I am Persuaded

Romans 8:36-39 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

‘As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter’ the first Old Testament prophecy fulfilled in Romans from Psalm 44:22.

Eight facts about Christian suffering are given: Suffering is not strange or unusual for Christians (1Pet. 4:12; 2Tim. 3:12). One should rejoice when a partaker of the sufferings of Christ (1Pet. 4:13; Matt. 5:10). The greater the suffering the greater the joy and glory (8:17-18; 1Pet. 4:13). Besides the greater glory to come the Christian has the Holy Spirit upon him now to enable him to endure (8:26-27; 1Pet. 4:14;). Christian sufferings glorify God (8:17-18; 1Pet. 4:14). It is an honor, not a shame, to suffer as a Christian (1Pet. 4:16). Though sufferings begin with Christians, they end in an eternal weight of damnation to the ungodly (1Pet. 4:17-18). Sufferings should be borne by Christians, in patience as in the will of God, realizing that God is always faithful to His own in their sufferings (1Pet. 4:19; 1Cor. 10:13).

Ten rewards for Christian suffering are noted: Greater glory in heaven (2Cor. 4:17); eternal consolation (2Cor. 1:7); making Jesus known (2Cor. 4:11); life to others (2Cor. 4:12); making grace manifest (2Cor. 4:15); guarantee of judgment (2Thess. 1:5); reign with Christ (2Tim. 2:12); the Holy Spirit upon us (1Pet. 4:14); glory to God (1Pet. 4:16) and great joy (1Pet. 4:13-14).

Christian suffering does not consist of: Suffering for murder, as a thief, or for being an evildoer or a busybody (1Pet. 4:15); or for suffering for any crime listed in Romans 1:18-32; 1Corinthians 6:9-11 and Galatians 5:19-21

Christian suffering does consist of: Persecution for righteousness (Matt. 5:10; 13:21; Mark 10:30; John 15:20); reviling and slander (Matt. 5:11-12; 10:25; Acts 13:45; 1Pet. 4:4); false accusations (Matt. 10:17-20); scourgings for Christ (Matt. 10:17); rejection by people (Matt. 10:14); hatred by the world (Matt. 10:22; John 15:18-21); hatred by relatives (Matt. 10:21-36); martyrdoms (Matt. 10:28; Acts 7:58); temptations (Luke 8:13; Jas. 1:2-16); shame for His name (Acts 5:41); imprisonments (Acts 4:3; 5:18; 12:4); tribulations (Acts 14:22; 2Thess. 1:4); stonings (Acts 14:19; 2Cor. 11:25); beatings (Acts 16:23; 2Cor. 11:24-25); being a spectacle to people (1Cor. 4:9); misunderstanding, necessities, defamation, and despisings (1Cor. 4:10-13); trouble, affliction, distresses, tumults, labours, watchings, fastings, and evil reports (2Cor. 6:8-10; 11:26-28); reproaches (Heb. 13:13; 1Pet. 4:14); trials (1Pet. 1:7; 4:12); satanic opposition (Eph. 4:27; 6:12); groaning and travailing because of the curse (8:17-26).

‘For I am persuaded’ in Romans 8:38-39 Paul explains that, in view of his doctrines before stated, he is personally persuaded that nothing will be able to separate him from the love he has for God and Christ.

‘Principalities’ the satanic powers of Ephesians 2:2 and 6:12.

‘Creature’ any thing in creation.

‘Separate us from the love of God’ one who lives and walks in the Spirit, will not be separated by any of the 17 things of Romans 8:35-39 any more than he will be moved to commit the 17 things of Galatians 5:19-21. The secret of victory and absolute assurance for the believer is to walk as taught in Romans 6:14-23; 8:1-13 and Galatians 5:16-26.