Posts by Yong Joo Park:
The Spirit’s Groanings and God’s Unbreakable Chain of Salvation
Romans 8:26–30 NLT
26 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. 27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. 28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. 29 For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.
Message
God’s children are glorified via suffering (Romans 8:15-17). But future glory far exceeds current suffering and so we wait patiently and confidently for what God has promised (Romans 8:18-25).
Then did God leave us alone while we are suffering and waiting for the glory?
I. The Spirit’s Presence and Help (26)
See verse 26.
26 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.
i. The Spirit is With Us
Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to His believers before He left (John 14:26, 15:26, 16:7).
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- Comforter / Helper — He comes alongside believers to help and strengthen them.
John 14:16, 26 - Advocate / Counselor — He supports, guides, and represents God’s truth to us.
John 14:16; John 16:7 - Teacher — He teaches believers and reminds them of Jesus’ words.
John 14:26 - Guide into truth — He leads believers into truth and tells them about the future.
John 16:13 - Witness about Jesus — He testifies about Christ.
John 15:26 - Convicts the world — He exposes sin, righteousness, and judgment.
John 16:8–11 - Lives in believers — He dwells within God’s people.
John 14:17; 1 Corinthians 6:19 - Gives new spiritual life — We are born again through the Spirit.
John 3:5–8; Titus 3:5 - Gives power — He empowers believers to witness and serve God.
Acts 1:8 - Produces spiritual fruit — Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Galatians 5:22–23 - Gives spiritual gifts — He gives different abilities for serving the church.
1 Corinthians 12:4–11 - Sanctifies believers — He works in us to make us holy and more like Christ.
2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2 - Leads believers — God’s children are led by the Spirit.
Romans 8:14 - Brings freedom — “Wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
2 Corinthians 3:17 - Seals believers — He is God’s seal showing that we belong to Him and a guarantee of our future inheritance.
Ephesians 1:13–14
- Comforter / Helper — He comes alongside believers to help and strengthen them.
ii. The Spirit Helps Us in Our Weakness
What is 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. Amen.
II. Perfect Intercession, Perfect Providence (27-28)
See verses 27-28.
27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. 28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
The Father knows all hearts and so He knows what the Holy Spirit is saying with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. The Holy Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
III. The Golden Chain of Salvation (29-30)
See verses 29-30.
29 For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.
Foreknowledge: God knew his people in advance.
Predestination: God chose them to become like His Son, so that His Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. (29)
Calling: Having chosen them, He called them to come to Him.
Justification: Having called them, He gave them right standing with Himself.
Glorification: Having given them right standing, He gave them His glory. (30)
Groaning Now, Glory Later: The Hope That Sustains God’s Children
Romans 8:18–25 NLT 18 Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. 19 For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. 20 Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, 21 the creation […]
God’s Children Glorified via Suffering
Romans 8:15–17 NLT 15 So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” 16 For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. 17 And since we are his children, we […]
No Obligation to the Flesh: Living as Children of God
Romans 8:10–14 NLT 10 And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God. 11 The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he […]
No Condemnation, Life Through the Spirit
Romans 8:1-9 (NLT) 1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. 3 The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of […]
Released from the Law, Still Battling the Flesh
Romans 7:14-25 NLT 14 So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. 15 I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I […]
God’s Law Reveals Our Sin
How Sin Uses God’s Good Commandments for Evil Romans 7:7-13 NLT God’s Law Reveals Our Sin 7 Well then, am I suggesting that the law of God is sinful? Of course not! In fact, it was the law that showed me my sin. I would never have known that coveting is wrong if the law had […]
Serving God in the New Way of the Spirit
Romans 7:1-6 (NLT) 1 Now, dear brothers and sisters—you who are familiar with the law—don’t you know that the law applies only while a person is living? 2 For example, when a woman marries, the law binds her to her husband as long as he is alive. But if he dies, the laws of marriage no […]
From Slaves to Sin to Servants of God
Romans 6:19-23 NLT 19 Because of the weakness of your human nature, I am using the illustration of slavery to help you understand all this. Previously, you let yourselves be slaves to impurity and lawlessness, which led ever deeper into sin. Now you must give yourselves to be slaves to righteous living so that you will […]
Set Free to Serve Righteousness
Romans 6:12 – 18 (NLT) 12 Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. 13 Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use […]
