Unity, Diversity, Equality, Order and Submission Ephesians 5:22-6:9, Part 8 By Pastor Dan Kennedy © August 30, 2015 www.pastorkennedy.com Today we will be looking at the passage in Ephesians 5, that, for women who have been touched by the “women’s liberation movement”, verses 22-24 have become an extremely contentious issue. (The verses thereafter seldom seem to be an issue for anyone: the husband loving his wife as himself and giving his life sacrificially for her, or the Church submitting to Christ, or the husband submitting to Christ, or Children submitting to their parents, or employees submitting to their employers, or employers submitting to God and their accountability to Him regarding their employees.) Interpersonal Submission within the Church It is interesting that the introduction to this section regarding submission is the instruction that each believer should submit to one another…out of reverence for Christ. Ephesians 5:21–24 21 submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. This sets a standard for our relationship to each other in the Church, as we seek to honor and respect Christ together – we should also evidence the spirit of humility in graciously submitting to one another. In this message, in order to more fully understand the dynamics of “order” and “submission”, we are recalling Scriptural precedents on this subject that God has established …beginning with Himself. Ephesians 5:21–6:9 21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives and Husbands 22 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body. 31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. Children and Parents 6 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” 4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. Slaves and Masters 5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, 8 because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free. 9 And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him. Submission’s Fearful Vulnerability “Submission”, on any level in this carnal world, is vulnerable to manipulation and abuse… from mild misuse, to the most drastic, cruel examples of inhumane slavery and despicable carnage and slaughter (even in the name of one’s god). “Submission” has the distinct liability of being greatly misused by carnal and self-centered human beings – whether a male or female are the abusers; but, honorable submission to God, to one another, and submission to God-given authority is one of the most dynamic blessings for unity and success that can prevail. Think of it: If you are in a position of authority and always have people sniping behind your back to undermine your authority in order to promote their own agenda, opinion and/or decisions, the organization you are leading will never be able to effectively accomplish the most satisfying unified goals for everyone involved. And, as a leader (or husband), you have to continually “watch your back”. Be advised: The leadership following you will still have the same obstacles and the organization will be forever bogged down, stagnating in the quagmire of human wills determined to have their own “say”, their own control. Is a solution regarding choice and trust of leadership what Paul is conveying to wives and husbands in this passage? Is Paul letting us know a Godly standard of trust? Leery of Trust? Anyone is leery when his or her trust has been violated (sometimes violently) in the past – • As a leader who has been shredded by saintly looking followers, some of whom ended up being power hungry, carnivorous predators… • Or, as those who have followed a domineering, abusive dictator who commissioned him or herself as their “leader”, spiritual mentor, husband, or wife. Mistrust tends to follow those so burned, in a downward spiral, relationship after miserable relationship, with no determinable end unless a cautious choice is made again to follow God’s directives and to trust Him with the outcome. God designed authority to be a blessing not a curse. “The Bible teaches that all authority rightfully belongs to God. Any legitimate authority people wield is delegated to them by God, and they must answer to Him for the way they use it. Authority is not to be used for personal gain. It is not about displaying personal power. It’s about obediently serving the God who assigned you to serve in such a position – the very attitude demonstrated by Christ Himself.” From: True Woman 101 Divine Design, by Mary a. Kassian and Nancy Leigh Demoss, pg. 61 Submission’s Great Blessing When people, families and/or organizations pull together behind the one in authority there can be amazing blessings. That is why the Scripture continually emphasizes unity and oneness in each of these arenas. “The Family” is the most fundamental and basic institution on earth that has been created by God. Godly submission within the family brings Great Blessing. That is why it is being addressed in this passage. Ephesians 5:21–6:9 speaks to seven areas of “submission”: • Submission to one another out of reverence for Christ. • The Church’s submission to Christ. • A Husband’s submission to Christ (1 Cor. 11:3) evidenced by love and selfless sacrifice for his wife. • A Wife’s submission and respect for her Husband. • The Children’s submission to their Parents. • Employee submission to Employers – in our society (“Bondservants submission to Masters”). • Employers (“Masters”) submission to God and accountability before Him. In order to look at these verses on “submission” more accurately, we must begin with the foundation on which all life and well-being is established…the Godhead Trinity. There is Unity, Equality, Diversity, Order and Submission in the Godhead Because of the need for sound doctrine in the Church and the need to correct error in cultic indoctrination denying the redemptive nature of Jesus Christ, God the Son (1 Timothy 4:1), we spend considerable time authenticating the Equality found in Scripture regarding the Trinity and the Person of Jesus Christ. But, we sometimes overlook that the Scripture also reveals “Order” in the “Equality” of the Trinity. The Trinity: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit The ultimate foundation for structure and order, to give stability in a world of diversity, is embodied in the Godhead Trinity. Unity, Equality and Diversity, Order and Submission, begins with submission to the will of God the Father. This is evidenced consistently throughout the New Testament: • By God the Son, to God the Father, • And by God the Holy Spirit, to God the Son. 1 Corinthians 15:22–28 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. 24 Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For he “has put everything under his feet.” Now when it says that “everything” has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. 