INTRODUCTION: 

I.                   LOVE NEVER ASKS:  “WHAT CAN I GET?”  BUT RATHER, “WHAT CAN I GIVE?” 

II.                LET US CONSIDER THE GREAT LOVE THAT GOD HAS FOR US: 

John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” 

A.     From that passage, we learn the following valuable truth: 

God                                   the greatest Giver

so loved                           the greatest motive

the world                         the greatest need

that He gave                    the greatest act

His only Son                     the greatest gift

that whosoever               the greatest invitation

believes in Him                 the greatest opportunity

should not perish             the greatest deliverance

but have eternal life         the greatest joy

 

2 Cor. 5:14-15, “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:  And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” 

1 John 4:19, “We love him, because he first loved us.”

                                          1.   It is easier to love someone who already loves us.  

III.             AT ROMANS 8:35-39, THE APOSTLE PAUL ELABORATES UPON OUR LORD’S LOVE FOR US; AND WHY WE SHOULD NOT ALLOW ANYTHING TO SEPARATE US FROM HIS LOVE.   

DISCUSSION: 

I.                   WHO OR WHAT SHALL SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF CHRIST?

A.     Shall circumstances separate us from the love of Christ? 

Rom. 8:35, “…shall trbulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”

1.      Tribulation – struggles, trials, affliction.

2.      Distress – anguish, troubles, agony.

3.      Persecution – abuse, ridicule, harassment.

4.      Famine – no food, a loss of employment.

5.      Nakedness – having all earthly possessions taken away.

6.      Peril – to be exposed to danger.

7.      Sword – to be killed, to suffer martyrdom. 

Rom. 8:36, “As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” (Psalm 44:22). 

Rom. 8:37, “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” 

2 Cor. 11:22-28 (Refer to). 

B.     Shall any condition of existence separate us from the love of Christ? 

Rom. 8:38, “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life,…” 

Phil. 1:21-24, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.  But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labor:  yet what I shall choose I wot [know] not.  For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:  Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.” 

Gal. 2:20, “I am crucified with Christ;  nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me:  and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” 

C.     Shall any beings in the spiritual realm separate us from the love of Christ? 

Rom. 8:38, “…nor angels, nor principalities,…”

1.      Neither angels nor demons. 

1 Pet. 3:22, “Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.” 

D.    Shall any power in either the physical or spiritual realms separate us from the love of Christ? 

Rom. 8:38, “…nor powers…”

1.      Whether those powers be angels or earthly rulers. 

Matt. 10:28, “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul:  but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” 

E.     Shall time separate us from the love of Christ? 

Rom. 8:38, “…nor things present, nor things to come.” 

F.      Shall space separate us from the love of Christ? 

Psalm 139:7-8, “Whither shall I go from thy presence?  If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.” 

G.  Shall any other created being separate us from the love of Christ? 

II.                WHO OR WHAT SHALL KEEP US FROM RESPONDING TO THE LOVE OF CHRIST?

A.     What shall separate us from becoming Christians?

1.      Shall your family keep you from obeying the gospel of Christ? 

Matt. 10:37, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” 

2.      Would you hesitate in becoming a Christian because of your friends? 

James 4:4, “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?  Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”                                    

3.      Would your consideration of money and material things keep you from becoming a Christian? 

Luke 12:15-21 (Either read or refer to). 

4.      Do you hesitate in becoming a Christian because you are afraid that you cannot live in harmony with principles of the new covenant? 

1 Cor. 10:13, “There hath no temptation taken you but, such as is common to man:  but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 

5.      Are you neglecting in being baptized into Christ because of your fear of reprisals and suffering that might await you if you did? 

1 Pet. 4:16, “Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.” 

B.   What would keep you from remaining faithful unto the Lord? 

1.      Would domestic problems keep you from living the Christian life? 

1 Cor. 7:15, “But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart.  A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases:  but God hath called us to peace.” 

2.      Would disappointments in life keep you from being a faithful child of God? 

1 Pet. 5:6-7, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” 

3.      Would the death of a relative cause you to turn your back upon the Lord? 

2 Cor. 1:3-4, “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” 

4.      Would you allow commitments that you have made keep you from assembling with the saints and remaining faithfully dedicated to Christ? 

Matt. 11:28-30 (Quote, and comment on). 

5.      Would persecution or pressure from others cause you to cease living a dedicated life as a Christian? 

2 Tim. 3:12, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” 

CONCLUSION: 

   We dare not reject the overtures of the love that the Godhead has for us. 

Rom. 5:8, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” 

Rom. 8:37, “…we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”  

--Dub Mowery