Who Shall Separate
us from the
love of Christ?
Shall tribulation, or distress,
or persecution, or famine,
or nakedness, or peril,
or sword?
Romans 8:35
Paul writing to the Roman Christians determined to bring forth the truth that there is nothing that can take away our salvation, a salvation to all who believe. Salvation is certain as he states: "There is therefore no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit" (Romans 8:1). The Law condemned and only by continually bringing a sacrifice to the temple could sins be atoned, but now under the New Covenant in Christ we are under Grace and not under the Law: "For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace" (Romans 6:14). We are delivered from the Law by the oblation, and the passion of Jesus Christ. Now, if being under the Law brought forth condemnation, death, and needed sacrifices for atonement, we being under the New Covenant cannot be condemned because the Law had run its course under the Old Covenant and now it has been satisfied by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is Jesus Christ that is the end of the Law for righteousness to every one who believes. Jesus Christ renders everyone righteous, in the sight of the Law, to him who believes. Jesus did not destroy the Law, He fulfilled the Law and its requirements. Therefore, Paul, in writing to the Romans gives this as a reason why those who are in Christ shall never perish by being condemned.
How can this be, you may ask? It is because as true believers in Jesus Christ we have within the principle of eternal life. That principle being the Spirit of God: "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh" (Romans 8:2-3). This is the axiom that applies; to be carnally minded is death, but, to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Sin equals death; holiness equal life. If the Holy Spirit dwells in you then it would be a contradiction to say that those whom the Holy Spirit dwells can die: "For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. so then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God" (Romans 8:6-8), Far too many people who claim Christ as their Savior attempt to walk the fence, so to speak, believing that they can live carnally and still have heaven as their home. It is not that we cannot sin, it is what is in our hearts, it is that which we allow to turn us away from the love of the Son of God, His bride. Yes, our sanctification is progressive in this life, but that does not mean that we are not responsible for its growth: "But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His." (Romans 8:9). The promises of God are "yea" and "yea" and cannot be broken, therefore is Jesus Christ was raised from the dead, and He was, then those who have the Spirit of God dwelling in them are also recipients of that resurrection and will be quickened, that is brought to life in our mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwells in you, on the last day, He comes and secures everlasting life for His Church: "But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you" (Romans 8:11). We are secure not only by the life of the soul, which enters heaven upon death, but the raising of our mortal bodies, entering into this glorious eternal life.
We are secure, our salvation is secure, not as some teach that a person can fall away and lose their salvation, this is not possible according to the Scriptures: "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then hears--hears of God and joint hears with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together" (Romans 8: 15-17). We are led by the Spirit and are sons and daughters of God. We partake, as special objects of His love, His nature and are entitled to the inheritance which He gives. Be being sons of God we are joint heirs with Christ. This being true then as sons of God, joint heirs with His Son Jesus Christ it is impossible to perish, be eternally removed from God; for as sons and daughters we are saved, saved eternally, as His intercession for the sons of God is infinite, eternal, so then our life with Him is eternal, infinite. Paul admonishes to live as children of God, as this is enabled by the Holy Spirit living within us, there is no excuse that the "Devil made me do it" for the Holy Spirit is greater, and by the resurrection of Jesus Christ Satan has been defeated, only we allow ourselves to be carnally minded when we take our eyes off of Him. It is not easy, for we are still sinful, we are not what we will come to be when we are with our Lord: "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us" (Romans 8:18).
For Your sake
we are killed
all day long;
we are accounted
as sheep for the
slaughter.
Yet in all these things
we are more than
conquerors through Him
who loved us.
Romans 8:36-37
In Christ we Live
Richard L. Crumb
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