Cl – Our Bodies and Redemption 8: 23-30

Our Bodies and Redemption
8: 23-30

Our bodies and redemption DIG: What would a world look like if there were no decay or death? How is this a picture of glory? How does 8:28 relate to the idea of suffering in 8:18? How and when does the Ruach pray for us? Are people predestined to go to hell? If someone ends up in hell, how did they get there? Why can we be sure of our eternal security in Messiah?

REFLECT: How is God putting you through the school of hard knocks right now? How do you see ADONAI at work in this? Why does God allow trials to come into our lives? How can the hope in these verses help you during times of trial? How has your hope in Yeshua helped you this week? Of the enemies mentioned in 8:38-39, which one is the most real to you?

Everything that happens to you has a spiritual significance.

And not only does creation groan for deliverance from the destructive consequences of sin (to see link click Ck – The Creation and Redemption), but we ourselves, that is, believers, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit (8:23a). Believers are described as the ones having the firstfruits of the Spirit. Elsewhere, we learn that the Ruach Ha’Kodesh has also put his seal on us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a down payment, guaranteeing everything He has promised us (Second Corinthians 1:22 HCSB), as a similar idea. A farmer’s firstfruits were the initial harvesting of his first-ripened crops. This first installment was a foretaste and promise that more harvest was yet to come. Similarly, the Spirit of God, indwelling believers, is a foretaste and promise that we will enjoy many more blessings, including living in the presence of ADONAI forever.²²⁸

But because of the sufferings we are going through now (8:18a), believers, like creation, groan inwardly as we continue waiting eagerly for our adoption as children. The B’rit Chadashah speaks of believers as those who are already the adopted children of God (Ephesians 1:4-5; John 1:12; Galatians 3:26-29), but whose adoption awaits ultimate perfection when Messiah returns (Philippians 3:20-21). Meanwhile, we wait and hope; that is, to have our whole bodies redeemed and set free (8:23b). Our bodies are still affected by the Fall. We are still subject to sickness and other infirmities. The Spirit helps us in our weakness. But there is no guarantee of deliverance from disease in this life. Hence, we eagerly await the redemption of our bodies (First Corinthians 15:35-41).

It was in this hope that we were saved. Hope is inseparable from salvation. Our salvation was planned by YHVH in the past, given in the present, and is now characterized by hope in the future. But if we see what we hope for, it isn’t hope – after all, who hopes for what he already sees? In other words, in this life we cannot expect to experience the reality of our glorification, but only the hope of it. But if we continue hoping for something we don’t see, then we still wait eagerly for it, with perseverance (8:24-25). Seven years earlier, Paul had assured the Messianic community in Philippi: I am sure of this: that the One who began a good work among you will keep it going until it is completed on the Day of Messiah Yeshua (Philippians 1:6). Because salvation is completely God’s work and because He cannot lie, it is absolutely impossible for us to lose what He has given us and promises never to take away (see the commentary on The Life of Christ Ms – The Eternal Security of the Believer).²²⁹

Similarly, the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we don’t know how to pray the way we should. Paul does not elaborate on our inability to pray the way we should; however, his statement is all-encompassing. Because of our imperfect perspectives, finite minds, human frailties, and spiritual limitations, we are not able to pray in absolute consistency with God’s will. But even when we don’t know what God wants, the indwelling Spirit himself pleads on our behalf with groanings too deep for words (8:26). The Ruach prays properly our heart’s deepest yearnings, even when consciously we don’t know how to do it. God accepts these prayers because they come from a soul full of the Ruach Ha’Kodesh.

Contrary to the interpretation of most charismatics, the groanings of the Ruach are not utterances in unknown languages, much less ecstatic gibberish that has no rational content. As Paul says explicitly, the groans are not even audible and are inexpressible in words. Yet those groans carry profound content, namely divine appeals for the spiritual welfare of each believer. We remain justified and righteous before God the Father only because God the Son and God the Spirit, as our constant advocates and intercessors, represent us before Him. If, for an instant, Messiah and the Ruach were to stop their sustaining intercession for us, we could, in that instant, fall back into our sinful state of separation from ADONAI.²³⁰

And the one who searches hearts (Psalm 139:1-5) knows exactly what the Spirit is thinking, because his pleadings for God’s people accord with God’s will (8:27). The reason we groan is because we live in unredeemed bodies. We don’t know how to pray the way that we should, but the Spirit does not make those mistakes. He knows exactly what to pray for. And because the Spirit always prays in perfect harmony and submission to the will of the Father. The Ruach always prays in such a way that the Father understands. Therefore, we can have confidence that those prayers will be answered.²³¹

