Yesterday, December 25, is the special day set aside to celebrate the birth of Jesus of Nazareth.
Why celebrate the birth of a random Middle-eastern male that happened over 2,000 years ago?
In short, it is because He was not random at all. He was the Son of God who came into the world
to bring the Kingdom of God by saving sinners – thereby defeating sin and Satan and ridding the
world of their horrible effects. Such a reality provides more than sufficient reason for celebrating
Jesus.
And, in order to better understand why we should celebrate, we have been walking through
Romans 8 – an incredible chapter in an incredible letter in which Paul highlights many of the
wonderful blessings that have come because Jesus was born into the world. As we have seen,
these blessings include the fact that condemnation is taken away from those who are in Christ,
they receive the promise of eternal life, they are adopted into God's family and have intimate
fellowship with Him. And last week, we saw that – because Jesus came – we have the hope of
total transformation waiting for us when sin and all of its effects (both on us and on the world)
will be taken away. As the end of our text last week (8:24-25) made clear, it is this hope that
enables us to endure to the end with patience.
But, as we look at our text for this week – Rom. 8:26-30 – we will see that there is even more.
Paul is not done expounding the blessings brought about Christ's birth. In short, as we will see,
those who are in Christ can be certain that they will be perfectly conformed to the perfect image
of Jesus Christ. God is working everything out so that this is accomplished. Once again, the
glory of this blessing is almost too good to be true. So let us look more closely at what Paul says.
I. The Spirit helps God's people in our weakness (v. 26).
The first thing Paul says is directly connected with what has come before. As we just mentioned,
8:24-25 highlights that one of the ways we endure in the midst of all of this life's trials and
troubles is by remembering that something better is coming. But that is not the only thing
helping us endure to the end. According to Paul, we are also (“Likewise...” - v. 26) being helped
by the Spirit. And we are being helped by the Spirit “in our weakness”.
What does Paul mean by this? And how is the Spirit helping? These questions are answered in
the last half of the verse. First of all, our “weakness” is that “ we do not know what to pray for as
we ought”. Most of us understand this reality – as well as the feelings of “weakness” and
helplessness that come with it. On the one hand, we are weak and do not know what to pray for
simply because we are humans. We do not know the future, and we often do not know what
people (including ourselves) really need. We are also limited because we do not know God's
exact will in every situation. And because of those limitations, “we do not know what to pray for
as we ought”. Moreover, we also do not know what to pray for because we are sinful human
beings. Because of sin, our prayers can very easily be tainted with selfish motivations. And
because of our own sinful desires, we might pray for the wrong things or for the right things out
of wrong motivations. On a number of levels, we are “weak” and “do not know what to pray for
as we ought”.
So where is our hope? How can we have any confidence in the light of our glaring weaknesses?
According to Paul, these weaknesses are addressed in the fact that “the Spirit himself intercedes
for us with groanings too deep for words” (v. 26b). Here is incredibly good news! Even though
in our weakness, we do not know what to pray for as we ought – and, therefore, do not pray as
we ought – the Spirit is interceding for us. Along with bearing witness to us that we are children
of God and being the guarantee of our glorious future hope, the Spirit is actively praying in us
and for us. It seems that Paul is talking about a work that goes on apart from our own labors in
prayer. Along with our (hopefully) sincere and fervent but weak prayers are the fervent, deep
groanings of the very Spirit of God Himself ascending to God.
So, Paul's initial point is that even though we are weak and do not know what to pray for as we
ought, the Spirit that lives in us helps us by praying on our behalf. Once again, this is a glorious
blessing that belongs to those who are “in Christ”.
II. Because the Spirit helps us, all things work together for good for us (v. 27-28).
But what is it that makes this blessing so glorious? As Paul continues, we get the answer.
First of all, because the Spirit in us is the Spirit of God Himself, He knows precisely what God's
will is and always prays in accord with that will. Paul writes, “And he who searches hearts
knows what is the mind of the Spirit, that the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will
of God” (v. 27). The Bible is clear that sometimes we do not get what we pray for because what
we pray for is not in accord with God's will (James 4:3). But this is never the case with the
Spirit. He is not “weak” like us, because He is God! Therefore, He knows God's will and prays
in accordance with it. And God the Father hears those prayers because He searches hearts and
knows the mind of the Spirit.
