ROMANS 8:26-27 THE HOLY SPIRIT HELPS US IN PRAYER

 

Romans Chapter 8 is a wonderfully uplifting chapter, following a very sobering assessment in preceding chapters  concerning our true state before God.

All of mankind – you and I included, are God’s created people. 

But we are also fallen beings. 

We are no longer what God had purposed us to be. 

Sin has distorted us – more than we realize. By nature, we are under the wrath of God (Rom. 1:18-32).  The Bible read and understood helps us to see ourselves as God sees us. Paul was helped to see himself realistically in Romans 7. But he also was helped at once to see the solution to all our trouble: Jesus Christ the Saviour (7:24)!  And that is why he begins with that great truth statement in  Romans 8:1-2:

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.”

Jesus Christ frees us from the righteous wrath of God! THEREFORE, look to Him and believe in Him!  And then, look again at those two opening verses and find mention made of the Holy Spirit, who is mentioned 20 times in this chapter.  

Who is the Holy Spirit?  What is the nature of His Being? What is the nature of His work?  We are best helped by considering Jesus’ own teaching concerning Him in John 14:15-18; 14:25-26; 16:7-15.

In a nutshell: 

The Holy Spirit is the promise of the Father (Acts 1:4, Jn.14:16,26) and of the Lord Jesus (Jn.16:7). 

Following Christ’s ascension (Lk. 24:50-53; Acts 1:6-11), the Holy Spirit would be the Helper (parakletos) who comes alongside and inside God’s people, being the Spirit of Truth (Jn.14:17;16:13; Rom.8:11). The Holy Spirit would not leave the people of Jesus as orphans (Jn.14:18) [Note, in Romans 8:15, He is the Spirit of adoption by who we cry Abba, Father!]. He is the One, says Jesus, “teaching you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (Jn.14:26). 

He is the One who will convict the world concerning sin.... (Jn. 16:8) 

He is the outpoured Holy Spirit of Acts 2. It  is He who makes all the difference in us, because He embodies all that God is! He, the outpoured Spirit makes the difference in us- experientially! Let us learn to appreciate Him, to honour Him, to praise Him as the third  member of the Holy Trinity!  

Paul reveals Him in Romans 8 as the Spirit of life- the life - giving Spirit, who sets us free from religious formalism (i.e. mere adherence to the law) (8:2). 

He helps us to walk not according to the flesh (i.e. by giving into sinful impulses) (8:4). 

He helps us to set the mind on godly thoughts (8:5) 

He produces life and peace in the soul (8:6).  

He makes us feel that we belong to a new family, because He is the Spirit of adoption (8:15). To be a Christian is to be a son /daughter of God. To be a Christian means that we have new abilities through His indwelling presence and power. We are able to overcome sin. The Holy Spirit makes the difference even while you and I  continue to live in a fallen body, and in a fallen world in which Satan exercises his destructive and deceptive rule.  

If you have trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour, remember  that  the Holy Spirit is the Helper - He  helps you even when you still struggle with sin  in every conceivable way (Romans 7:15-20). 

Truly, this world is a battleground for the Christian. It is a peculiar mixture of suffering and glory. This is the  subject we considered last time in 8:18-25.  Take courage! 

The Holy Spirit is here to help you in the midst of your  groaning [1].  This is a word which we find three times in this chapter:  8:18,22,23.  There we find that (i) creation groans (ii) we groan) (iii) the Spirit groaning  on our behalf  making our groans intelligible before the Father’s throne of grace. Groaning  will accompany us (and all of creation) in this life, and on our way to future glory. We groan under the weight of the wages of sin.  

Is there any help available?  Jesus has saved us, and for this we are immensely thankful, but how will we cope NOW whilst living out our lives in this fallen world, and in this fallen body? The answer is : BY PRAYER! 

I trust that these 2 verses will help and encourage you greatly.  

THE HOLY SPIRIT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE IN PRAYER: 8:26,27

Our text begins with an affirmation: “The Spirit helps us in our weakness“.  That word ‘help’ is a very long word in the biblical Greek[2]- made up of three words.  The word conveys the idea of assisting; to help another in sharing a burden – to jointly tackle a task.  

