Romans 8

Romans 8:26-28

groanings which cannot be uttered. 27. And he * that fearcheth the hearts, knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints, * according to the will of God. 28. And we know that * all things work together for good to them that love God, * to them who are called according to his pur-pole.

We have not only a glorious hope before us, but have likewise the most reviving supports by the way; for the Spirit of our God, quickening, comforting, strengthening us, behere our infernities, that we may not sink under our burdens, or be discouraged by our trials, or err through our remaining darkness (evocations) having implanted the graces of hope and patience, he still supports us in the exercise of them, and particularly in our approaches to God in prayer; for we know not what is pray for us we ought; ignorant, and knowing not what is best for us; weak, and unable to expect our wants a right; our affections so cold, our attention so distracted, and sometimes our lips sealed up, that we cannot speak before God; but the Spirit itself, by his gracious suggestions, maketh intercession for us, pouring out a spirit of prayer and supplication upon our hearts, giving us such a sense of our wants, and exciting desires after God so intensely and affecting as words cannot expect, which can only be breathed forth until graveness which cannot be uttered. And he that fearcheth the hearts, the all-feeing God, knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit; though our tongue may not form an articulate sound in prayer, God regards and will answer these gracious workings of his Spirit in our hearts, though he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God, inclining us always to ask according to the mind and will of God, and engaging us humbly to resign ourselves, for an answer to our prayers, in time, manner, and measure, to his good pleasure. And we know, by the assured promise of his word, by the experience of all his saints, and by our own, when thus unreservedly calling our care upon him, that all things work together for good to them that love God; and however dark, and for the time grievous to flesh and blood, the dissensions of Providence may appear, we are now assured, and we shall hereafter prove, that the circumstances which formed most affections we could not have done without, and that they especially conducted to promote our spiritual and eternal welfare; and this is one of the inestimable privileges peculiar to them who are called according to his eternal purpose, and by the gospel, through the power of the Spirit, effectually turned to God.

29. For whom he did foreknow, * he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, * that he might be the first-born among many brethren. 30. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, * them he also called; and whom he called, * them he also justified; and whom he justified, * them he also glorified.

v. 29, 30. The apostle, having mentioned several of the inestimable privileges which belong to the faithful in Christ Jesus, have traced them up to their origin in God’s predestination, and to their offer in our eternal glory. For whom he did foreknow, as the objects of his eternal love, chosen of his sovereign will and pleasure to be to the praise of the glory of his grace, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, in holstures of heart and life, in sufferings here, and in eternal glory hereafter; that he might be the first-born among many brethren, their Prince and Patterson, having in all things the pre-incidence, the first begotten from the dead, and the forerunner in our name and nature, entered for us into profession of the heavenly inheritance. Moreover, whom he did predestinate to holstures and sufferings as the way, and heaven as the end, then he also called by his grace, through the gospel word, to know, embrace, and profess the faith of Jesus; and whom he called, then he also justified, discharging them from all guilt and condemnation, and accepting them as righteous through their Covenant (Read and Substitute); and whom he justified, then he also glorified, advancing them to his own right hand, and making them to sit down with him on his eternal throne. And this, being sure to be accomplished in all God’s redeemed people, is spoken of as already done, because not one can perish of the many sons whom the Lord Christ is appointed to bring unto glory. Note, (1.) God abuts not elude us for any good in us, or done by us, or which he foresaw we should do afterwards; but merely of his sovereign will and pleasure. (2.) God’s predestination is so far from leading us to live as we lift, as some suppose, that it is the most powerful argument to walk in holstures as Christ also walked, whereunto we are appointed. (3.) It were the height of folly to flatter ourselves we shall live with Christ hereafter, if we are not like him now. (4.) The Redeemer’s undertaking was not uncertain; he knew that none whom he purchased should ever perish. (5.) God by his word, his providences, his Spirit, calls all those whom he hath chosen, and so effectually, that they cannot but hear and obey him. (6.) They who, obedient to the gospel call, have find for refuge to lay hold upon the hope

set before them, are justified from all things, and shall never again enter into condemnation, so as finally to perish. (7.) All the redeemed must be glorified. Our salvation stands not upon our frail and sinful selves, but upon the well-ordered covenant, and the perfection of our divine Substitute; we are complete in him, and are already set down in heavenly places with and in Christ Jesus.

