Introductory remarks:
We learned in Chapter seven that there is no good in the old sin nature, and that we have no power in our new nature, except as we yield to the Holy Spirit; we cannot live the Christian life in our own strength; we must continually be yielding to the Spirit; in Eph. 5:18 we read: "And be not drunk with wine were in is excess, but be filled (controlled) by the Spirit." Chapter eight will teach us experiential sanctification and assurance. "The law could not defeat sin because it depended upon the flesh of man. Jesus' death defeated sin and His Spirit is now in the believer. We no longer have to obey the flesh we can obey the Spirit. Not as servants but as adopted children, heirs of God with Christ. We are waiting for the manifestation of this; but in the meantime, the Spirit in us knows our hearts and intercedes for us. God's purpose for us is that we become like Christ. To accomplish this He didn't even spare His Son, so nothing can separate us from the love of God" (A survey of Romans - by Brenda). This chapter may be outlined as follows: Life in the Spirit vv. 1-17; the glory that is to be vv. 18- 30; God's love vv. 31- 39.
Life in the Spirit
Verse 1, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."
LGT "Therefore now, not one condemnation to those in Christ Jesus."
This chapter is a continuation of the subject of the last chapter that the gospel can affect what the law cannot. Under the law there was condemnation, but under grace mercy and pardon. Therefore now, not one condemnation to those in Christ Jesus: this does not mean that in the believer there is not just cause for condemnation; what it does say is that he will never be condemned. To those in Christ Jesus: The moment we believe we are placed in union with Jesus Christ, and because Jesus could never be condemned, we are safe in Him. We have been adopted into God's Holy family and so we are brothers and sisters of the Lord Jesus Christ, and God's family will never again be separated; for Christ spent three hours in total darkness separated from His Father in order that we may never be. The phrase: "Who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit" is added by the translators and is not in the better manuscripts, therefore, I will leave it be. McGee says: "some scribe picked it up from verse three and brought forward here, and thought it would look good here" (Italics mine).
Verse 2, "For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."
LGT "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus set you free from the law of sin and of death."
For: this word "for" appears 17 times in this chapter and it means follow my logic closely. The law: the principle and authority. Of the Spirit of life: this is the Holy Spirit who produces spiritual life in us, through the gospel of grace. In Christ Jesus: in complete agreement with Christ Jesus: for we are indwelt with the Holy Spirit and in union with Christ. Set you free from the law of sin and death: the law of sin, the moral law that had authority over our old sin nature in our unregenerate state, that is the effect of original sin, not that we now do not sin. Now that we are saved we have this new nature, which is vitalized by the Holy Spirit, which has power over our old sin natures. Our new nature is joined to the living Christ; since in chapter seven we died with Christ, and were buried with Christ, and were resurrected with Christ, we are now in union with Christ who ever lives to make intercession for us; this is how we are able to live the Christian life; without this knowledge we are poor indeed, for we blunder through life; but with this knowledge Christ has set us free so that we do not have to blunder but we have the liberty to live for Christ.
Matthew Poole notes:
"The sense of the whole is this: that the mighty power of the renewing and quickening [life giving] Spirit did free the apostle, and doth free all believers, from the command and rule of sin, so that it doth not reign over them, as formerly it did; and bring thus freed from the power of sin, they who are also freed from the power of death and eternal condemnation. So it seems as a proof of the forgoing proposition [in vs. 1] that there is no condemnation to them, etc."
Verse 3, "For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:"
LGT "For the impossibility of the law, in that it was weak through the flesh, God having sent His own Son in likeness of the flesh of sin, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:"
For the impossibility of the law: the law could not produce righteousness in man. In that it was weak through the flesh: because it was weak through the flesh; it was not the fault of the law, for it was perfect and good, but it was the weakness of the unregenerate heart of man, because of its sinful desires continually. Besides, the law was never given to make man righteous; it was given in order to show man the way to the One who could make man righteous and acceptable to God. Remember the law was given As a Schoolmaster to lead the Jew to Christ. It was not God's design to give the law to make a man good. God having sent His own Son: now Paul gives the reason for the incarnation of Jesus Christ. What the law was powerless to do, God sent His only Son to do. In the likeness of the flesh of sin: the flesh of man is marked by sin, but the Son of God was not. "But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men" (Phil. 2:7). And for sin: Christ's entire mission to come in the flesh was to atone for sin. Condemned sin in the flesh: Christ died on the cross to condemn all sin. The law pronounced judgment on sin, but it could not atone for sin, that is, pay the price sin demanded from the justice of God. When someone says that if man could keep the law perfectly all their lives they would never die, they are presenting a myth, (1.) Because they are forgetting that in Adam all die, and (2.) It is impossible for man, with his sin nature, to keep the law.
Verse 4, "That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."
LGT "In order that the requirement of the law should be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit."
