Human natural tends to assumes that death is the strongest statement....that it is a final exclamation point.  I think that is one of the reasons why violence breeds more violence....hate has nothing stronger than death to use to make it's point.  However, the strength of love is compared to the strength of death in these verses....and, it would seem (from a human standpoint) that they are equal.  Since real love is contrary to our natural desires...especially in situations where we are asked to love even our enemies, we MUST rely on GOD or we are incapable of loving.  This dependency completely removes the equal sign between love and death....and that is how it is the strongest statement we can make when we ask GOD to HELP us LOVE anyway!...to give without expecting repayment.....and without repaying anyone evil for evil.

There is a love that is stronger than death that is beyond our human nature, but PRAISE GOD obtainable....

And I am convinced that nothing can separate us from GOD'S love.  Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow - not even the powers of hell can separate us from GOD'S love.  No power in the sky above or in the earth below - indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of GOD that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. -Romans 8:38-39-