Month: October 2018

55. Conformed to the Image

 Romans 8:29 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.

 For those whom God foreknew and predestinated (those who believe in Jesus) He promises they will be conformed to the image of the Son of God. The result is that the only-begotten Son will have many brothers. Believers are brothers of Jesus Christ, adopted, not begotten, as sons of God.

Just like children bear the image of their parents and have some semblance of similarity to their siblings, so also in the family of God the children look like their Dad and their Sibling. We are Christ-like; we look like God; we reflect the character and nature of God the Father. All men lost the originally created image of God when the First Man sinned in the Fall: Adam fathered a son in his own likeness, after his image, and ever after the entire human race (with one exception) is born in the image of Adam. The image of humanity is not a bad thing by itself, but it is so spoiled and corrupted by Sin that the image of God is entirely obscured.

Since the Fall God, the Creator, is in the business of restoring the image of God in human beings through His unfolding plan of salvation, culminating in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. During the course of our short lives on earth God, the Holy Spirit, works at the long process of conforming us to the image of his Son. As believers, who know the Word of God, we have a good idea what that looks like. The ideal of being Christ-like is only partially realized, but the good news is that the process is ongoing and the conforming will not stop until we die. Then, in death and resurrection, the process will be completed, and we will be conformed and transformed. Change is good; progress is daily, and the promise is that it will be finished.

54. All things work together for Good

 Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose.

 This is one of the most famous and most often quoted verses in Scripture; it is one of the most comforting but also the most difficult promises in the Bible. It is comforting for it deals with “all things,” that is, everything that could happen to us during this life. It is a most difficult promise because it is very hard to believe. Could it really be true that all things work out for good?

We quote this verse to others and remind ourselves of it when we are down and bad things seem to be happening to us. We want to believe it because we want to feel better when things go badly; we want the hope that God will and can turn bad things around to become good things. Usually we don’t see how this present bad thing can become something good, but it is just for this reason (we don’t see it) that the promise is given to faith; faith sees the impossible. Intellectually and hypothetically we are willing to believe the promise, but practically it doesn’t seem to always work for our comfort. We can often see the good come out of the bad in hindsight, but in the middle of “bad things” it is hard to find comfort. Yes, we believe it generally, but will God really do it this time?

We can’t understand the “Why Question” because God’s ways are not our ways. We have the mind of Christ, but there are still many things about God’s grace and wisdom that we cannot fully grasp. We do not see everything in subjection to Christ, but we do see Jesus. This promise enables us to believe what we cannot see: a gracious and all-wise God. God sees the end, and He knows how to work things out for His ultimate good purpose. Meanwhile, we believe in a good God. It is enough to know that God knows what He is doing and He has a plan.

We should notice that the promise is for “those who love God,” that is, it is for believers in Jesus Christ, not necessarily for all people. Also, believers are those “called according to his purpose.” This is actually a promise, too: we are called according to God’s purpose. God does have a plan for our life and its ultimate end is glorious. As a believer, I can be sure that the promise is true and that God’s plan for me is a good one.

53. Spirit makes Intercession

 Romans 8:26, 27 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. 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.

 The promise of an intercessor is vital for those of us with infirmities and ignorance. We need help for our weaknesses, and God promises the Holy Spirit to help us. One of our infirmities is a lack of desire to pray in time of need. The Spirit not only reminds us to turn to the Lord in prayer He also helps us pray and prays for us. A part of this weakness is praying with doubts, not being willing and able to believe God can do what looks impossible to us.

The second problem we have is ignorance. We don’t know what we should pray for. It cannot be expected that we humans would know what to pray for and how to pray; we do not know all the implications and ramifications of one prayer request; we don’t know what we ought to pray that would be the best for everyone involved; we don’t even know what is best for us. But the Spirit knows God’s plans and how one changed thing affects how many other things. He knows the mind of God since He is God. Then the Spirit takes over for us and makes intercession. He takes our groans and sighs and turns them into intelligent words. This promise encourages us to pray even if the only thing we can do is groan and sigh. God understands our needs and turns them into prayers, articulate prayers, that get to the heart of the matter at hand. When a matter comes into our awareness that needs prayer we cannot use the excuse that we don’t what to pray for. We just give it to God and let Him work it out in His way and His time.

We know that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. This promise says that the Spirit will pray for believers according to the will of God. We do not know the will of God, and sometimes our will may conflict with God’s, and so we need this promise that the Spirit will shape our prayers according to the will of God and then present the prayer to the Father. We need this confidence that God’s will shall be done on earth, as it is in heaven. This comforts us for we know His will is best.

52. Saved by Hope

 Romans 8:24 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?

 The promise: we are saved by hope. Hope is a very rare word used as a means of salvation. Usually faith is coupled with “saved” as the means of salvation. The unity of faith and hope as synonyms suggests two things: 1) hope is a sure thing, and 2) hope is a present reality.

