How many times have you found yourself stuck, in a place of weakness? 18 months ago, I had my legs stretched out on a chair, and a small child jumped right on my knee. Within a few short days, I found myself unable to walk. What I didn’t realize, was that in addition to whatever got torn, damaged, or hyperextended… I was simultaneously having a gout attack. Gout is a condition where uric acid crystalizes in a weakened joint. The crystals form into tiny shards of glass, and wreak havoc! There were moments I found myself screaming and crying from the pain, unable to find any relief. Never in my life had I felt more powerless, and Lara felt powerless too, watching a grown man scream in pain! I lived on the couch for weeks, and there were nights I’d bury my head into the back of the couch and just cry out, “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus please help me, please help me, please help me, please Lord, please Lord, please Lord.”
I spent a lot of time contemplating Romans 8:26 which says, “. . . the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” When have you found yourself stuck in weakness? When have you most struggled with exactly how you should pray? Back in Romans 8:23 describes how we “groan inwardly” as we wait the redemption of our bodies. When was the last time you groaned in frustration or desperation?
Sometimes we groan because of death. Romans 8:10 describes how “our bodies are subject to death because of sin.” Do we not groan every time we hear a report about cancer, or some heart failure, or some grave condition that has fallen upon someone we love? Do we not groan at the news of fires, storm systems, or some accident that’s taken another life? The more you grow up, the more you see. The more you see, the more you groan. There is so much tragedy, death, and suffering. Outwardly the Bible says, our bodies are wasting away even though inwardly being renewed.
Sometimes we groan because of sin. When I used to read Romans 1, I fixated on the laundry list of sins. People are doing this, and this, and this, and they're getting what they deserve. But now I just see a laundry list of the ways people create pain for themselves and cause pain for others. God doesn’t “just see sin”, he “mostly sees pain.”
The hardest part about Romans 1 is seeing how the sin, and violence, and pain escalates. If Paul re-wrote Romans 1 today he could double the list of ways human’s hurt themselves and each another. When was the last time you groaned and struggled because of sin/weakness in your life? When was the last time you groaned because of all the pain someone you love is causing themselves or others?
You might wonder, “Is there hope? Does God see my pain? Does God hear my groans? Is God good? Does God love me? Can God… will God… save me? Let’s talk!
Let’s start with this question: “Does God hear my groans?” Well, Romans 8:26 says the Holy Spirit intercedes for us through wordless groans. Sometimes human experience defies simple, logical, rational explanation. One of the last things we need when we groan are a bunch of armchair theologians sitting around lecturing us, and speculating about our condition. The Holy Spirit simply prays with us—this ought to be our first impulse as well. To simply groan alongside (pray alongside) one another.
Romans 8:34 tells us likewise that Christ Jesus who died, who raised to life, and who is at the right hand of God is also interceding for us. And what about God Almighty? In Romans 8:15 we’re told the Holy Spirit teaches us to cry out to God as “Abba, Father.” The Spirit also reminds us that we’re God’s children. *Be assured that all of Heaven groans in prayer, interceding right alongside you, in all things. You are not alone, no matter how deep you bury your head in your couch.
Look what Paul says! Romans 8:27, God knows us and searches our heart! He sees us there, groaning, crying. He is ever-present with us in our frustration. This verse reminds us that God knows us even better than we know ourselves. How I would love to spend hours sharing stories from the Bible of instances where people thought God had all but forgotten them, and yet discovered God sees and knows and hears.
“Well, that sounds very nice pastor. How can I trust that God does good?” Probably the most quoted verse in all Romans is Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Whatever does this verse mean? Well first, “all things” means “all things.” Look at the whole or Romans 8. All things include times of suffering, not just moments of glory. All things include times of weakness, groaning, crying, struggle, condemnation, shame, guilt, trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, sword, death, slaughter. “All things” means life and death, times of demonic attack, the past, present and future. . .
“In all things, God is working for the good.” I don’t believe God works for anything less than the ultimate good of humankind. We will see this next week, in Romans 9. Some blame God for evil, for suffering, for disease and death. Jesus decimated such a false portrayal of God. He rebuked people who imagined their own kindness/goodness surpassed God. “If you know how to give good gifts to your children, then how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask?”
The issue isn’t whether God is good… the issue is whether we love God… the issue is whether we seek God and answered the call God has put upon our life. What do I mean? Well, people don’t always want what is good. People don’t always want what pleases God.
Sometimes people even rebel, and subvert God’s will.
Suppose you’re a parent, and you love your kid, and you want them to live a healthy life. So in love, you prepare nutritious meals. But guess what! Your child doesn’t want carrots and broccoli. They only want raw sugar cane, salty peanuts, and fresh brewed beer. And they think you are a jerk because you’re depriving them.
Suppose you’re a parent, and you love your kid. You teach them the way of wisdom and warn them about the world. You teach them how obedience fills them with everlasting joy, and peace, and life and how sin robs them of the same. But they won’t hear anything of it. They think you are a cosmic kill joy, and start chasing their fleshly appetites, desires, and cravings hoping to find happiness in things that lead to death.
