Pastors Jim and Marie Watt
(From: ROMANS #10 - 8:12-39)
E. 8:12-39 MINISTRY OF THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST
1. 8:12-17 A MINISTRY OF DELIVERANCE UNTO SONSHIP
a. 8:12-13 FREED BY THE SPIRIT TO LIVE ABOVE THE FLESH
Ara oun, a-delPHOI, o-pheiLEtai [3781] esMEN, ou te sarKI, tou kaTA SARka zen:
So then, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after theflesh:
ei gar kaTA SARka ZEte, MELle-te a-poTHNEskein [599];
13for if you live after theflesh, you shall die;
ei de PNEUma-ti tas PRAxeis [4234]tou SOma-tos tha-naTOUte, ZEses-the [2198].
but if by the Spirit you put to death the doings of the body, you shall live.
b. 8:14 For as many as are led by God's Spirit, these are God's sons.
HOsoi gar PNEUma-ti TheOU Agon-tai [71], HOU-TOI huiOI [5207] TheOU ei-sin.
c. 8:15 SPIRIT OF BONDAGE VERSUS SPIRIT OF ADOPTION
ou gar eLAbe-te PNEUma douLEIas [1397] PAlin eis PHObon [5401];
For you received not a spirit of bondage again unto fear;
alLA eLAbe-te PNEUma hui-o-theSIas [5206], en ho KRAzo-men [2896], AbBA, ho paTER.
but you received a spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, :Father.
d. 8:16-17 WITNESS OF THE SPIRIT: HEIRSHIP UNTO GLORIFICATION
auTO to PNEUma sun-mar-tuREI [4828] to PNEUma-ti heMON,
The Spirit himself bears witness with our :spirit,
HOti esMEN TEKna [5043] TheOU: ei de TEKna, kai kle-roNOmoi [2818];
that we are God's children: 17and if children, also heirs;
kle-roNOmoi men TheOU, sun-kle-roNOmoi [4789] de ChrisTOU;
heirs namely of God, and joint-heirs with Christ;
EIper sunPAScho-men [4841], HIna kai sun-do-xasTHOmen [4888].
if so be thatwe suffer with him, that we be also glorified with him.
2. 8:18-25 HOPE: EMPOWERS US TO ENDURE UNTO RESURRECTION
a. 8:18 A RECKONING: RIGHTEOUSNESS GUARANTEED
LoGIzo-mai [3049]gar HOti ouk Axi-a ta paTHEma-ta [3804]tou nun kaiROU
For I reckon that the sufferings of the present season
pros ten MELlou-san DOxan a-po-ka-luphTHEnai [601]eis heMAS.
are not worthy to be compared with the coming glory to be revealed toward us.
b. 8:19 CREATION'S EXPECTATION: REVELATION OF GOD'S SONS
he gar a-po-ka-ra-doKIa [603] tes KTIse-os [2937]
For the earnest expectation of the creation
ten a-poKAlu-psin [602] ton huiON tou TheOU a-peDEche-tai [553].
awaits the revelation of the sons of :God.
c. 8:20-21 CREATION'S STATE: BOUND - BUT TO BE FREED WITH US
te gar ma-taiOe-ti [3153] he KTIsis hu-peTAge [5293],
For the creation was subjected to :vanity,
ouch eKOUsa [1635], alLA diA ton hu-poTAxan-ta,
not of its own will, but by reason of him who subjected it,
eph' elPIdi [1680]HOti kai auTEheKTIsis [2937]e-leu-the-roTHEse-tai [1659]
21in hope that the creation itself also shall be freed
aPO tes douLEIas [1397] tes phthoRAS [5356] eis ten e-leu-theRIan [1657]
from the bondage of :corruption into the freedom
tes DOxes ton TEKnon tou TheOU.
of the glory of the children of :God.
d. 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until :now.
OIda-men gar HOti PAsa he KTIsis sun-steNAzei [4959] kai su-noDInei [4944] Achri tou nun.
e. 8:23 OUR STATE: A GROANING FOR ADOPTION - BODY REDEMPTION
ou MOnon de, alLA kai auTOI, ten a-parCHEN [536] tou PNEUma-tos Echon-tes,
And not only so, but ourselves also, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit,
huMEIS kai auTOI en he-auTOIS steNAzo-men [4727],
WE ourselves also groan within ourselves,
hui-o-theSIan [5206] a-pek-deCHOme-noi [553], ten a-poLUtro-sin [629] tou SOma-tos heMON.
awaiting our adoption, the redemption of our :body.
f. 8:24 HOPE: THE STATE OF SALVATION NOT FULLY REALIZED
te gar elPIdi eSOthe-men [4982]: elPIS de ble-poMEne [991] ouk EStin elPIS: ho gar BLEpei tis elPIzei?