In order that the requirements of the law: Literally, the righteous requirements of the law. Should be fulfilled in us: this is the purpose of Christ's death, that He might fulfill the righteousness of God in us, so that in the eyes of God we are the perfect righteousness in Christ. Who walk not according to the flesh: we no longer walk after the flesh as we did before Christ imputed His righteousness on us. This verse is not addressing the believers walk as empowered by the Spirit in fellowship, but a positional truth of the fact that we are now walking justified forever because of the grace of God in Christ. But according to the Spirit: we are now baptized with the Holy Spirit and we walk according to His power, that is, we are no longer empowered by sin and our old man, but by the Holy Spirit and the new man. We still posses the old nature, and we do sin, as we studied above in this context, but now we have the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit living in us, so we have the power to live a godly life. The Holy Spirit produces the power but we are still left with the decision for obedience to Bible Doctrine.
Verse 5, "For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit."
LGT "For they that are according to the flesh mind the things of the flesh, and they according to the Spirit the things of the Spirit."
For they that are according to the flesh: this is the description of the man in his unregenerate state; this man does not have the new nature in Christ, so it is impossible for him to do any other thing but that which is fleshly. His spirit has yet to be made alive by the Holy Spirit through faith in Christ. Mind the things of the flesh: the Greek word for "mind" is phroneo, which means to put the mind to a thing. The unbeliever is constantly thinking on things that have to do with the flesh, that is, they are one hundred percent carnal. And they according to the Spirit: believers in the Lord Jesus Christ because all believers have been given the new nature and they respond to the conviction of the Holy Spirit. The things of the Spirit: even though believers still posses the old sin nature, they have the ability to respond to the Spirit whereas, the unbeliever is dead to the Spirit. If a person says they are a believer, and they say that the Spirit doesn't convict them, I doubt they have been born again. Take notice: when we sin we definitely know we have quenched or grieved the Spirit; the believer does not sin ignorantly; some sins we commit are done rashly, and maybe we don't realize the full impact of the sin until later on, but we do sin deliberately, and we calculate them beforehand, that is, if we are honest with ourselves before God; and this is what confession to God is all about.
Verse 6, "For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace."
LGT "For the mind of the flesh [is] death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace:"
For the mind of the flesh is death: fleshly thinking and striving, that is, as Moses said (Gen.6:5); "The imagination of the heart." This carnal thinking leads to spiritual death now, and then eternal death at last. For the believer to be carnal minded means that one is separated from fellowship with Christ. The believer can never be satisfied living in sin; anyone who enjoys the life of sin cannot be a child of God. But the mind of the Spirit is life and peace: every child of God knows that true happiness can never be achieved by the efforts of the flesh; the peace of God that passes all understanding comes from the grace of God to the child of God in fellowship with Christ; all believers are in union with Christ, but not all believers are in fellowship with Christ. Sin leaves its rotten stains on us, and that is why we need daily cleansing with the blood of Jesus Christ that keeps on cleansing us from sin (1 John 1:9). We can only find true peace as we walk in the Light of God's Word in fellowship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit; this is to have the mind of the Spirit.
Verse 7, "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be."
LGT "Because the mind of the flesh [is] enmity towards God, for it is not subject to the law of God, for neither can it [be]:"
Because the mind of the flesh: in verse six Paul had said that to be carnally minded led to death, and now he explains why. Is enmity towards God: minding the things of the flesh is enmity towards God, that is, giving to these things first choice is hatred of God. For it is not subject to the law of God: the minding of the flesh is opposed to all that God says, and therefore it logically follows that it has no regard for God. For neither can it be: the unregenerate man is totally incapable of being subject to God's Word, for they are dead in trespasses and sins. While the believer is made alive by the Holy Spirit, if they follow the dictates of the flesh, they are at enmity towards God, and must be restored to fellowship. The flesh cannot produce anything God can accept.
Verse 8, "So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God."
LGT "And they that are in the flesh cannot please God."
All the good works performed by the unsaved is simply human good and comes short of the glory of God's perfect righteousness. Now that we are saved we are able by the power of the Holy Spirit to please God, but this is never the motive of our service; we serve God because Jesus Christ has made it possible for God to be pleased with us; now that we are part of God's family, we have a perfect motive and ability to serve Him; for God's love for us motivates us; We love Him because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). "Anything that the flesh produces is not acceptable to God. The so-called good work, the civilization, the culture, and man's vaunted progress are all a stench in the nostrils of God" (McGee). Religion today teach a salvation by works and then how we are to live by the works of the flesh, and all this amounts to is human good, and will inevitably be burned at the Bema Seat of Christ.
Verse 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."
LGT "But ye are not in flesh, but in Spirit, since indeed [the] Spirit dwells in you. But if anyone has not the Spirit of Christ, he is not of Him."