With the reminder of the Spirit’s pleadings on our behalf we leave the ministry of the Ruach Ha’Kodesh and move on to the assurance offered by God the Father Himself in having an eternal purpose for us. Romans 8:28 is one of the most misquoted and misunderstood passages in the Bible. It doesn’t say, “YHVH causes everything to work out the way I want it to.” Obviously, that’s not true. It also doesn’t say, “Ha’Shem causes everything to work out to have a happy ending on earth.” That’s not true either. There are many unhappy endings on earth. We live in a fallen world. Only in heaven is everything done perfectly the way YHVH intends. That is why we are told to pray: Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10b). To fully understand Romans 8:28 you must consider it phrase by phrase:

Furthermore, we know: Our hope in difficult times is not based on positive thinking, wishful thinking, or natural optimism. It is certainly based on the truth that ADONAI is in complete control of our universe and that He loves us. Hope based in favorable circumstances will always disappoint, but when based on the love of God and our proven character, we will never be disappointed.

that God causes: There is a Grand Designer behind everything. Your life is not a result of random chance, fate, or luck. There is a master plan. History is His story. YHVH is pulling the strings. We make mistakes, but God never does. The LORD cannot make a mistake – because He is God.

everything: Ha’Shem’s plan for your life involves all that happens to you – including your mistakes, your sins, and your hurts. It includes illness, debt, disasters, divorce, and the death of loved ones. He did it on Mount Moriah (Genesis 22:2).

to work together: Not separately or independently. The events in your life work together in God’s plan. They are not isolated events, but interdependent parts of the same process to mold you like Messiah. To bake a cake you must use flour, salt, raw eggs, sugar, and oil. Eaten individually, each is pretty distasteful or even bitter. But bake them together and they become delicious. If you will give ADONAI all of your distasteful, unpleasant experiences, He will blend them together for your good.

for the good: God does not promise to make a bad thing good, that everything would turn out exactly as we would like, nor has He assured us that He will keep bad things from happening to us. We must remember that the context of this famous verse is sufferings (8:18), weaknesses and groaning (8:26); meaning, our trials in this life. Much of what happens in our world is evil and bad, but YHVH specializes in bringing good out of it. In the official family tree of Yeshua Messiah, four women are listed: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba. Tamar seduced her father-in-law Judah to get pregnant. Rahab was a prostitute. Ruth was not even Jewish and broke the Torah by marrying a Jewish man. And Bathsheba committed adultery with David, which resulted in her husband’s murder. These were not exactly spotless reputations, but Ha’Shem brought good out of bad, and Yeshua came through their lineage. God’s purpose is greater than our problems, our pain, or even our sin.

of those who love God and are called: Nothing more characterizes the true believer than genuine love for God, are sensitive to His will, loves the things that He loves, hates the things that He hates, and is obedient to His Word. It is through the content of His Word, specifically the truth of the Good News, and through the power of the Ruach Ha’Kodesh, that ADONAI brings people to Himself. Therefore, this promise is only for God’s children. It is not for everyone. All things work for bad for those living in opposition to the LORD and insist on having their own way.

Dear Heavenly Father, Praise You that as I love You, You have promised to work for good all that come into my life. People may try to hurt me, deceive me and do wrong to me, but I can trust You to be my shield and when something bad may come, You will turn it for my good. These trials are so that the true metal of your faith (far more valuable than gold, which perishes though refined by fire) may come to light in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Messiah Yeshua (First Peter 1:7).

You work the events together in my life to make something beautiful. The events by themselves aren’t beautiful, but when put altogether they result in something beautiful, like the mixing together of baking soda, flour, milk and eggs into a batter for delicious chocolate chip cookies. I rejoice in praising You, even in the hard times for I know You will work everything together for my good for I love You! Praise You! In Yeshua’s holy name and power of His resurrection. Amen

in accordance with His purpose (8:28). What is His purpose? It is that we be conformed to the likeness of his Son (8:29b). Everything ADONAI allows to happen in your life is permitted for that purpose!²³² Even believers have to stay in His purpose to cause everything to work together for the good. We must have faith/trust/belief that this verse is true in the face of overwhelming circumstances that shouts that it is not true.²³³

Because those whom He knew in advance, He also determined in advance does not merely mean to know ahead of time. It means to know ahead of time because of preplanning. While it is true that God foreknew, predestined, and called the elect (Romans 8:29a; Jude 1), it is also true that God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16 NIV). I believe this is an antinomy. An antinomy in the Bible is two seemingly contradictory statements that are both true. For example, the Trinity is an antinomy. God is one (Deuteronomy 6:4) and is reflected in three Persons. We don’t have to choose if God is one or God is reflected in three Persons. I also believe we don’t have to choose on this issue either. The Bible teaches both. As we stand outside the door of salvation, a sign says: If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him (John 7:37-39). But as we walk through that door, close it and look back, there is another sign that says: Saved before the creation of the universe (Ephesians 1:4).