Hope in this context, and in most Biblical contexts, does not mean, “wish.” Hope does not mean, “I wish it were true,” or “I hope it comes true.” Not at all. Hope means I know for sure; I do not wonder. Hope means I have a present certainty about the future that I cannot see. Hope is seeing what I cannot see with my eyes. I do not see salvation but I know I have it. Like faith, hope is the conviction of things not seen. Hope is a substance; it is reality. In fact, hope is more real than what I can see. It is possible for my eyes to deceive me, but it is not possible for hope to deceive, that is, if that hope is placed squarely on Jesus Christ.

Hope is a present reality. It is the substance of the thing hoped for. I do not hope for a salvation to come to me some day; I am not waiting to receive eternal life; I am not just wishing that my sins would be forgiven on judgment day. Forgiveness, life, and salvation are in my possession as a real thing right now. It fills my being, it floods my present life, and it influences everything I am. One Day, when I die or when Jesus returns, whichever comes first, I will see, feel and experience salvation and everything that comes with it. When I am with God in glory I will not need hope any longer, for hope that is seen is not hope. Hope says: I see it, I have it, I know it. Saved by hope: a certain, a real and a present promise.

51. Redemption of our Body

 Romans 8:23 We ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

 We groan within ourselves while we wait for the redemption of our bodies, but this is a promise that we will certainly receive. We wait in faith for what is certain to come. The body will be redeemed. The body was created by God to belong to Him, but it has been captured, kidnapped and enslaved by the Enemy. Sin has enslaved us; Satan has kidnapped us; Death has captured us. Our bodies are under the power and dominion of the Enemy because we are born in original sin and continue to sin.

As long as we sin the Enemy owns and controls the body. But Jesus has come from the Father to pay the ransom price with His innocent suffering and death and His holy and precious blood. The sin is forgiven; Death and Satan have no legal right or claim to us any longer. Once He has drawn us to Himself through the Gospel we are redeemed, that is, we are bought and paid for and now we belong to Another; we belong to our Beloved, who loves us and cares for us all the way through this life until our life’s end; and He will finish what He started.

But the body in which the new man lives is still wracked and wrecked by sin; Sin tries to stake its claim to the body, causing pain and suffering, injury and illness, and finally physical death. But we say, “No! We have been redeemed.” The full reclamation and redemption of the body has not yet happened; we do not feel redeemed and restored; we still feel pain and death. But in the face of pain and death we are not discouraged or in despair, because we believe and know that we will be fully redeemed when we shed this mortal coil. While we wait we groan; if we could hear creation it is groaning, too, while it waits for our redemption.

During the groaning and in the midst of the suffering we also rejoice and shout with joy for our redemption is drawing closer every day. We rejoice because we have the Promise. The Promise sustains us and lifts us above the groaning.

50. Glory revealed

 Romans 8:18 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.

 God promises that glory shall be revealed in us. When we identify with Christ by faith the glory that is of Jesus Christ is already in us, but it is covered over and obscured by the sinful flesh that still remains, even though forgiven. One Day in the future that glory in us will be revealed; it will shine forth to be seen by all, both by myself and by others. The Sin that obscures now will be gone and the glory in us will be revealed on That Day. That glory of Christ that is in us now is glimpsed from time to time in the good works that the Holy Spirit is able to do in us. It doesn’t look like glory, at least not as we expect it to appear; it looks like love. When we die the glory already in us will be revealed and it will be seen for what it is, the glorious love of God.

When we see the glory revealed to sight we will discover that the sufferings of this present time cannot even be compared with the glory. Another way of saying this is that if we could measure the sufferings on some kind of scale it would be a number 1; the glory, if it could be counted, would be a number of 1 million or more. The comparisons are worthless. It is hard to remember when we are suffering, but the truth is that we would welcome the sufferings if we could see the amazing glory that one single minute of suffering is preparing. Since we don’t see it the Word of God must reveal what we can’t see, and so by faith we see. We believe the Truth even though we do not see it. God uses every piece of suffering to prepare us for the grand glory that will be revealed. In God’s economy glory always follows suffering when we hang on to the promises of God.

The Bible is full of suffering and the “promise” of suffering: there will be trial and tribulation while we enter the kingdom of God. The promise says: “Allow the suffering and endure it with faith in Christ, and the glory will be revealed. Wait for it with patience and faith.” God allows suffering and God uses it to work glory. It will come; just trust the promise.

49. Heirs of God

 Romans 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

It is enough to be children of God, but that promise implies another precious promise: we are heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ. Being joint heirs with Christ means that we inherit everything that The Son inherits. By faith we identify with Him in His death, His burial, His resurrection, His ascension, His sitting at the right hand of God and His coming to judge the living and the dead. We are exalted with Him and glorified with Him.

As heirs we inherit the Land promised to Abraham, the Kingdom promised to David, the Paradise promised to the thief on the cross, and all the gifts and blessings promised to the Church. Included in that inheritance is Eternal Life in the New Jerusalem in the new heaven and the new earth. Included in that inheritance is open access to the throne of grace with the privilege of prayer. Included in that inheritance is the forgiveness of sin and the granting of righteousness earned by Christ. Included in that inheritance is the victory of the soul over the three spiritual enemies. Included in that inheritance is everything that God owns, which is everything that is good.