But ye are not in the flesh: you are not sold under sin any more, that is, you belong to the family of God. But in the Spirit: you have been baptized with the Holy Spirit the moment you believed in Christ. This is our supernatural mystical union with the Holy Spirit of God. Since the Spirit dwells in you: the "if" in this clause, as translated by the KJV is in the first class condition and is better translated using the word since to get the real meaning of the Apostle Paul here. Paul says if and indeed He does dwell in you, because you are all believers, and you belong to Christ, you are no more under the rule of sin. But if anyone has not the Spirit of Christ: if anyone does not believe in Christ they are not in union with the Holy Spirit. The only way a person may be indwelt with the Holy Spirit is by faith alone in Christ alone; water baptism cannot save; the Lord's Supper cannot save; walking down an isle in church cannot save; dedicating yourself to Christ cannot save; confessing the name of Christ to others cannot save. He is not of him: the only way a person can become a brother or sister of the Lord Jesus Christ, and indwelt with the Holy Spirit is by placing complete trust in Jesus Christ as your own personal Savior, that is, faith alone in Christ alone.
Verse 10, "And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness."
LGT "But since Christ [be] in you, the body [is] indeed dead on account of sin, but the Spirit of life on account of righteousness."
But since Christ is in you: since you now belong to Christ, and that He indwells you, you have eternal life also dwelling in you. The body is indeed dead on account of sin: the body will eventually die on account of sin. I was born under sin to die twice (physically and spiritually); I was born again to die once (physically) but live eternally. But the Spirit of life on account of righteousness: since I died with Christ, as Paul explained early on in this epistle, I also now live with Him on account of His righteousness which He imputed on me. I died with Christ, I was buried with Christ, I was resurrected with Christ, and I now am seated with Christ in the heavenlies, and when I die physically, I will be joined forevermore with Him, Oh! Happy day. What a marvelous motivation to serve my big Brother Jesus Christ the Righteous.
Verse 11, "But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his spirit that dwelleth in you."
LGT "But since the Spirit of the One who raised up Jesus from among the dead dwells in you, He who raised up Christ from among the dead will also make alive your mortal bodies on account of His Spirit dwelling in you."
But since the Spirit of the One who raised up Jesus from among the dead: Christ had the power to raise Himself up from among the dead, but Paul attributes the resurrection of Christ to God the Holy Spirit giving Him the proper praise. The entire plan of Salvation among the Trinity is in complete harmony with each person of the Godhead. Dwells in you: since you are now in union with Christ and His Spirit: He who raised up Christ from the dead: God the Holy Spirit: will also make alive your mortal bodies: our bodies, which are the seat of evil passions, are now able by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, able to overcome sin because we have been made alive spiritually, and we have the knowledge of His presence ever with us; as I have said many times, we are not able to live the Christian life, but we can submit to the presence of the Holy Spirit and He can live this life through us. On account of His Spirit dwelling in us: this is the reason we are able to do all the above. There are so many theologians that teach that living the Christian life is something that we can accomplish by self-effort, and that we must dedicate ourselves to this end. This is why so many of us have failed time after time; and of course I am not inferring that we will not continue to fail; what I am saying is that in order to receive rewards at the Bema Seat of Christ, we must simply surrender to Him and allow the Holy Spirit to work in and through us. The reason we find this so hard to do is because of the drag on our spirits by the flesh, and as long as we are in these mortal bodies we are dragging around this dead carcass. We must adjust our lives to Bible Doctrine, and in order to do this we must know Bible Doctrine, and in order to know Bible Doctrine, we must study Bible Doctrine; and now we have made the complete circle back to why I am writing these expositions, that is, mostly for my benefit, and then to glorify God if any one happens to read them.
Verse 12, "Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh."
LGT "So then, brethren, we are not debtors to the flesh, to live according to the flesh,"
So then, brethren: this is the conclusion of what had been previously said. We are debtors: since we are indwelt with the Holy Spirit, and united with Christ, and we have the new nature, and all this because of what Christ sacrificed on the cross, we are debtors, that is, we owe Him our all. We are not debtors to the flesh: In Adam we all died; this was not only physical death, but we also died spiritually; we are born with a dead spirit, and the moment we accepted Christ as our Savior, He quickened our spirits (Eph. 2:1), that is, He made our spirits alive unto God. To live according to the flesh: that is, to live according to the impulses of the flesh. We are no longer to be slaves to sin, for Christ has delivered us from this horrible bondage.
Verse 13, "For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live."
LGT "For if you live according to the flesh, you are about to die: but if by [the] Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live."
For if you live according to the flesh: now the first thing I remind you of is that Paul is speaking to the brethren, and so he says that it is possible that the brethren may live according to the flesh, and they all will at times. You are about to die: so many commentators believe this is speaking of eternal death; however it cannot be, for we cannot lose our salvation. This must be speaking of being out of fellowship with the Father, which is a temporary spiritual death. Robertson comes closer than most when he says that these brethren were on the point of death. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body: we cannot put to death these deeds of the body without the Holy Spirit. We must adjust our lives to Bible Doctrine to be successful. Confessing sins to God is putting these deeds to death by the blood of Christ, which keeps on cleansing from all sin (1 John 1:9). We need daily spiritual cleansing via confession; we also need daily spiritual food via the study of the Word of God. Study coupled with confession is the only manner of putting to death sinful deeds; we may purpose in our hearts, and make resolutions to never repeat our sins, but until they are confessed, and we are cleansed with the washing of Christ's blood, we will drag around the filthy corpse of sin and lead defeated lives. You will live: that is, you will be restored to fellowship after confessing, that is, naming the sin the same as God names it. Living in sin is spiritual death, while life in the Spirit is wonderful fellowship with our heavenly Father.