The word is used in Luke 10:40 where Martha asks Mary to help her with food preparations. 

Notice then, the Holy Spirit does not take our responsibility away. He helps us.  He assists us, particularly in our state of weakness.   

What is that state of weakness? Here it is: “For we do not know what to pray for as we ought....”. Isn’t that a real problem for us in prayer? How do we ever know what to pray for? We don’t always know what is best for us. If that frustrates you then remember that we are in good company. 

Paul did not always know where the Spirit of God would take him next (e.g. Acts 16:6-10 and the Macedonian call).  

Furthermore, Paul asked the Lord three times to remove the thorn in his flesh in 2 Cor.12:8-10, thinking that this was a hindrance to ministry, but God said, “no! My grace is sufficient for you...”.  Who would have thought that the thorn in the flesh was a good thing for Paul?  

And, what should the Apostle Paul pray according to Philippians 1:23?  Here he is at the end of his life and in prison, potentially facing execution. He has a desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better; but is it not perhaps better for the sake of the church that he gets out of prison and remains useful a little longer?  Can you sense the tension – we do not know how to pray as we ought?  What is better? Well, God’s plans are better. They may take us via some strange providences, but if the outcome is that He get’s more glory, then that is the better way.

In this regard I  remind you also  that even the Lord Jesus, experiencing life as a man (yet without sin) praying as a man, bearing our sins as a man,  asked  that this cup of suffering might pass from Him, knowing that God’s will, not His be done. Jesus knew what God's will was, and we know what God’s will was for Jesus, but can you see the real struggle involved in prayer in this fallen world? Can you hear Jesus’ real groaning? And aren't you thankful that He took the way of the cross?

You and I will praise God in eternity for Christ’s active obedience!

Next, we read, 

“...but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words”. 

Here is the help that the Holy Spirit provides for us in prayer. Dear friends, God knows our weakness. He knows that we are subject to the fall and He bears with us, and He helps us by the Holy Spirit  to articulate our groanings and perplexities in prayer.  

The same idea is found in Matthew 11:28ff where Jesus says, 

“Come to me all you who labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest ...”.  

Here are people that are groaning under the weight of their crushing burdens – and Jesus says, “Come to me... I will help you.”  Think of a heavy object that is too much to carry for you. Another person comes along and says, “let me help you”, and the two of you manage that heavy load. Your helper does not do all the work. He helps you. He helps  to carry your heavy load successfully and effectively. This text does not teach us to be passive.  The Holy Spirit helps us, and in this case, He helps us by interceding for us. 

The word[3] used for intercession is only found here in the NT, and it translates best as making representation for another person. He is, as it were, taking upon Himself my muddled thinking, my overburdened mind, and my inability to formulate something correctly, and with words unutterable He presents the prayer in an understandable form before the throne of God. So, I am helped in prayer.

I have a confession to make: I mostly don’t know how to pray for you, particularly if I have little understanding of your situation and your spiritual well being. I confess, that I mostly groan and trust the Holy Spirit to make my prayers for you legible in the Father’s heavenly courts.

Two things must be said about the Holy Spirit’s groaning on our  behalf :

(i)             He is the omniscient Spirit. Sharing the attributes of God, He knows everything. So, it cannot mean that He is struggling to understand or interpret my prayer. His groaning simply amounts, from my perspective,  to being “too deep for words” (NIV groans that words cannot express) - literally 'wordless' language. But the effect of the Spirit’s groaning upon my groaning  is that my  Heavenly Father receives an exact interpretation of that which I actually need.

(ii)            It cannot refer to speaking in tongues, as some have maintained. The translation is “too deep for words”. This excludes language – even tongues, which  are also a form of  language. This is much deeper.  At any rate, the onus here is not on the speaker but on the Holy Spirit,  formulating in wordless language my groaning before the throne of mercy.  Thank God for the great help which is promised to us in prayer. I am so encouraged by this!

