26 In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not
know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with
groanings too deep for words;
27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit
is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of
God.
28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good
to those who love God, to those who are called according to His
purpose.
29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become
conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among
many brethren;
30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He
called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
V. 26 - “In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness” - What, “in the same way”? We are children of God, waiting eagerly for eternal life. We have it, and have had it since we accepted Christ as Lord and Savior. We just don’t comprehend what that eternal life will be. It is too far a beyond our imagination. He has gone to prepare a place for us in His Father’s house (Jn 14:2, 3). We are pretty sure it is not a log cabin, or a “mid-century modern”, but beyond a Ritz-Carlton, or Buckingham Palace or the Versailles, we begin to lose comprehension.
So, we know we have eternal life, but our weakness is we don’t really know how wonderful it may be. The Holy Spirit, the Helper, is given to reassure and teach us. Some of the descriptions in scripture are pretty amazing, see: Rev. 21:1-17; Isa. 65:17-25. The Holy Spirit, in perseverence and with eagerness, is in our lives to help us have hope and to help us in our weanesses and failures. Our Christian life is not defined by our failures, but by the hope and power of the Holy Spirit to live life abundantly. I suspect these are wholly inadequate, but we get the idea, “It’s wonderful. You will really like it!”
“for we do not know how to pray as we should” - It is so amazing, we do not know what to ask God. Even Paul told the Philippians “If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far.“ (Phil. 1:22-23)
“the Spirit Himself intercedes” - The Holy Spirit knows us, and knows our deepest needs. The Holy Spirit knows the Father, and thusly knows what the Father has planned for us. The Holy Spirit conveys what we need to know from God the Father. The Holy Spirit expresses our deepest needs, those we cannot even put into words because we do not perceive them clearly, to God the Father. (See: 1 Cor. 2:9-12)
God the Son intercedes - steps between God’s justice and our sin, taking the penalty of death upon Himself for us. God the Holy Spirit intercedes - in essence is an interpreter speaking to God the Father for us, for our language is inadequate, and speaking to our heart and spirit those things God wants us to know but cannot be expressed clearly in our language.
V. 27 - “He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is” - The Holy Spirit who is in us, conveys to God our needs, our wants, our hopes, our desires. I do not imply that God does not know some things about us or thoughts in our minds. There is nothing that can be hid from God (Eccl. 12:14; Heb. 4:13). The image is for you and I to know that God personal to each one of us. He is not a ‘fly-over’ God, or an eavesdropper overhearing snippets of our thoughts and prayers, He is with us. He is in us. He is facilitating our communication both ways - God-ward and to us. We do not have to wonder if God has heard us; wonder if He knows our needs.
V. 28 - “we know that God causes all things to work together for good “ - Let’s look back at the previous 27 verses in this chapter. That which is ours in Christ Jesus includes, but is not limited to:
| No condemnation for those in Jesus. The Spirit is life and peace. The Spirit of God dwells in you. The Spirit raised Jesus to life, and the same Spirit is in you! The Spirit in you means you are a child of God. We have the Spirit of adoption as children of God. Glory will be revealed to us and in us. Nothing can be compared to the glory that awaits us! We are set free from sin and corruption. We are waiting eagerly for Christ to come again. The Spirit intercedes for us when we pray - us-to-God, and God-to-us. |
This is a partial list of the blessings and glory that is saved up for His children. Of course all things end up good for believers! We have life, and have it abundantly (Jn 10:10). Persecuted for living for Jesus? That means people recognize you are living life differently - in a good way. The world hates it when you live for Jesus. Keep it up, for it glorifies Jesus.