Would be conformed (Greek: summorphos, meaning to bring to the same form with some other person or thing) to the likeness of his Son (8:29b). The noun morphe refers to the outward expression of an inward essence or nature. Thus, in the process of sanctification, we are transformed in our inner heart to resemble the Lord Yeshua, and this inner change results in a change of outward expression that reflects the beauty of our Lord.²³⁴ So, the Spirit not only introduces us to the Lord Yeshua Messiah at the moment of salvation, energizing our faith, but also continues to disclose to us His glory by illuminating His Word in our hearts. In that way, He progressively molds us into the likeness of Messiah over the entire course of our lives.²³⁵ Here lies our hope (8:24): In our present circumstances in this life of suffering, trials and tribulations, we can, by the grace of God, emerge with proven character. Hope is not wishful thinking. Biblical hope is the present assurance of ADONAI’s plan for our lives being fully realized in the future.²³⁶

So that he might be the firstborn, the first-fruits, as it were, among many brothers (8:29c). In the Jewish cycle of feasts, the first four feast picture Messiah’s First Coming. The Feast of Passover was fulfilled by the death of Messiah, the Feast of Unleavened Bread was fulfilled by the sinlessness of His sacrifice, the Feast of First Fruits was fulfilled by the resurrection of Messiah to life, and Shavu’ot was fulfilled by the birth of the Church.

The fulfillment of First Fruits can be clearly seen in First Corinthians 15:20-23. Verse 20 points out that the Feast of First Fruits was fulfilled by the resurrection of Christ. But now Messiah has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. So, the Passover was fulfilled by the death of Christ. But there were other people who were resurrected before Yeshua, both in the TaNaKh and the B’rit Chadashah, how is He the firstfruits? There are two types of resurrections. The first type is merely a restoration back to natural life, which means they would die again later. But the second type of resurrection is true resurrection to immortality and no longer subject to death. That’s the kind of resurrection Yeshua experienced. Messiah rose to eternal life and because He is the firstfruits of more to come, and as believers, we are the more to come.

And those whom He thus determined in advance, He also called (8:30a). In Ha’Shem’s divine plan of redemption, predestination leads to being called. Although God’s calling is also completely by His initiative, it is here that His eternal desire meets our free will. Those who are called can say no to God and make it stick. He didn’t merely call those who would be saved. Salvation is available to everyone (John 3:16). No one is predestined to hell. If a person ends up in hell, it is because he chose to reject YHVH and His way of salvation. Those who trust in Him are not judged; but those who do not trust have been judged already, in that they have not trusted in the One who is God’s only and unique Son (John 3:18). Unbelievers are condemned by their own unbelief, not by Ha’Shem’s predestination.

And those whom He called, He also caused to be considered righteous (8:30b). ADONAI is going to see you through. And those whom He thus determined in advance, He also called, and those whom He called, He also caused to be considered righteous, and those whom He caused to be considered righteous He also glorified (8:30)! In other words, this amazing section is on sanctification – yet, Paul doesn’t even mention being sanctified. Why? Because sanctification is the work of God in the heart of the believer. This is God’s eternal purpose. It simply means that when Yeshua, who is the Great Shepherd of the sheep, starts out with one hundred sheep, He’s going to come home with one hundred sheep. He will not lose one of them (see the commentary on The Life of Christ Hs – The Parable of the Lost Sheep).²³⁷

And those whom He caused to be considered righteous He also glorified (8:30c)! Between the start and the finish of God’s plan are three steps: being called (1:6 and 8:28), being justified (3:24 and 28, 4:2, 5:1 and 9), and being glorified (Romans 8:17; Colossians 1:27 and 3:4). Glorification is in the past tense because this final step is so certain that in God’s eyes it’s as good as done.²³⁸ And since God has done all these things for us, and we cannot undo it (see the commentary on The Life of Christ Bw – What God Does for Us at the Moment of Faith)! What Paul says here in verses 28-30 he will elaborate in great detail in Chapter 9.

Dear Heavenly Father, I am in awe that You have chosen me from the beginning of time. I confess that I don’t fully understand what that really means. You alone are God. I accept Your purpose for my life to be conformed to Your likeness during times of trouble. Thank You for the hope this gives me and the assurance that in everything You work for my good. I renounce the lies of Satan that I must not be God’s child or not walking in the Spirit if bad things happen to me. I renounce the lie that You have turned Your back on me during difficult times or that there is no hope. I assume my responsibility to follow You, to fulfill Your purpose in my life – to conform me to Your likeness. I ask for Your grace to enable me to be like Messiah. I now confess that my hope lies in the knowledge that You are working through all of the trials in my life to develop proven character. In Yeshua’s name. Amen ²³⁹