A Place to Learn About How to Live Life as a Christian

38 For I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can’t, and life can’t. The angels won’t, and all the powers of hell itself cannot keep God’s love away. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, 39 or where we are—high above the sky, or in the deepest ocean—nothing will ever be able to separate us from the love of God demonstrated by our Lord Jesus Christ when he died for us. (Romans 8:38-39 TLB)

A doxology is a statement of praise toward God. There are over two dozen doxologies revealed in the New Testament. Inspired by the Holy Spirit within him, the Apostle Paul utters this expression of absolute confidence in the everlasting, inseparability of the love of God toward those who are in a right relationship with Him through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The larger context leading up to this praiseworthy burst of confident expectation by Paul helps us to appreciate the reasons why he did so. Going back to the beginning of chapter 8:1ff, the declaration is made that, for those in Christ Jesus, there is now no condemnation. Why is that so?

Going back even further in this letter to 5:6-8, Paul had already made three vital doctrinal points. (1) that while we were still sinners, enemies of God, Christ died for us and (2) now that we are actually reconciled to God because we placed our trust in Christ, then (3) there are even greater things for us because we are no longer enemies of God, but friends.

The main idea is that God took the initiative to do what had to be done in order to provide the only way for sinful people to have a relationship with Him. Previously, in 3:23, Paul declared that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (ESV). But then, he continued in Vr. 24 with God’s solution by stating that, “yet now God declares us “not guilty” of offending him if we trust in Jesus Christ, who in his kindness freely takes away our sins”. (TLB)

Returning now to chapter 8, Paul addresses the practical process through which we are empowered to live our everyday lives. And to do so in a manner worthy of our new status as friends of God. This is made possible by the presence of the Holy Spirit within, empowering us to live according to the will of God.

The Holy Spirit helps us in our weaknesses according to vr. 26. This includes among other things, communicating our prayers to God effectively. So pray then. Don’t be concerned about wording your prayers in a particular manner. The main thing is to offer prayer that is sincere, earnest and in complete confidence that it is being heard. Rev. 8:3-5 reveals that the prayers of the Saints (that’s you and me, too) rise up into the very presence of God!

In summary, the message revealed through the Apostle Paul by the Holy Spirit emphasizes two facts. First, the fact that God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the presence of the Holy Spirit are doing everything possible to make it possible for everyone to be reconciled to God. Second, the fact that those who accept this reconciliation find peace with God and are empowered by the Holy Spirit to live according to the will of God.

This doxology is a fitting shoutout of praise for the marvelous work God has accomplished through Jesus Christ our Lord. Truly, nothing will ever be able to separate us from the love of God demonstrated by our Lord Jesus Christ when he died for us!