Mulling it Over - Romans 8:29

We are working our way through Romans chapter 8. I know I have taken a long time to get through this passage, but it has been worth the plodding pace. There is so much in this chapter to chew on, so like our friend the cow, we will continue to ruminate on this a few verses at a time until we are done.

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Today’s verse is one that has been included in what I like to call the predestination/freewill debate. I am no theologian, but I am a believer in a powerful and mysterious God, who can be beyond my human comprehension. In fact, I prefer it that way. He is beyond our complete comprehension and understanding. He gives us enough information to know His unchanging character, His complete and boundless love, His merciful forgiveness, and His long suffering patience. I do not need to know every single thing about Him, or completely understand his ways.

8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.
9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts than your thoughts.
— Isaiah 55:8-9 (NASB 1995)

I have always believed that the most important aspect of the Scriptures are the Gospels of Jesus Christ. The Old Testament is pointing forward to the necessity of a Savior, and the New Testament is the fulfillment of the prophecies and the subsequent start of the church. I most definitely agree that all of Scripture is the inspired Word of God and all of it is important and we can learn from it, thus the reason I am spending so much time on these different passages, even the pieces that may not be easily explainable.

29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;
— Romans 8:29 (NASB 1995)

Let’s dive in to this verse phrase by phrase.

For those whom He foreknew…

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It is no stretch of the imagination to understand that God is all knowing. We could read all the books in the world and still not have a fraction of the knowledge He has. That doesn’t mean He just knows everything about the universe and how it all stays in place and was put together, but he knows you and I.

I have been doing a personal study on Psalm 139, a passage I have long loved. I shared some thoughts on the first three verses on a Faith Inspiration post recently. (Click on the link to go directly to that post.) From that psalm we learn how much God knows us, and it isn’t just current knowledge, it is from the foundation of the world. To say “those whom He foreknew” makes perfect sense. He knew each and everyone of us from the beginning of time.

He also predestined…

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This is where, for some people, things get sticky. There are basically two theological points of view that underly the predestination/freewill debate: Calvinism and Arminianism. I am choosing to not go into details on those two points of view. A good comparison of Biblical texts that are controversial between the two can be seen here. You can also look up each and see what their basic points are if you are not familiar with them.

However, let me make clear, God is the one who gives us knowledge and understanding. It is important to search things out ourselves and ask for God’s wisdom and direction when looking at different passages. I think things are pretty clear when it comes to sin, Christ’s role in atoning for our sin, and our need to believe in the work of Christ on the cross and His resurrection to have eternal life. Also, if a person leans one way or the other, does not mean they are not saved.

Remember, God is God. He is almighty. He is beyond our finite minds to understand. There is most certainly a way for Him to predestine something, and also give us freewill to choose. The key is to not get hung up on it.

…to become conformed to the image of His son…

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I think the important point here is what follows the word predestined. What did God predestine us to do? To become conformed to the image of His son. Isn’t this what God wants for everyone? He wants all of us to accept His son as our savior, and be conformed to His likeness. He wants all of us to look like Jesus. Christ left us the Holy Spirit to make this possible.

You might be thinking, there is no way I can be perfect, but God knows that. The fact that we are still in our flesh means we will continue to struggle until the day He takes us home, but we do have the power and strength through Him to become more and more like Jesus.

…so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren…

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Jesus is not only our savior, but our brother. We become His brothers and sisters when we believe in Him and call God our Father. When Christ died for us and rose again He became the firstborn among all of us who believe, meaning we will all, like Him have eternal life and rise from the dead by the power and might of the Father above. Indeed, there will be many brothers and sisters because of our belief in the finished work of Christ, not what we believe about predestination or freewill.

Next month we will look into verse 30 and learn more about the process God uses to draw us to Himself, make us His own even though we are sinners and bring us to future glory.

I hope you will join me then.

Mulling It Over - Romans 8: 26-27

The month of May flew by with my younger daughter’s graduation from the Master of Nursing program, our meandering trip across the states of Wisconsin and Michigan, and the last week spent helping to take care of our two year old grandson while his mom and dad were on their anniversary trip in Cancun, Mexico.

June started off with a literal bang as the roof on our house and garage got completely torn off and redone. The roof was followed a few days later by the gutters, and then about a week after that a few guys came out to finish off a few trim pieces that had been missed. In the midst of all of that I got slammed by a sinus infection. As I write this I am once again on an antibiotic, steroids and I’ve been working with my pulmonologist on switching up inhalers. Eye, yie, yie. Welcome to Amy’s “new normal.”

I know I am not alone in this journey we call life, and as Jesus said before and I will say again, “…you will have trouble in this world.” Trouble with a capital “T” is often lurking around every corner. I know numerous people struggling with the respiratory gunk, have cancer, or are struggling with relentless burdens. That is precisely why this 8th chapter of Romans is so fitting to our lives today. Remember we, along with creation, are longing, and groaning for that future glorification of our bodies and an eternity with our God.