So, why is it so glorious that the Spirit intercedes for us? First, it is because He always
intercedes according to God's will, and therefore, we can know that every single one of His
prayers is answered. 1 John 5:14-15 declares, “And this is the confidence that we have toward
him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in
whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.” So the issue
with God giving us the things we ask is not His compassion or ability but His will. If we could
just always pray according to His will, we would get everything we asked! This does not happen
for us, but it does happen with the Spirit.
Second of all, this reality is glorious because it means that all things work together for our good.
Paul goes on in 8:28 to say, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together
for good, fpraor those who are called according to His purpose”. This is a very-well known verse
that is in a much lesser-known context. The verse definitely is as glorious (and maybe more-so)
as everyone thinks. But why is this verse true? In context, it is because the Spirit is interceding
for us according to God's will. Because of the Spirit's interceding work, all things work together
for good. This also explains why the verse says all things work for good for “those who love
God” and “those who are called according to his purpose” - it is because only those people have
the Spirit in them interceding for them.
So, here we see even more of the blessing: the Spirit that helps us in our weakness by praying on
our behalf always prays according to God's will, so His prayers are heard and answered and – as
a result – all things work together for our good. Again, glorious news.
III. The “good” for which all things work together is God's eternal plan to conform us to
the image of Christ (v. 29).
But this glorious news does raise a question – what is the “good” toward which all things are
working? Maybe you are here and, in the past, you have prayed that God would give you a
particular job or a child or a spouse or healing or any number of other “good” things – and they
did not happen. Why would that be the case? Those are seemingly “good” things and yet they
did not happen. Why? The answer is that the “good” to which all things are working is not
whatever we define as “good”. Rather, the “good” is God's eternal plan to conform us to the
image of Christ. In short, God's goal is that all of His people be “like Christ”. This is the
“purpose” of God to which His people have been called at the end of verse 28, as seen in verse
29: “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son,
in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” This is the “good” toward which
God is working all things together.
Paul helps us understand this by pointing us back not only to God's goal but to His grand plan.
Paul does not just say that God wants everyone to be conformed to the image of His Son but that
God “foreknew” certain people whom He “predestined” to that end. This reminds us that God
has not only a goal but a plan that has been in place long before we were ever born. To
“foreknow” someone – as God did according to this text – is not just to know what someone will
do in the future but to actually choose that one and set affection on them (see also Jer. 1:5; Amos
3:2; Acts 2:23; Rom. 11:2; 1 Pet. 1:2,20). We should note that it is not actions or decisions that
are foreknown in this text but people. God “foreknew” His people in the sense that He set His
love on them. And those whom He “foreknew he also predestined”. The idea of “predestining”
something is fairly straightforward: it means to “destine” (i.e. determine) something beforehand
(hence the “pre-” part). But in this case, it was not a “something” that was predestined but
“someone” - God's people. Those on whom God set His affection are also those whom He
destined before the world was ever created (see Eph. 1:4-5,11).
And understanding these terms helps us understand Paul's point: God predestined those whom He
foreknew to be like His Son. He set His love on His people for the purpose of making them like
His Son. And He predestined His people to the end of being like His Son. He did not foreknew
or predestine His people to be safe or comfortable or happy or satisfied in anything other than
being like Christ. That is His desire and goal.
And, once again, we see the grand plan of God because the reason God wants His people to be
like Christ is so that “He might be the firstborn among many brothers”. Remember that God
made human beings in His perfect image. But, because of the sin and rebellion of Adam, that
image – while still present – has been marred. But Christ came as the perfect image of God so
that we could be restored to the perfect image we once possessed (1 Cor. 15:49; Col. 3:10). This
is God's goal – He is restoring what was lost by restoring His image in His people. And the
ultimate goal is that when we see Christ, we will be “like” Him – perfectly in His image (1 John
3:2). This is what God predestined His people for. The goal is that Christ, as the true Son, would
bring many sons to glory.
And now, with this understanding, we can step back and look at this text as a whole and have a
better understanding of the glorious blessing Paul is describing. God's ultimate goal is to glorify
Himself by exalting Jesus Christ through redeeming a people who will be perfectly conformed to
His image. The problem, though, is that right now we are sinners (even though we are redeemed)
who are weak and who are not yet conformed to the image of Christ. As such, we do not yet
desire or choose or accept or pray for many of the things we actually need in order to be like
Christ. But, in His grace, God is doing such a work in us anyway. And one way in which that
work is happening is through the Spirit praying for us. The Spirit knows God's will – which we
don't – and always prays according to that will – which we don't. And the Spirit does this even
when it involves our experiencing pain and hurt, because the Spirit knows that God's will is not
that we avoid pain and hurt and difficulty but that we be conformed to Christ. So the Spirit prays
according to that reality. And His prayers are heard. And God's work of conforming us to the
image of Christ is carried out.