28 When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all. Jesus Christ, God the Son, is without question Equal with the other Persons in the Trinity (Phil. 2:6; John 5:18), but He is submissive to the Will of God the Father. 1 Corinthians 11:3 3 But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God. Luke 22:41–42 – Jesus Praying in the Garden of Gethsemane 41 And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” John 14:28 28 You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. Acts 1:7 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. Mark 13:32 32 “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. The Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Trinity, bears witness and glorifies Jesus Christ, not Himself John 14:26 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. John 15:26 26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. John 16:13–14 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. There is Unity, Equality, Diversity, Order and Submission in the Godhead Trinity. Angelic Beings have Unity, Diversity, Order and Submission, but they do not have equality. There is Order in the Heavenly Powers • Powerful Angelic Beings: Cherubim and Seraphim, Arch Angels and Angels Isaiah 37:16 16 “O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth. Genesis 3:24 24 He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life. Isaiah 6:1–3 6 In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” 1 Thessalonians 4:16 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Jude 9 9 But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.” Daniel 7:9–10 9 “As I looked, “thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. 10 A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him…. Hebrews 12:22 22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly…. Revelation 5:11 11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. Powerful Angelic Beings have Unity, Diversity, Order and Submission, but they do not have equality. • Order before God was Corrupted when the highest created angel became proud, rebelled against God’s Authority, and sought to make himself like the Most High. Ezekiel 28:12–17 12 “Son of man, raise a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and say to him, Thus says the Lord God: “You were the signet of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. 13 You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering, sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, emerald, and carbuncle; and crafted in gold were your settings and your engravings. On the day that you were created they were prepared. 14 You were an anointed guardian cherub. I placed you; you were on the holy mountain of God; in the midst of the stones of fire you walked. 15 You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, till unrighteousness was found in you. 16 In the abundance of your trade you were filled with violence in your midst, and you sinned; so I cast you as a profane thing from the mountain of God, and I destroyed you, O guardian cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. 17 Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. Isaiah 14:12–14 12 “How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! 13 You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ It was because of the choice of this most magnificent angel who did not want to submit to the authority of the Most High God, his Creator, that sin was conceived. The rebellion of sin was then passed to the human race through Adam and Eve. “Has God said?” …”You will not surely die!” Corrupted authority destroys, and Rebellion against Righteous authority causes chaos…and chaos always destroys. On both Satan’s part and Adam and Eve’s part, sin rose because of an unwillingness to choose, of their own free will, to submit to the Authority of God. Order is not only found in the Godhead, and in the Angelic Host, God’s Order is evident All Around Us! There is Profound Order in the Universe Nobel Prize-winner and physicist Frank Wilczek, a professor at MIT, was recently interviewed by SPIEGEL, a International German magazine, about the universe's extraordinary symmetry, the overlap between beauty and physics. He has written a new book, "A Beautiful Question," writing that physics also appeals to our sense of beauty. The interview, at the link below, underlines the amazing dynamic of God’s Creation...although sometimes scientists have difficulty acknowledging the Creator. http://www.spiegel.de/international/physicist-frank-wilczek-interview-about-beauty-in-physics-a-1048669.html Even if we deny the existence of God and our need to submit to His Authority, we cannot deny the magnificent display of His profound creation! Romans 1:20 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. “Heinrich Hertz once said that the equations of electromagnetism are very intelligent, more intelligent even than the people who figured them out.” (from the interview above) The Laws that Creation obeys are so profound that our human minds can merely begin to understand their structure. It is astounding that God has allowed human minds to even understand the basic structure of His laws. The more humans observe of God’s Creation, the more we are profoundly amazed! God Gave His Church Unity, Diversity and Equality, Order and Submission • There is Unity and Equality in the Diverse Priesthood of the Believer 1 Peter 2:4–9 4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ… 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Revelation 1:5b–6 To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. • There is Diversity and Equality in the Unity of God’s Children of Faith John 1:12–13 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. Galatians 3:26–29 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise. • There is also Order and Submission through Spiritual Gifts and Structure that Jesus Christ gave His Church: Apostles, Prophets, Pastors and Teachers, with Elders, Overseers and Deacons, replacing the Old Testament Sacrificial System with its Priests and Teachers of the Law. Ephesians 4:10–13 10 (…He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ…. In addition to these gifts given by Christ, throughout the New Testament Paul gives instructions regarding leadership in the church…Elders, Deacons, etc. 1 Timothy 3:1–11 Overseers and Deacons 3 Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap. 8 Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. 9 They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons. 11 In the same way, their wives are to be women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything. Acts 20:28–30 28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. 