Romans: Grace and Faith Romans 8:22-27 Three Groanings Review last few weeks I am a child of God, an heir with Christ, a citizen of heaven, an ambassador to earth, with authority and power delegated to me by my Father, the Creator of all things. Rom 8:22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. Rom 8:23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. Rom 8:24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? Rom 8:25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Rom 8:26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. Rom 8:27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. Three Groanings Creation Groans We Groan The Holy Spirit Groans Everybody do a sample groan for me ready? 1,2,3, groan! The root word for groan is used 3 times but in 3 forms 1) v22, Groaning regarding CREATION: (Rom 8:22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.) o Groaning together = sustenazo = to moan jointly, that is, (figuratively) experience a common calamity: - groan together. Have you ever pondered what the Garden of Eden (and the whole created earth) was like before the Fall? God said that because of sin, the ground was cursed. But before sin, we see a glimpse of Paradise: o Mist from the ground to water everything o It was perfect, so we know there were no pesticides, poisons, imperfections. o Gen 3 tells us man would work the ground by the sweat of his brow, implying that without sin, God s garden while it was worked by Adam (2:5), it apparently didn t require sweat. o Gen 9 is the first time God allows man to hunt animals, implying that even animals and man didn t hunt one another. o A perfect peace in creation. o Even perhaps free from hurricanes, floods and other natural disasters.
Therefore, Creation groans WITH US. Now, creation itself doesn t have a spirit, a soul, a mind How can it groan? (moan, experience a common calamity) o Well, God says it suffers along with man right from the point of the Fall o Creation is experiencing the results of sin right along with us, groaning for the time when it will be restored to its original glory. 2) v23, Groaning regarding OURSELVES: Rom 8:23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. o Groan = stenazo =to make in straits, that is, to sigh, murmur, pray inaudibly: - with grief, groan, grudge, sigh. Notice the similarity it s groan without the with (sun) part Let s look closely at this verse: Firstfruits (prototokos) implies two meanings: o It is the first generation to experience the Indwelling Holy Spirit the first generation after the cross. In every other context where firstfruits is mentioned, it s always within this context the first to experience salvation in Christ and the Indwelling Holy Spirit The responsibility of firstfruits to live and teach the truth of Christ was enormous! One of the major reasons why the Bible is such an amazing work is that it was written by eye-witnesses of Christ, so as to avoid playing telephone with future generations. o AND, it is within the context of inheritance co-heirs We are not the second born, with less responsibility and less to inherit We are brothers and sisters with Christ first born in all respects, according to this entire chapter (8) And in that culture, being the firstborn was a bigger deal than in ours: Double portion Representing the family Honor, responsibility, purpose Wait for adoption o A little confusing, since v15 seems to imply we ve already been adopted But look closely: it says we ve received the spirit of adoption Much like the Kingdom of God: It s here, but also coming. A mystery in some ways, but makes perfect sense within the bounds of HOPE and genuine expectation. The redemption of our bodies o And here, Paul somewhat defines what he means by this waiting The redemption of our bodies means the turning in of the old, and the receiving of the new. The exchange from the body wracked by sin for the glorious body we were always intended to enjoy.
This is a promise and we can expect it, because we belong to Jesus by grace through faith! Now, let s deal with HOPE before we get to the 3 rd groaning Rom 8:24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? Hope = elpis = expectation (abstract or concrete) or confidence: - faith, hope. o For in this hope = applied to our redeemed bodies either at our death or the return of Christ, whichever comes first. Also, some have a hard time with this passage, because of the word saved o so zo = to save, that is, deliver or protect (literally or figuratively): - heal, preserve, save (self), do well, be (make) whole. o This word is often translated delivered or protected, and I believe a correct translation would be protected/covered o Saved has become a Christianese word only applied to the salvation of Jesus Christ. o However, it has a wide variety of meanings and contexts. The idea: Just like Abraham hoped in the promise of God and it was counted to him as righteousness we too hope in the promise of God for Christ s return with confident expectation that it will happen and by faith, we are received by Him into glory. How many here are runners? Regularly exercise? (runner pic) I m working my way up to run a 10k by June, hopefully This week, I had a timed goal for my long run of the week (4 miles) o The first 2 miles were about a 100-foot decline in elevation, meaning? o The last mile was KILLER! o But I knew the end was roughly 10 minutes away when I started. o And every ¼ mile, my app sounds off (overall pace, distance, recent ¼ mile pace). o I was studying this passage before my run, and all I could think about for that last mile was how awesome it was gonna feel to be DONE because I was running the fastest I d ever run over 4 miles before, and I was pretty excited to finish well. Paul says, Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? I knew the finish line was my driveway, but I couldn t see it until I was nearly done. HOPE involves endurance, patience, conversation with God through the hard parts, encouragement from others, etc. And yes, I was genuinely groaning inwardly and sometimes outwardly. (next) So when Paul says in this hope we are saved, he means HOPE provides the light at the end of the tunnel and it s not a train. Rom 8:25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. One of my favorite words in the NT likely because it s always translated incompletely. o Two Greek words are translated patience in by most English translators: Makrothumia (KJV: long-suffering)