Finally, in 8:27 we read, 

“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.”  

God is the searcher of our hearts. He is also the One who is  in eternal fellowship with the Holy Spirit. He knows the mind of the Spirit.  Father, Son and Holy Spirit truly KNOW one another in the fullest sense of that word. 

There is a actually  never any explanation needed between them. They perfectly understand each other. And their  greatest certainty and agreement is this: God‘s people, here called saints, must be brought safely home through this temporary trial, in which they will suffer many things.  They must be helped in prayer and they must  be  glorified.  The 8th chapter will take us steadily into that direction.  The Holy Spirit has been given to that end, and the work of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit will be completed to that end.  You, dear saint, are safe in  God’s  hands.

What you read here is indeed high theology. But it has been written for people like you and I, who are not God. It is written for people who see in a mirror dimly.  What is utterly clear to God is not yet clear to me, and when I look into His Word, and consider  texts like these, I am given a perspective that is not ordinary. This perspective tells me that, despite my experience, God knows what He is doing.  And He knows and He helps His people in their weakness.  He helps them  in prayer.   

This puts a fresh perspective on prayer and I trust that you will be bold enough to test God in this matter. Ask Him this week to help you in prayer.

 

 

 

 

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[1] Gr.  stenazo - groan, sigh, express deep inward  grief - from steno – narrow/ constricted - being in a tight spot

[2] Gr sunantilambanetai

[3] Gr. huperentugchanei – to intercede for another person

ROMANS 8:18-25 “PRESENT SUFFERINGS AND FUTURE GLORY”

 

Romans 8 is a very special chapter, mainly because it offers us so much comfort. We see that the Holy Spirit makes a real difference in the life of the believer. He is mentioned 20 times in this chapter.  

A true believer, empowered and indwelt by the Holy Spirit is no longer a slave to their former nature (the flesh 8:2,4,5).  A true believer experiences life and peace (8:6,10). A true believer has the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead working in them – both now and in their resurrection from the dead (8:11). True believers are led by the Spirit of God; they are sons of God (8:14).  They have received the Spirit of adoption (8:15).  They have assurance that they are the children of God (8:16). They are heirs of God (8:17).

Those are wonderfully strong statements and assurances.  They say something of the reality of the Life of God in our souls. They confirm the ability of a believer to say no to the powerful impulses of the flesh.  If you call yourself a Christian consider this and test yourself this coming week, when inevitable challenges come to pull you down. Remember the promise given in Peter 1:3-11 and remind yourself that you are empowered by the Spirit of life. 

This brings us to a very real   issue and the apostle Paul is not slow to capitalize on this. Take note how Paul ends in 8:17. After showing us the wonderful benefits of being a Christian (i.e. sons of God/ children of God, adopted into God’s family, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ) he says this: “… provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.”  Here is a real issue for a Christian believer to consider- the doctrine of suffering.  The Christian person is not free from suffering but helped in suffering.  

TWO IMPORTANT WORDS: SUFFERING AND GLORY

These two words/concepts will stay with us and occupy our thinking until the end of the chapter. These two words seem antithetical, but in biblical thinking they belong together. In this life they run side by side.  You hear of a death (suffering) and you hear of a birth (glory). In fact, every birth has and experience of suffering followed by glory! Every life has stories of suffering and glory.  

The subject of suffering and glory permeates the Bible.

·       In the law:   Sin enters the world and with sin enters suffering and death; but God provides atonement for sin and restoration (glory).

·       The book of Job: Job is handed over to Satan to be tested (suffering). One of Job’s statements is this: “But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me (suffering) I shall come forth as gold (glory).” (Job 23:10) The end of Job’s story is just that (cf. Job 42:10 “And the LORD restored the fortunes of Job.”(glory)

·       The Psalms e.g.  Ps 23:4 “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death (suffering), I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and staff, they comfort me (glory)”

·        The gospels. The cross of Christ (suffering); the resurrection of Christ (glory). 

·       Acts of the Apostles. The church suffers and the church advances (glory).

