Romans - December 7, 2008

SECTION --- Four: Sanctification (6:1-8:39) .
(continued from previous Class Follow Up)

OBSERVATION (8:27)
The Holy Spirit meets with or happens upon a child of God and pleads the Christian’s case before God.
OBSERVATION (8:26-27) Facts Summarized (without application):
The child of God is assured they will receive help by the way of the Holy Spirit during a time of specific weakness (not knowing how to petition God) in the same way they received help during times of suffering for Christ. During this event the Holy Spirit will make petition on the saints behalf before God. During this event the Holy Spirit will do so with groanings (sighings) to deep to be expressed in words and God will also search the inward man. God also knows the mind of the Holy Spirit who is interceding for the child of God as God has authorized.

13. (8:26-27) Consider four popular views (applications)...
a. Holy Spirit corrects our prayers — “The Holy Spirit helps us when we are confused and corrects our prayers, preventing us from praying selfishly or with evil thoughts.”
(1) Can pray with incorrect thoughts. {JAM 4:3; 1Ti 2:8; 1Jo 5:14-15; et al. }.
(a) If Spirit corrected our prayers, we would not be accountable for “wrong praying”.
(2) We will be held accountable for what we do, therefor, this view is wrong and harmful {ROM 14:12}.
b. Our spirit [inward man] groans — “The spirit helping our weakness and also makes groanings that cannot be uttered is the human spirit [inward man].”...
(1) If this view is correct no outside helper is required; this contrast with what the text implies by using the words “our”, “us”, “we”, and “saints”.
(2) Theme of chapter is “Love of Deity” manifested toward the justified...
(a) Why would Paul deviate from this theme by bringing in another personality (our own)?
(3) {8:26} “for we do not know how” = Knowledge is an attribute of inward man...
(a) Thus, our inward man, which knows not, intercedes during prayer for our inward man which knows not — This is nonsensical (meaningless).
(4) Also, one making intercession occupies an in-between position — inward man cannot interceded for inward man.
(5) While this position is wrong it is not harmful — just meaningless.
c. Holy Spirit interprets inward man’s groaning — “Spirit helping our weakness is the Holy Spirit and groanings that cannot be uttered is by the human spirit [inward man]”.
(1) View suggest two infirmities (needs) when we pray; one stated, one implied...
(a) First infirmity: We have a need for knowledge to know “how to pray as we should” and our spirit [inward man] cannot help...
i) May frequently think we need what Deity knows we do not need; thus, at this point the Holy Spirit “intercedes” for us so we will not pray for what is harmful —we will not be allowed to pray for anything contrary to God’s will.
ii) Therefore, Holy Spirit intercedes based not on inward man’s “lost for words” (groanings), but on God’s will — thus, Holy Spirit is not correcting a prayer, but uttering a prayer.
(b) Second infirmity: We need a means to communicate our deepest emotions of both sorrow and joy to God the Father — therefore, the Holy Spirit fills this need..
i) This is a need not because of illiteracy but because no words, known to man, can express our need — a need that can only be express by our groanings.
(2) The Objection: Have a problem accepting the Holy Spirit intercedes by presenting our “groaning” to God the Father in words that man cannot utter but the Holy Spirit can understand and translate — Why does our Creator require a translator?...
(a) {8:26b} Says, “groanings too deep for words”, does not say “groanings to deep for words by man”
(b) How can the Holy Spirit present our groaning to God the Father in words which do not exist — or need to exist in the first place?
(3) While this view is not harmful, it is not correct.
d. Holy Spirit himself groans words that cannot be uttered — “The Spirit that helps our weakness is the Holy Spirit and He is making the groaning which cannot be uttered.”
(1) True, there are times a Christian’s inward man [spirit] can only give expression “with groanings to deep for words” during times of deep emotions, however, God the Father who “searches the hearts” [our inward man] comprehends the meaning of our groanings ( “I need help!”)...
(a) God is capable of understanding the groanings of His creation’s inward man — God does not require Holy Spirit as an interpreter.
(2) (8:26-27) Not an action from Holy Spirit to us, but the Holy Spirit to God.
(a) The Holy Spirit intercedes in the relationship between earth bound man and God in Heaven.
(b) The action between God and the Holy Spirit takes place in Heaven.
(3) To fully understand 8:26-27 we must consider Deity’s involvement in our prayers...
(a) God the Father — To whom we pray, source of help [Col 1:3].
(b) Jesus the Christ — Advocate [1Jo 2:1]; Sympathizing high priest [Heb 2:17]; and also Intercessor [Heb 7:25].
(c) Holy Spirit — An intercessor (represents one to the other) helping us, especially in time of deepest emotions of the soul when only a member of the Godhead understands {ROM 8:26-27} [w/nouns]...
i) Makes intercession, for our benefit, with His own groaning [to deep for words] — words are not required for God the Father fully comprehends the mind of the Holy Spirit.
ii) Not told how Holy Spirit makes intercession, but it conforms within limits of {8:34b} for His interceding is according to the will of God.
(d) Difference between intercession by Christ and the Spirit...
i) (8:26) Holy Spirit: G5241 huperentugchano = to intercede for one
ii) (8:34) Jesus Christ: G1793 entugchano = to light upon a person or a thing, fall in with, hit upon, a person or a thing; to go to or meet a person, especially for the purpose of conversation, consultation, or supplication
iii) Perhaps the difference is the Holy Spirit has the job of interceding and Jesus the Christ who died to be the propitiation for sin and was raised as King will “also” intercede.


