Luther experienced these struggles.  Father Spaupitz, as his father superior, turned him to Holy Scripture.  He encouraged Luther in his exegetical studies, assigning him to teach Scripture at Wittenberg University.  Luther's study of Romans, in particular, opened his eyes.  He said, "It was as if the gates of heaven were opened to me."

Nothing can seperate us from the love of God that is ours in Jesus Christ.  God has broken down everything that would separate us from Him.  We are his.

 From "Portals of Prayer" (c) 2005 by Concordia Publishing House.  Reproduced by permission under license number 07:09-18B.  For ordering information contact Concordia at www.cph.org .