Pauline theology at its best!

I have mentioned before my deep attachment to Romans 8. I would name it “The Best of Paul,” although Paul is simply the one through whom God is speaking. When we arrive at the last major segment in the chapter we read, “What, then, shall we say in response to these things?” If Paul is referring to the three preceding verses then he is thinking of God’s gracious management of our lives, his foreknowledge, his predestination that we be conformed to his Son, our calling, our justification and our glorification. But if the reference goes back to the beginning of this magnificent chapter, then . . . what shall we say? . . . we have a complete theological structure that goes far beyond our ability to fully comprehend. One way to think about Paul’s “What, then, shall we say?” is to read and reflect on how he answers his own question in the following nine verses. Here is my translation:
 
 “So what shall we say in response to all of this? If God is on our side what difference does it make who might be against us? Since God did not spare his own Son but offered him up on our behalf, will he not, along with Christ, give us everything else? Who would dare to bring a charge against the ones that God has chosen? Since it is God who declares us righteous, who could possibly condemn us! Could it be Christ? No! He is the one who died on our behalf, rose from the grave and now sits at the right hand of God interceding for us.
         “I asked you: Is there anything in this world that can separate us from the love of Christ? Can trouble, or calamity, or persecution? What about famine, destitution, danger, or even the threat of execution? As scripture says, ”For your sake we face death all day long; we are like sheep waiting to be slaughtered.” The answer is a resounding No! In all these difficult situations we are winning a glorious victory by the power of Christ who loves us.
         “I am convinced that there is nothing that could separate us from the love of God – be it death or life, angels or rulers, things that now exist or are yet to come. There is no power from above or below, or any creative thing that will ever be able to separate us from the love of God revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord”  (Letters of Paul to the Early Church; a contemporary translation, Robert H. Mounce, pp. 70-71)