I Am Persuaded

Times of study, reflection and discussion of God's word do not disappoint.  The LORD is faithful to speak to those who are hungry for His word and to do His will, and last night at church provided another example of such a time.  Some of the final verses we discussed have been going through mind, Paul's declaration by faith in God found in Romans 8:38-39:  "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 created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."  Believers in the early church (Paul included) faced fierce persecution from Jews and Gentiles.  Paul was persuaded that despite being flogged, beaten, imprisoned, slandered, stoned and left for dead, nothing could separate him or other believers from the love of God.

A brother remarked that to be "persuaded" means that convincing was required.  Paul did not begin his Christian walk persuaded of what he later was assured of through the testimony of God's word, the revelation of Jesus Christ, and personal experience.  For a long time Paul was persuaded Jesus was not the Christ and all his followers were to be rounded up and punished to the full extent of the Law of Moses--even consenting to the death of Stephen.  When Jesus met Paul on the road to Damascus (who was called Saul at the time), his physical blindness led to spiritual insight.  For the first time he called Jesus LORD as he lay in terror before the risen KING OF KINGS, and three days later received his sight, was filled with the Holy Spirit and was baptised.  He immediately preached Christ in the synagogue in Damascus, proving from the Scriptures Jesus was indeed the Christ.

Over 20 years passed from the time Paul was born again to when he penned this letter to the church in Rome.  He had endured many trials by the Jews, Gentiles, false brethren and even a messenger of Satan that buffeted him.  He literally had been pummelled with rocks to the point his attackers believed he was dead and left his bloody, battered corpse outside Lystra, yet the LORD miraculously strengthened him to rise again and enter the city with boldness.  Webster defined "persuaded" as:  "influenced or drawn to an opinion or determination by argument, advice or reasons suggested; convinced."  Based on God's faithfulness, God's promises and his experience, there remained no doubt in Paul's mind nothing "shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our LORD."  Paul's present persuasion gave him firm confidence in the future--a persuasion we can embrace with joy.

Since the crucifixion of Jesus is a demonstration of His love for us sinners, we can rejoice to know His atoning sacrifice once for all has cleansed us from the penalty and power of sin.  In prayer last night a brother observed how it was not the nails that held Jesus Christ on the cross, but His love for us that compelled Him to submit to the Father and drink the bitter cup of death we deserve.  If we have nothing but God's love for us in this world, it is more than sufficient because God's love is infinite in power and eternal in duration.  Paul prayed for believers in Ephesians 3:16-19:  "...that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, ¹⁷ that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸ may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height--¹⁹ to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."  To know God is to begin to know love, and may we be persuaded like Paul that nothing can separate us from His love by His grace.  We can be convinced of God's love that is beyond knowledge because we are in Christ, and He is in us.