For in hope were we saved: but hope seen is not hope: for who hopes for what he sees?
g. 8:25 But if we hope for what we see not, we await it with patience.
ei de ho ou BLEpo-men elPIzo-men, di' hu-po-moNES [5281] a-pek-deCHOme-tha [553].
3. 8:26-30 THE SPIRIT AIDS OUR PRAYER LIFE AND PROMISES GLORY
a. 8:26-27 THE POWERFUL INTERCESSION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
HoSAUtos de kai to PNEUma su-nan-ti-lamBAne-tai [4878] te as-theNEIa [769] heMON:
And in like manner the Spirit also helps our :infirmity:
to gar ti pro-seuXOme-tha [4336] kaTHO dei ouk OIda-men;
for we know not how to pray as we ought;
alLA auTO to PNEUma hu-pe-ren-tugCHAnei [5241] ste-nagMOIS [4726] a-laLEtois [215];
but the Spirit himself intercedes mightily for us with groanings unutterable;
ho de e-rauNON [2045] tas karDIas OIden ti to PHROne-ma [5427] tou PNEUma-tos,
27 and who searches the hearts knows what isthe mind of the Spirit,
HOti kaTA TheON en-tugCHAnei [1793]huPER haGIon [40].
because he intercedes for thesaints according to God.
b. 8:28 GOD CAUSES ALL THINGS TO PROSPER FOR GOOD FOR HIS OWN
OIda-men de HOti tois a-gaPOsi [25] ton TheON PANta su-nerGEI [4903] ho TheOS eis a-gaTHON,
And we know that to them that love :God :God works all things together for good,
tois kaTA PROthe-sin [4286]kleTOIS [2822]OUsin.
to those who are called according to his purpose.
c. 8:29-30 THE BASIS: THE ALL-SOVEREIGN POWER OF OUR :GOD!
HOti hous proEGno [4267], kai proOri-sen [4309] sumMORphous [4832] tes eiKOnos [1504] tou huiOU auTOU,
For whom he foreknew, he also foreordained to be conformed to the image of his :Son,
eis to EInai auTON proTOto-kon [4416]en polLOIS a-delPHOIS:
that he be first-born among many brethren:
hous de proOri-sen, TOUtous kai eKAle-sen [2563]:
30 and whom he foreordained, them he also called:
kai hous eKAle-sen, TOUtous kai e-diKAIo-sen [1344]: hous de e-diKAIosen, TOUtous kai eDOxa-sen [1392].
and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
4. 8:31-39 NOTHING ALLOWED TO FRUSTRATE GOD'S PLAN
a. 8:31a What then shall we say unto these things? Ti oun eROUmen pros TAUta?
b. 8:31b If :God isfor us, who isagainst us?
ei ho TheOS huPER heMON, tis kath' heMON?
c. 8:32 THE GREATNESS OF GOD'S REDEMPTIVE PLAN ASSURES OUR HEIRSHIP!
hos ge tou iDIou huiOU ouk ePHEIsa-to [5339], alLA huPER heMON PANton paREdo-ken [3860]auTON,
Who at least spared not his own :Son, but delivered him up for us all,
pos ouCHI kai sun auTOta PANta heMIN chaRIse-tai [3860]?
how shall he not also with him freely give us all the things?
d. 8:33a Who shall bring a charge against God's elect?
tis eg-kaLEsei [1458] kaTA ek-lekTON [1588] TheOU?
e. 8:33b-34a It is God that justifies; 34a who is he that condemns?
TheOS ho di-kaiON; tis ho ka-ta-kriNON [2673]?
f. 8:34b CHRIST'S DEATH, RESURRECTION AND INTERCESSION - REMOVES CONDEMNATION
ChrisTOS IeSOUS ho a-po-thaNON [599], MALlon de,
It is Christ Jesus that died, yes rather,
e-gerTHEIS ek neKRON, HOS estin en de-xiA tou TheOU, hos kai en-tugCHAnei [1793]huPER heMON.
was raised from the dead, who is at :God's right, who also intercedes for us.
g. 8:35 NOTHING CAN SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF CHRIST
tis heMAS choRI-sei [5563]aPO tes aGApes tou ChrisTOU?
Who shall separate us from the love of the Christ?
THLIpsis [2347], este-no-choRIa [4730], edi-ogMOS [1375],
tribulation, or anguish, or persecution,
eliMOS [3042], egumNOtes [2228], eKINdu-nos [2794], eMAchai-ra [3162]?
or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
h. 8:36 NOT EVEN DEATH
kaTHOS GEgrap-tai [HOti], Ene-ken sou tha-naTOUme-tha [2250]HOlen ten heMEran;
Even as it is written [that], For your sake we are killed all the day long;
e-loGISthe-men [3049]hos PROba-ta [4263]sphaGES [4967].