Inheritance is a guarantee, something that no one can take away. It is a certainty even more sure than a promise. The only hitch is that the inheritance does not belong to the heir until the owner dies. Then the heir owns what is stipulated in the will and testament. Then, upon death, the hundreds of promises contained in the Old Testament and New Testament are realized. Good News! God died: when the Son of God died on the cross. Now by faith the promises of the inheritance belong to us. We have it now, but we can’t fully enjoy them until we die, when sin, death and the devil no longer exist for us. For now, in this life we have the Holy Spirit who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession.

48. Adopted as Children of God

 Romans 8:14, 15, 16 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 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. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.

 One of the precious promises from God is that He makes us His children. This image of children of the heavenly Father and Jesus as brother resonates pleasantly with almost the entire human race throughout time. Universally, the strongest bonding and love that we see is the love of parents for their children. This is the kind of love and the strength of the love that God has for us. And in addition, we are not children of God by accident, but we are chosen children by design, plan and purpose: we are adopted.

We are literally adopted, but more than adoption is the spirit of adoption that we have received. The spirit we have received is one of deliberated purpose and choosing: we are special, a treasure, and a pearl of great price to God. That adoption includes the intimacy of love, so that we call God the Father Abba, Daddy or Papa, designating a trusting dependence on someone big and strong, and at the same time that strong Dad loves me like a Father and even a Mother. We are weak and poor, but we have Father with us.

The Father-Child relationship also clearly specifies that God has taken responsibility for us. He is responsible for our provision, to give us everything we need for life and godliness. He is responsible for our protection, to shelter and shield us from the deadly enemies who attack our life and steal our joy every day. He is even responsible for our happiness and contentment, so that we can rest securely in His loving arms in peace and comfort. Such joy and peace is the promise of adoption as children.

47. Live

 Romans 8:13 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.

 A conditional promise: if you put to death the deeds of the body, then you will live. The corollary: if you live after the flesh, then you will die. The threat and the promise are literally life or death. The choice is clear: living after the flesh or putting to death the deeds of the body. The flesh most likely means the body and the soul; the deeds of the body indicates that it is the body that does deeds; the soul does not do anything, but it directs the body and decides what the body will do. The body does deeds at the behest of the soul; the mind, will and emotions control the deeds of the body.

 Putting to death the deeds of the body begins with controlling the soul. Dying to self “mortifies” the deeds of the body. We put to death the deeds of the body through the Spirit, that is, the spirit does it through its influence on the soul. The key to dying to self is accepting and allowing the Spirit to have His way instead of our own will being done. Acknowledge that the soul, the self, is already dead, that the flesh can produce nothing good, nothing lasting or life-giving. Faith is so important because trusting the Spirit instead of our own mind and feeling is so hard. It takes faith to believe that the Spirit really does know better than I do. That is why God gives us this promise, that we might believe that the desires of the Spirit leads to a better life than the lusts of the flesh. Death is in the flesh; Life is in the Spirit.

Repentance agrees with God’s Word that my flesh (body and soul) is dead and can produce only death (a bad life). Repentance involves believing the Gospel and exercising the power of the Gospel over against the sins of the body. Repentance and faith says that I am dead and Jesus lives in me. Faith in the Gospel says: “you shall live.” The promise of life is much more than just existing. It is living.

46. Quicken the body

 Romans 8:11 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.

 The Holy Spirit will give life to your mortal bodies. “Mortal” means, “going to die.” This body we live in is going to die; everyone knows that. We believe that, though we will surely die, we will not die but live. God raised up Jesus from the dead; that same life-giving Spirit dwells in you, and that Spirit will do the same things for you, raise you up, give life to your dying body. The hope and promise of the resurrection of the body to a new life that doesn’t die is the bedrock of our faith and life. That resurrection is in the future, and that future hope fills our present life with peace and joy and the desire to do good works. Death cannot separate us from the life and the love of God; therefore nothing can. We have life and we will always have it. It means that the body that dies must rise again.

Two predicates describe the Holy Spirit: 1) He raised up Christ from the dead, and 2) He dwells in you. Life giving, resurrection power lives within us. What awesome, explosive power resides within! This life giving power has two implications: 1) HS within is giving life to our soul and body on a daily basis; HS is in the continual mode of changing lives; 2) we human beings give that life-giving power to other people; we do this (HS does it through us) by blessing others and making them feel better, even if it means sacrificing something of ourselves for their sake. Not only does the indwelling Spirit give life to our bodies, but He also gives to others through us. It is an amazing privilege that God would use us to give life to people.

We have no problem believing in the power of the Holy Spirit within to quicken, because we have no problem believing in the bodily quickening of Jesus. The sinless Jesus of Nazareth was able to die from sin because He took our sins upon Himself. But He is risen, and because He lives we shall live also. The Spirit is continually moving us and prompting us by giving life. He gives life through the hearing of the Gospel; when we hear the Gospel the Spirit is giving life.