31. What shall we then say to these things? * If God be for us, who can be against us? 32. * He that spared not his own Son, but * delivered him up for us all; * how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33. * Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth: 34. * Who is he that condemneth? * It is Christ that died, yea rather than in risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, * who also maketh intercession for us. 35. * Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation? or districts? or persecution? or famine? or nakedness? or peril? or sword? 36. (As it is written, * For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter! 37. * Nay in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38. * For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, * nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39. Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:31-39

Having enumerated the distinguishing blessings of the faithful, the apostle triumphantly exults in the assurance of God’s unchangeable regard.

1. In the view of what God hath done he defies all accusers. What shall we then say to these things? shall we first back from sufferings when the silent is so glorious? what can we wish or desire more transcendently glorious than their great and precious promises. If God be for us, with infinite wisdom to guide, almighty power to protect, and boundless love to comfort us, who can be against us? what have we to tear from men or devils? they cannot frustrate his purpose of grace, nor disappoint his designs. He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, of his own good pleasure freely gave him to become incarnate, laid upon him our iniquities, and exacted from him all that punishment which his people had deserved; how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? what can he now withhold, when, compared with the gift of his Son, every thing beside must appear but little? since he hath given him, we may surely conclude he will much more add all the rest, and freely enrich us with all spiritual and eternal blessings in Christ Jesus. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? be their transgressions never so many, great, and aggravated; it is God that justifieth them; and, since he hath accepted them in their liberty, they can appear with boldness at his tribunal, and plead that perfect atonement and righteousness which even justice itself must approve: who is he that condemneth? let the law accade, let conscience plead guilty; yet, since he who hath redeemed us from the curie of the law is our defecant, there is no condemnation; for it is Christ that died, he hath paid the ransom; yea rather than is risen again; God hath testified his full approbation therein of his undertaking, and that his justice is completely satisfied; so that we may safely trust upon his finished salvation; who is even at the right hand of God, exalted to the highest dignity and glory, as a Prince and Saviour, to give repentance and remission of sins; who also maketh intercession for us; our friend in every time of need, and, in the all-prevailing merit of his atonement, pleading effectually our cause, and securing our eternal felicity. Note, The views of a dying, risen, attended, glorified Redeemer, should silence all our tears and doubts, and engage us comfortably and confidently to trust him under all our trials for time and for eternity.

2. He professes his confidence that, with such a Saviour at the right hand of God, no sufferings shall ever separate our souls from Christ and his love. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? what shall be able to quench the fervor of his affection towards us, or extinguish the sacred flame which he hath kindled in our bosoms? shall tribulation, or districts, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword, shall all the various sills that flesh is heir to, from sickness, pain, poverty, a malignant world, a untrusted nature, a tempting devil, shall then separate us from the Redeemer’s arms? No. That we must suffer he hath foretold us, as it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long, we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter, butchered without remorse by our cruel persecutors, and for the sake of Jesus in jeopardy every hour. But do these things move us? Nay: so far from it, that in all these things we are more than conquerors, rising superior to every foe, through him that loved us, whose inward supports and confessions over balance all our sufferings, and whose power and grace, continually exerted on our behalf, carry us triumphantly through our conflicts. For

I am

I am persuaded, that neither death, with all its terrors; nor life, with all its allurements; nor angels, nor principalities, nor pioneers; neither the fiends of darkness, nor the perfecuting rulers of the earth; nor things present, the afflictions and temptations now felt; nor things to come, the greater evils which we fear; nor heights of prosperity, nor depth of adversity, nor any other treasure, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Tosus our Lord. Till the Son be separated from the Father’s bloom, we never can be sequated from his love; for we set one with him in union indisoluble. When any gracious soul is tempted to doubt their final perseverance, and ready to sink under present trials, let them read this blessed chapter, and in the unchangeable love of God in Christ sweety repose. He is faithful; therefore we shall never persin.