Romans 8:38-39 "For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels..."

"For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 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" (Romans 8:38-39).
 

Question:

 It is a favorite, and I am wondering about those that have passed on, who although believers were lapsed or not church-attending believers.

Comment:

This is indeed a powerful conclusion to an important chapter in Paul's letter to the Church in Rome. It begins "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." And metaphysically, being "in Christ Jesus" does not necessarily mean belonging to a church that is centered on the figure of Jesus Christ. We are in Christ Jesus when we are personally expressing, in our own lives and relationships, the same Christ awareness of our innate Oneness with the divine that Jesus taught and demonstrated throughout his lifetime.   Receiving and embracing this Christ awareness is our entire spiritual purpose, and it is an assurance of spiritual fulfillment. "I consider that the sufferings of the present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us" (Romans 8:18). Paul is describing what he elsewhere calls "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27). And then the chapter concludes with the passage cited above. Once we truly embrace our Oneness with God, as Jesus taught and demonstrated, then none of the dualistic illusions of this human experience—life and death, height and depth, past and future—can distract or confuse us anymore. Again, this is not about belonging to a church; it's about opening our hearts to the example and infinite love of Jesus Christ and making that energy the Source of all our choices and beliefs.   Blessings!

Rev. Ed