Category Archives: Bible Study

The Spirit’s Ministry of Intercession, Romans 8:26-27

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Have you ever been at a loss of what, or how, to pray in a given situation or for someone? While last week we explored hope and how it carries us through difficult times (Romans 8:24-25), these two verses offer another benefit of the new life of the Holy Spirit. This time in the area of our prayers:

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us . . . . ” – vs. 26

How does God’s Spirit intercede for the believer? “. . . with groans that words can not express,” (vs. 26).

Perhaps no other Scripture gives greater encouragement in our prayer life. Dale Moody (Broadman Bible Commentary) writes: “The little English verb helps (vs. 26) translates a big verb in Greek. It is used elsewhere in the New Testament only when Martha called Mary to help her prepare a meal (Luke 10:40).”

For all of us who relate to Martha, this is huge encouragement!

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God’s Spirit not only helps when we’re low on faith and/or uncertain what to pray, He also intercedes according to God’s will. And “He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit . . . .” (vs. 27).

So What?
  • In the mystery, and sometimes confusion, of knowing what to pray we can have confidence that the Holy Spirit will intercede for us according to God’s will.
  • Because God helps us pray we don’t need to fear coming before Him with our requests.
  • Ask the Holy Spirit to intercede “according to God’s will,” then trust Him for the results.

God’s Overruling Providence, Romans 8:28-30

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These are some of my favorite verses. I love that God is at work in every circumstance, and that nothing is wasted with Him.

I’m reminded of when my mother-in-law keenly observed—while laughing and pointing to the black, mushy banana on top of my freezer—“some of us look like this, but we’re pretty sweet on the inside.” Yeah, I thought, this also applies to ugly trials and circumstances. God takes those ugly moments and turns them into something sweet; something only He can do.

There’s a catch, however, to God’s promise of working all things together: “For those who love God, and have been called according to his purpose” (vs. 28).

God’s Redemptive Purpose (Romans 8:30)

Paul uses verse 30 to bridge eternity past with his grand summary of God’s redemptive purpose. Shepherd’s Notes defines the following:

  • Predestination: God’s grace at work before the foundation of the world
  • Calling: God’s grace confronting us
  • Justification: God’s grace making us right with Himself in the midst of history
  • Glorification: God’s grace in the consummation of this age
So What?
  • Believers can be assured that God is for us. Everything that happens to us is in His sovereign hand.
  • Although we can’t control our circumstances, or others, God is able to take what happens to us and use it for our future good.
  • God’s ultimate goal is not to make us comfortable, but conformable. That is, to grow us into the likeness of Christ (1 John 3:2). This is when we discover freedom and fulfillment in the true person God created us to be.

Assurance of Salvation, Romans 8:31-39

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More than the comfort of southern fried chicken . . . More than the carefree feeling of sifting warm sand through your toes . . . More than the sweet taste of hot cocoa and wrapping up in a fleece blanket on a cold, wintry day. This passage offers—more.

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On the heels of Paul using weighty terms—predestination, calling, justification, and glorification—to set up God’s redemptive purpose in verse 30, he asks: “What, then, shall we say in response to this?”

His answer—squeezed into one word—HOPE.

3 Reasons for Assurance of Salvation

Shepherd’s Notes identifies three reasons believers can have assurance of salvation:

  1. Our assurance is based on the heavy investment that God has already made in our redemption (vs. 31-32).
  2. Our assurance is based upon God’s acquittal and Christ’s continuing intercession for us (vs. 33-34).
  3. Our assurance is based upon God’s love for us in Christ, which guarantees that nothing will be able to separate us from Him (vs. 35-39).

Paul concludes, after listing the many assailants of God’s people, that “We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” This gives the brilliant backdrop for a dearly loved affirmation in the faith:

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” –vs. 38-39

So What?  

Although believers face earthly trials, we can rest in hope and confidence. Nothing can separate us from God’s love because of Jesus’ faithfulness. Our salvation is firmly secured because of Jesus’ work on the cross.

