Some Christians go through life as war-weary soldiers who are struggling to survive. The Apostle Paul countered this view in his letter to the church at Rome:

But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us (Romans 8:37)

This statement is all the more audacious as you consider what Paul meant by all things:

Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or trouble, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? (Romans 8:35)

Paul identified seven dangers that he faced in his ministry to proclaim the Gospel. Despite the serious nature of these afflictions, he asserted that we not only overcome the challenges, but we can overwhelmingly conquer. What does Paul mean by the phrase overwhelmingly conquer?

It does not mean an absence of difficulty since the word conquer implies an adversary. To overwhelmingly conquer is to emerge from the battle having grown in your faith. You may have had this experience as you’ve participated in an endeavor that was challenging, but you came through stronger because of the challenge. The adversity we face can be used by God to strengthen us. Paul makes this point earlier in this epistle:

And not only this, but we also rejoice in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 5:3-5).

We must also realize that our ultimate reward far surpasses whatever earthly and temporal trials we may encounter. God causes all things to work together for good for His children (Romans 8:28). Paul described the life-threatening experiences he faced as only momentary, light affliction:

For our momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, (2 Corinthians 4:17)

Paul referred to Psalm 44 showing that our loyalty to God may be fraught with danger:

Just as it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; we were regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” (Romans 8:36)

Suffering may be a battle-scar which is the price of our allegiance to God in a world that is at war with God. God’s love for us is the key that enables us to gain the victory. Paul underscored this truth as he revealed that nothing can separate us from God’s love:

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)

Remember that nothing can separate you from God’s love through Jesus Christ. It is your birthright as a child of God to experience a life of conscious, consistent, and conspicuous victory.

Associate Pastor – Discipleship.  The Church at LifePark

Professor of Discipleship, Columbia International University

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