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Romans 8:24-30
Paul has been reflecting upon the universal suffering of humanity suffering that has been going on ever
since sin entered the world. And when do the sufferings of this life cease, for men? When they die; when
their bodies return to the dust.
But for those of us who have believed into Christ, death is not the conclusion. For those of us who have
been born again, born of the Spirit, death is not an end at all, but a means Gods means, His way of
delivering us to everlasting glory. And Paul stresses that the sufferings that we believers endure in this life
cannot at all be compared to that glory, when we are revealed in our glorified bodies, as sons of God.
But we are not the only sons which God will have. Paul has shown that just as we are eagerly awaiting our
revelation as sons, so is all of humanity. Humanity is awaiting the time when it is delivered from death,
into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
This will occur when Jesus returns to set up His kingdom on earth, and defeats this last enemy of humanity
Death in the resurrection of Life. Death will no longer reign over men, when Jesus rules and reigns on
earth.
By the end of His thousand year reign, He will have an entire kingdom of glorified sons on earth just as
He will already have, in heaven. And who will be His glorified sons, in heaven? We will the Body of
Christ, who by then, will be His Bride.
To each member of the Body of Christ, the Holy Spirit has been given the Spirit of Adoption, who
ensures our adoption as Gods sons. Now, what Paul calls the adoption is the redemption of the body
from death, when it is changed into a glorified body.
The Holy Spirit is the guarantee to us that we will be glorified, because He is the One who is preparing us
to be glorified through His work of sanctification in us. The Holy Spirit is setting us more and more apart
from the world; setting us more and more apart to God until we are ready to enter right into Gods
presence holy and without blame before Him, in love (Eph 1:4). And sometimes, the leading of the Spirit
will take us through afflictions; but only because that is the path to glory.
Paul now continues with his thoughts concerning suffering, leading to glory.
[Romans 8:24-30]
Pauls thoughts on suffering turn to the believers need to persevere (v. 24-25); the Spirit, helping us in the
midst of our weaknesses (v. 26-27); and the fact that it ultimately accomplishes Gods good purpose in the
believer, to bring him to glory (v. 28-30). The last point sees Paul expanding his thoughts again to include
all who have and will believe into God, through time; all who will become sons of God.
Well begin back in verse 24.
v. 24-25 Paul says, we members of the Body of Christ were saved in literally, by this hope. What hope
were we saved by? This relates back to verse 23 the redemption of our bodies. The redemption of our
bodies is when they will be delivered from death; saved from death. When will that happen, for the Body
of Christ? When Jesus returns for us. This mortal body will put on immortality (1 Cor 15:53); it will be
glorified.

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But in verse 24, Paul says we WERE saved by this hope. Paul speaks of it as already accomplished; that
we have already been delivered from death.
So between verses 23 and 24, we see the two perspectives on our salvation, speaking of our deliverance
from death, here. In verse 23, we have the temporal perspective; we are eagerly waiting for the redemption
of our bodies. In verse 24, we have the eternal perspective: our bodies have already been redeemed; we
were saved.
From Gods perspective, we have already been completely delivered from sin and death, through Christ.
But from our perspective on earth, we are being delivered from sin, and will be delivered from death.
Paul can voice this both ways, because faith makes the future certain. Faith is the substance of things
hoped for (Heb 11:1a). Faith makes the future realities a certainty in the present; they have substance; we
can live them. What is hoped for is real, in the here and now, by faith.
Nonetheless, Paul says that our hope is not seen. Its real; its certain; but its not seen, because under time,
we live in the present, and that is our future reality.
Look down what body do you see? Your earthly body; your body of death. In the temporal realm, you
dont see your glorified body. But is it certain that you have it? Yes. The Father purposed it, as we shall
see today; Christ secured it for you, and the Holy Spirit is the guarantee of it, to you.
So glory is our know-so hope; we do not yet see it, but it has been promised to us by God Himself thats
our eternal inheritance, as His sons (Heb 9:15). And that means in the here and now, for as long as were
on the earth, were hoping for our know-so hope. That means were living in hope.