·       Paul’s writings e.g. 2 Cor 4:8-10: “we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed but not driven to despair; persecuted but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed, always carrying in the body the death of Jesus (suffering) so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies (glory).”

Notice then that in terms of Christian experience, suffering and glory are often found in close proximity to one another, and so also 8:17 which serves as our introduction  to this subject

The subject of suffering in particular has perplexed Christians in every age. If God is good, why do we have to suffer? Suffering can test our faith severely, particularly if we do not have a firm biblical perspective on the subject, and the KEY ISSUE that we learn here is that suffering and glory for Christians stand in close  connection and 8:18 will make it explicit that our present sufferings cannot be compared to the glory that is to be revealed to us. Paul knows that Christians will experience suffering in this fallen world, but that is not the end of our story.  and that is what he is addressing here.  

Chapter 8 is so rich and so deep that we will have to take more than one sermon to think through this matter.

PROPOSED OUTLINE

(i)                  8: 18-25   Our present sufferings cannot be compared with our future glory

(ii)                8: 26-30   The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness

(iii)              8:31-39   All things work together for the good of the believer  

In this sermon we will  cover verses 18-25 

 1.  8:18-25  PRESENT SUFFERINGS CANNOT BE COMPARED TO FUTURE GLORY

Paul has just asserted in 8:17 that suffering with Christ and for the sake of Christ is an inevitable accompaniment of being a Christian. In fact, it is a mark of being a Christian, and it is a very challenging one. 

Are you presently suffering for the sake of Christ? Don’t think now of your brothers and sisters in countries where they are being literally persecuted, forced into the underground, and if found, killed.  

Think of your own situation. 

• Are you pained by the things that Jesus would be pained with in this world? 
• Are you feeling the sense of ridicule imposed upon when you refuse to agree with current views on marriage, family, and sexuality which are at odds with biblical norms?
• Have you been accused of being intolerant because you believe the Bible more than modern social norms? 
• Do you feel the growing divide between biblical teachings and societal norms?  
• Do you feel pressure to keep your faith hidden to avoid ridicule, career setbacks, or social exclusion? 
• How do you as a Christian woman honour Christ, when living with a non-believing husband? Not without some sense of suffering.  
• Do you find it hard to make decisions like, saying to your visiting non-church going family – “I have an appointment with my God and Saviour this Sunday morning between 10.30 and11.30 – I will see you afterwards!”? I remind you that choosing to honour God above family is no small thing, and it does induce discomfort and it forces us to deal with texts like,  “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (Lk 9:23). "Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me" (Matt.10:37,38). 
• Taking your stand with Christ is guaranteed to bring peculiar sufferings, and each Christian has their own story to tell, and sometimes our suffering is due to our own foolishness.  1 Peter 4:16,17 makes a helpful differentiation here. But that is not what our context addresses here.   Paul addresses the matter of Christian suffering for the sake of Christ. It is to them that he now has these following words of comfort and perspective in 8:18: “For I consider that the sufferings of the present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us”.

 Paul affirms that Christians will suffer. We have covered this point sufficiently.  But He  also affirms that Christian suffering will be eclipsed by the revelation of God’s glory, which from his (and our) present perspective is still in the future. 

This must now be investigated.

8:19  confirms the anticipation/ waiting  for  this future glory:  For the creation[1] waits[2] with eager longing[3]  (literally with outstretched neck) for the revealing of the sons of God (those that are adopted- see 8:15).How long? The keyword for suffering Christians is “wait”[4].  The implication is this: a. the answer is coming  b. God knows and is in control. He remains the sovereign God in all His people’s temporary suffering. C. their deliverance is coming

8:20-21  A perhaps not so surprising fact:  God Himself has subjected His  creation to this suffering. The biblical foundation of this argument is found in Genesis 3: 16ff.  God is the one who imposed this state as a judicial act following the fall, not because of a choice by creation, but because He decreed it (Gen 2:17).  Adam and Eve were told that they will die if they disobeyed! Every form of suffering flows from that and dying is the ultimate experience associated with suffering. And remember this! Our Lord Jesus Christ at His first coming entered this world and what did He experience? Suffering!  And God did not let the cup of suffering pass from Him. He drank that cup right down to its very dregs.  And by this He took upon Himself my sin and your sin, and if you have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ then you are justified. You are adopted. You are an heir of God and a fellow heir with Christ.

