Romans 8:31-39

"Who could condemn us? Christ Jesus, who died - more than that, who was raised to life - is at the right hand of God, interceding for us."

Paul writes to the Christians in Rome, "If God is for us, who is against us?" (Rm. 8:31) And he goes on to proclaim that nothing "will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." (8:39) The faith of Paul is that Jesus Christ has interceded with God on behalf of all humanity, so those with faith will not be condemned for their sins but will know forgiveness "in Christ."

This powerful witness helped to bring Gentiles and Jews together in a new community of faith that has become the church we know today. In Romans 9-11 Paul argues that God continues to love Jews who have rejected Jesus as the Messiah as well as those who have accepted him. Such love, surely, would extend today to Muslims, as well as Jews.

Grace and peace...Bob