Verse 14, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."
LGT "For as many as are led by [the] Spirit of God, these are sons of God."
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God: all believers are led by the Holy Spirit. McGee notes that God does not drive His children, he leads them. If you have no interest in the Word of God, or you can live according to the flesh with no problem of conviction. I would seriously examine whether or not I belong to Him. These are the sons of God: everyone who believes on Christ is a child of God (John 1:12). Now as a child of God Paul says here that you are being led by the Holy Spirit. These truths are so wonderful it is refreshing to be reminded of them from time to time.
Verse 15, "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father."
LGT "For you have not received a spirit of bondage again unto fear, but the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father."
For you have received not a spirit of bondage again unto fear: A slave in bondage is constantly in fear of his master. The gospel of grace frees us from the bondage of the law, and we now have the freedom to worship God in spirit and in truth; we serve Him because of who and what Christ is and has done for us, not with fear that judgment will come if we don't obey the law; we are free under grace, and our salvation is secure because of Christ. But the Spirit of adoption: we have been adopted in the family of God, and He loves us with the same love that He has for His One and Only Son; also, we have all the rights of His Son, and we become one with Him for all eternity. Whereby we cry, Abba, Father: the Aramaic word "Abba" is untranslatable, and the closest English translation for this word would be "my daddy". God has become our Father, and we have become His child, so now we share in the heavenly family with all its rights and privileges. The double use of the word "Father" could be translated, "Father, our Father."
Verse 16, "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God."
LGT "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God."
The Spirit Himself: the KJV has the neuter "itself" because the word is neuter in the Greek; however, the Holy Spirit is the subject, and it would never be proper to refer to the Holy Spirit as neuter. Bears witness with our spirit: the Holy Spirit gives witness to our minds that we are God's children; this is done by the Word of God; however, we could not even believe that the Bible is God's Word if we did not have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us: for faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God (Rom. 10:17). That we are the children of God: that we are adopted into the family of God. We could never, apart from the Spirit of God, convince ourselves that we are His children; spiritual maturity brings assurance, and the study of God's Word brings about spiritual maturity, as long as it is applied to the life.
Verse 17, "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if so that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."
LGT "And since children, also heirs: heirs indeed of God, and joint heirs with Christ, since indeed we suffer together in order that we may be glorified together."
And since children: continuing the thought of our adoption as full fledged members of God's family, Paul gives some of our benefits. Also heirs: "Paul is referring to the Roman law that made all children have equal rights, even adopted children; the Jewish law gave the first-born son to have a double portion, however, Paul has the Roman law in mind here" (Vincent). Heirs indeed of God, and joint heirs with Christ: I could spend a lot of time here reveling in what it means to be a joint heir with Jesus Christ; but suffice it to say, we have all the rights and privileges of God's only Son. Since indeed we suffer together: the KJV has "if" so that we suffer etc. It is better translated since we suffer etc. Vincent notes: the conditional particle "if" with the indicative mood [the mood of reality] assumes the fact." All Christians will suffer in this world, but because of the magnitude of the reality of our present position in the sufferings of Christ, they are very small. We were crucified with Christ; we were buried with Christ; we were resurrected with Christ; we are now seated with Christ in the heavenlies; this has all taken place identifying us with Christ, and it is the positional reality that has been neglected in most churches today. Paul is great in stating in few words where we stand today in union with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The end result of this positional truth Paul is teaching is: in order that we may be glorified together: we are definitely trophies of God's divine grace. Jesus prayed in the Lord's prayer: "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also who shall believe on Me through their [apostles written Word]; that they all may be one, as Thou Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me. And the glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them, that they may be one, even as We are one: I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me. Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory, which Thou hast given Me; for Thou lovedst Me before the foundation of the world." This is our position in Christ the very moment we received Christ as our personal Savior.
The Glory That is to be
Verse 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."
LGT "Truly, I reckon that the sufferings of the present time [are] not to be compared with the glory about to be revealed to us."
Truly, I reckon: Paul says that the logistics [judgment after calculations have been made] of our suffering, that is, counted from the present world and the glory of the future world: that the sufferings of the present time: Paul most certainly had the sufferings the Christians were enduring at the present time in mind, but he also had in mind Christians in all times and in all places. Are not to be compared with the glory about to be revealed to us: "By this, Christians may be sustained. Their sufferings may seem great; but they should remember that they are nothing in comparison with future glory. They are nothing in degree. For these are light compared with that eternal weight of glory, which they shall work out. 2 Cor. 4:17. They are nothing in duration. For these sufferings are but for a moment; but the glory shall be eternal. These will soon pass away; but that glory shall never become dim or diminished; it will increase and expand for ever and ever" (Barnes).
Verse 19, "For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God."
