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”.

Spirit Intercedes for Us

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). This concern that God has for His people involves everything. He is at work in all their affairs right from His eternal choice for them to be His sons to His final act of glorification when they will share the likeness of Jesus Christ (vs. 28-30).

Verse by Verse Examination

Verse 26 Notes: “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.”

Helpeth: (Wordsearch’s Strong’s G4878): “sunantilambanomai; soon-an-tee-lam-ban’-om-ahee; from <G4862> (sun) and <G482> (antilambanomai); to take hold of opposite together, i.c. co-operate (assist) :- help.”

Infirmities (Strong’s G769): “astheneia: from G772 [asthenes]; feebleness (of body of mind); by implication malady; moral frailty :- disease, infirmity, sickness, weakness.”

Suffering (Strong’s G3804) (verse 18) is of all sorts of sufferings that include persecution, abuse, injuries, unjust attacks, etc. This chapter gets specific in mentioning the pain and suffering that comes with various diseases, sickness, and weakness from age or injuries, an infirmity, say, from a childhood disease or birth defect.

Know Not: (Wordsearch’s Strong’s G1492 and G3756): eido ou (ou translated “ouch”. “Also (before a vowel) ouk, ook; and (before an aspirate) ouch, ookh; a primary word; the absolute negative [compare <G3361> (me)] adverb; no or not :- + long, nay, neither, never, no (x man), none, [can-] not, + nothing, + special, un ([-worthy]), when, + without, + yet but. See also <G3364> (ou me), <G3372> (mekos).”

Intercession: (Wordsearch’s Strong’s G5241): hyperentynchano: “from <G5228> (huper) and <G1793> (entugchano); to intercede in behalf of :- make intercession for”. But huper more often means that which is above, more than, super abundance. Then intercession that the Spirit makes on our behalf is above and beyond what we could ever ask or think to ask.

Groanings: (Strong’s G4726): from G4727: “to sigh, groan, mutter, pray inaudibly, murmur, with grief.” Example of a person rocking back and forth and occasionally crying out quietly because of a loss that cannot be adequately expressed.

Verse 27 Notes: “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 God.”

God is constantly searching our hearts and, of course, knows what is in the mind of the Holy Spirit: Psalm 44:21: “Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.” Psalm 139:23: “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:” Jeremiah 17:10: “I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”

The Holy Spirit makes intercession for us, but He does so only in the will of God. He will not violate God’s principles or God’s will. So, while He is groaning and interceding for us, know that He will never ask God for something that is evil or vain or against God’s will for your life.

Seven things the Holy Spirit does for us:

1. The Holy Spirit is a gift given to us:

Luke 11:13: “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?”

John 7:39: “(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)”

Ephesians 1:13: “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after the that ye believed, ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,”

John 14:26: “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”

Acts 2:38: “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

Acts 10:45: “And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out of the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

2. The Holy Spirit dwells within us:

Luke 4:1: “And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,”

Acts 2:4: “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

1 Corinthians 6:19: “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?”

3. The Holy Spirit is a being with emotions

Ephesians 4:30: “And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”

Matthew 1:18: “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.”

Acts 5:3: “But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?”

4. The Holy Spirit can speak through you:

Mark 13:11: “But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.”

Luke 12:12: “For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.”

John 20:22: “And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:”

Acts 1:8: “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

Acts 2:4: “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

Acts 13:2: “As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.”

5. The Holy Spirit is always watching:

Act 5:32: “And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.”

Acts 7:51: “Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.”

Hebrews 10:15-17: “Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.”

6. The Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ are one with the Father:

Act 20:28: “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.”

2 Corinthians 13:14: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.”

1 John 5:7: “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.”

7. The Holy Spirit can be offended:

Hebrews 6:4-6: “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.”

Matthew 12:31: “Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.”

Verse 28 Notes: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

Take heart that while the Spirit never violates God’s will, He intercedes for us for our good, not for nefarious purposes. You are his child. His Spirit dwells in you. His purpose includes completing the work of perfecting you in Christ Jesus. The Father of Lights only gives good and perfect gifts to His children and, so, the Holy Spirit works things out with the Father and the Son on our behalf for His ultimate purpose – and your ultimate good.

Verse 29-30 Notes: “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 he also glorified.”

I like how Paul establishes this truth regarding the final state of our being in this discussion about God’s Spirit groaning on our behalf as we suffer:

- 1. He foreknew you: from before creation started.

- 2. He predestined you, that is, He determined that you will be conformed into the image of Jesus Christ. The potter decided what vessel you would become even while you were just a lump of clay.

- 3. You are part of the second born – Jesus is the firstborn – in a special family of God – adopted!

- 4. The second born group is huge! Many brethren.

- 5. You have been called because He predestined you to believe, and you are called to be conformed.

- 6. Because you are among the called, you will be justified before God – indeed – you are justified!

- 7. You will be glorified. Romans 8:18: “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.”

Additional verses regarding the Holy Spirit:

Psalm 51:11: “Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.”
Ezekiel 11:19: “And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh:”
Ezekiel 36:26: “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.”
Revelation 22:17: “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”
Ephesians 2:22: “In whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God through the Spirit.”
2 Timothy 1:14: “And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.”