What does that look like living in hope? Paul writes of two qualities of living in hope, here. It is
characterized by eagerly waiting.
We saw this Greek term back in verse 19 Humanity eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God, in
glory. Paul also used it in verse 23, specifically concerning the Body of Christ we are groaning within
ourselves thats due to this present time of suffering but we are eagerly awaiting our adoption, when we
are positioned in Gods family as completed, ever-living sons.
The idea of eagerly waiting involves the absolute expectation of our hope being realized. So there is great
anticipation, but there is also the idea of readiness; a preparation for the anticipated event. You want to be
ready, when it happens.
The Holy Spirit has been given to us to prepare us for the time when our hope is realized. He is leading the
sons of God, to glory. Our part is to submit to His leading in our life so that we will indeed be ready.
And this brings us to the other word that Paul uses to qualify how we live in hope: we eagerly wait for our
hope with what? Perseverance. This is the quality of character which does not allow one to surrender to
circumstances or succumb under trial. It involves bearing up under intense pressure staying under the
load patiently enduring, through the troubles and sufferings of this present time.
To persevere means that you do not give up; that you do not lose heart. What Paul is saying here is that we
as believers are enabled to persevere by keeping the eyes of our spirit on our know-so hope; our hope of
glory.

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Its like a man, who is toiling under a heavy load; he is greatly burdened, but this man can see his
destination up ahead of him. The man knows that his destination is a wonderful place, and that when he
gets there, he can lay down his load.
With each step that he takes, he realizes that he is getting closer and closer to that destination. And as he
proceeds, step by step, he is able to perceive his destination with more clarity; in greater detail; so that it
becomes more and more real to him, as well as more certainly attainable. This reality gives him new-found
strength, to bear his burden, to the end.
There was an assembly which was highly commended by Paul, for their perseverance despite their many
sufferings: the assembly in Thessalonica. Turn to First Thessalonians chapter 1.
Paul had preached the gospel in Thessalonica during his second missionary journey. He and his
companions were only there a few weeks before the unbelieving Jews drove them out of the city.
Nonetheless, a few Jews and many Gentiles had believed.
Paul was greatly concerned for these converts, knowing that the unbelieving Jews would in turn persecute
them, as well. But when Pauls companions were able to revisit the city, they discovered that the little
assembly in Thessalonica was actually flourishing despite the persecution. Pauls first letter to them
reflects his great relief, along with his strong commendation of them for enduring their afflictions.
[First Thessalonians 1]
v. 1-4 We will actually be talking about election as we continue in our passage today in Romans.
Notice the specific things for which Paul expresses his thankfulness to God for the Thessalonians their
work of faith, their labor of love, and their patience, or endurance, of hope in the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul
will revisit these thoughts toward the end of this passage.
v. 5-6 The much affliction of the Thessalonians was, in particular, persecution; the reproach they bore for
following Christ. This came from both the unbelieving Jews, as well as the pagan Gentiles in the city (1 Th
2:14-16).
v. 7-8 The endurance of the believers in Thessalonica in the face of severe persecution was a powerful
testimony to the reality of the One in whom they believed Christ. This witness went out into the
surrounding regions, and beyond. It was as if everyone was talking about the faith of the Thessalonians.
Paul didnt need to tell anyone about the believers there, because everyone was telling Paul about them!
v. 9-10 the manner of entry we had to you speaks of the impact of Paul preaching the gospel in
Thessalonica. The majority of the believers in Thessalonica had been pagan Gentiles. When they heard the
good news of Jesus Christ, they turned away from their idolatrous, pagan worship; they left their idols
behind, forever. This was their work of faith, which Paul mentioned in verse 3; the action of their faith in
Christ.
Having turned from their false, dead idols, they turned to the living and true God to serve Him. This was
their labor of love, that Paul wrote of in verse 3 selflessly expending all of their energy, in devotion to
God.