In the meantime we must wait UNTIL Christ comes to restore all things at His second coming! He is the hope of 8:20,24,25.  He is the glorified Christ, and we are waiting to be glorified with him, but that can only happen when He returns.  Until then we will have to wait. Until then there will be a sense of frustration, vanity, and there will be suffering under the sun. It is so important that we understand this.  And when you suffer this does not always indicate that you have disobeyed God in the present. No! Much of our present suffering is the result of the original fall, as a result of which God has subjected this world to futility – to its own way of godless thinking and godless doing. But wait patiently with outstretched neck. Christ is coming.  All the spiritual and moral  and physical  deficiencies  will be something of the past.

8:22 In the meantime remember that not only you, but the whole universe groans and  longs for redemption.   The whole universe suffers as a result of the fall. The whole universe   longs for expresses the hope of future glory. When man, who is created in the image of God,  fell it was indeed a great fall. This fall  sends echoes back into this vast universe!

8:22,23 Again we are reminded that alongside this groaning creation, there is a groaning church - those who have the first- fruits of the Spirit.  The groaning church is waiting for her adoption as sons. But wait a minute! Haven’t we been adopted already (8:15)? Yes, but remember that our salvation is an ongoing process.  We are adopted, but this is a process. The process will be complete when Christ returns, and kills all sin and death itself in the lake of fire.

8:24,25  In this hope we were saved !  We are heirs, but we have not yet received the fullness of the inheritance. We have within us the first fruits of the Spirit, but we have not yet received the redemption of our bodies. We live in that hope- and hope that is seen is no hope. We wait for it with patience. And so, every believer needs to live in anticipation of the best which is yet to be –  the  return of our Lord Jesus! Don’t waste your energies on present sufferings. Focus  on the future glory!

Our celebration of the Lord’s supper now  shows this aspect of anticipation. We proclaim the death of Christ … until when?  "Until He comes!"   

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[1] Ktiseos (κτίσεως)  "creation," root ktisis:". It is used in the New Testament to describe the act of creation, the created world/universe (Rom. 8:20-22), or a new creature in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17). 

Definition: Originates from ktizō (κτίζω - to create), referring to the formation, act of creating, or the thing created.

[2] Ἀπεκδέχεται (Apekdechetai - "Waits eagerly"): A compound verb (apo-ek-dechomai) intensifying the act of waiting, indicating a confident, patient, and expectant, long-term waiting.

[3]Apokaradokia (ἀποκαραδοκία) is a Greek noun meaning intense, earnest, or "eager expectation". Derived from words meaning "head" (kara) and "watching" (dokeo), it literally describes stretching the head forward in anticipation. It appears twice in the New Testament (Rom. 8:19, Phil. 1:20)

[4] See also  Revelation 6:9-11. Those slain for the Word of God cry out “How long?”. They are told to wait a little longer.

ROMANS 8:12-17 ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN? THEN YOU HAVE BEEN ADOPTED!

 

In my previous congregation we had a good number of people who had adopted unwanted babies. One stands out. She was found on the rubbish dump in a plastic bag, barely alive. A woman in our church, a retired nurse, nursed her with the idea of making her available for adoption.  This little girl crept into her heart, she had pity on her, and now she, an older woman, chose to become this little girl’s mother. It reminds me much of the graphic picture found in Ezekiel 16:1-7.  This is how God finds us, when He finds us on the rubbish heap of sin. He has pity on us. He adopts us as His own.

Are you a Christian?  Then I remind you that you too  have been  adopted.  

Once you were not a child of God. Then came a time when you were adopted into the family of God.1 Peter 2:9-10 reminds us,  

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. “

1 John 3:1 reads, 

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God, and so we are.”  