Suppose you are a parent, and you love your kid. You have plans for them. Plans to prosper them, not to harm them, to give them a future and hope. You dream dreams. You broaden their horizon. You pave the way for their success and future. But then they reject your plans and go their own way.
At a certain point… though you are good, and you want the greatest possible good for your child (that you love more than anything else in the world)… your child doesn’t love you, and your child doesn’t want what you want. You are praying for one thing; their heart is diametrically opposed. You offer counsel, they reject it. You offer strength, they refuse it. As a parent you keep doing as much good as you can… but without their love/cooperation there comes a point when they’re no longer able to receive the ultimate good you’ve offered. It’s just as Romans 1 describes… you find yourself painfully releasing them to their sin in the hope they come to their senses and soon repent.
Sometimes what you have is the very best that can be found in light of your unbelief, disobedience and rebellion. It’s not what God chose for, it’s what you chose. It’s not what God fed you, it’s what you fed yourself. It’s not what God commanded, it’s the way you thought would be better. Groaning isn’t for lack of God’s goodness and love. Groaning is for lack of faith and trust in God. God’s invitation is that you would repent and turn to God, and receive his very best.
“So pastor, is there still hope for me?” Absolutely! Unequivocally yes! In Romans 8:29 Paul says, “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that Jesus might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” The English word “foreknew” comes from the Greek word “prognosis.” It echoes a truth that Paul has proclaiming all along… that while we were still sinners, God understood our prognosis. The diagnosis was that we were under sin. Our prognosis was that we were subject to death for our sin. But despite our diagnosis and prognosis, while we were still sinners, Christ died for the ungodly! He knew us better than ourselves, and knew exactly what was needed.
But there is a parallel truth to be considered here… that while our prognosis wasn’t good, God never abandoned his plans for us. Though sin was ravaging our souls, God “predestined us to be conformed to the image of his Son…” He predestined us to pass through suffering into glory. He planned for us to be co-heirs of Christ, to inherit eternal life. He planned that though our bodies may still be subject to death because of sin, that because of Jesus, our bodies might be freed from decay and fully redeemed.
Foreknowledge means exactly what Paul says back in Romans 8:26. That here we are groaning, yet God sees us and hears us and searches our hearts, and knows us. No matter how deep you descend into sin, or fall under the shadow of death, God never stops seeing you. Predestination means exactly what Paul says in Romans 8:29. That no matter how deep you descend into sin, or fall under the shadow of death, God lays out for you the prospect of you becoming fully like his son Jesus.
So what does that mean to be conformed to Jesus? It means God wants you to believe like Jesus, think like Jesus, act like Jesus, love God like Jesus, love people like Jesus, have FAITH like Jesus! It means God wants you to become like Jesus, dying to sin. God wants you to become like Jesus, burying and leaving your sinful flesh behind. And God wants you to become like Jesus in his resurrection! Yes, God wants you to ethically become righteous. But more than this, he wants that most ultimate good, that just as Jesus suffered and was glorified though you may suffer you too will be glorified!
In Romans 8:30 Paul tells us how this thing works. Those God foreknew… those who God foresaw succumbing to the powers of sin and death… those whose prognosis wasn’t good… God predestined (God planned) for us to be conformed to Christ in his death, burial and resurrection. God predestined (God planned) for us to go from suffering to glory, just like Jesus. God predestined (planned) for us to become holy, righteous, and good just like Jesus.
This predestination, this plan isn’t determinative as some believe. Notice what Paul himself says in Romans 8:29… God’s predestination (his plan) is that Jesus “might be the firstborn of many brothers/sisters.” If God’s sovereign plan was determinative it would say, “God predestined … Jesus will be first of many…” But predestination is not determinative. God didn’t sit in heaven picking winners and losers. He didn’t play some twisted game of “duck duck goose” choosing who would/wouldn’t be saved.
Thus Romans 8:29-30 continues. “Those God foreknew... and those he predestined(planned) good for, he also called.” In the midst of all our groaning over sin and death, God “calls” us by his glorious gospel. In Acts 2:38-39 Peter says, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”
Well who does God call then? Just winners? Does God also call losers? In Mark 16:15 Jesus commanded his apostles, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” Romans 8:28, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
Romans 1:16, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel for it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes… yes for the Jew (chosen/elect)… yet for the gentile!” Romans 10:11-14, “As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?”
Isaiah 65:1-2, “I was found by those who did not seek me; I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me. All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.” Romans 9:25 quoting Hosea the prophet, “I will call them 'my people' who are not my people; and I will call her 'my loved one' who is not my loved one,”
“Those God calls… he also justified. Those he justified… he also glorified.” Paul is telling us that in all things God knows us, God still has plans for us, God calls us out of our darkness into marvelous light, God justifies all who would believe, God glorifies those who love him and call upon his holy name.
Romans 8:31-39, “31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 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.”
The demonstration of this hope is pictured in Baptism, and the Lord’s Supper