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A LOOK AHEAD
(4) This is the most logical position. Comforting knowing the Three are acting in our behalf, not correcting our prayers, but assisting us in time of confusion and need.
D. Evidence Applied [Discussion Question Answered] — In times of great stress when a child of God feels alone and knows not what to ask of God how does Deity give the child of God the help required?
E. Conclusion —

XVI. {Rom 8:28-30} First Conclusion — All things work for good
A. Introduction
1. Review — The question that is ask at Romans 7:24, “How can any human expect to spend eternity with God for all accountable humans are weak?” The answer is, “Thanks to deity.” By the man of Romans 7:24's agony it is clear the justified have an obligation to accept the responsibilities of being justified (live a sanctified life). Romans 6:1-8:37 the responsibilities of Justification (Sanctification) are enumerated. This done using five arguments and two conclusions supporting his position as noted in Romans 8. [Five point sermon with two conclusions.] We have consider the five arguments: 1) [1-4] “Set you free from the law of sins and death”; 2) [5-14] “Being led by the Spirit of God”; 3) [15-16] Holy Spirit “testifies with our spirit we are children of God”; 4) [17-25] “In hope (confidence) we have been saved”; 5) [26-27] Spirit “intercedes for the justified in time of weakness”.
2. Preview — (Rom 8:28-30) [First conclusion] God’s children can be assured God knows what His children really requires and God has the tools (ability) to make it happen.
B. Question For Discussion?
1. What is the end results of things working together for good?
2. This passage is misused to support, “Even if I leave my wife and run off with a sixteen year old girl it will be used by God for my good.” Debate between David Bonner (gospel preacher) /Hoyt Chastain (Missionary Baptist).
C. Questions For Encouraging Discussion...
1. (8:28) Who, according to Paul in this verse, receives the benefit of God’s efforts?
a.
2. (8:28) In this verse is Paul saying those who love God are learning or have learned?
a.
3. (8:28) In this verse what have those who love God learned?
a.
4. (8:28) Is Paul saying everyone who loves God knows (has learned) all things work for good?
a.
5. PONDER: What is God’s purpose (cf. Gen 3:14-15, Luk 10: 17-21; Eph 1:9; 2Ti 1:9; Rom 1:6)?
a.
6. PONDER: How is one called? (cf. Mat 11:28; 2Th 2:13-14; Rom 1:6,16)
a.
7. PONDER: What does it mean to “love God”? (cf. Mat 7:21; 1Jo 2:3; 1Jo 5:2-3)
a.
8. (8:28) Considering location (context) of this verse (follows 7:24) what is the “good” being addressed?
a.
9. (8:28) Considering the location (context) of this verse what is the nature (type) of the “all things” under discussion that are classified as good?
a.
10. Three positions on “all things” considered
a. (8:28) “All things” is everything (good/bad) without qualification or limitation.
(1)

b. Bad “all things” (events) is God’s chastening (training) motivating us to obey.
(1)
c. “All things” is what was necessary for God’s purpose to be reached.

OBSERVATION (8:28

11. (8:29-30) What is the purpose of “for” at this place, i.e. to what is Paul referring?
a.
12. What are the words and their meaning used to support “called according to His purpose” of 8:28?
a. ”
c.
d.
e.
f.
13. (8:29) God foreknew and predestined so Christ would be the firstborn and to these God called, justified, and glorified. What does firstborn imply in this passage?
a.

OBSERVATION (8:29-30)
God plan for mankind’s salvation (being as pure as were Adam and Eve before the fruit incident) was a purposed and prepared plan (Gen 3:15) fulfilled in Christ.

D. Evidence Applied [Discussion Question Answered] — What is the end results of things working together for good?
1.
E. Conclusion —