And as they lived out their devotion to God, they were waiting. For what? For Gods Son from heaven,
Jesus. Jesus will return for them and for all of us, in the Body of Christ and He will deliver us from the
wrath that is to come, on the earth meaning the Tribulation, here (1 Th 5:9).

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This was the Thessalonians patience of hope that Paul wrote of, in verse 3 the hope of deliverance
from this world, from Death itself, into glory. They were persevering through the trials of this life, with
their eyes set upon their hope, until such time as Jesus delivered them to that hope.
Both letters to the Thessalonians found in Scripture are filled with mentions of their perseverance through
their sufferings, and Pauls commendation of them (1 Th 2:14-16, 3:1-8, 4:18, 5:11; 2 Th 1:3-7, 2:16-17,
3:3, 5).
[Return to Romans 8]
Although we are to persevere through our sufferings, staying under the load, Paul wanted believers to know
that theyre not in it alone.
v. 26-27 So not only do we have a hope that sustains us through our trials; we have the Holy Spirit to help
us, as well. We have seen much of the Holy Spirits help, in this part of Pauls letter.
The Holy Spirit enlightens us to our deliverance from the power of sin (Rm 7:24, 8:2), as we choose to live
according to Him, and have His mind on things (Rm 8:4-6). He provides us with the assurance that we
will live forever in glory, with God (Rm 8:11, 23).
He leads us as Gods sons, in the way of righteousness (Rm 8:14). And He bears witness with our spirit,
that we are truly children of God, and therefore His heirs (Rm 8:16-17). In all of these things, the Holy
Spirit helps us by enlightening us; He is the Spirit of truth, who guides us into all truth (Jn 16:13).
Now Paul is revealing another way that the Holy Spirit helps us; He helps us in our weaknesses. The word
for weakness is a general word for infirmity. It can used literally for illness, or with the more general
meaning of any sufferings.
Understanding this in the context of what Paul has been writing here, the Holy Spirit helps us in our trials
in life all of our afflictions illnesses, losses, persecution, sorrows. The word for help means to bear a
burden along with; it is usually applied to those who unite in carrying a burden.
What Paul is saying is that, right within us, the Holy Spirit is helping us to bear up under the sufferings of
this present time. We are never, never alone in our sufferings.
Paul goes on to indicate how the Holy Spirit helps us, in our sufferings; He makes intercession. In verse
26, the words for us, following intercession, are not in the original manuscripts; it reads, the Spirit
Himself makes intercession with groanings which cannot be uttered. An intercessor is one who pleads or
appeals on behalf of someone.
We are inclined to think Paul is saying that the Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf, with the Father. As
Paul wrote, we dont know how to pray to the Father as we ought, so we think the Holy Spirit intercedes
and prays for us.
Here is the perceived scenario. We are in the midst of a trial, and we cry out to God, Get me out of this!;
and the Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf with the Father, and says, She doesnt really mean that,
because this trial is doing her good. What she really means is, Help me to bear this! So we may have
thought.

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But let me suggest why this is not what Paul meant. First of all, this would override mens freedom of
choice; the Holy Spirit would be overruling their prayer, with His own for their good but against their
will. Well, God gave men freedom of choice; He does not override their will.
Secondly, just a little further in this letter, Paul will indicate that Christ intercedes on behalf of us, with the
Father. We find this down in verse 34. Where does He do this? In heaven at the right hand of God.
Meanwhile, we are here on earth; and the Spirit of God dwells in us here, on earth (Rm 8:11) . And He is
also interceding; not on behalf of us, with the Father for Jesus is doing that, in heaven. The Holy Spirit is
interceding on behalf of the Father, with us.
We do not know what we should pray for as we ought maybe we could say this is particularly so, in trials.
We may not see what God is doing; we dont know what is good. Pain and distress may color our
perception of our circumstances, with some self-serving thoughts. So we dont know what is right, to even
ask our Father for. That certainly does happen!