Here Paul tells us in Romans 8:15 

“…you have received the Spirit of adoption [Gr. huiothesia – lit. placing as a son] as sons, by whom we cry ‘Abba! Father!’” 

This term is only used by Paul cf.  Rom. 8:15,23; 9:4 ; Gal. 4:5 ; Eph. 1:5.

Romans 8 is the great chapter on Christian assurance. Here we learn how the Holy Spirit makes the difference in a believer’s life.  Our attention has already been drawn to 8:16, 

“The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God”. 

 In 8:15 we find a new aspect of God’s work of salvation in us[1] : our adoption into the family of God.  This is the first time this doctrine of spiritual adoption appears in the letter to the Romans.  

Romans 8:1 -11   shows us what we have become by God’s grace.  A true believer can say, 

“I have been justified by faith. I have peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:1). 

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Rom 8:1)”. Paul continues, “The law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death” (8:2). 

The Christian person walks, no longer according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. The Holy Spirit produces fruit.  The mind set on the Spirit has life and peace (8:6).   

In Romans 8: 12-17 Paul now focuses on the practical implications of this life in the Spirit. The Holy Spirit produces visible fruit in the believer.  Follow the logic as it unfolds verse by verse…

8:12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 

The implication is that you cannot habitually live according to the flesh and claim to be saved. You are a debtor now!  How so?  You are indebted to God, because He has freed you  (bought you/redeemed you) by the blood of His Son. You have been   freed from the consequences of sin. Out of gratitude   and love you serve God.  You are now, like Paul, a slave of God (Rom 1:1). In my childhood we had a family friend who saved a woman from certain drowning in the sea. She was so grateful – she married him!

Mary, whom the Lord Jesus had delivered from a sinful life, was filled with gratitude to the Lord. He had received her- unworthy  as she was. She literally kissed His feet.  She wiped her thankful tears off His feet with her hair.  She poured out all her material riches on Him! (Lk. 7:36-38).  This is a profound picture of the forgiven sinner. She loved much, because she was forgiven much (Lk 7:47). She felt indebted to Jesus.  

8:13  For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.  Here we find  a warning and an encouragement:

(i)                  a warning :  “For if you live according to the flesh you will die”.  

Continue to live like a non- Christian, and you will die like a non- Christian!  You will not inherit the kingdom of God (see Galatians  5:19-21).  You will not be an heir.

(ii)                an encouragement:  “if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live”. 

“By the Spirit!” You are not alone in this war against sin.  You fight sin, and the Holy Spirit helps you as you fight.  Killing sin "by the Spirit" means enablement to deal effectively with whatever sin is before you.  You are not helpless. You are not a victim of your addictions and your attitudes. As you fight, you are effectively helped. No true Christian can ever say, “The devil made me do it; I am a victim; I am helpless   in this fight against sin;  I am enslaved to my addictions or attitudes; I can’t forgive, I can’t help doing pornography, I can’t control my anger … etc. “. With the help of God’s indwelling Spirit, you are always able to put to death the deeds of the body, and in so doing you prove that you have spiritual life in you.   As a child of God, enabled by the Holy Spirit,  you must act in line with the values of the family that you belong to.   It is a sign of God’s grace in you. It is a sign of salvation. This is seen in the next verse…

8: 14  For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.  

Being sons of God means that we act in line with our family values. Being led by the Spirit of God means that you are under His direction and enablement. Being led, means that He leads. He enables. How does He do that?  He does it by the God-given means. Being the Spirit of Truth (Jn 14:17), and the Inspirer of God’s Word (2 Peter 1:20,21; 2 Tim 3:16,17) we must learn to listen to His still small voice as it comes to us through the Word of God.  For this you need a regular quiet time.  “How can you expect God to speak in that gentle and inward voice which melts the soul, when you are making so much noise with your rapid reflections? Be silent and God will speak again.”[2] 

Do you read your Bible with a quiet heart and with listening ears?  This is the Word of Truth which the Holy Spirit inspired.  By this book He warns you of the dangers of sin- the very thing that will get between you and your God. 

He convicts you of sin.  