His indwelling for believers was promised by Christ (John 7:38-39; John 14:16-17: “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.“)

His indwelling is a present reality for believers in this age (Romans 5:5; Romans 8:9: “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.”; 1 Corinthians 6:19).

He indwells His Church as a whole (1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 2 Corinthians 6:16: “And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”)

He indwells individual believers (1 Corinthians 6:19: “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?”)

No unbelievers are indwelt by the Spirit (Romans 8:9; Jude 19; cp. 1 Corinthians 2:14).

All believers are indwelt by the Spirit (Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 6:19).

Even carnal believers are indwelt by the Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19; cp. 1 Corinthians 3:1-4).

His indwelling begins at the point of salvation when we trust in Christ as our Savior (John 7:37-39; Acts 5:32; Galatians 3:23; cp. Acts 6:7; Romans 1:5; Hebrews 5:9).

His indwelling never ends (John 14:16-17).

His indwelling gives evidence of God’s ownership of us (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

It confirms the Father’s indwelling in our lives (1 John 3:24; 4:13).

It proves our sonship (Galatians 4:6; Romans 8:9, 16, 17).

It assures us of our eternal security (2 Corinthians 1:22; 5:5; Romans 8:23; Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30) – the Spirit is the “earnest” of our inheritance (2 Corinthians 1:22; 5:5; Ephesians 1:14), the “first-fruits” (Romans 8:23), and the “seal” (Ephesians 4:30).

It guarantees our future resurrection (Romans 8:11).

It makes available the power and holiness for the believer (Romans 5:5; Galatians 5:22-23).

Walking in an Eternal Relationship

A we examine these last several verses in Romans, Chapter 8, Paul is going to remind us of our eternal relationship with God that goes all the way back before the beginning of creation, before the beginning of time. He knew us even then. He has predestined us to be conformed into the image of Jesus Christ by His will. That makes us part of the family of God. God is our father, Jesus is our elder brother, the firstborn, and we will be conformed into the firstborn’s image. Moreover, like Paul said, because of this amazing relationship, this divine family relationship, we have been justified by Christ. Because we are justified by Christ, we will also be sanctified (set apart and “cleaned up”) throughout this life that we live and, ultimately, God will glorify us with new bodies in eternity.

Knowing this, Paul says some interesting things. One, that because we are eternal creature inside the family of God, who is going to be able to lay charges against us? Two, if He spared not His own son on our behalf, but then delivered Him up victorious over sin and death, does it not seem reasonable that He will also lift us up for us we are now His adopted sons and daughters in Christ?

So, let’s dig into Paul’s arguments prompted by the Holy Spirit to remind us of the most wonderful relationship any person can ever have: that of being a son or daughter of God and siblings of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 8:29-39:

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 he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulations, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Christians need have no doubts about any aspect of their salvation. If God has given the greatest of all gifts, the gift of His Son, nothing is beyond Him (vs. 31-32). They need not fear any accusations against them, because the one who has declared them righteous is God Himself, and He has done so on the basis of the perfect work of Jesus Christ (vs. 33-34). Nor should they fear persecution or even martyrdom, because through Christ they are assured of final victory (vs. 35-37). No matter what happens to them, noting can separate them from the unchanging love of God (vs. 38-39).

First, some definitions:

Foreknow: (Strong’s G4267): proginosko: to know beforehand, to foreknow, to foreordain.

Predestinate: (Strong’s G4309): proorizo: to predetermine, to ordain, to determine beforehand, to limit in advance, to declare beforehand.

Call: (Strong’s G2564): kaleo: to call, to bid, to name a surname, to be so named.

Justified: (Strong’s G1344): dikaioo: to be render, show as, or regard as: free, to justify, to be made innocent, to be render as righteous.

Gloried: (Strong’s G1392): doxazo: to render glorious, to be made glorious, to glorify, to honor or magnify.

Conformed: (Strong’s G4832): summorphos: to join together or unify the various parts, as to be made or fashioned like unto another, be made similar, jointly formed together.

Elect: (Strong’s G1588): eklektos: chosen, elected, favorite, selected. You won the vote unanimously!

Next, Who Are the Called?

Verse 29 Notes: “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 may brethren.”

Foreknow – this verb can be taken two ways: (1) To be ordained or chosen ahead of time. To be selected. As if a crafter of wood goes out in the woods and selects just the right log for his project. The log has no say; it has been selected for the project. (2) To know ahead of time how a thing will be decided. To have knowledge of an event before it happens. I just know that she will say yes to my proposal.

Whether or not you adhere to definition 1 or 2, God knew you before you were born, even before He said, “Let there be light”, and most probably He did so in the sense of the word for both definitions. He is sovereign but has also given us free will to choose.

Now a chain of logical progression events thus follows once the foreknowledge issue has been settled. God foreknew you. Knew that you would one day accept Christ as your Savior and, thus, you are to embark on a transformation journey.

The wood artist has a picture in his mind of the project he intends to form and begins the process of changing the log into the finished results. All of these steps are, in effect, predestined once the artist has chosen his raw material. To leave out any step is to abandon the vision of a completed creation.

