Treasures New and Old

Romans: Walk in the Spirit: The Spirit Intercedes for Us

This month we will do part three of a three-month series regarding walking in the Spirit as we examine Romans, Chapter 8. The chapter is divided into five subjects, and we will look at two subjects this month: “Spirit Intercedes for Us” and “Walking in an Eternal Relationship”.

Debtors in Our New Relationship

Anyone who has been walking with the Lord for any length of time realizes that they cannot do that walk alone. Without the power of Christ in our lives, there is absolutely no way we can walk a godly life. God knows that. Therefore, God has provided us His Holy Spirit to dwell within us to work with our spirit and to give us the help we need to walk a godly life.

We look towards the Holy Spirit to be our encourager, to be our guide, to be our conscience at times, and to intercede for us when we don’t even know how to pray or what to pray for. I am eternally grateful that God planned eons ago to provide His Holy Spirit to dwell within us to be our helper.

So, let’s jump in with Paul on this last section of Romans, Chapter 8, and examine how the Spirit of God works with our spirit to help us walk through this present and evil age victoriously in Christ.

Romans 8:26-30:

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them be also glorified.

Regarding the Holy Spirit – just looking at the New Testament:

• Acts has forty-one verses regarding the Holy Ghost.
• Eighty-nine verses in the New Testament regarding the Holy Ghost.
• Twelve verses in the New Testament have the Holy Spirit.
• Fifty-one verses have Spirit of God in the New Testament (all taken from E-Sword).

• The Same Spirit who gives hope for the future gives help in the present. When believers’ prayers are unable to express their deepest thoughts and feelings, the indwelling Spirit pleads to God on their behalf. God knows the mind of the Spirit (vs. 26-27).

Verse by Verse Examination

Verse 9 Notes: “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”

• “But ye are not in the flesh.” How can this be when we are so obviously walking around in a fleshly body? Refer back to previous verses in Chapter 8 and the references to those that mind the flesh versus those that mind the Spirit.

• Paul in making a contrast between those that walk in the flesh (lost or carnal people) and those who walk after the Spirit (saved and spiritual people). He has drawn that comparison in several ways and is doing so once again.

• “But ye are not in the flesh” refers to those born-again believers who now have a new creation within them, that is, the spiritual man that supersedes the fallen man and the old flesh we currently dwell in.

• “If be the spirit of God dwell in you” is a clear reference by Paul that he is speaking to born-again believers. The lost simply do not have the Spirit of God dwelling in them. They are spiritually dead in their trespasses and sins. Only saved people have God’s Spirit in them, and because they do, they no longer need nor should walk in the old ways of the flesh.

• Finally, Paul drives this point home with the phrase, “Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” So, let’s put a period on the subject. If anyone does not have the Spirit of God dwelling in them, that is, they have never been saved or born-again in Christ, they are not God’s people. They do not have any power over sin and the flesh and are not one of God’s children, and, therefore, not beneficiaries of His love, forgiveness, eternal life, and inheritance.
  

Verse 10 Notes: “And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.”

• “And if Christ be in you.” Now Paul moves to a positional argument, that of you who are believers, born-again Christians, and the proof of that is that Christ (and His Spirit) is in you. Two very important conditions now exist that we must both understand and strive to live in the reality of them. They are:

• • The body of sin is dead, that is, the power of sin within your fleshly body no longer has power over you. Imagine dragging a dead body around with you because you love it so much. Say a favorite pet. The lost carry around that same pet, but theirs is still alive and, frankly, looks natural on them. But that pet of yours is now dead and carrying it around is certainly not natural for the Christian.

• • “But the spirit is life because of righteousness.” You have been given a brand new, better and more desirable pet (if you please) that is most certainly not dead. This new “pet” has a name, “the righteousness of Jesus Christ.” The spirit of life that is in you is there because of the righteousness of Jesus Christ – not ours – we don’t have any.

• The Spirit that is in you is life, the ability to walk in newness of life, to walk the spiritual life, to walk in God’s light. It is because of the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Let’s explore that a moment.
  

• Not only do you positionally have the mantle of the righteousness of Jesus Christ so that when God looks upon you He sees Christ in you, but you also now have the power to be and act righteously because the Spirit of God dwells within you. You are a new creature in Christ – now walk ye in it!
  

Verse 11 Notes: “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.”

