20.  THE CERTAINTY OF SALVATION - Romans 8:26-39

 

In our studies in Romans we are nearing the conclusion of Paul’s treatment of the blessings that a believer receives by being in Christ. However it does not always appear like this. There are the constant battles with sin, with the world and with Satan. Yet we have seen that there are blessings even here for the Christian.

Paul has already considered the groanings of the creation (8:19-22) and of believers (8:23-25) as they long for the full realisation of salvation. In this study we firstly consider the groanings of the Spirit, as we further consider the certainty of salvation and of the realisation of the whole plan of salvation in the believer. This is so, even though there are many trials and tribulations beforehand in this life. Indeed, even these trials and tribulations are part of God’s plan for our lives.

We need to get beyond the daily experiences, and certainly beyond the experiences of an hour, and view our lives from the perspective of its entirety. Here we will see much that will strengthen our walk with the Lord, for all our days are mapped out for us by Him.

NOTE: INDIVIDUAL DISCOVERY QUESTION HERE: What are the groanings of verse 26?

 

Please Read Romans 8:26-39

 

Verse 26: Not only does our hope enable us to persevere, but so also does the Holy Spirit. The Christian is assailed by many things, and with such an array of enemies against us, it can all seem (and often is) overwhelming. The Holy Spirit aids us here in our weakness, which is that limitation due to our sinfulness. Part of this weakness highlighted by Paul is our inability to recognize what we should in fact be praying about, especially in times of affliction and difficulty. It is here that the Holy Spirit enables us to persevere, for He does know what we should be praying about at such times, therefore He takes upon Himself our difficulties and sorrows and intercedes for us.

The reason that the Holy Spirit aids us is because we do not know what to pray for. Sure we pray for much, but not that which is best for us according to the will of God (8:27), especially in times of suffering. The Holy Spirit plays the part of an Advocate for us (Jn 14:16,17,26; 15:26; 16:7) from within our hearts, praying for the needs that we really and greatly need. These groanings of the Spirit cannot be uttered, for we know not what these needs are. Yet in the heat of the battle with sin, when we often feel perplexed, the Spirit is praying for us.

If these groanings are comparable to those of nature and believers (8:19-24), then the Spirit also yearns for the day when we will be totally free of sin and completely separated unto God. It is a day when we will no longer be sinning and perfect in obedience.

Verse 27: He who searches the heart is obviously God the Father (1 Sam 16:7; 1 Kings 8:39; 1 Chron 28:9; Ps 139:1,2; Jer 17:9,10; Acts 1:24; 1 Cor 4:5; Heb 4:13), and He therefore knows what the Spirit is uttering. But the word ‘know’ really means ‘to approve,’ and this the Father does of the Spirit’s groaning, for they are according to God’s will and thereby prove effective (1 Jn 5:14). What the Spirit groans after will therefore become reality.

Verse 28: Not only does the Holy Spirit pray for us more effectually, but we also know that all things are working together for our final and ultimate good. There should be no doubts about this. We can know with certainty that all is according to the plan of God, is therefore under His control, and will be used of God for our ultimate good.

In context, the ‘all things’ are clearly spiritual difficulties. Yet this also covers all other aspects of our present sufferings, including all things in the realm of God’s providence (Gen 45:4-8; 50:19,20; Neh 4:15).

QUESTIONS: What aspects of our life experience are not covered by the truth expressed here?

 

Why is it that Christians are able to face all of life’s difficulties with more confidence then unbelievers? Why is it that so few do?

 

This is so only for those who love God (Ex 20:6; Deut 7:9; Neh 1:5; Ps 37:17,20,37-40; 97:10; 116:1ff; Is 55:6,7; 1 Cor 2:9; 8:3; Jam 1:12; 2:5). The unbeliever cannot have the confidence that the Christian can have in times of difficulty. We can rest assured of God’s goodness toward us even in the very midst of a world arrayed against us. Because we love God we can be sure of God’s care toward us.

But why does a person love God? Is it because we chose to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ? Yes! Yet, those who love God do so only because they have been effectually called by God’s Spirit, enabling them to embrace Christ by faith (1:7; 8:30; 9:24; 1 Cor 1:2,23,24; 7:17ff; 1 Jn 4:19; Jude 1) in accordance with God’s purpose of grace (9:11; Eph 1:11; 2 Tim 1:9). The idea of purpose in this verse is that of a plan. God has a plan for the life of each believer, and it is according to this that God is working all things.

QUESTION: How does the knowledge of God’s plan for believers encourage a believer in the day of strife?

 

Verse 29: The word ‘for’ connects this verse with the previous, and thereby indicates that a further explanation as to just what God’s purpose is in calling is to be found in this verse. Here in this passage, Paul is going to further explain the role of God’s plan in the life of a believer, and especially how He brings a person to the full realisation of salvation. To do this, Paul goes back to where it all began.

Where does the salvation of a person begin? Is it the time of his conversion? According to Paul that is not the case. It all begins when God foreknows a person. To foreknow is to know beforehand, yet not in the sense that we use the term know. The Jewish idea expressed by Paul here, is that of really knowing someone and loving them intimately beforehand. It simply means that God formed a relationship with the person beforehand, setting His special care, concern and love upon them even before time began.

It is not a case of God looking down through history in order to see who would choose Him. If this were so, God would cease to be God, for such a teaching suggests that God doesn’t know things. It suggests that God is actually dependent on man, not being able to accomplish anything until He see’s what man is going to do. In short, it puts man into the position of God and God in the position of the dependent creature. The verse doesn’t talk about God knowing things, it talks about God knowing individuals beforehand (8:31; Eph 1:4,5; 2 Thess 2:13; 1 Pet 1:2). It is to fix His love upon by sovereign choice, to know and to love intimately beforehand, electing to everlasting life and glory (11:2; Amos 3:2; Hos 13:5; Jn 10:14,15; 1 Cor 8:3; Gal 4:9; 1 Pet 1:20; 2 Tim 2:19).