IV. This “good” purpose is absolutely certain to be accomplished (v. 30).
That said, can we be confident that this grand plan of God - to perfectly conform all of His
people to the perfect image of Christ – will happen? According to Paul, the answer is an
emphatic “Yes!”, and the final verse of this section makes that clear as Paul writes, “And those
whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom
he justified he also glorified” (v. 30).
This incredible chain is very instructive. It does not include every part of salvation, but it does
include many major parts. And, interestingly, the entire chain is listed in the past tense. The
reason is not because each part has already happened but because each part is so absolutely sure
to happen that they can all be listed in the past tense. This chain is incredible and important
because it makes very clear that God's plan – which has been in place since before this world was
ever created – will indeed reach its intended goal. God will finish the work He began, and – like
Paul – we can be confident of this (Phil. 1:6).
So how can we be so sure? What will God's plan involve. According to Paul, “those whom He
predestined, He also called”. Those whom God “foreknew” by setting His love on them and
“predestined” by determining that they would be like His Son, He then calls to Himself. When
the time comes that they are actually born and they hear the gospel proclaimed, God calls them in
such a way that they come to Him. Though He chose them before the foundation of the world to
be holy and blameless before Him, they still must repent and believe, so God calls them to
Himself so that will happen. This should not be confused with the general “call” of the gospel
either (Matt. 22:14), because this is something different. We know this because everyone who is
called in this way is also justified and glorified. This is a different call – an effectual call that
always achieves its goal.
And then, according to Paul, “those whom he called he also justified”. After calling them to
Himself so that they repent and believe, God justifies His people. The idea is a legal idea – in
light of Jesus' perfectly obedient life and substitutionary death, God forgives His people. He
declares them “not guilty”. He declares them “righteous” because of their faith. They (we) are
justified (Rom. 4:25; 1 Cor. 6:11).
And, in the final piece of the chain, Paul declares, “and those whom he justified he also
glorified”. This is Paul's central point in this entire chain. God's plan will be accomplished. The
people who He has foreknown and predestined and called and justified will also be glorified. It
is so certain that Paul can use the past tense to speak of it. For those of us here who have
repented and believed, this is wonderful news. Just as surely as we were foreknown and
predestined and called and justified, we will be glorified. If our faith is true – which it is – then
there is absolutely zero chance that we will not be glorified. If there were even a chance, then
our whole faith would collapse because this verse would not be true and God would not be
powerful to accomplish His plan. His plan is that all of His people be conformed to the image of
Christ. And He has been carrying out that plan since before we were ever born. And that plan
will be completed.
This is our hope, and at the end of the day, this is why we celebrate the birth of Christ. The
reason He was born was so that He could live a perfect life, die on the cross and be raised from
the dead – so that everyone who hoped in Him and trusted Him would be saved. His birth points
us to His death and resurrection. It is His birth and His life and His death and His resurrection
that gives us every bit of blessing and hope and life and joy and peace that we know today.
Conclusion
As we come to the table, I pray that we come with even greater appreciation, and affection, for
our Savior who was born so many years ago. This chapter has reminded us of the many, many
reasons we have to rejoice in His coming. And today has been no different. If you are here and
you have trusted Christ, rejoice in the fact that the Spirit is helping you in your weakness by
praying exactly in accordance with God's will. Rejoice that your weakness will not hinder the
sovereign plan of God which began before you were ever born and is far bigger than just you.
Rejoice in the fact that God is conforming you to the image of Christ. And rejoice that the work
will be completed someday, and we will be like Him. Just as we have been foreknown and
predestined and called and justified, we will be glorified. This is wonderful news, and as we take
communion, we should rejoice in it and look forward to seeing it happen.
And, if you are here, and you have never trusted Christ, I would plead with you to repent and
believe. The point of this chain is not to make you wonder if you have been foreknown or
predestined. The point of this chain is to make clear that every one of God's people will be
glorified because God is working in them to make sure it happens. Our responsibility as human
beings is to repent of our sins and trust Jesus as our Savior – following Him in humble obedience
as the Lord of our lives. Such a response demonstrates that we are God's people. The lack of
such a response indicates that someone is not part of God's people. Jesus came to die and be
raised so that sinners could be saved. Repent and believe, and you will be saved, and the myriad
blessings of this chapter will be poured out on you.
Grace and peace to all of you during this holiday season. Amen.