29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. There is always the potential for deceivers (1 Tim. 1:3-4) and “wolves” (Matt. 7:15; Acts 20:29) to infiltrate the Church to harass and destroy the Body of Christ, but God has entrusted honorable leadership of His Church to those who will minister and care for His Body…His future Bride. 1 Peter 5:1–4 5 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. Hebrews 13:17 17 Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you. As in any institution there have been both blessing and abuse in church leadership and congregational polity. In spite of the sin, carnality and divisions, God has allowed those who confess the Name of Jesus Christ to grow exponentially throughout the world, as commissioned (Matt. 28:19-20) and prophesied. Jesus said that “The gates of hell” would not prevail against His Church (Matt. 16:18). Matthew 24:14 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. There is Order in Earth’s Governments Paul instructs us to be submissive to the governmental authorities that are over us. We must remind ourselves that the Roman government, which ruled the government in Jesus’ and Paul’s day was a cruel and domineering government, but still, both Jesus instructed us to “give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s” (Luke 20:25), and Paul gave more direct guidelines, specifically in Romans 13. Romans 13:1–5 Submission to the Authorities 13 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. • God raises up and puts down leaders Daniel 2:21 21 He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings… • We are instructed to honorably submit those whom God raises up – unless it is in contradiction to God’s Word. Acts 5:27–29 27 Having brought the apostles, they made them appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. 28 “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.” 29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men! Order is Necessary in Building any Physical Structure • Every building needs someone to be the “contractor” to secure the proper building supplies, insure minimal hazard, achieve desired results, and incorporate aesthetic beauty. o Someone needs to know how to fulfill the expectations of the one for whom the building is being built. o Someone needs to know how to read the building plans, electrical wiring schematic and plumbing layout. o Someone needs to know the rules, codes and restrictions of building a house, or the state or county will stop construction or forbid occupancy. You cannot simply pull someone off the street who says they know how to build a house and entrust one of your greatest lifetime investments to their hands. What would most likely be the final result, if you do so? God has ordained Order: • It is necessary in any Organization • It is essential in every Workplace • It is appropriate for each Family Order is Essential in Building Oneness Pleasing to God Ephesians 5:21–6:9 addresses seven areas of “submission”: • Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. • The Church submits to Christ. • Husbands submit to Christ (1 Cor. 11:3), evidenced by love and selfless sacrifice for his wife. Eph. 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body. 31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. (See also Col. 3:19; 1 Peter 3:7) • Wives submit to and respect their Husbands. Eph. 5:22 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. (See also Col. 3:18; 1 Peter 3:1-6) • Children submit to Parents. o Honor your father and mother…the first commandment with promise Exodus 20:12 12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. • Employee submission to Employers – in our society (Bondservants submission to Masters). 1 Peter 2:18–19 18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. 19 For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. • Employers (“Masters”) submission to God and their accountability to Him in how they treat their employees. Eph. 6:9 And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him. Leviticus 25:43 43 You shall not rule over him ruthlessly but shall fear your God. Job 31:13–15 13 “If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or my maidservant, when they brought a complaint against me, 14 what then shall I do when God rises up? When he makes inquiry, what shall I answer him? 15 Did not he who made me in the womb make him? And did not one fashion us in the womb? Gracious Submission to those whom God has put over us ultimately reflects our relationship to God and our submission to Him. What does insubordination to honorable authority, or abuse of authority reflect? There Will Always be Inequities in this World Injustice and Inequities of Life are Always Present, but God will Judge Ecclesiastes 3:16–17 16 Moreover, I saw under the sun that in the place of justice, even there was wickedness, and in the place of righteousness, even there was wickedness. 17 I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time for every matter and for every work. The Oppressed are Not always Comforted & Oppressors too often Abuse their Power Ecclesiastes 4:1 4 Again I saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun. And behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power, and there was no one to comfort them. The Inequities of Power, Success and Leadership are Inherent in this World Ecclesiastes 10:5–7 5 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were an error proceeding from the ruler: 6 folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place. 7 I have seen slaves on horses, and princes walking on the ground like slaves. Conclusion Whether in Inequity, Injustice or not, whether Gifted and Empowered or not, God sees and knows the hearts of each of those who love Him and seek to follow Him. God has given each person the opportunity to honorably follow and support, and/or sacrificially love and lead appropriately. God has gifted leadership whether it is in the home, or church or any other organization or endeavors. If we follow His pattern, the potential we have for love and harmony and long-term success – from His perspective, will be optimized. God has demonstrated Equality and Submission within the dynamic of the Persons of Himself. It works. And God empowers those who love Him to accomplish His purposes in this world, even through the greatest trials. Sometimes those feeling the burden of honorable submission, whether that be in the workplace or in the home, need strength and encouragement that can be found in the following verses: Romans 8:18 18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. Romans 8:33–39 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.