But the Holy Spirit intercedes on behalf of the Father with us. The Spirit of truth enlightens us, in our very
spirit, to understand that the trial is good, because our good Father has allowed it; He brings to our minds
that tribulation is working for us; it is for our profit, that we might be partakers of our Fathers holy
character (Heb 12:10). And He encourages us, to press toward the goal; to keep our eyes upon the prize
the crown of righteousness; a glorified body (Phil 3:14, 2 Tim 4:8).
But the intercession on behalf of the Father is more than just exhortation, and encouragement. It is also
consolation and comfort. Groanings here are the sighs of one that is suffering; and these are the wordless
groanings of the Spirit.
The idea is that the Spirit is not impervious to our suffering, but comes right alongside of us, silently
affirming our suffering, while at the same time expressing the Fathers love and care for us, in the midst of
our sufferings.
It reminds us of what a mother does with a hurt child; silently holding him, with her arms wrapped around
him; and because she so loves and cares for him, she feels his pain. To the child, its balm, in the wound;
its strong consolation.
Paul expressed this on a personal level in his second retained letter to the Corinthian assembly. Turn to
Second Corinthians chapter 1. Paul had been terribly grieved over the church in Corinth, because they had
bought into some false teaching and in doing so, rejected Pauls message and him, with it. But by the
time of his writing this letter, the assembly had come to recognize their error. They were now standing in
faith in the true gospel, and had reaffirmed their love for Paul.
[Second Corinthians 1:1-5] Paul names God as the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort. And it is
His Spirit who shares those comforts with us, when we are in the midst of our sufferings; its strong
consolation.
[Return to Romans 8]
Now as we choose to believe the Spirit, as He shares with us Gods perspective on our affliction; and as we
choose to receive the comfort of the Fathers love, that the Spirit offers us; we begin to have the Spirits
mind regarding our trying circumstance.

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And when He who searches the hearts God searches our heart, what does He find? He finds His
Spirits thinking, for thats what the believer has chosen to have as his thinking.
Well, that thinking is Gods thinking; its in complete accordance with Gods will. The Spirits work of
intercession on behalf of the Father has been successful; that believer can ask what he desires, and it shall
be done for him, because his will is now in accordance with the Fathers will.
As Paul now continues, his thoughts expand once again as he considers how God is accomplishing His
purposes, in the believer.
v. 28 This is certainly one of Pauls most misconstrued statements, as it is frequently taken out of context.
Some think it is basically saying, Its all good. That is the current flip expression in the world, an empty
and shallow expression that perfectly reflects our times.
And we can see that Paul is certainly not saying its all good. He says that all things work together for
good. Now, what would Paul mean by all things? Well, Paul has been thinking specifically about
sufferings; but in using the term all things, he would be expanding his thought from sufferings, to include
all the circumstances of life.
All the circumstances of life work together for good. The word good here means benefit. Okay, so
who is benefited? We read, those who love God. In this context, that means those with rightly-directed
reverence toward God. And who would they be? Those who submit themselves to God.
Paul further qualifies them as the called; they are the ones who respond to the call of the gospel the
high calling of God, in Christ Jesus (Phil 3:14, KJV). It is believers who are benefited; and only believers.
Now, Pauls statement here from verse 28 through verse 30 could pertain to any believer, throughout
history. It is true for the OT saints; and for the church. It will be true for the Tribulation saints, the
regenerate nation, Israel, and the believing Gentile nations, in the kingdom age.
But clearly Paul is specifically targeting the church, at the moment, with this statement, for it is sandwiched
within a larger passage that pertains to the church (vv. 23-39). In addition, he begins in verse 28 with we
know; in this passage, Paul has been using we to refer to himself and the other members of the Body of
Christ. But keep in mind that Paul will later in his letter draw upon some of these thoughts, as he considers
Gods purposes for the nation, Israel (chapters 9-11).
So understanding Paul is intending this for the church here, lets continue with his thought, in verse 28. All
circumstances in the Christ Ones life work together for his benefit.
So is this just some random process? Of course not; nothing just happens. It is God who works all
things together for the benefit of the believer.
Do you think benefit would refer to material gain, in this world? Or to happy circumstances, in the here
and now? That is of no eternal benefit to the believer. God deals in eternal benefits.