As your Sanctifier He will lead you through whatever you have to learn under the sun – even your God given trials and sufferings (8:17,18). In this He gives perspective and comfort. He provides, protects through it all.  All this is true because you are a child of God. 

This leads us into the doctrine of adoption.

8:15  For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 

Here is the doctrine of adoption in full flower. Formerly you were of your father the devil, kept in the spirit of slavery, kept in the bondage of sin, and unable to escape from its clutches. But now, 

“you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Cor 6:11)…  

The Holy Spirit has freed you from Satan’s prison of fear. He is the Spirit of adoption, who imprints upon your heart the fact that you belong to your Heavenly Father and His heavenly family – the ekklesia- the church of God – all the adopted children of God . And your response is that of childlike joy – you run into His arms and you cry “Abba – Hebr. ‘daddy’ – Father!” (see also Gal.4:4-7). There is your safe place! Your Father’s house!

8:16   The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.  

This is so thrilling! Paul says that there is an internal witness, an inner assurance in you, produced by the Holy Spirit. He bears witness with your spirit that you are a child of God.

This is not simply a feeling although that is undoubtedly included.  But it cannot be subjective, because our feelings come and go. They are unreliable witnesses.  Your Father loves you, even when you do not feel His presence or nearness.  

This is more than a feeling. 

It is not grounded in our subjective experience, which may be here today and not there tomorrow. 

It is rooted in the fact that God has done something in me that nothing external can unsettle (see the conclusion of Rom. 8:37-39). 

His presence is with His child even though they walk through the shadows and sorrows of life.  Job knew God would redeem Him, even if he did feel the love and presence of God in his trials. He knew even in the midst of his darkest hours that God had not forsaken Him (see Job 19:25-27 - I know that my Redeemer lives…).

8:17  “…and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.”  

The fact that   Christians are God’s adopted children has profound implications: Our status as God’s legally adopted children means that we become heirs.  Ours are the riches of 

• his glorious inheritance in the saints (Eph. 1:18).  
• We will inherit the kingdom of heaven (Matt 5:3) – I don’t think that we can know the extent of what that means. Eye has not seen and ear has not heard what God has prepared for them that love Him (1 Cor 2:9). 

BUT please note this - "provided we suffer with him...". The Christian life means taking up your cross (Matt 16:24-26)-

 I have decided to follow Jesus; no turning back, no turning back.

The world behind me, the cross before me, no turning back, no turning back.   

The fact that we are children of God does not mean that we’re not going to suffer. 

In fact, our suffering for the sake of Christ, and for the sake of righteousness, is yet another level of assurance, bearing witness to the fact that we are the children of God. We follow in the footsteps of Jesus. 

The glorious truth is that this is only half of the story. We suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him!  It is essential that we always keep looking forward to the glory - finish line, when we shall receive our promised inheritance - our glorification.   That is the final link in the golden chain of salvation.

Dear Christian, “look to Jesus, the Founder and Perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame….” (Hebr. 12:2). Look to Him. He stands at the finish line and cheers you on. 

The Holy Spirit Himself, who is in you and with you, will give you endurance. Lean on Him.  Keep in step with the Spirit (Gal. 5:25)  

Let the doctrine of adoption comfort you. 

Let  love and gratitude for God,  for bringing you into His family, motivate you. 

Let the Spirit of adoption  help  you  to  rest (find assurance)  in  your Father's  promises in Christ  Jesus our Saviour.   

 

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[1] THE ORDO SALUTIS ( ORDER OF SALVATION)

1.        Election (begins in eternity) 

2.        Calling   (comes in time)

3.        Regeneration  ( Being born again)

4.        Conversion ( Faith and repentance)

5.        Justification  ( Right legal standing  - not guilty)

6.        Adoption ( membership into God’s family)

7.        Sanctification  ( right conduct of life)

8.        Perseverance ( remaining a Christian)

9.        Death  ( going to be  with the Lord)

10.      Glorification  ( receiving a  resurrection body)

  [2] Francois Fenelon (1651-1715)