Romans 8:26-30
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Romans 8:26-30
Romans 8:26-30
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
What weakness do you think Paul is talking about here?
All weakness really, but specifically spiritual weakness. Often we find ourselves, or like to think of ourselves as these spiritual giants that can conquer anything, but in reality we cannot. We need the Spirit to help us. Weakness is not a sin. If it was, then we are all in trouble. The sin comes in when we think and try to do it ourselves. We then often fall into this “try harder, feel worse” routine right?
Paul even address this in
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Let the Spirit help you in your weakness. We need it. Quit trying to do it on your own.
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
Paul continues to even talk here about prayer. How many of us have been at the point when we are so overcome with emotion that we do not know what to pray? Or that in times of trouble we do not know what to pray? That is ok, because here is the thing…the Spirit knows what we need and intercedes for us on this.
God knows your heart, and He knows what we need, even when we do not. So, when those moments happen, we can rely on the Spirit to help provide those for us.
The danger here is “well because the Spirit is interceding for me then I should not pray.” That is not the case at all, rather we still need to pray.
Peter example
And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
First, we have to start here. The “he” that is referred to here is God
O Lord, you have searched me and known me!
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
What Paul is driving at here is that God not only knows man, but also knows the Spirit. It is one of the Trinity right? So, God knows man’s heart. He knows their thoughts, He knows their ways, and He also knows the Spirit. The same Spirit that is in us is apart of the Trinity. So when the Spirit is speaking God knows that it is the Spirit interceding for us when we lose our words. When we are groaning and do not know what to say.
This is something super cool to me. Because this also works here in the sense of us saying or asking for what we want instead of what God wants. God knows our hearts, and yet He listens to the Spirit that is in us to provide for us.
Child analogy
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Here is am easily misinterpreted verse. What do you think that this verse is saying?
If we are not careful, we can interpret this as “everything will be alright” and then live our lives in that “free for all” mindset right? It is then a slippery slope to sin honestly. So then what is this saying?
We have to look in context of what this is saying. This is talking about the Spirit interceding for us right? Talking about those moments when we do not know what to pray, the Spirit speaks up for us. That God knows our hearts and even when we say something wrong or stupid, the Spirit still speaks for us and God knows that the Spirit is working in us and intercedes for us.
So then, here what is being said is in that same line. That for those who are God’s children, “who love Him” who are filled with the Spirit, He makes intercessions for us according to the will of God and He makes all things work together. All for His purpose, and what is God’s purpose?
For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
That all should come to know Jesus as Lord and savior.
Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.
That we are cleansed
Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.
That the new is constantly being stripped away from our lives.
You see the “good things” that Paul is talking about here is first salvation, then that those who are saved would be made to look more like Christ each and every day. So for those that are Christ’s, He makes all things, the good and the bad, work together for the good (salvation and sanctification) which is according to His purpose.
And in case you needed more evidence that He is talking about believers here, that last phrase “called according to His purpose”
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,
The calling is salvation.
For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
Here is where we get into some fun topics that have been debated for years. Do we have free will, and do we get to choose God, or does God choose us and that is how we are saved. The short answer is yes. So, lets let scripture inform us of what God has.
First verb here is “foreknew”. You see this verb means to know in advance. So, God knew and knows each person that is going to be saved. He always has known. From the beginning of time, God knew that you, if you know Jesus as your Lord and savior, that you would be saved. He knows each one of His children.
The next verb is “predestined”. Here is where the arguments start. Does this mean that only certain people are to be saved, that God only picked certain people to be saved? I do not think so, but also, yes.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
For God so loved the world…meaning that He loved everyone and He sent Jesus here for everyone.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
But there is only one way to salvation and that is through Jesus.
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
Jesus is constantly knocking on the door of hearts, and anyone that hears and opens and believes in Him will be saved.
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.
Jesus also says this. That those who seek Him will find Him.
So then what does Paul mean by Predestined? Well, here is what I believe. God knew who was going to be saved. He knows who is seeking and knocking. He is also doing the knocking, but what this means is that salvation was the plan from start to finish. That God knew from the very beginning and predestined it that Jesus would come die and rise again for our sins. That salvation was as sure before He spoke it everything into existence as it is today, and as it will be tomorrow. That God does give all a choice, and He knows who is going to make the choice for salvation, and their salvation is sure and not changing.
Yes there are going to be those who deny Him. Jesus told us that through His time here on earth, but it is not because Jesus just said “eh, I don’t want them” rather because they denied Jesus.
“the most comfortable of all Christian doctrines, if men will accept it in its biblical form, and not attempt to pry into it with questions which it does not set out to answer. It is…the final statement of the truth that justification, and, in the end, salvation are by grace alone, and through faith alone.
For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
The firstborn here is talking about Jesus, but that He came, died and rose again for salvation, and we are no “co-heirs” with Him, and we are to go and make other disciples.
Then Paul just adds more to the thought of salvation here. That it is sure.
Justification and glorification