Now, God here has the definite article, and as Paul continues in verse 29, we can see he is speaking of the
Father. The Father takes all the circumstances of the believers life, and weaves them together to bring
about His eternally beneficial purpose for the believer. And what purpose would that be? We find that out
as Paul continues.

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v. 29 Do you see the Fathers purpose; that is, His end for us? To be conformed to the image of His Son.
An image is a representation. Jesus is the image of the invisible God (Col 1:15); His visible representation.
He is the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person (Heb 1:3); God in bodily form.
Conformed means formed together with. Gods intended end for us is to transform our lowly bodies
these earthen vessels and conform them to Christs glorious body (Phil 3:21). That is the destiny that God
has prepared for those who respond to His call, through the gospel. And He determined that destiny ahead
of time; in fact, before He ever created man.
Turn to Second Timothy chapter 1. In this letter, Paul was encouraging Timothy to persevere in the faith,
even as Paul did so himself, to the end. He spoke of suffering for the gospel according to the power of
God.
[Second Timothy 1:8-10] The call comes through the gospel; the power of God unto salvation, for all who
believe (Rm 1:16). Its a holy calling, an invitation, to become a son of God. And its according to Gods
own purpose and grace; it was Gods plan, for His creation of mankind, realized through His Christ. When
did He determine this purpose for us, in Christ? Before time began; in eternity past; He created this destiny
for men who would respond to the call of the gospel, to become a son of God.
And when Jesus actually came, He actuated the plan of God, in time; a plan that was good for all men for
all time; for any and all who would believe. And what was this plan; Gods purpose, for men (v. 10)? To
abolish death, through Life everlasting in an immortal, incorruptible body of glory. And this plan this
holy calling was brought to light through the gospel.
[Return to Romans 8]
So that was the destiny, that God determined ahead of time; to become a glorified son of God. And who
did God determine this destiny for, in verse 29? Those whom He foreknew.
The term foreknow from the Greek simply means to know beforehand. It is one aspect of Gods
omniscience, the fact that He is all-knowing. Foreknowledge is implied in Gods warnings, His promises
and His prophecies; He knows what will happen beforehand.
God exists outside of His creation, including time; He is not subject to time. From His eternal perspective,
He can see all events that will occur under time, from beginning to end.
This means that God can see every person who will choose to believe into His Christ. And before any of
them existed, God foreknew them, and chose, or elected them, for salvation, which in its completion, will
result in the deliverance of the body from death.
This is sometimes referred to in Scripture as the election of God (1 Th 1:4), or the election of Grace (Rm
11:5). As the passage in First Timothy stated, it is not according to our works, but according to Gods
purpose and grace and it was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began in eternity past.
But if God foreknows who will believe into Christ, and chooses them for His predetermined destiny, does
that mean that man doesnt really have freedom of choice? Not at all.
Outside of time, from Gods eternal perspective, He foreknows His sons, and has already determined their
destiny. Thats the Creators sovereign ability, to know, and right, to decide.

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But man lives under time, and from his perspective, one day, he hears the gospel of Christ, and he chooses
to believe it and he is saved. And thats his freedom, based on how His Creator made him and it is also
his responsibility, as a creation of God, to fulfill the purpose for which he was created.
The word called in the Greek actually was used to designate those invited to a banquet, and that provides
a great illustration of the ideas of foreknowledge and predestination.
Now, if you were going to have a banquet, you would need to make good plans. Invitations must be sent
out to your nearest and dearest (because you cant afford to invite everybody). Food must be purchased; the
house must be prepared, and the table set for the guests. You even have to determine the formality of the
occasion; what the guests must wear. And all of that must be done ahead of time.
But the occasion never comes off perfectly, does it? Your preparations are based on all of those invitations
you sent out, and you never know how many of your guests will actually come, even if they RSVP.
Generally, you have too much food, and get to eat it yourself in the days and weeks following the banquet.