LGT "For the earnest expectation of the creation awaits the revelation of the sons of God."
For the earnest expectation of creation: the best I am able to do with this phrase is assume Paul has in mind all created matter, that has been veiled under the weight of sin. It will be wonderful when the silly theory of evolution is exposed. Awaits the revelation of the sons of God: "For though we know that we are now His sons, yet it appears not yet what we shall be" (1 John 3:2.) In that day when the sons of God will put off corruption and take on the celestial promised glorified bodies.
Verse 20, "For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope."
LGT "For the creation was subjected to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of Him who subjected [it] in hope."
For the creation was subjected to vanity, not willingly: not of its will, but because of man's original sin, the creation was also cursed, "And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it was thou taken; for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return." (Gen. 3:17-19). But by reason of Him who subjected it in hope: although all creation is now under the curse of original sin, man and creation will someday be returned to the restitution of all things: and so the hope for man and creation is yet future.
Verse 21, "Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God."
LGT "That the creation itself shall be freed from the bondage of corruption into the liberty of the glory of the children of God."
That the creation itself shall be freed from the bondage of corruption: "It is then indeed meet for us to consider what a dreadful curse we have deserved, since all created things in themselves blameless, both on earth and in the visible heaven, undergo punishment for our sins; for it has not happened through their own fault, that they are liable to corruption. Thus the condemnation of mankind is imprinted on the heavens, and on the earth, and on all creatures. It hence also appears to what excelling glory the sons of God shall be exalted; for all creatures shall be renewed in order to amplify it, and to render it illustrious" (Calvin). Into the liberty of the glory of the children of God: "It is freedom from the bondage under which the Christian groans. It will be freedom from sin; from corruption; from evil desires; from calamity; from death. The highest freedom in the universe is that which is enjoyed in heaven, where the redeemed are under the sovereignty and government of their king, but where they do that, and that only, which they desire. All is slavery but the service of God; all is bondage but the law, which accords with the supreme wish of the soul, and where commands accord with the perfect desires of the heart. This is glorious liberty. It is encompassed with majesty; attended with honor; crowned with splendor. The heavenly world is often described as a state of glory" (Barnes). This is all what the Christian has to look forward to, and much, much more.
Verse 22, "For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now."
LGT "For we know that all the creation groans together and travails together until now."
The groaning of the creation is likened to the pain of childbirth: and travails together. Paul says that this condition has existed from the fall of Adam until the present day; and we know that it will continue until Christ returns and sets the world on its right and proper course with His leadership.
Verse 23, "And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body."
LGT "And not only [so], but even ourselves having the first fruits of the Spirit, we ourselves also groan in ourselves, awaiting our adoption, the redemption of our body."
And not only so: not only all creation groans from the curse of sin: but even ourselves having the first fruits of the Spirit: "Here the first fruits of the Spirit means, as I suppose, that the Christians of whom Paul was speaking had partaken of the first influences of the Spirit, or had been among the first partakers of his influences in converting sinners. The Spirit had been sent down to attend the preaching of the gospel, and they were among the first who had partaken of those influences" (Barnes). This is how the Holy Spirit worked in the apostolic church, before the Word of God was completed, with the supernatural gifts He bestowed on the church as they evangelized the world. The method he uses today, since the Bible is completed, is by the filling of the Spirit (Eph. 5:18), using the Word of God. We are baptized with the Spirit at the moment of salvation, but the filling of the Spirit comes as He controls us as we are in fellowship with the Father and the Son, using the mechanics of (1 John 1:9). We ourselves also groan in ourselves: this expression reveals a deep longing in our spirits. Awaiting our adoption: positionally we are already adopted in the Family of God, and the waiting Paul is expressing is the experiential reality of our adoption. The redemption of our body: the full redemption when we will receive our new body, and we will know even as we are known. "Not only does nature groan, but the believer is in harmony with nature. This verse is devastating to those who propose the theory that the mark of a Christian is a perennially smiling face. They contend that a Christian should be a cross between a Cheshire cat and house-to-house salesman. A Christian should grin - at all times? Smile your troubles away is good for Rotary Club members, but it is not the Christian method" (McGee).
Verse 24, "For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?"
LGT "For in hope we were saved: but hope seen is not hope: for what anyone sees, why also does he hope for?"
For in hope we were saved: the locative dative in [location] is better used here, for we were saved by faith, and salvation is our hope, that is, our certain expectation. But hope seen is not hope: since our soul salvation is at the present positional, and certain, our hope is the redemption of our bodies. For what anyone sees, why also does he hope for: our assurance of salvation comes by the Word of God, so unless we believe the Bible is the Word of God we have no hope. There are commentators who say that the word save here simply means deliverance from the woes of this world. I don't believe it necessary to apply the word saved that way in this context, because Paul is speaking of a future deliverance that can only happen to believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, and if that is not salvation from sin, I don't know what is. I realize that there are those who translate the word saved, (Gr. soterios), which simply means deliverance, to mean deliverance from hell in every case they read it, are committing the deplorable error of "Illegitimate totality transfer." But here in this context Paul is teaching the redemption of our body, which is a very important part of our total salvation.
