We have been traveling through Romans 8 this spring, culminating on Easter Sunday with my favorite paragraph in the word of God.  I first learned it in the King James Version when I was in high school.  I didn't try to memorize it--one day I realized that I could quote it.  I have been quoting it ever since.

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?"  The Greek can be translated, "What can put a space between us and the love of Christ?  Now Paul gives us seven options.  Remember that seven is the biblical number for completeness.  The apostle's list spans the entire spectrum of enemies which can attack us:

"Trouble" translates thlipsis, the crushing weight used to grind grain into flour; it could be rendered "pressure."  What pressure do you find yourself under today?

"Hardship" translates the Greek for "a narrow place."  What is squeezing you this morning?  What problem has you trapped, stuck?

"Persecution" was the common lot for followers of Jesus in the Roman Empire.

"Famine" often resulted from persecution.  Christians lost their jobs, were driven from their homes, had no relationship with their families.  They could easily starve to death.

"Nakedness" points to the person who is so poor he cannot afford anything more than the most basic underwear and clothing; truly and terribly impoverished.

"Danger" means to be exposed to peril of any kind.

"Sword" refers to the dagger used by assassins, and points to sudden ambush and murder.

Granted, in this world "we face death all day long" and are considered by the world to be no better than "sheep to be slaughtered" (v. 36).  We might say, "cows to be butchered."  Paul includes himself in the "we"--every believer is subject to these trials and tests.

But here's the remarkable good news: "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us" (v. 37).

"No" is the strongest kind of denial.

"In all these things"--not despite them but in their midst.

"More than conquerors" translates "hyper-conquerors."  The Caesars gained their power by conquering their enemies; now we conquer them.

"Through him who loved us"--past event with ongoing relevance.  He loved us and loves us today.  Because of his love for us, we are more than conquerors.

Now the climax: "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (vs. 38-39). 

Ten is the other biblical number for completion.  Here Paul cites every possible force which could defeat us:

"I am convinced," absolutely persuaded.

Neither "death" in all its tortured forms; nor "life" with all its problems.

Neither "angels" who, according to Jewish legend, resented humans and their salvation; nor "demons," fallen angels.

Neither "the present nor the future, nor any powers"--anything that can happen to us today or tomorrow.

"Neither height nor depth"--a reference to the stars at their zenith and lowest points in the sky, thus all the created universe.

"Nor anything else in all creation"--including all that exists in all the universe.

None of this can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Nothing can make God love you any more than he already does, or any less.  It would not be long before Roman Christians would face the full hatred of the Empire.  Their blood would stain the Colosseum's sandy floor; they would be eaten by beasts, torn apart by wild animals, slaughtered by gladiators, used as human torches to light Nero's garden parties at night.

Whatever part of the Roman Empire has found you today, you are more than a conqueror through him who loved us.  No matter what has you worried, burdened, upset, fearful, ashamed, stressed, anxious--it cannot keep God from loving you.  Nothing in all of creation can.