La Crosse, WI

In this Mulling It Over column, I have been looking at the 8th chapter of Romans. Romans is packed full of theology and doctrine that is pertinent to our faith as Christ believers. Chapter 8 reminds us who we are in Christ and why his death on the cross was necessary to set all things right and fulfill what the law could not do. This week we are going to look at two more verses, and only two because there is a lot to mull over.

26 In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;
27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
— Romans 8:26-27 (NASB 1995)

Let’s take these verses a phrase at a time.

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In the same way the Spirit - When we see the phrase, “in the same way” it typically refers back to the verses or passage that came before. In this case it is referring to the work of the Spirit in the previous verses. Let’s review what that work is.

1 - The Spirit of life in Christ sets us free from the law of sin and death (vs. 2)

2 - The Spirit gives life and peace to those whose minds are set on Him (vs. 5)

3 - The Spirit dwells in us if Christ is in us (vs. 9-10)

4 - The Spirit of Him (God the Father) who raised Jesus from the dead will also give life to our mortal bodies (eternal) (vs. 11)

5 - The Spirit helps us put to death the deeds of the body (flesh) (vs. 13)

6 - The Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are children of God (vs. 16)

7 - The Spirit gives us first fruits (referring to the gifts of salvation, reconciliation, forgiveness and so on that we receive when we believe) (vs. 23)

As we can see from looking at this list, the Holy Spirit has an equally important place in the Christian’s walk, and now we come to the next, gloriously wonderful thing He does for us.

Also helps our weaknesses -

The Spirit helps our weaknesses. Having a chronic health problem has put me fully in contact with my weakness. The reality is we are all weak. It doesn’t matter how physically, mentally, or emotionally strong we are, life can take us out in a heartbeat. It is here, in this realization of our weakness, the full beauty of the Spirit’s work in a believer’s life takes place. Could it be, our weaknesses are the result of one very important point?

…for we do not know how to pray as we should…

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Imagine a world where, when anything goes wrong, we drop to our knees in prayer? We don’t just throw up a rote prayer, or one we’ve learned by heart as a child, we come into full combat mode aligning our desires, interests, struggles, thoughts, and heart with the One who truly knows what is best for each and every one of us. We would pray according to the Spirit. We would pray as Jesus taught us with a “…gentle and humble heart.” It is only in learning to pray this way that we will truly find rest for our souls.

As we study God’s living word we are reminded again and again we do not do this alone. He is with us. He is making it possible. He is instilling us with Spirit filled, death-defying, almighty power through the blood of the one we gave our lives to, Jesus Christ.

Once again, I am stunned by this beautiful Savior who made it all possible. He gave us a choice. He gave us a hope. He gave us grace that is unbound. He extended mercy where none is deserved. He knew how we would struggle in this life, fettered by the chains of flesh, constantly struggling to keep our eyes on Him, but fiercely aware of the multitudes of unseen that desire to take us down.

Once again He provided a way.

….but the Spirit Himself intercedes with groanings to deep for words…

Image by Richard Reid from Pixabay

This phrase is rich with images. Imagine the Spirit doing this work of intercession. This is not an easy work. Ask yourself how easy it is to pray, and you begin to understand how amazing our Holy Spirit is. He doesn’t just speak, He groans; so deep and heavy is the need for each of His Father’s creation whom He indwells. Words cannot do this intercession justice. These prayers fall to the language of lament and mourning. For a being, not restricted by language, how very telling it is that His mighty prayers are lifted up as groans. (If you get a chance read my allegory, The Bee Keeper. This gives life to the above words.)

…and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is…

Image by Ben Kerckx from Pixabay

Who is He who searches the hearts? It is God, our Abba, Father. The God who is everywhere present and all knowing, is also the God who is one in three. The trinity works from the same mind. While we know that not all things have been revealed to the Son, or the Spirit, such as the time of His return, we do know that the three work with the same goal in mind; that of our salvation, sanctification and future glorification. The Father is confident in the Spirit’s intercession and rightfully so…

…because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

The Spirit cannot do anything other than the will of the Father, so His intercession for us is according to what God’s will is for us. The possibility of a simple, child-like trust arises from this knowledge. If we truly believe that God is good, and we know that He is working out good in our lives, then we can lean back in His mighty arms as the same Spirit who lives within us intercedes for us in complete alignment with the Father’s will.

13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
— Philippians 2:13 (NASB 1995)

These two verses are the basis for what comes in the next session as we narrow in on one verse, Romans 8:28. I hope this has been an encouragement to you today, just as it has been to me.

Until next time.