• Paul is reminding the Roman Christians that the Spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead and quickened Him to life is the same Spirit that quickens you in this new life and enables you to walk in God’s ways and in God’s light. God has given you the same power that He gave His Son when He raised Him from the dead. Notice the “but” – “But if the spirit”. This power over sin is only available to the believer, the born-again Christian, the one who has given their life to Jesus Christ and have had their sins forgiven. Only those who have God’s Spirit dwelling in them can claim this power to walk in God’s light and righteousness.

Verse 12-13 Notes: “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.”

• Ok, what is the cost of this new life in Christ? The real cost was already paid by Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. But we do have a debt as a result of our new life in Christ. We were bought with a price, and we are not our own. We belong to Jesus Christ. I don’t know what was explained to you when someone shared the gospel, the good news that we can be forever forgiven our sins and have eternal life. But they should have shared the truth that making that decision to accept the gift of forgiveness and eternal life comes with an automatic debt to Almighty God. We are now His. We are His children, adopted into His family, no longer free agents on our own. We have a relationship with Him; we have new responsibilities, and we have a debt.

• This debt is not a flesh debt. We are not called to live after the flesh; we are called to live after the Spirit. To stay in the realm of the flesh is death. We are, instead, called to mortify (kill, cease from, quit obeying) the fleshly habits, promptings, urges, thoughts, longings and desires and, instead, desire and long after the things of God.
  

Verse 14 Notes: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”

• Bottom line – if you are a new creature in Christ and are led by His Spirit instead of your old fleshly desires, then you have the evidence within you that you are a child of God, have eternal forgiveness, and eternal life in Christ.
  

Verse 15 Notes: “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.”

• Because and if you are a child of God, you have a new relationship with God.
  

• Before you were saved from sin and made a new creature, you were in an enemy relationship with God. You were lost and dead in trespasses and sins. The Bible says you were in a war with God. But now, for those who have surrendered themselves to God and have been given His Spirit, they have a new relationship, that of a child of God and have the right to call God “Abba – Father”, which is a Hebrew way of saying the familiar and loving “daddy”.
  

• You have been adopted. In that old culture, the Roman Christians would have fully understood adoption was stronger than being born into a family. In fact, many young men had to prove their worth to their fathers in order to be officially recognized as a son. This was cemented in an adoption ceremony, and the young man would take on the family name and be added to the inheritance list.
  

• Paul is saying that being born into a family alone does not make you a child of God. Just because Mom and Dad are born-again Christians does not make you one. You must go through the adoption process. You must not just be born, but born-again in the Spirit, in Christ. Like most adoption processes, words must be spoken and a commitment made in the ceremony. Romans 10:8-10 highlights that spoken commitment.
  

Verse 16 Notes: “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:”

• Paul now reminds us that having made that commitment, we now are children of God because God has promised that whosoever calls on His name and believes in his heart that Christ died for his sins and rose from the dead victorious over sin and death will be saved. But that promise does not stand alone with just words on a page like some official document in a lawyer’s office.
  

• We take something with us that in the spiritual realm is tangible proof that we are indeed new creatures in Christ – eternal children of God Himself, and that is His very Spirit that dwells within us and witnesses to us that we are indeed God’s children.

• If we do not have this witness, we are not saved. It is not some gushy feeling. It is not written on the bathroom mirror in the mornings reminding you that you are God’s child. The witness of the Spirit comes in many forms like these eight evidences:
  

• • A moment of peace when we cry out to God in the midst of sorrow or turmoil.
  • An insight from God’s Word just when we need it most.
  • A desire to read and study His word – we can’t seem to get enough of it.
  • A desire to pray and to unburden ourselves to Him.
  • A desire to pray and worship and praise Him
  • A desire to see Him, a longing to be with Him one day.
  • We may see ourselves being persecuted for our change of views and opinions as we embrace biblical things, and we may lose worldly friends who turn against us.
  • More and more you long for something better than this old world, you long for Heaven and to be with Him.

Verse 17 Notes: “And if children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”

• And if you are a child of God, you are His heir and a joint heir with Christ. All that is Christ’s we will share in. Note, that that also means that as Christians we may be called to suffer for Him as He suffered. But we will also enjoy being glorified with Him as promised by the Father.

• Do you fit this profile? Are you a born-again believer in Christ? Do you have the very Spirit of God dwelling within you?
  

• Or are you empty inside? No relationship with God whatsoever. Spiritual things of the Bible have no interest or claim on you. Then you are not saved. You can’t walk in righteousness. You are hopelessly lost without Christ and need to surrender yourself to Him in order to receive His forgiveness and eternal life. Won’t you do so today?

