Romans 8:35

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? etc..] By “the love of Christ” is not meant the saints' love to Christ, but his love to them; he is indeed the object of their love, and so strong is their love to him, that it can never be destroyed; for though there may be an abatement in the fervour of it, it can never be lost; yet this is never called the love of Christ: besides, the apostle is speaking not of their love to Christ, but of the love of God and Christ to them, throughout the context; and his design is, to strengthen the faith of God's people, and comfort their souls, under their various afflictions: now nothing more effectually serves such purposes, than the love of Christ; and…”

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?--This does not mean "our love to Christ," as if, Who shall hinder us from loving Christ? but "Christ's love to us," as is clear from the closing words of the chapter, which refer to the same subject. Nor would the other sense harmonize with the scope of the chapter, which is to exhibit the ample ground of the believer's confidence in Christ. "It is no ground of confidence to assert, or even to feel, that we will never forsake Christ; but it is the strongest ground of assurance to be convinced that His love will never change" [HODGE]. shall tribulation, &c.--"None of these, nor all together, how terrible soever to the flesh, are tokens of God's…”

“Who shall separate us - That is, finally or entirely separate us. This is a new argument of the apostle, showing his strong confidence in the safety of the Christian. From the love of Christ - This expression is ambiguous; and may mean either our love to Christ or his love to us. I understand it in the former sense, and suppose it means, “Who shall cause us to cease to love the Saviour?” In other words, the love which Christians have for their Redeemer is so strong, that it will surmount and survive all opposition and all trials. The reason for so understanding the expression is, that it is not conceivable how afflictions, etc. should have any tendency to alienate Christ’s love “from us;”…”

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ - Toward us? Shall affliction or distress - He proceeds in order, from less troubles to greater: can any of these separate us from his protection in it ; and, if he sees good, deliverance from it? Romans 8:36”

“shall separate: Rom 8:39; Psa 103:17; Jer 31:3; Joh 10:28, Joh 13:1; Th2 2:13, Th2 2:14, Th2 2:16; Rev 1:5 shall tribulation: Rom 8:17, Rom 5:3-5; Mat 5:10-12, Mat 10:28-31; Luk 21:12-18; Joh 16:33; Act 14:22; Act 20:23, Act 20:24; Co2 4:17, Co2 6:4-10, Co2 11:23-27; Ti2 1:12, Ti2 4:16-18; Heb 12:3-11; Jam 1:2-4; Pe1 1:5-7, Pe1 4:12-14; Rev 7:14-17 Romans 8:36”