15 times in the NT And this passage s: Patience = hupomone = cheerful endurance; to stay under (32 times in the NT) o patience just doesn t do it justice! I mentioned last week: Don t be the guy that answers I m tired every time someone asks you how you re doing. I imagine some of you thought, That might be me, but Pastor Kyle just doesn t understand how hard my life is. o You may be right. o And according to Paul, we (people) sigh or groan sometimes as a result of living in a Fallen world. o I want to be clear: I wasn t trying to teach people to be fake. (next) Answer honestly in your relationships! Just check yourself if you find yourself always complaining. And DEFINITELY if your groaning is outside the bounds of Christ s return. And EVEN WITHIN THOSE BOUNDS, do so with cheerful endurance. How can we be groaning but also have joy? Because we have a genuine HOPE. o Let the world those with no hope complain about their plight. o Let NOT the believer do the same. Cheerful endurance in suffering is God s desire and He has equipped you to achieve such a healthy state, by His Spirit. Which brings us to the 3 rd groaning: 3) v26, Groaning regarding the HOLY SPIRIT: Rom 8:26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. Stenagmos = a sigh: - groaning. o The mos is the ing equivalent Let s take this verse apart as well: The Spirit: o The Holy Spirit o (I mentioned a few weeks ago sometimes it s difficult to determine which spirit Paul is referring to when only the word Spirit is written this is most definitely speaking of the Holy Spirit.) Weakness: o Infirmities, in a broad sense of both physical, emotional, mental, spiritual o Paul says in several of his letters he boasts in his weaknesses, because Christ s strength is made perfect in it. We do not know what to pray for
o Here, he says the Spirit helps us within the context of being co-heirs, praying and acting upon the authority delegated to us, and that even in that theologically sound understanding of who we are in Christ, sometimes we just don t know what God is doing. This is hugely paramount to the last several weeks of our study knowing God, praying according to His will. This does not mean to imply that we NEVER know what to pray for. Obviously, Jesus and the Epistles tell us how to pray in all kinds of situations. But, it is impossible for sinful, fallen man to know exactly what God is doing all the time. In those times of weakness, the Spirit intercedes (intervene on your behalf to God) for us Let s pause here for a moment this is one of the Big Aha s in this passage. I want you to picture this in fact, CLOSE YOUR EYES, if it helps you focus. There you are, praying about tough things in your life and the lives of others But you ve come to the end of ways to pray about it. You re at a loss for words. Now, imagine that God the Father is right there. o Looking intently waiting for you so speak, ask for His will to be done o Not impatiently, but with joyful expectation. o And the Holy Spirit is standing between you and God. o Both are FOR YOU. On your side. o And suddenly, they start speaking a language foreign to you. o And the Spirit is gesturing back toward you often enough you know they re still talking about you and your situation. o Eventually, God comes closer to you, and whispers, OK, here s the answer... Beautiful, right? But o How many of us make it that far into the prayer? o How many of us stop praying when we re at a loss for words? o How many get up and leave? The key to understanding this verse is that the Spirit intercedes when we ve got no more words to form. o It really should take most of us a while to get to that point. o And most of us don t have that kind of long-suffering. o Now, watch closely. Rom 8:27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. This is a cool word picture a circular motion o He who searches hearts (God), knows the mind of the Holy Spirit, BECAUSE the Spirit intercedes for the saints (me and you) ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD. o IOW, God set it up that the Spirit would intercede for us! o He greatly WANTS you to get to the point (sometimes) of allowing the Spirit to intercede!
I ve heard this passage taught that those who don t know how to pray don t need to worry the Spirit knows, so just relax and go about life and God will eventually answer in His timing. o That s not good exegesis! o It doesn t hold water with the rest of scripture about prayer. o Rather, God joyfully loves these settings, where it s you, the Spirit, and Him communicating together according to His will! In your weakness, you remain in prayer, grasping at the heel of God, determined to get the blessing! Next week, 8:28 wraps up this entire chapter with one sentence. For now, let s summarize the purposes behind Paul s mention of 3 groanings: 1) You are not alone when you groan a. Creation and the Holy Spirit are with you! b. It is not unbiblical or unchristlike to groan c. However 2) Constant groaning is NOT a Biblical concept a. Even for Christ s return which is the context here. b. Even in our groaning, cheerful endurance is commanded for the believer c. How? HOPE. 3) Staying under prayerful groaning is encouraged a. Those who ve been under great trial you ve likely experienced this. i. If you re confused because you HAVEN T yet experience the Spirit s interceding, perhaps you might ask someone who s been under great trial if they have. ii. Learn from one another. b. If you ve never experienced the Spirit interceding for you in prayer, then the following things likely define your prayer life (up to today): i. You give up easily ii. You don t listen to God very well, and certainly not for very long iii. Groaning therefore results in discouragement rather than the encouragement of knowing the Spirit is interceding on your behalf. Homework: Carve out time this week once or several times to spend ample time with the Lord. o Get PAST the giving up stage, into the listening and receiving stage. Put it on your calendar early morning, before you go to bed you decide. And begin talking to the Lord about a specific, important issue in your life. o Your own issue, or a child s/parent s issue o Something you ve prayed about before, and have been convinced He wants to do it according to His will, but hasn t yet. o And remain there. o Who likes awkward silence? Anyone? o This will require awkward silence, or you re doing it wrong. If you will commit to doing this once or twice this week, I promise you ll be overjoyed with how Paul wraps up this passage with v28, as we study it next week. PRAY
PROMOTE N.U. Need prayer? (Stuart and Tim)