Growing Through Suffering

It may have been part of God’s plan all along that man would have some struggles in life. After all, Adam was told to tend the Garden of Eden before he fell in sin. But we can all agree that those sorrows were sharply increased and multiplied when Adam fell. Now, we all face difficulties, struggles, and sufferings of diverse natures. Sometimes, we suffer for our own foolishness and failures. Eat bad, get bad health. Do stupid things and reap the often-dangerous consequences. Commit sin and reap the fallout.

But sometimes, we suffer not because of our own sin or failures, but because we are undergoing tests and refinements by God to cleanse the hidden iniquities that lurk in our flesh. God allows us to go through the fire, not to our hurt or punishment, but to help us be more and more conformed into the image of Jesus Christ, who, by the way, is our model of one who suffered for others or because of others.

Let’s see what the Holy Spirit has to say to us through Paul:

Romans 8:18-25:

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

• Whatever sufferings believers may experience, they are of little significance when compared with the glory to be revealed on the day of final victory (vs. 18). On that day the physical creation, which from the time of Adam has suffered because of human sin (cf. Genesis 1:28-30; 3:17-18), will enter its full glory along with redeemed human life (vs. 19-22). All the effects of sin will be removed, and believers will be raised from the dead in imperishable spiritual bodies suited to life in the coming age ((vs. 23) cf. 1 Corinthians 15:42-57). Christians, being saved by faith, do not yet experience all that God has promised, but they look to the future with patience and confidence (vs. 24-25).
  

Verse by Verse Examination

Verse 18 Notes: “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

• Present sufferings may be referring to the various persecutions Christians of Paul’s day were enduring under oppression, tyranny, and torture. By extension, any and all persecution during any time period may be included in this statement.
  

• But what kind of sufferings do we tend to face ourselves in this day, and time, and place?
  

• • Heartache/disappointments
  • Disease/infirmities/chronic disabilities
  • Accidents/injuries
  • Financial losses
  • Lost jobs/can’t find employment
  • Enemies
  • Political distresses
  • Unjust discrimination
  • Unjust judgements/punishments
  • Theft/robbery/unjust confiscation
  • Assaults – different kinds
  • For faith’s sake

• How long do we live? Average age according to actuary tables for the U.S. is:

• • 80.9 years: Central Intelligence Agency (CIA World Factbook (2024 estimate)).
  • 76.4 years: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC (2021)).
  • 76.4 years: Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD (2020)).
  • America is ranked 49th out of 227 countries out of CIA’s World Factbook at 80 years.
  • Monaco leads with 89.8 years, followed by Singapore (86.7), and Macau (85.3).

• What is the life expectancy of an American male or female? (CDC (fig. 2 p. 5)):
  

• • Male: 73.2 years
  • Female: 79.3 years
  • What are the U.S. ethnic group life expectancies?
  • 85.6 years – Asian-American
  • 81.9 years – Hispanic
  • 78.8 year – White
  • 74.8 years – African-American
  • 71.8 years – Native American

• Then how long can one expect to suffer in this present evil world? 80 years or so.
  

• How does that compare to eternity?
  

• Note the contrast is not just one of time: “present time” versus “eternity” – but also it is a comparison of quality of life: “sufferings” versus “glory”. I will add a few more characteristics to be considered:
  

• • Eternity versus short time
  • Glory versus sufferings (quality)
  • Position (kings and priests)
  • Home versus not our home
  • Kingdom living versus poor citizenship
  • Abundance versus scarcities
  • Blessings versus sacrifices
  • Love versus hate
  • Total acceptance versus rejection
  •  Victory versus defeat
  • Joy versus groaning
  • Perfect body versus corruptible body

Verse 19 Notes: “For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.”

• Note, Paul has personified the whole of creation as “the creature” here to make a point.
  

• Paul is talking about the entire creation that God has made and how it earnestly awaits the redemption that is coming. He is comparing verse 19 with verse 18 in that he has started with the Christian’s condition and desire for better in verse 18 and expands it by example to all of the creation in verse 19.

• “Sons of God” is in the Greek uihos theos (Strong’s G5207) literally meaning the sons or offspring of God. Who are they? The redeemed saints of both and Old and New Testaments.

• The Creation literally awaits for our return with Christ to setup and rule and reign with Christ during the thousand years and over the new heaven and new earth.

• It is an “earnest expectation”. Paul uses one compound Greek word apokaradokia (Strong’s G603) which means intense anticipation, to watch for, and long for.
  

• We are talking primarily about the return of Christ with His saints.
  