“those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” - This is two ways of saying the same thing. If you love God, then you are fulfilling His Purpose! Jesus came to save the lost. (See: Luk 19:10) You in Jesus. Jesus in you. God in you. You in God. The Holy Spirit in you, teaching and guiding you. The purpose of God is that you will believe and be saved. (See: Jn 6:28, 29; Acts 16:30, 31) We who love Jesus will also love the Father, then Jesus and the Father will love us and be revealed to us. They will make their home in us. (See: Jn 14:21, 23)
His purpose is our salvation. We can reject His offer, but not without cost. (See: Jn 3:35-36)
V. 29 - “Those whom He foreknew... predestined... become conformed... among many brethren.” - Foreknowledge and predestination are not two sides of the same coin - the doctrine that God picks and chooses who will be saved. “Foreknew” - (He knows beforehand who will believe and who will not. Of course that is true. We are bound by timelines, God is eternal Spirit and is not bound by time. He sees the beginning from the end, and the end from our perspective of the beginning. It does not mean He picks one person out of a lineup, and may leave those to the right and left out. God is not capricious. We can know if we are in His will. (See: 1 Jn 5:13)
He “predestined” means He determined the method or process by which all things work together for good for those who love Him. That is: believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, that He died for your sin, and you accept Him as Savior.
Christ in us - we become as He is - we “become conformed” to Him - blameless, spotless, pure and righteous, not by our doing, but by Him and the Holy Spirit. (See: 1 Jn 3:1-2; Tit. 3:5-6; Col. 1:12-14; 2:10, 13; 3:3; Phil. 1:6; 1 Pet. 1:3-4; etc.)
We will be gathered around the throne of God, part of a great cloud of witnesses. God has offered salvation through Jesus Christ to all. Unfortunately, not all will believe and accept - it is our choice after all, and God honors that choice. (See: Matt. 22:4)We are not robots, doing only what is programmed. We are free beings who can choose Jesus and the Father. (See: 1 Pet 2:9; Rev. 17:14) Paul shares the gospel in 1 Tim 1:15-16 - “It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.” God is merciful and patient with us, giving the testimony and the time we need to turn to Him and believe. Jesus is the first to be raised from the dead and conquering sin. He is the head of the church, His body. (See: Col. 1:15-20)
Time out for a caveat from me. I will confess Rom 8:28 is not one of my favorite verses in the NT. I think it is used out of context by many well-meaning Christians. It seems to be quoted when you are going through a crisis (e.g., diagnosis of cancer, or some other tragedy), and a loving fellow believer quotes this to you. It’s supposed to make you feel good in spite of the problem you face, because God will make it all right. It only seems bad right now, but it is really good because God loves you. They are not being cruel, but are trying to console you. While their sentiments may be true - God will comfort you in times of trouble - the persecution you face is a mere bagatelle compared to the wealth and glory that awaits; I am not sure that is what Paul is saying.
(For another verse often misquoted - See note 1, below).V. 30 - “Whom He predestined... called... justified... glorified.” - We will share in Christ’s glory because we are His, and are now children of God. We are free from sin. (See: 1 Pet. 4:13)
From many years ago, there was a mnemonic for “justified” - “Just as if I had never sinned.” This word has a legal sense in that God declares the believer to be righteous and acceptable because Christ took our sins upon Himself on the cross. We are now declared righteous. (See: 1 Cor. 1:30; Rom. 3:24, 25.) This is not a purely New Testament (or New Covenant) concept. God pleads the case of the sinner and executes the justice for the sinner in the OT also. The accusers are put to shame, for the sinner has seen the light and lives! (See: Mic. 7:9-10) The judgement against the sinner has been executed. The sentence does not fall on the sinner, but on God Himself.
God does not force us to hear and believe in Him. He calls us, He beckons. He stands outside the door of our life (Rev. 3:20) knocking, requesting access. Jesus does not kick the door down, storm in and take you captive. C. S. Lewis said in The Screwtape Letters, “God does not coerce. He only woos you to come to Him.” Jesus calls us to come to Him, then we are called His own, we are called God’s children.
***Note 1 - Another misused verse is John 8:32, which is quoted only partially, “... and you shall know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” ***
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