Death is listed first because it can appear to be a welcome escape, while life is the harder, continuing experience — and Paul says neither can separate us from God's love.
In the clip transcripts, Les Field shows the apostle Paul under constant pressure, where death almost became a 'welcome escape.' Yet God leaves believers here to put up with the pressures of this world, which makes life the ongoing difficulty. That is why Paul names death before life, showing that neither the tempting exit nor the daily struggle can separate us from God's love in Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:37-39 — This is the passage where Paul writes 'neither death, nor life' and then says that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
In Romans 8:37-39, Paul writes, "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." He includes death first, then life, followed by other powers and experiences. The Bible itself does not give an explicit explanation for the order; it simply declares that both death and life cannot separate the believer from God’s love.
Les Feldick explains that Paul, writing under constant pressure, used death first because death can become a 'welcome escape' from suffering. Paul was human, just like us; he almost despaired of life and received the sentence of death so that he would not trust in himself, but in God who raises the dead. Yet God does not take believers out when He saves them; He leaves them here to deal with the pressures of the world. The life a believer now lives in the flesh is lived by the faithfulness of Christ, not human energy. Therefore 'life' follows 'death' because life is the continuing difficulty believers must endure. Paul was persuaded — totally convinced — that neither death nor life can separate us, and that believers are more than conquerors through the One who loved them.
Les describes Paul on a sickbed in Philippi, having escaped Ephesus under constant attack from adversaries inside and outside the church. At that point, death almost became, as Les puts it, a 'welcome escape.' Paul had a human moment where he could despair even of life, having received the sentence of death so that he would trust in God rather than himself. Death is therefore listed first because it is the tempting way out of pressure and pain.
Les teaches that God does not take us out when He saves us; He leaves us here to put up with all the pressures of this world. Paul’s life was not his own, so he labored on. The believer’s daily life in the flesh is lived by the faithfulness of Christ, not by the energy of the flesh. Life is therefore the continuing arena where believers must endure and press on, which is why it follows after death in Paul’s list.
Les says the word 'persuaded' means 'totally convinced.' Paul was not merely hoping or wishing; he was fully convinced that in all these things believers are more than conquerors through him that loved us. Les emphasizes that this victory is not accomplished in our own strength or by the energy of the flesh; it is through the One who loved us.
Persuaded = Totally Convinced
Les explains that Paul is 'persuaded' — totally convinced — and that believers are more than conquerors through the One who loved us, not through the energy of the flesh.
Water Baptism vs. Spirit Baptism: What Places You in the Body of Christ?
And that's what Paul is stating here, for if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, see, if we can honestly believe that He died my death, see, then we shall also be in the likeness, or with Him, when? In resurrection. Now, see, that's our blessed hope, that we aren't just going to live and die like a dog, and we don't have to live and die with a prospect of an eternal doom.
Life Is the Harder Road
Les points out that God leaves believers here to put up with the pressures of the world; the life we live in the flesh is lived by the faithfulness of Christ.
Despairing Even of Life
Paul was under such pressure that he would almost despair even of life, receiving the sentence of death so that he would trust in God who raises the dead.
Death as a Welcome Escape
Les says death almost becomes a welcome escape under constant attack, but Paul realized there was unfinished business, so he labored on.
Neither Death nor Life Can Separate Us
Les shows that the list includes everything, and because God's power is supreme, Paul was persuaded that neither death nor life can separate us from God's love.
Human Paul Under Pressure
Les reminds us that Paul was as human as we are, suffered privations for the gospel, and yet knew saving grace carries beyond the grave into eternal life.
What Happens at the Rapture? 1 Corinthians 15 Explained
But we don't have to just fall apart and weep and wail days on end. Why? Because we know we're going to see them again. This is what Paul is referring to. That you sorrow not, even as those who have no hope, that they'll never see their loved one again. We will, assuming of course that our loved ones are also believers.
Romans 8:37: Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Paul says believers are more than conquerors even amid death, life, and every other threatening force.
Romans 8:38: For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
This is the verse where Paul explicitly names 'neither death, nor life' in the order being asked about.
Romans 8:39: Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Paul extends the list to all creation, showing that nothing can separate the believer from God's love.
Galatians 2:20: I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
This verse explains the believer's life in the flesh is lived by Christ's faithfulness, which Les references when teaching about life as the harder road.
2 Corinthians 5:8: We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
Paul expresses the believer's confidence about death, which Les mentions when discussing death as a welcome escape.
In the biblical text itself, Paul does not stop to explain the order. But from Les Feldick's teaching, death is listed first because death can seem to be an escape from constant pressure, while life means continuing to endure the pressures of this world.
No. In Romans 8:38 Paul writes, "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life... shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Les teaches that it is not in the energy of the flesh; believers are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. Paul was human and suffered, but he was persuaded of Christ's faithfulness.
Les explains that 'persuaded' means totally convinced. It is the settled conviction that nothing on either side of the grave can separate us from God's love.
Watch the Teaching: Can Anything Separate You from God's Love? Romans 8:33-39