Bible Studies For Life
God Speaks Through Circumstances How God Speaks Session 4 27 SEP 26
ROM 8:26-27 Dr. Herschel H. Hobbs in his Studying Life and Work Lessons, April-June 1988, pages 71-72, wrote “"Infirmities" means "weaknesses." An evidence of this is in our prayers of that we do not pray, but sometimes we are so burdened of soul that it seems we cannot verbalize our feelings. G. Gardner Taylor is one of America's greatest preachers. Many years ago I heard him say that words are vehicles by which to transfer ideas from one mind to another. Some ideas are so heavy that the words break down in the effort. Pastors spend much time counseling people, usually those with burdened hearts. This is especially true in the pressure cooker age in which we live. If the walls of pastors' offices could talk, what stories of distress they could tell! Often after relating a problem the story would go something like this. "Pastor, I just can't pray anymore! I try, but the sky seems as brass! The only answer I receive is the empty echo of my cry!" It is then that the Holy Spirit helps us in our infirmities. The key word in this verse is "helpeth." It translates a long compound Greek Wb sunantilambanomai. It is composed of three Greek words: sun, with or together; anti, over against or face to face; and lambano, to take hold. It is found in the New Testament only here and in Luke 10:40 where Martha told Jesus to bid Mary "that she help me" in preparing a meal for Jesus. In short, "Tell her to bear her part of the load."”
That is what the Holy Spirit does for us. Dr. Hobbs, page 72: “Thus the Spirit "maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered" (v. 26)."Maketh intercession" translates a Greek verb huperentugchano. Robertson (W. P, p. 377) says, "It is a picturesque word of rescue by one who `happens on' (entugchanei) one who is in trouble and `in his behalf (huper) pleads with unuttered groanings ... or with `sighs that baffle words' (Denney)." The Holy Spirit takes our inarticulate groanings and verbalizes them to the Father. This is possible because God, who searches our hearts, knows the mind of the Spirit. Thus the Father knows the intent of our hearts because He has indwells us in His Spirit. What a blessed assurance it is to know that when words break down in our effort to transmit the deepest longings of our hearts, we have the Divine Helper through whom these yearnings find their way to the mind of our Heavenly Father!”
The Father knew we could never be perfect [(Mat 5:48 RSV) "You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."] unless we had a constant divine guide / teacher. Perfection is not something we can do ourselves alone. But we can get much better than we are at the moment. It is possible to say what Paul said when he thought he was going to quickly die. (2 Tim 4:7 RSV) "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." Paul is not saying he is perfect, but he has made the Father proud. He worked the Growth Process of Peter as a habit of life. 2 Pet 1:5-7.
Keeping the faith is a major answer to victory over fear. The intercession by the Holy Spirit happens as we pray. If we do not pray to the Father, there is no intercession. Basically the Holy Spirit puts our real feelings and needs into the words we should say and would say if we were spiritually mature enough.
ROM 8:28 This is a powerful and encouraging verse that is often misunderstood. Basically the Father works out the most good He can in the situation in which He finds a Christian.
Dr. Hobbs in his book Romans: A Verse by Verse Study, Waco, TX: Word Books; 1978, page 111 wrote: “The working out applied to only Christians. In the best Greek texts, the emphasis is upon the phrase “to the ones loving God.” So as in verses 26-27 believers must be involved in the Spirit’s in praying; they must also be involved in the working.”
ROM 8:29-30 These two verses are used by Calvinists and others to prove God selects the ones who are to be saved and rejects all others, thus making John 3:16 void. Their incorrect understanding is so important that I will quote from Dr. Hobbs’ book Romans: A Verse by Verse Study, pages 112-113. I will first give the key statements made by Dr. Hobbs on page 113 and then its complete analysis by him.
Key Statements Hobbs book pages 112-113: “"Did predestinate" or "predestined" translates a verb meaning the set a boundary or set a limit beforehand. The basic verb is horizō whence comes our word horizon, meaning the boundary or limit of our vision. The prefix pro means God did this beforehand.” So it is not a preselection of who will be saved but a statement that the ones who are saved will be placed inside a fence of Eternal Security! This is NOT Calvinism! This fence (boundary) is controlled by the Holy Spirit. (Eph 1:13-14 RSV) "In him you also, who have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, which is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory."
Specific Analysis of Dr. Hobbs book pages 111-112: “In verses 29-30 the emphasis is upon God's loving purpose or goal for the Christian: "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. 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."
These verses grow out of "purpose" in verse 28. Indeed, they are an enlargement upon it as it pertains "to the ones loving God" or who believe in him through faith in his Son (see Rom. 4). While "purpose," or a placing before, refers to the divine council before the foundation of the world, that purpose is being worked out in the arena of history. It looks toward the consummation of the age. But since all the finite verbs in these verses are aorist tenses (point action in past time), it means that at a point in eternity these things became finished works or fully realized purpose. The evil of men and nations cannot defeat that purpose. God works together with and through his people to overrule evil as he guides history to his benevolent goal. While God is sovereign in history, this in no way violates the free will of either good or evil men. God works with the good and against the evil.
