Romans 8:38-39
(38) For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
(39) 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.
Paul then ended his discussion on believers’ safety in Jesus Christ and the certainty of their sanctification with a positive declaration—For I am convinced (perf. tense, “I stand convinced”; cf. 15:14) that nothing can separate believers from the love of God (God’s love for them, not their love for God; cf. v. 35). Paul’s list of 10 items begins with death, where the list of 7 items in verse 35 ended. These elements in God’s universe include the extremes of existence:
(1) death and
(2) life (in either death [2 Cor. 5:8-9] or life, believers are in God’s presence); the extremes of created spiritual armies:
(3) angels and
(4) demons (angels would not and demons could not undo God’s relationship with His redeemed ones); the extremes in time:
(5) the present and
(6) the future (nothing known now, e.g., the hardships listed in Rom. 8:35, or in the unknown time to come); spiritual enemies:
(7) powers (perhaps Satan and his demons; cf. Eph. 6:12; or possibly human governments); the extremes in space:
(8) height and
(9) depth (nothing overhead or underneath can suddenly come swooping down or up to sever believers from God’s love); and
(10) everything in the entire created realm. Absolutely nothing in His Creation can thwart His purpose for believers in Christ. What a climactic way to affirm the certainty of believers’ salvation!
Excerpt from:
Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-c1985). The Bible knowledge commentary : An Exposition of the Scriptures. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
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