Romans 8:17-39

Paul’s whole premise in chapters 6–8 of Romans is that the “new way of the Spirit” (Rom. 7:6) results in a new life for the believer. The old life was a life of slavery and servitude to sin, law, and death. Now, having died with Christ and been given the Holy Spirit, believers have a new life. We are free “to serve” not in the “old way of the written code” (Rom. 7:6) but in freedom and liberty. We are able to fulfill the requirements of the law through the power of the Spirit, not through the powerlessness of the law itself.

The new life we have been given in the Spirit is based on three things: the promises of God (Rom. 8:18–25), the purposes of God (Rom. 8:26–30), and the protection of God (Rom. 8:31–39).

The Promises of God:

(1) Future Glory (Doxa) points to transformation through resurrection

v. 17-18: About our suffering, and the hope of glory to come

v. 19-25: creation longing for the revealing of the sons of God? Creation was cursed because of man’s sin, so creation is waiting for redemption just as we are.

(2) First Fruits: The down payment, the certainty from God, that we will enter into our full inheritance. The Holy Spirit is the first fruits of righteousness. We have received it to help us now, but we await and hope the day of resurrection where we and nature will be transformed.

(3) Promise of Patience Rewarded - Hope

HOPE= waiting with confidence

Heb 11:1 Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Trusting in God’s promises.

Persevere through the suffering and be eager waiting for the promise of glory

The Purposes of God:

What is the purpose of conforming believers to the image of Christ?

How can we persevere through our suffering?

Hope sustains and helps the believer through the present suffering.

The Spirit helps the believer in our weakness, specifically through prayer. Jesus promised us this helper

v. 26: The Spirit helps us in our weakness.

John 14:16-27 role of the Spirit

He is our helper; he is proof that God knows us. We are known because we love God, and if we love God, we follow his word. The Father sends us the Spirit in Jesus name. The Spirit teaches us all things and brings to our memory all that Jesus has said. Peace is the gift. So do not let your heart be troubled or fearful.

Paul’s description of the Spirit’s role in prayer is one of the most intimate glimpses we have in all of Scripture of the inner workings of the Godhead. When we are weak and trembling, confused about the purposes of God in our sufferings or our confusion, the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. The Father searches our heart, “not to know what [our] conscious prayers are, but to find out what the prayer of the Holy Spirit is” (Chambers, My Utmost, Nov. 8). When the Father hears his will being prayed by the Spirit (because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will), then the Father and Spirit are in perfect harmony for the purposes of God to be accomplished in the believer through the instrument of prayer.

v.28 - God called us to a holy life on the basis of his purpose and grace, and it is that purpose to which we have been called that invites our submission (calling of the chosen not calling of the many Matt. 22:14)

Our new life in the Spirit is based on God’s good purposes for our lives, and that includes suffering. Nothing happens outside of God’s plan for our good.

v29-30: Since the rebellion of man, it has been God’s purpose to redeem a family for himself out of the fallen race.

Jesus was to be the first of the children of God. The title Son of God is the picture of how he wanted us to think of ourselves as His children.

God foreknew, God predestined, God called, God justified, and God glorified. So that we will become conformed (transformed) to the image of Jesus His Son.

If God did all of this to bring us into His family, then all of the suffering you are going through is not the end. What can be done to you, if God is for you.

The Protection of God:

As a Child of God, the believer is secure that nothing in the universe can separate us from God’s love.

There are three bases for the protection that the believer can depend on from God—protection based on precedent (8:31–32), based on legal standing (8:33–34), and based on the love of God (8:35–39).

Precedent:

If God is for us, who can be against us? “Our weak hearts, prone to legalism and unbelief, receive these words with great difficulty: God is for us… They have failed Him; but He is for them. They are ignorant; but He is for them. They have not yet brought forth much fruit; but He is for them.” (Newell)

He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? It would be odd if God would give us himself as a sacrifice, but then deny us the things we need to complete the mission.

Legal Standing:

Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? God is the ultimate authority and are debt is wiped clean by Christ, so no one else’s opinion matters be it Roman emperor or Satan. Col. 2:14

Who is he that condemns? If no charges can be brought against believers, then certainly no condemnation.

Isa. 54:17

What can separate us from God’s Love? Nothing

Paul quotes from Psalm 44:22 to demonstrate that there will always be opposition to God’s people and the work of God in the world. But hold firm to the truth that nothing can separate us from God and his purpose for our lives.