- He rough cuts all the unacceptable chunks from the wood. They do not fit the intended, completed creation.

- Next, he begins to carefully carve and shape the remaining piece until it reflects a resemblance of the envisioned project.

- Then comes the hours of hand sanding and filing down of all the rough edges, splinters, and imperfections caused by the carving and rough cutting.

- Now he stains and seals the wood to be followed by another fine sanding until the surface is smooth and clean.

- A coat of oil, or varnish, or polyurethane, drying fine sanding again a couple of times, until it is ready for the final coat, and the project is complete and ready for display or use.

Verse 30 Notes: “Morever whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”

Therefore, it is inevitable that God, once you are foreknown, now predestines you (that is, begins the conforming process), and will first call you to Himself. Having called and you having answered, you will move on through the conforming process of being made into the image of His son, starting with justification.

You are, once you repent and receive Christ as your Savior, immediately justified in the eyes of God’s justice system. Like on earth, whether actually guilty of committing a crime or not, once the court or trial pronounces you “not guilty”, then in the eyes of the law you are innocent.

Saving a step, Paul did not mention the sanctification process that takes place the rest of your mortal life here in this passage, but he mentions it in other passages.

Then, finally, you are glorified and completed in Christ, now a finished work of grace, literally a trophy of God’s grace and precious, indeed, to Him.

Therefore, Who Can Be Against Us?

Verse 31 Notes: “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”

Knowing how this process proceeds and that God’s hand is in all of it – every moment, every cutting, sanding, polishing, conforming into the image of Jesus Christ, what can be said regarding His various works? Who can legitimately speak against God’s “new creations”? Since God is all-in-all in this conforming process, He is clearly for us, and if for us, then who can be against us?

Here, Paul is not inferring that we have no enemies, for we most certainly do, but can they even remotely possibly thwart the plan of God as He works you on His craft table? Will He be able to complete the work that He started? Who shall stop Him?

Verse 32 Notes: “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?”

Consider this: To choose, and call, and conform you, God sacrificed His own beloved Son. And if He spared not such a high price, why, then, do we think He will stop His work in us? As part of that process, He justified us. Freely forgave us. And as believers, now sons and daughters of God, will He not also freely give us all that we need?

Having paid such a price, He will complete us!

Verse 34 Notes: “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.”

Therefore, who can turn around, and having laid a charge against us, (that won’t stick by the way) can next condemn us? Christ died as one condemned for our sins and rose again to prove His victory over sin and death. He took our condemnation and removed it from us, and replaced it with His righteousness upon us.

And in that court, Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father as our intercessor, our advocate, our lawyer. Folks, the court has been packed on our behalf!

No jury to condemn us, because God the Judge and Christ our advocate have already pronounced us free and guiltless before the throne!

Our verdict is assured. Innocence declared. Justified.

And Obviously, Who or What Can Separate Us?

Verse 35 Notes: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness or peril, or sword?”

Knowing all this, who or what power on earth, or in the heavens, can possibly separate you from the love of Christ? What calamity shall break the bond that Christ has cemented with His own blood?

No matter what you endure – tribulation, or distress, or stress, or suffering, or persecution, or famine, or hunger, or nakedness, being poor, shabby hand-me-down clothes, or peril, dangers, or sword, war, physical attacks, and other evils aligned against us – can these break the bond of Christ’s love for you? No!

Verse 36 Notes: “As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” A verbatim quote from Psalm 44:22.

Paul reminds us that on this earth we will go through many trails of diverse origins and kinds. Indeed, Satan and the world hate us because they hate God and God’s holiness and laws. The Psalmist knew this way back then, and it is still true today.

But this world is temporal for us, the eternal is assured for us. Romans 8:18: “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with glory with shall be revealed in us.”

Verse 37 Notes: “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”

More than conquerors: (Strong’s G5245): hupernikao: we will enjoy a decisive victory! We will vanquish beyond just winning! More than triumph and conquest. Abundant conquering!

Verse 38-39 Notes: “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Paul mentions ten things that cannot separate us from God’s love. Some are spiritual and some are carnal – worldly. Some are unknowns. Some are present evils that we face. None of these can separate us from Christ.

Persuaded: (Strong’s G3982): peitho: has confidence, no doubt, in total agreement and fully believes.

Summary: What Is Our Eternal Relationship?

1. You were called into this relationship with God

2. No one can successfully attack you in the eternal

3. Absolutely nothing can separate you from God’s love

4. You are now a child of God: adopted sons and daughters

5. You have an inheritance that cannot fade away

6. You are now an eternal being

7. You are kings/queens and priests in the Kingdom of God

Are you fully persuaded? Do you believe this despite current circumstances to the contrary? Does God, indeed, know what He is doing as He works you on His bench and conforms you into the image of Jesus Christ?

Hang in there, fellow believer! God is not finished with you yet!

Maranatha!

Bro. Joe

References

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

Strong, J. Strong’s Talking Greek_Hebrew Dictionary. Wordsearch. (2020). Wordsearch Bible. [computer software] . Nashville, TN: LifeWay Christian Resources. (Original work published 1890).

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