All things work together

Advocate

The Lexham English Bible Chapter 8

26 And likewise also, the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as one ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with unexpressed groanings.

What do we know about the Advocate? Jesus talks to the Disciples concerning the Advocate. John 14:16 “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, in order that he may be with you forever—” John 14:26 “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name—that one will teach you all things, and will remind you of everything that I said to you.” John 15:26 ““When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father—that one will testify about me.” John 16:7 “But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go away. For if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.”

Which scripture is the most important word of advice from Jesus? Paul informs us that He who created us also searches our hearts and knows the mindset of the Spirit. This means that he knows what we are thinking.

So, what is required for us to find the good? 28 And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose, 29 because those whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he should be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined, these he also called, and those whom he called, these he also justified, and those whom he justified, these he also glorified.

W. Hall Harris III et al., eds., The Lexham English Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012), Ro 8:28–30.

Victory in Jesus

3. The triumph of faith (8:31–39)Could there be any stronger encouragement to faith than the contemplation of God’s saving purpose for his people, moving forward to its predestined consummation? Since God is their strong salvation, what force can prevail against them? Since his love was supremely manifested in the sacrifice of his own Son on their behalf, what good thing will he withhold from them? Paul for a moment envisages the situation in terms of a court of justice, where the believer stands to be judged. But who will dare to come forward as prosecutor?

Romans: An Introduction and Commentary 3. The Triumph of Faith (8:31–39)

God himself, the Judge of all, has pronounced acquittal and justification; who can call his sentence in question?

The Lexham English Bible Chapter 8

Indeed, he who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all, how will he not also, together with him, freely give us all things? 33 Who will bring charges against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies. 34 Who is the one who condemns? Christ is the one who died, and more than that, who was raised, who is also at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.

The Lexham English Bible Chapter 8

Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will affliction or distress or persecution or hunger or lack of sufficient clothing or danger or the sword?

Verse 36 brings us to the idea of our persecution. This quote comes from the Psalmist who speaks out against the slowness of God’s inaction to save his people from their enemies. Just as it is written,

“On account of you we are being put to death the whole day long;

we are considered as sheep for slaughter.”

W. Hall Harris III et al., eds., The Lexham English Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012), Ro 8:36.

The Lexham English Bible Chapter 8

37 No, but in all these things we prevail completely through the one who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Take homes this week:

Who is our helper? and what is required for him to come?

Why does Jesus say we are better off if he goes?

Can we be separated from Christ?

Let us pray!