• Romans 1:20: “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:”

Verse 20 Notes: “For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,”

• “Vanity” (Strong’s G3153) – vain, empty, moral depravity, profitless, no value, waste.

• Three conditions mentioned here:

• • Subjected to vanity: to rot, rust, decomposition, entropy, the running down of the universe into decay
  • Subject not of its own will: The creation did not do this to itself; it was forced upon it by the curse.
  • Subject in hope: Here he adds the phrase, “by he who hath subjected it” – none other than God Himself. God has always had in His divine plan a redemptive strategy to both redeem and restore the creation and, of course, His people.

Verse 21 Notes: “Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.”

• Paul remind us of God’s promise to create one day a new heaven and a new earth. It is as if the whole of creation knows that it is under a curse, under bondage to corruption and decay, under entropy, and longs for that day of deliverance that has been promised.
  

• Matthew 19:27-30 (emphasis added):
  

Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

Verse 22 Notes: “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.”

• All of God’s creation is under the curse. Therefore, all humans, part of His creation, are also under the curse and groan and travail. This has been true since Adam’s fall in the Garden and continued until Paul’s day when he wrote this and continues still during our day today as we read this. It will continue until the Lord returns.
  

• This is not limited to just the earth and its inhabitants, but to all creation: stars are burning out, black holes are absorbing various celestial bodies, decay can be found everywhere, and scientists talk about the universe heading towards ultimate heat death.

Verse 23 Notes: “And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.”

• Now Paul explicitly cites us in this theater of groaning and travailing characters. There can be no doubt that he is talking about the redeemed.

• Note that we already have the Spirit of God within us. “Which have” – not will have, but which have now! A present active participle (Zodhiates, 1991, pg. 519). Active, not dead or dormant. Present – we have God’s Spirit now!

• Also note that having His Spirit was no guarantee that we would cease from groaning and travailing! Why? Because we wait for the final act of adoption – that is – the putting away of this old corrupt body and replacing it with our new body. Then we will move from sanctification to glorification. A new body, but still ourselves.

• Not this trans-human stuff floating around where some hope to live forever as a memory transfer into a computer and other hardware. They don’t get it. Even if it were possible to copy my memories and thinking processes into a computer, I would still be dead when I die. Some smart AI might emulate me – but I would still be dead and would still face the judgement.

Verse 24-25 Notes: “For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.”

• Faith is what we live by. Faith that God’s promises are yea and amen. Those promises represent hope. If we could see their fulfillment now, it would no longer be faith or hope, but reality. Therefore, we hope, but have faith that one day we will shed this old body and receive a new one. We will leave this old world behind and dwell in a new one. We will leave behind travails and persecutions for our eternal home, love, and light. We will be metaphorically married to Christ as His bride for all eternity.

• And so the conclusion of the matter at hand, is that we patiently wait for that which we have been promised and for that which we believe, have faith in, and hope for. To wit, the total and complete redemption of our bodies as we enter into the kingdom of God forever.

Conclusions:

1. We are going to most likely suffer in this present evil generation.

2. The question is whether or not we suffer for our own failures and sin, or we suffer unjustly by the hands of evil doers around us.

3. Will we allow those sufferings to refine us and contribute to the conforming process that will make us more and more Christlike?

4. We are debtors to Christ. Consider the short life we serve here in this corruptible body compared to the eternal life in incorruptible bodies living as kings and priests before God forever!

5. We are bought with a price, the blood of Jesus Christ. He is also our Creator. We owe Him everything.

6. God’s Holy Spirit dwells within you. Walk in the Spirit and enjoy fellowship with Him. Walk in darkness (carnally) and grieve the Holy Spirit, and, most likely, add to your suffering in this present evil world.

7. As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.

Maranatha!

Bro. Joe

References

Arias, E., Xu, J., & Kochanek, K. (November 7, 2023). United States Life Tables, 2021. National Vital Statistics Reports. 72, 1 & 5.  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr72/nvsr72-12.pdf

Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. United States. Retrieved December 10, 2024. Retrieved from https://www.oecd.org/en/countries/united-states.html

Strong, J. Strong's Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries. Meyers, R. (2005). e-Sword. [computer software] . Franklin, TN: Equipping Ministries Foundation. (Original work published 1539)

The World Factbook. Country Comparison – Life expectancy at birth. Retrieved December 10, 2024. Retrieved from https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/field/life-expectancy-at-birth/country-comparison/

Zhodiates, Dr. S. (Ed.). (1991). The Complete Word Study New Testament. Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.

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