Verse 25, "But if we hope for that we see not, then do we wait with patience for it."
LGT "But if we hope for what we see not, in patient endurance we wait."
In our pilgrimage in this veil of tears, we are able to face any trial that may come our way because God has given us hope; we know that tribulation worketh patience, and our patient endurance is the result of our hope. Let me remind you that this is not a Pollyanna pipe dream hope of maybe so maybe not, but a complete trust in God that what He says He will do.
Verse 26, "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."
LGT "And in like manner the Spirit jointly helps our weaknesses: for that which we should pray for according as it is necessary, we know not, but the Spirit Himself makes intersession for us with inexpressible groanings."
And in like manner: the indwelling Holy Spirit coupled with our hope for eternity. The Spirit jointly helps our weaknesses: the believer is unable to live the Christian life in the strength of the flesh. The Holy Spirit is promised to take the burden that is too hard for anyone to bear. In our trials as we try and work through them, the Holy Spirit is our promised aid in these times of need; and let me remind you, the Holy Spirit does not work in our lives apart from the Word of God, while being studied, or the Word we have hid in our hearts; so the more we study, the more stability we will display. For that which we should pray for according as it is necessary, we know not: this has nothing to do with the form of our prayers but with the content. It is quite amazing to me that when I read commentators comment on prayer, the substance of their praying is asking God for something. Prayer is so much more than that, we are not even able to pray as we ought. Our minds are so full of self that it is almost impossible to pray correctly. I find in my own case that when I attempt to pray, my mind soon wanders over so many irrelevant subjects, I have to keep coming back to speaking with the Father, and I think to myself, where was I? But the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us: because we have mortal minds, except when we are fellowshipping with Him in the Word of God, the Holy Spirit intercedes and adjusts our prayers in such a way that they make sense to our Father. God's ways are so far from finding out; and the Word of God has just wetted our appetites about Him, that we will spend eternity learning about our Heavenly Father and His ways. With inexpressible groanings: the Holy Spirit makes sense of our babbling with wisdom we could never utter.
Verse 27, "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."
LGT "But the One who searches the heart knows what [is] the mind of the Spirit, because according to God He intercedes on behalf of the saints."
But the One who searches the heart: God searches man's heart (Jer. 17:10). Knows the mind of the Spirit: God and the Holy Spirit are, of course, in complete agreement. Because according to God He intercedes on behalf of the saints: the Holy Spirit interprets our prayers and intercedes for us; and all of His work on our behalf is according to the will and purpose of God. We may blunder through life, but, praise God, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us and makes sense of our ignorant feebleness. As we study God's Word, we become less dependent on our own resources, and we look more to God the Holy Spirit for direction.
Verse 28, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose."
LGT "But we know that to the ones who love God all things are working together for good, to the ones who are called according to [God's] pre-determined purpose."
But we know: this phrase introduces another line of consolation to the believer from the divine source of our salvation, that we should be assured that God has a perfect plan for us all; and by the way, the plan is the same for everyone of us. In order to know this truth, we must study this truth, and then accept this truth; and then we are on our way toward spiritual maturity. That to the ones who love God: the love of God abides in all Christians, and it does work out in promoting faith. To those who love God will accept whatever comes along with patient endurance, knowing: all things: that is, the good things along with the bad things. It is easy to praise God when things are going our way, but let a little adversity enter our lives, and we crumble like a house of cards. Paul is writing this in order that we don't, and that we will be stable through these times. Are working together for good: God loves us as His dear children, and He would never allow anything in our lives that would defeat us; this is the divine viewpoint, and the sooner we learn this the better for us; for until we learn this doctrine we will go to panic palace every time we feel defeated. To the ones who are called according to His predetermined purpose: all believers are the called. As I have noted many times the called are those who believe in Jesus Christ as Savior. To teach that only those whom God chose respond to the Gospel of grace, and that the ones who were not chosen go to hell, is not grace at all, but deliberate ignorance. McGee has this simple illustration: "A boy down in my southland years ago wanted to join a church. So the deacons were examining him. They asked, 'How did you get saved?' His answer was, 'God did His part, and I did my part.' They thought there was something wrong with his doctrine, so they questioned further. 'What was God's part and what was your part?' His explanation was a good one. He said, 'God's part was the saving, and my part was the sinning. I done run from Him as fast as my sinful heart and rebellious legs could take me. He done took out after me till He run me down.'" Again, McGee continued with this quote: "Henry Ward Beecher quaintly put it, 'The elect are the whosoever wills and the non-elect are the whosoever wont's.'
Verse 29, "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."
