Introduction Commentary
From Bill Johnson, God is good
The Father wanted satan defeated by man, one made in His image. Many make the mistake of thinking that the devil is the opposite of God. He’s a created being and would be more likely compared to the opposite of Michael, also an archangel. The devil has never been a threat to God in any possible measure. He can be removed forever with a simple word. But God, in His wisdom, has chosen to use the devil as a chess piece on a chessboard. He uses him at will, so that the devil’s best attempts to destroy are always placed into the hands of the One who causes, “all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Rom 8:28). We must remember God is building for eternity – that is where the ultimate vindication and restoration will be seen. Thankfully, there is a great measure of victory in this life that is far beyond what any of us could earn. But it would be a great mistake to ignore eternity, as eternity is the cornerstone of all logic and reason.
(Page 51)
Teaching Videos
Commentaries
Romans 8:26-27
Romans 8:26-27 NIV - In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
NKJV New Spirit-Filled Life Bible
Romans 8:26 NLT - And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.
Romans 8:26 - The Greek word translated helps is used in Luke 10:40, where Martha wants Mary to come and help her. The word does not indicate that the Holy Spirit prays instead of us, but that the Holy Spirit takes part with us and makes our weak prayers effective. Some interpret the groanings as those uttered by the Holy Spirit, since the text says that He uses these groanings to make intercession. Others see Paul referring to our “groanings” in prayer, since: 1) v. 23 says that “we ourselves groan”; 2) such “groanings,” which seem to imply a degree of distress or anguish, are appropriate for creatures (vv. 22, 23), but not for the Creator; 3) this sentence explains the first sentence in v. 26, which says that the Spirit “helps” us, not that the Spirit replaces our prayers.
The Passion Translation
Romans 8:26 TPT - And in a similar way, the Holy Spirit takes hold of us in our human frailty to empower us in our weakness. For example, at times we don’t even know how to pray, or know the best things to ask for. But the Holy Spirit rises up within us to super-intercede on our behalf, pleading to God with emotional sighs too deep for words.
The Passion Translation footnote for super-intercede: The Greek word hupererentugkhano is best translated “super [or hyper]-intercede for us.” We can only imagine how many blessings have poured into our lives because of the hyper-intercession of the Holy Spirit for us!
Warren W. Wiersbe - How to be right with God, yourself and others
Romans 8:26 The Message - Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans.
Romans 8:26 - God is concerned about the trials of His people. When He was ministering on earth, Jesus groaned when He saw what sin was doing to mankind (Mark 7:34; John 11:33, 38). Today the Holy Spirit groans with us and feels the burdens of our weaknesses and suffering. But the Spirit does more than groan. He prays for us in His groaning so that we might be led into the will of God. We do not always know God’s will. We do not always know how to pray, but the Spirit intercedes so that we might live in the will of God in spite of suffering. The Spirit “shares the burden.”
From Warren W. Wiersbe - How to be right with God, yourself and others
Expositors Bible Commentary (Abridged Version): New Testament
Romans 8:27 NKJV - Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Verse 27 is needed to clarify something referred to in v.26, i.e., the inexpressible groanings. How can such prayer, if it be called prayer at all, be answered? Are not such prayers unintelligible? Not for God! He is no stranger to the intent of the Spirit. He knows what the inexpressible meaning is, because the petitions that the Spirit voices are strictly in accord with the will of God. It is a mistake to associate the inexpressible groanings with glossolalia.
From the Expositors Bible Commentary (Abridged Version): New Testament
Worship Song
Romans 8:28-30
Romans 8:28-30 NKJV - And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible
Romans 8:28 GW - We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God—those whom he has called according to his plan.
Romans 8:28 - in all things God works for the good. A second reason—in addition to the Spirit’s intercession (vv. 26–27)—that believers can “wait . . . patiently” (v. 25) for their ultimate redemption: they can be confident that God works in all the circumstances of their lives to accomplish his good purpose for them. This is one of the great promises of Scripture. “The good” is not necessarily what believers might think is good but is what God deems will be best to assist their growth into the image of Christ (v. 29) and bring them to final glory (v. 30).
From the NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible
Vines Expository Bible Notes
Romans 8:29-30 NIV - For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
Romans 8:29-30 - Second, as believers we rejoice in God’s plan (8:29–30). We may rejoice:
• because of His wisdom—“foreknew” (8:29). Human knowledge is after the fact. God’s knowledge knows no timeline.
• because of His will—“predestined” (8:29). Predestination has to do with the ultimate destiny of the child of God, not the unsaved (see Eph. 1:5, 11). God’s intention for every lost person is clear (1 Tim. 2:3, 4; 2 Pet. 3:9).
• because of His word—“called” (8:30). God issues a call to us (8:28; see 1 Tim. 4:10).
• because of His work—“justified” (8:30). Being justified is an act God Himself does, making us not guilty.
• because of His wealth—“glorified” (8:30). Paul said our glorification has already taken place. What he means is that the promise is irrevocably certain!
From the Vines Expository Bible Notes
Warren W. Wiersbe -How to be right with God, yourself and others
Romans 8:29-30 - God has two purposes in that plan: our good and His glory. Ultimately, He will make us like Jesus Christ. Best of all, God’s plan is going to succeed. It started in eternity past when He chose us in Christ (Eph. 1:4-5). He predetermined that one day we would be like His Son. Predestination applies only to saved people. Nowhere are we taught that God predestines people to be eternally condemned. If they are condemned, it is because of their refusal to trust Christ (John 3:18-21). Those whom He chose, He called (see 2 Thess. 2:13-14); when they responded to His call, He justified them, and He also glorified them. This means that the believer has already been glorified in Christ (John 17:22); the revelation of this glory awaits the coming of the Lord (Rom. 8:21-23).
From Warren W. Wiersbe - How to be right with God, yourself and others
Worship Song
For the Good - Riley Clemmons
What's Next?
Some questions to consider
1. What did God say to you when studying this passage?
2. What does that mean for how you live your life? (ie is there something you believe God wants you to do differently?)
3. How can we as a Lifegroup support you?