But God is like the ultimate banquet host. First of all, He has unlimited resources the riches of His grace;
and He has unlimited love He so loves the world. So God invites everyone to the banquet of His love to
partake of Christ. The invitation of the gospel goes out to all.
And because God is not subject to time, He can foresee all of time, including the future, to observe exactly
who will accept His invitation, to partake of His banquet of love; these are the called, whom God
foreknows.
And based on His foreknowledge, God chooses to make preparations ahead of time, for these future
partakers. He makes provision for them, and sets a place for them at His table, where they will fellowship
with Him; and He not only decides what they will wear at His banquet, but He provides that, as well. Thats
predestination; Hes prepared a destiny for those who will respond to His call.
But what about the others those who did not respond to Gods invitation? Did God reject them? Well,
did the host reject the other guests? No the invitation went out to all. He invited the others, and he did
not reject them; they chose not to come. In a sense, they rejected him.
Those who do not respond to the call of the gospel are, in essence, rejecting God. God doesnt choose
anyone for destruction; men choose that for themselves, by refusing His invitation to be saved. And God
allows them to have the freedom to do that, without being offended like the perfect host.
At some banquets, there is a guest of honor. Is there someone who is honored, at Gods banquet of love?
Oh yes Jesus.
In verse 29, Paul makes it clear that this is part of His purpose, for bringing many sons to glory (Heb 2:10)
that Gods Son might be the firstborn among many brethren. The term firstborn emphasizes not first in
order, but in rank; one who is honored above others; you could say, the one who is Number One.
Turn to Colossians chapter 1. Paul was describing the Son in the greatness of His person and His work.
[Colossians 1:15-18]
v. 15 Clearly firstborn cannot mean that Jesus was the first one born, but that He was surpassingly
greater than the creation. This is because He is the Creator, as Paul goes on to say.

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v. 16-17 Now Paul describes the Son in reference to the church, which came out of His death. The
beginning does speak of Christ as the first one; the first to rise from the dead. But the term firstborn is
distinguishing Him in a position of honor over those who will also be glorified; His glory is greater He
has the preeminence; He ranks over us.
Why? Because the Son accomplished Gods purposes, and so God has highly exalted Him (Phil 2:8-9); and
because He is the captain of our salvation; the pioneer, and our leader (Heb 2:10); and because He is the
born Son of God; we are adopted into the family. All of these reflect His preeminence.
[Return to Romans 8]
What Paul is showing here is that when Gods purpose for believers is realized, in the redemption of their
bodies from death, it will serve to further glorify Gods Son. The ultimate purpose is the glory of God.
Paul has spoken of Gods beginning with His sons; He foreknew them; and His end for them; He gave them
a glorious destiny. Now Paul writes of how God achieved His purpose.
v. 30 So those whom God foreknew would respond to His invitation, whose destiny He predetermined, He
called. Here this is speaking of an effectual call. The call of the gospel goes out to all; God would have
that none should perish. But it is those who will respond to the call that are in sight, here; God is calling
them to their destiny, we might say.
Those who respond to Gods invitation to become a son of God, in Christ, He justified He acquitted them
of all charges of sin against them, and declared them righteous. Jesus died for all; but only those who unite
themselves to Christ by faith receive the benefit of His work on the cross. And those whom God justified
who believed into His Son these He also glorified with an everlasting body.
In verses 29-30, see how Paul presents all of these things as the actions of God: He foreknew, He
predestined, He called, He justified, He glorified. In addition, Paul presents these actions as an unbreakable
chain; one leads to the other; the beginning, ensures the end.
The idea is eternal security, based on God, alone. Finally, notice that all of the verbs in verses 29-30 are in
the past tense; and in the Greek, it is one particular time, in the past. From the eternal perspective, it was
all finished at the cross.
This is the destiny that God has prepared for those who love Him, and respond to His invitation, to become
a son of God. It gives us confidence for we know that He who has begun a good work in us, will
complete it until the glorious day that Jesus returns for us (Phil 1:6).
Next week: finish Romans 8. Read Psalm 44.