LGT "Because whom He foreknew, also He predestinated [to be] conformed to the image of His Son, for Him to be [the] firstborn among many brethren:"
Because whom He foreknew: this refers back to the last verse, those called according to His purpose, that is, believers; He never predestined sinners not to believe, He simply knows His own. Believers are known of God, and remember at the Great White Throne Judgment where the unsaved will stand at the last day, God says to them, after they make their feeble excuses for their unbelief, Depart from Me ye who work iniquity, I never knew you (Matt. 7:23). Also He predestinated: God has a predetermined plan for all those who accept Jesus Christ, and become His children. To be conformed to the image of His Son: this is what all believers are predestined to; believers are predetermined to be conformed to the image of His Son, and the unbeliever is predetermined to a lake of fire. It is our position in Christ that is predetermined in this passage, and not that we are predetermined to become believers, For, whosoever will may come. I refuse to get bogged down with answering men who do not teach this doctrine correctly, for they have an agenda, and it is impossible to convince someone with preconceived notions that "if doctrine doesn't fit grace, it is not correct doctrine." For Him to be the firstborn among many brethren: this phrase presents the pre-eminent Glory of Christ: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation and is the head of the body, the church; who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he might have the pre-eminence (Col 1:15, 18). Christ was with the Father in creating this universe, and He is above and before all things, for He eternally existed with the Father. Paul continues this doctrine in the next verse. Christ is the Eldest brother in God's family.
Verse 30, "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."
LGT "But whom He predestinated, these He also called: and whom He called, these He also justified: and whom He justified, these He also glorified."
But whom He predestinated: let me make this very clear: "predestination has never had any reference the lost." We are predestined to an eternal position in Christ. These He also called: the work of salvation is the work of God alone and was conceived in eternity past. This calling is effectual on all who believe. God never has forced man's will to conform to His; the free will of man is exactly that, free! Those who claim that to exercise our free wills is a work, and that if a work, salvation cannot be free grace, should go out and howl at the moon. To say that we believe because we had no other choice is so abstract, that if it were true, I am among men most stupid. And whom He called: the ones who responded to the Spirit's call: these He also justified: Paul finishes out for what purpose salvation was intended: that we might be justified forever, that is, our standing before a Perfect God is as if we had never committed one sin. He also glorified: our glorification here is stated as complete, however, its full manifestation is yet future; this is positional truth. This entire doctrine is for our assurance that we are members of His eternal family.
God's Love
Verse 31, "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?"
LGT "What then shall we say to these things? Since God [be] for us, who is against us?"
What then shall we say to these things: the fact that we are glorified with Christ, and that we are part of the family of God: Since God be for us, who is against us: what tender words of encouragement to all God's family. To realize our eternal position in Christ should be all the encouragement we need to keep us off the psychiatrist's couch. The only stability we have is in the Word of God.
Verse 32, "He spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?"
LGT "Who indeed spared not His own Son, but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him grant us all things."
Who indeed spared not His own Son: God spared Abraham's son, Isaac, but did not spare His own Son. This proves how much He values us. By not sparing Christ from going to the cross for our salvation, God removes all human merit that our salvation is completely by His grace. God giving up His only Son is the highest price a Father could possibly pay. But gave Him up for us all: Paul speaks to believers here, for they are the only ones who, by believing in Christ, could benefit by this supreme sacrifice. Although Christ's death on the cross was vicarious, that is, substitutionary for all mankind, believer and unbeliever alike, that is, Christ paid the price for all sin; it was propitious [that is, it satisfied God on our behalf] only for the sins of the saved ones. Christ took our place on the cross in order that we might live forever with Him in glory. How will He not also with Him grant us all things: this all things refers back to the all things of verse 28; that is, all things work together for the good of God's children. We must never get the Pentecostal mistake of saying that God will give us whatever we pray for; if it is not of faith it is sin. The all things Paul is referencing are Riches of His Divine Grace.
Verse 33, "Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth."
LGT "Who shall call to account against [the] elect of God? [It is] God who justifies."
Who shall call to account against the elect of God: Since God went to the ultimate expense of offering His only Son on our behalf, and that our sins have been completely paid for in advance, that is, for all our sins, past, present, and future; who could possibly lay another charge to our account: for it is God who justifies: whom God justifies, that person stays justified forever, and could never be tried for sin already paid for. Our justification puts us in an eternal position as if we had never sinned. Once we are saved we are immediately placed in the elect plan of God, that is, to be conformed to the image of His dear Son, and we are forever His elect.
Verse 34, "Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who also maketh intercession for us."
LGT "Who is the one who condemns? [It is] Christ [Jesus] who died, but rather is raised up; who also is at [the] right hand of God, who also intercedes on our behalf."
Who is the one who condemns: there is not one who is able to lay any charge against us, because whom God justifies There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus (verse 1). It is Christ Jesus who died: absolving us of all crimes against God. But rather is raised up: Paul always brings in the doctrine of the resurrection when he is speaking of justification; this proves that we do not serve a dead, but a living Christ: who is at the right hand of God: Christ, by His resurrection and ascension was restored to His rightful eternal position at the right hand of the Father. Who also intercedes on our behalf: our assurance lies in the fact the Christ is now our Intercessor, in His session at the right hand of the Father.
Verse 35, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?"
LGT "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Tribulation, or anxiety of mind, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or sword?"
