Paul through Jesus Christ appreciated the nature of God’s love which transcended knowledge and human understanding or comprehension. God’s love through Christ Jesus was merciful, gracious, full of compassion, slow to anger, faithful and abounding in steadfast love as was written in Exodus 34:6-7; Numbers 14:18; and Psalms 86:5, 15 and in many verses. Throughout his encounter with Christ, and from his knowledge about Christ’s relationship with his disciples and his followers, he knew that his reasoning was apt and solid without reprove but God’s approval.
Paul questioned in Romans 8:35-38 that who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Paul answers that no, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. To Paul, neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.
What is the nature of love?
By divine utterance, the Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 that love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things and love never ends. Love is the greatest among faith, hope and love.
Based on Paul’s explanation or teaching about what love is or its nature, we must be in a position to assess the extent of our love for Jesus. We can then agree or disagree with Paul on the issue of whether or not there is anything that can separate us from the love of Christ?
Paul testifies of Jesus’ love
Jesus amply and ably satisfied all these qualities of love Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 because in him was love. Paul’s letters and writings were his personal testimonies of what he had tasted from his love relationship with Christ. He was sure at first hand that no temptation has overtaken man that is not common to man, 1 Corinthians 10:13. He knew that God is faithful, and he will not let us be tempted beyond our strength. Paul thus concluded that in all things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us, Romans 8:37. Paul knew that the love of Christ Jesus was always accessible to him and same was irrevocably assured.
Paul believed that for the love of Christ, God did not give us a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power and love and self-control, 2 Timothy 1:7. In validating love, Jesus taught us a new commandment, that we should love one another, even as he has loved us, John 13:34; 15:17. He also said we should love our enemies and to do good to those who hate us, Luke 6:27. He asked Peter to feed his sheep if he loved him, John 21:17. Paul in exemplifying Jesus’ love said it is more blessed to give than to receive, Acts 20:35. Jesus’ love comes from the heart of impartiality, Matthew 5:46-47; 10:42.
Jesus’ love transcends family relationships, Matthew 12:46. Love embraces the truth so Jesus told the truth, John 16:7. He also taught us the truth which shall set you free, John 8:32. He showed us the way which leads to destruction, John 8:45. He taught us to be at peace with one another, Mark 9:50. Through Paul his servant and an apostle, he taught that love knows no vengeance because vengeance is the Lord’s, Romans 12:19; Hebrews 10:30. Do we share Paul’s position of the inseparable love from Jesus?
Separation from Jesus’ love
From the aforesaid, it becomes clearer than ever that Jesus is ever committed to loving us until life is no more. This is why he came to die for us. John 3:16 says for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 1:11-12 also says that for as many as received Jesus, to them he gave the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believed in the name of Christ Jesus.
Jesus wants us to be reconciled to God and to resume our status as God’s children. Jesus is definitely unwilling to separate from us. Because of this fact, he has assured us in Matthew 28:20 that he is with us always to the close of the age. Are we ready to accept his redemption through his blood which he has availed to us out of his love? Let us respond to his invitation to taste his unfailing love.
On our part it is our conduct that will determine whether or not we can separate from the love of Christ. In spite of the ever promised and demonstrated love of Christ, we can exercise our free will to separate from his love. We separate from Jesus’ love if we embrace sin rather than righteousness; reject his salvation message; reject him and his love as Lord and savior; live lives that are devoid of the love of Christ; refuse to honour God as first in and above all things.
Separating from the love of Christ means death whilst being in his love means life. Out of the love of Christ he said in Matthew 11:28 that come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. We cannot shoulder our burdens alone for life without Jesus and his love. Romans 6:23 says the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let the love of Christ dominate our lives to keep us in tune with the Holy Spirit.
Prayer
Teach us Lord Jesus to appreciate your love never to depart from it. In your holy name we pray, Amen!!