What are some of your favorite encouragements promised for believers in chapter 8?

Paul’s Heartache, Romans 9:1-5

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I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish  in my heart.  For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, the people of Israel.” – Romans 9:2-4 (NIV)

After Paul writes of overwhelming victory in Romans 8, his mood turns somber as he reflects upon Israel and its rejection of Jesus the Messiah.

Chapters 9-11 are best presented as a unit. Each of these chapters start with a lament, but end with a doxology.

Shepherd’s Notes observes: Paul’s stance regarding Israel was similar to that of Moses when Israel sinned by creating the golden calf. “But now, if Thou wilt, forgive their sin—and if not, please blot me out from Thy book which Thou has written!” (Exodus 32:32, NASB)

Although Paul’s primary mission was to the Gentiles, his heart ached for the salvation of his Jewish brethren.

The Jewish Advantages

Verses 4-5 show how tragic the Jews’ rejection of Christ the Messiah was in light of their many advantages:

  • They were Israelites.
  • They received adoption as sons.
  • They experienced God’s glory.
  • They received God’s Law.
  • They were given God’s special covenant.
  • They were given responsibility of Temple worship service.
  • They were descendants of the patriarchs.
  • They had God’s promises.
  • They were Jesus the Messiah’s ancestors.
 So What?

Paul’s concern for his Jewish brothers demonstrated great love and compassion. Like Christ, he was willing to sacrifice in order that they might find eternal life by placing their faith in Him.

Are we as concerned for those who haven’t placed their faith in Jesus Christ as Paul was?

God’s Sovereignty, Romans 9:6-18

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Trying to figure out God is like trying to catch a fish in the Pacific Ocean with an inch of dental floss.”
– Matt Chandler, The Explicit Gospel

I was searching for some profound quote about God’s sovereignty when Matt Chandler’s funny observation caught my attention from goodreads.com. Often asking, why, I relate to his insight— especially with difficult passages like this one.

The first section isn’t too hard to understand. Paul defends God by declaring that His covenant promises didn’t fail, even though the majority of the Jews didn’t believe Jesus was the Christ. For the true children of Abraham—“the children of the promise”—are those who trust in God and Jesus’ work on the cross (vs. 6-8).

Verses 11-13 affirm God’s promised blessing through Abraham and Sarah’s son, Isaac. But the following verses take some sifting:

“Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: not by works but by Him who calls—she [Rebeka] was told, “The older will serve the younger.” Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

The NIV Study Bible helps connect the dots: “Was it right for God to choose Jacob, the younger, to be over Esau? In Malachi 1:2-3, the statement ‘Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated’ refers to the nations of Israel and Edom rather than to the individual brothers . . . . He did not exclude Esau from knowing and loving Him.”

In God choosing Jacob over Esau before their birth, Shepherd’s Notes suggests: “The selection could not have been based on their doing of right or wrong.”

Paul also anticipated a charge of God’s unfairness in verse 14. He reminds us that God will act according to His will and wisdom, regardless of our desire or efforts. He cites God’s message to Moses: “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy”.

Paul then reminds of God’s dealings with Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth” (vs.15).

The NIV Study Bible suggests: “God’s judgment on Pharaoh’s sin was to harden his heart to confirm his disobedience, so that the consequences of his rebellion would be his own punishment.”

Because this post is getting long—and my brain feels like a minnow in the Pacific Ocean—I’ll pick up with verses 19-29 next time.

So What?
  • God is sovereign over all creation.
  • Although the Jews took pride in descending from Sarah, (Abraham’s legitimate wife), instead of Hagar, (Sarah’s maidservant), that wasn’t enough for the Jews to be saved. Similarly, no one can claim to be God’s children simply by good deeds, going to church, or from their heritage.
  • The doctrine of election teaches that God saves people by His mercy and goodness. He is not random or illogical. He will save all who believe and place their faith in Him. But He won’t force anyone to choose Him. In judgment, as in Pharaoh’s case, He will allow the hardening of one’s heart as a consequence of rebelling against Him . . . . That is a frightening place to be.