It is vitally necessary that we analyze these verses in order fully to comprehend God's purpose. The finite verbs, of course, are the key words, but other elements must be examined also. As evident in these verbs five things are involved: foreknow, predestinate, call, justify, glorify. They reach from eternity to eternity.
"Did foreknow," or "foreknew," means to know something beforehand. God is omniscient, knowing all things in Himself without the need of processes of reason and knowing simultaneously all things in every point in space and time. In this sense it is logical to say that God knew beforehand who would/ will be saved and who would/will be lost. This idea was first taught by Origen. Many still follow it. Indeed, it cannot be refuted. Yet it must be remembered that foreknowledge of an event does not mean that God caused it. If in your finite foreknowledge you see two automobiles on a collision course seconds before they crash, it does not mean that you either wished or caused it. The same may apply to God's infinite foreknowledge. Even though God foreknows who will or will not be saved, he does not arbitrarily cause either. While recognizing God's sovereignty, we must not ignore the equally evident fact of man's freewill.
This statement was made within the context of God's love (see vv. 28, 31-39). Since "God is love" (1 John 4:8), all of God's other attributes are colored by His nature as love. So He foreknows in love. Moody (p. 221) is right in relating God's foreknowledge to his love. Eternally God loved us before we loved him (see 1 John 4:19). Foreknowledge here is related to God's children, and like an earthly father, God knows and loves his children before they know and love him. For this reason God -takes the initiative in redeeming lost people. Otherwise there would be 'no salvation.
"Did predestinate" or "predestined" translates a verb meaning the set a boundary or set a limit beforehand. The basic verb is horizō whence comes our word horizon, meaning the boundary or limit of our vision. The prefix pro means God did this beforehand. Unfortunately, the English word predestinate has taken on a theological meaning for some, as the predetermination of every person's fate by God in his sovereignty without any recognition of man's free will. Such a position not only renders null and void the many exhortations to preach the gospel to all men, but it strikes a death blow to evangelism and missions. Furthermore, it makes God responsible for all of man's acts, including his sins—a concept which, of course, is unthinkable.” [MY NOTE: UNTHINKABLE. i.e. TOTALLY FALSE.]
In interpreting Scripture we must consider all of it. God is sovereign, to be sure, which means that He can act in keeping with His nature without the authority, consent, or counsel of anyone outside Himself. But the Bible also presents man as free to choose, even though he is responsible for his choices, Man is not a puppet on a cosmic string of fate. The Bible never presents election or predestination in conflict to man's free will.”
Also note the tense of this word shows that our future glorification is so certain that it can be said to be accomplished. Those who were foreknown will all be glorified without loss of a single one!
ROM 8:31-34a This is a great question. Certainly in the spiritual level, no one can. Not even Satan can impact us successfully. (James 4:7b RSV) “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” It cannot get better than that.
But the material does not address what is God’s will? It is clear and straight forward!
1. (Rom 12:2 RSV) "Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
2. (Mat 5:48 RSV) "You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
3. (John 15:12 RSV) ""This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you."
4. (Mat 28:19-20 RSV) "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.""
All other thing like Holy Spirit assigned tasks falls within these.
So there is NO EXCUSE to say “I do not know God’s will for my life”!
ROM 8:34b-39 This is a rhetorical question. Of course it is Christ.
ROM 8: 35-36 The love of Jesus for us is beyond anything including the physical persecutions the Christian of Rome were enduring.
ROM 8:37-39 Paul repeats with a powerful but incomplete list of situations that cannot separate us from our salvation in Jesus. “I am sure” means with a known certainty. Note “nor anything”!!! So events like suicide cannot do it. Paul further emphasizes this with “in all creation”! Nothing in the entire Cosmos can separate us! WE HAVE ABSOLUTE ETERNAL SECURITY!
Note: Height and depth are spatial terms and encompass wherever we might be in the created universe or order. No place puts us outside the reach of God’s love. And in case he left something out, Paul added, nor any other creature—nothing else—shall be able to separate us from the love of God. God’s love is sure and our lives are secure no matter what comes because we are in Christ Jesus our Lord. What are some lasting truths from Romans 8:35-39?
1. No one can separate us from Christ’s love.
2. No experience can separate us from Christ’s love.
3. We live as overwhelming victors because of Christ.
APPLY THE WHOLE BIBLE BEFORE YOU STATE A DOCTRINE!
Best Study Guide: How to Study the Bible Principles with Bible, A Study Sources by Orin T. Binkley.
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