We were accounted as sheep for slaughter.
i. 8:37 But in all these we more than conquer through him that loved us.
all' en TOUtois PAsin hu-per-niKOmen [5245] diA tou a-gaPEsan-tos heMAS.
j. 8:38-39 PAUL'S FIRM CONVICTION IN THIS WHOLE MATTER
PEpeis-mai [3982] gar, HOti OUte THAna-tos, OUte zo-E, OUte AGge-loi,
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels,
OUte arCHAI [746], OUte e-nesTOta [1764], OUte MELlon-ta [3195],
nor principalities, nor thingspresent, nor thingsto come,
OUte duNAmeis [1411], OUte HUpso-ma [5313], OUte BAthos [899], OUte KTIsis [2937]heTEra,
39 nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creation,
duNEse-tai heMAS choRIsai[5583]aPO tes aGApes tou TheOU, tes en ChrisTOIeSOU tokuRIoheMON.
shall be able to separate us from the love of :God, which isin Christ Jesus our :Lord.
NOTE: Romans 8:14 is a most significant verse in this passage. To be a son of God is to have moved up from a 30-fold little child, to take the 60-fold place of a son or young man. At this stage of our Christian growth, we are intuitively guided by the Spirit of God. We have no need to continually ask, “What shall I do now?” A son is guided by the eye of the Lord, and is not like a horse or mule, needing bit and bridle. If we should move in a wrong direction, the Spirit immediately checks us. Is this the position we move in? If not - it isours to possess!
Notice the following verse, 8:15. Adoption or "hui-o-theSIa" is only used 5 times in the New Testament, but what a rich word! Once we were part of a non-people! But nowwe are part of the people of God, because- He choseus - He adoptedus - He placed us as sons in His family!
One little fellow at school was put down because fellow students told him he was “adopted”. He came home from school crying. But his mother confirmed that it was true. Out of a hundred babies, she and his father had chosen him! All the other parents had to take what came. Next day at school he answered, “Yes, I was adopted. Out of 100 kids, my parents chose meto adopt. Your parents had to take just what came along!” That iswhat God has done for you and me!
Then look at 8:18. Meditateon the glories to be revealed for you and me in God's heaven, and in His glorified and renewed earth. We can surely put up with a bit of suffering down here, in the light of the glories of eternity!
That word adoptionis used for the second of 5 times in 8:23. When our body is redeemed at the Resurrection of the Just, all present groaning will be done away, both for us and the natural creation. Animals need to be lifted too! This present life is but a temporary testing ground. Just wait for what God has prepared for us! Paul expressed this in Philippians, when he said he personally would like to die and go to be with the Lord in heaven right now - which for hissake would be much better. But he was willing to stay down here longer to be a blessing to such believers as the Philippians.
8:26-27. The inward intercession of the Holy Spirit on our behalf and on the behalf of others, is one of the most powerful services of the Holy Spirit. Read “Rees Howells, Intercessor” by Norman P. Grubb, to see the almost fantastic possibilities and potential of being possessedby the Holy Spirit. Few enter into the third stage of fatherhood of the 100-fold. But it isa distinct possibility for all who dare to press in.
Verses 8:29-30 show somewhat of the mind and thinking of God, that only comes through revelation. Meditating upon and praying over these verses, brings such an understanding, that only humility on our part can follow. We indeed need to learn Joshua and David's secret of meditation at this point.
It is good to see in 8:34b that Christ's greater ministry began when He arose from the dead, ascended to God's right hand, and commenced His high priestly ministry of intercession after the order of Melchizedek. Not only does Heintercede for each one of us, but by the Spirit of Christ in us, He leads us to sharein His wonderful and most important ministry of intercession.
And finally, the Spirit of God through Paul assures us that there is nothingthat can separate the true believer from the love of God. What assurance! But realize these promises are for those who have made their calling and election sure! It is possible. It isn't merely shaking a preacher's hand at the altar and saying, “I do.” It is following on into full discipleship to Jesusfirst, not man, or church, or denomination, or doctrine, or actions. It is a divine relationship that God confirmsand acknowledges. Can we continue in sin without true repentance that grace may abound? God forbid! But we can press on and in, until God witnesses Hisapproval in our hearts. Let us not have a “guess so” or “hope so” experience - but an “I knowso” relationship with God our Father, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, and the wonderful indwelling Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of the Father and the Spirit of the Son. This3-fold cord can neverbe broken.
So - Romans 8 is rich in the understanding of the Holy Spirit and much more. It is the culmination of Romans 1-7. Eagerly soak in it, meditate upon it, pray over it. We will never regret time spent in our inward man in communion with the Holy Spirit, learning from Him the secrets of our God. J.A.W.