These whom He selected in eternity, He chose for the purpose of being destined for conformity to His Son. They were to be like His Son in both character and destiny. What Christ is, believers are to be (Jn 15:16; Acts 4:28; 1 Cor 15:49; 2 Cor 3:18; Eph 1:4,5,11; 4:24; 2 Thess 2:13). The destiny of a believer is not so much heaven, as it is to be like Christ.

QUESTION: With this in mind, what would be the reason for the difficulties we face in this life?

 

This purpose is being brought to pass, so that by the resurrection of believers, Christ will become the head of a new order. He is the first of many who will bear the Image of God (Col 1:15-18; Heb 1:6; 2:11; Rev 1:5). So God’s plan is to have a people who reflect His image.

Verse 30: This verse now explains just how God brings this plan to realisation in the lives of those He has chosen and known from eternity. This verse if you like is the blueprint from which God works. Though no two people have the exact same experience of salvation, each is none-the-less saved by this same formula.

The glorious end of God’s plan is absolutely certain, for once the first part is granted to you, you are assured of the whole. All what we might call the individual parts of salvation, are not really parts at all, but part and parcel of one whole linked together work, which when begun is certain of completion.

Those for whom verse 29 is true, who have been foreknown by God, have also been called by the external invitation of the gospel (Mt 22:14) and effectually by the working of God’s grace within (9:12; 1 Cor 1:9,24; 7:15,18; Eph 4:4; 1 Thess 2:12-14; 2 Tim 1:9; Heb 9:15).

These are also justified, and will also be glorified. So certain of fulfilment is this linked chain of gracious blessings, glory is spoken of as already being complete, it having already begun to be realised (8:17; 2 Cor 3:18; Eph 4:8; Col 1:27; 3:1-4; 1 Jn 3:2). Here then is the reason for a Christian’s confidence in times of difficulty and tribulation. God has a plan for your life and it will be realised, for He is Almighty God and He cannot be thwarted by anything lesser than Himself.

Verse 31: To what conclusion then do all these things lead, not just Romans 8:28-30, but the entirety of Romans so far (though Romans 8:28-30 is especially in Paul’s thoughts here)? What can be said about such a full and united plan of salvation? The conclusion can only be this, that nobody can prevent us from being glorified. What can be brought against us? If He who has delivered us from sin and renewed us by His Spirit has done all for us, works all for our good, and is for us - who can be successfully against us? Is there someone greater? Obviously not, so we have nothing to fear and no reason to doubt.

QUESTION: Can an individual prevent himself from being saved once he has become a Christian? Explain.

 

Verse 32: In this verse Paul is really answering the previous question, and that by arguing from the greater to the lesser. If God has done the greater will He not also do the lesser?

The great God sacrificed His own dear Son for us all (Jn 3:16; 8:29; Rom 8:3,4; 5:6-8; 2 Cor 5:21; Gal 3:13), that is, for all sorts of people in the world, whether Jew or Gentile who believe (3:22,23,29; 10:11-13). If He has done this, then He will freely and gladly give us all things, whether material or spiritual (Mt 6:33). If He has given us the gift of His Son for our salvation, will He not also give us the lesser gifts of perseverance, holiness, etc?

Verse 33: If God has chosen us and justified us on the basis of satisfied justice and Law, who can successfully bring us to God’s court and have us condemned? To do so would be to also to condemn God.

Verse 34: If God is the Judge and if He has declared us guiltless, who can then condemn us? Sin has been dealt with through Christ’s death, and declared as such by the sign of the resurrection of Christ (4:25; Acts 17:31; 1 Cor 15:17). Christ Himself, who accomplished our salvation, rules over all (Heb 1:3; 2:9; 8:1; 1 Pet 1:21; 3:22; Rev 5:12). He continues to obtain for us the blessings He purchased by His blood by praying and interceding for us (Is 53:12; Lk 23:24; Jn 14:16; Heb 7:25; 1 Jn 2:1). With all this being so, who can condemn us?

Verses 35,36: If no one can accuse or condemn us justly, who is able to separate us from the Almighty God and the love of Christ? Who can separate us from that amazing, gracious and self-sacrificing love of Christ toward us (Jn 15:13; Rom 5:8; 8:37,39; 1 Jn 4:10).

Paul knows by experience that nothing shall separate us from the Lord (2 Cor 11:23-29). No form of distress is able to do so.

The quote from Psalm 44:22 confirms that all these distresses have always afflicted God’s people through the ages. What is the result of these distresses? Verse 37 answers the question.

Verse 37: Even though there are so many distresses and various forms of suffering, in the very midst of all these (8:35,36), Christians are more than conquerors in Christ. All these work together for our good (8:28; 5:3,4), so that we conquer these enemies, and indeed use them to progress along the way. These are conquered and used for good in the grace and power of Christ (1 Cor 15:10; Gal 3:20; Philip 4:13).

Verses 38,39: The word ‘for’ connects this verse with verse 37, for Paul will now explain just how we are more than conquerors in Christ. It is so because there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God in Christ. Final conformation to Christ and glory will be realised.

QUESTION: Can the believer separate himself from Christ? Explain your answer.

 

INDIVIDUAL DISCOVERY

What does Paul mean in Romans 9:3?

 

Who are the Israel of God in Romans 9:6?

 

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17/10/2006

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