Paul mentions almost every evil thing imaginable. These are not only things the early Christians were facing, and would be facing, but they are things Paul had already faced. Paul gave them this assurance of the love of Christ because of the natural tendency of the believer to either think when these thing happen to them, they are being punished by God, or that Satan is after them personally; this is not the case because of the love of Christ, and greater is He that is in the believer, than he that is in the world; Paul will deal with the doctrine of divine discipline when we get to the Book of Hebrews; but even in divine discipline: All things blend together for our good.
Verse 36, "As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter."
LGT "According as it is written, and stands written, For thy sake we are put to death the whole day, we were reckoned as sheep of slaughter."
Paul is quoting Psalm 44:23: For Thy sake: on account of our attachment to Christ. We are put to death: the abominable treatment the believer receives is equivalent or is commensurate to dying: For I think that God hath set forth us, the apostles, last, as it were appointed to death; for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men (1 Cor. 4:9). Again Paul wrote: I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus, our Lord, I die daily (1 Cor. 15:31).
Calvin makes this historical note:
"It is indeed probable, that in the psalm the miserable oppression of the people under the tyranny of Antiochus is described; for it is expressly said, that the worshippers of God were cruelly treated, for no other reason but through hatred to true religion. There is also added a remarkable protestation, that they had not departed from the covenant of God; which Paul, I think, had especially in view. It is no objection that the saints there complain of calamity which then unusually pressed on them; for since they show, that they were oppressed with so many evils, having before testified their innocence, an argument is hence fitly drawn, that it is no new thing for the Lord to permit his saints to be undeservedly exposed to the cruelty of the ungodly. But this is not done except for their good; for the Scripture teaches us, that it is alien to the righteousness of God to destroy the just with the wicked (Gen. 18:23); but that, on the contrary, it is meet for him to requite [avenge] affliction to those who afflict, and rest to those who are afflicted (2 Thess. 1:6, 9). And then they affirm that they suffer for the Lord; and Christ pronounces them blessed who suffer for the sake of righteousness (Matt. 5:10). By saying that they died daily, they intimated that death was so suspended over them, that their life differed but little from death."
We were reckoned as sheep to slaughter: we are dealt with or regarded by our enemies as dumb sheep being led to the slaughter.
Verse 37, "Nay in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us."
LGT "But in these things we more than overcome through the One who loved us."
But in these things: all the suffering mentioned above. We more than overcome: how can a sheep being led to the slaughter overcome; it is because it is not we who live the Christian life, but Christ living that life in us, and all believers are overcomers because they believe: Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God (1 John 5:5). Through the One who loved us: Jesus Christ is the one who loved us so much He died for us that He might be able to live again in us. We are not victorious over the world by any effort of the flesh; we overcome through Jesus Christ our Lord. What a wonderful thought to keep in our minds as we go through each and every day, and as we, with Paul, Die daily. This victory is "A holy arrogance of victory in the might of Christ" (Meyer - quoted by Vincent).
Verses 38, 39, "For I am persuaded, that neither death, not life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, not depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
LGT "For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to be, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God, which [is] in Christ Jesus our Lord."
For I am persuaded: I stand convinced. That neither death: he does not fear death or the process of dying. For death ushers us into the presence of Christ immediately. "The blank horror of dying is annihilated by the love of Christ" (TEGNT). Nor life: the love of life. Nor angels: the temptation presented by evil spirits, common in the first Church. Nor principalities: in the apostolic age this may have referred to demons; but today it seems conclusive that it refers to our political pundits who oppose God at every turn; they treat Christians as ignorant right wing kooks who need a God to lean on, because we are too stupid to think for ourselves. Nor things present: the persecutions they were presently facing. Nor things to be: no trials that they are yet to be exposed. Nor powers: these are spiritual enemies of the believer. Some commentators divide these principalities and powers into ranks of the evils that lurk in the darkness; we will wait until we get to Paul's epistle to the Ephesians to cover this subject. Nor height: this probably has reference to positions of high rank, either in wealth or power that the Christian may find himself in. Nor depth: the lowest position of depression, poverty and want. Nor any other created thing: Paul uses the word etera for "other thing" which means, any other thing of a different kind, that is, in case he has left anything out he wanted to make sure he covered everything and could not have left anything out. Will be able to separate us from the love of God: once saved, always saved. God can only love His own, so if it were possible to lose salvation, one would also be separated from God's love; and Paul declares this an impossibility. Which is in Christ Jesus our Lord: this love is centered in Jesus Christ, and it is not our love for God, but God's love for us, and there is not one thing that can separate us from this divine love. "Salvation is a love story. We love Him because He first loved us. Nothing can separate us from that. We entered this chapter with no condemnation; we conclude this chapter with no separation; and in between all things work together for good. Can you improve on this, friend? This is wonderful" (McGee).
We have now completed the first half of Paul's letter to the Roman believers. This first section was positional truth. The next section, chapters 9-11 will be dispensational, and the last section chapters 12-16 will be centered on our duty.
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