A Study of The Book of Romans

Lesson 54 Chapter 8:23 – 27

1. Verse 23 “And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.”
1. “And not only they, but ourselves also…” There are two groups of people mentioned here; (1.) “And not only they” being the Gentiles and (2.) “…but ourselves also…” which would be the Jews.

a. Some say the “creature” and the “creation” spoken of last week was speaking of the Gentiles however maybe or maybe not, but this verse does not destroy the idea that it refers to all the elect of God, both Gentiles and Jews.

b. It could be Paul was speaking of the elect ones that had already died and now is referring to them that are alive.

2. “…which have the firstfruits of the Spirit…” I think this is to be understood of them (the present believers) as being the firstfruits of the Spirit.

a. The fruits of the Spirit would start with salvation, and then other fruits are given. We being the firstfruits of the Spirit would be those since Pentecost.

b. We were all saved by the conviction of the Holy Spirit but things changed when the Holy Spirit entered the church in Acts 2 we saw multitudes saved and more being saved and added to the church everyday. It could be here the dividing line is the death and resurrection of Christ until the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. They before Acts 2 and us after Acts 2.

3. “…even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption…” We cry in Ernest waiting for (1.) to get to heaven by death or the return of Christ, and (2.) for the redemption of our bodies which will (a.) complete salvation and (b.) make our adoption complete. As far as it is concerned these are already complete to us and to God however the resurrection will truly complete it.
1. Verse 24 “For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?”
1. “For we are saved by hope…” First of all some abusers of the scripture that have a desire to mislead what the scriptures say, we are not saved by hope, we are saved by Jesus Christ and His death, burial, and resurrection. Once we are saved we have hope.

a. 1 Peter 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,”

b. The word “saved” here means - to save, that is, deliver or protect or preserved – therefore it is believed this is better read “We are preserved by hope.” Or this hope keeps us from becoming concerned with worldly things, or from impatiently waiting for our completion.

2. “…but hope that is seen is not hope…”

a. Albert Barns says “Hope is a complex emotion, made up of an earnest desire, and an expectation of obtaining an object. It has reference, therefore, to what is at present unseen. But when the object is seen, and is in our possession, it cannot be said to be an object of hope. The Word hope here means the object of hope, the thing hoped for.”

b. JFB says “for the very meaning of hope is, the expectation that something now future will become present.”

c. The hope here is the object hoped for and that is the completeness of salvation and adoption hood. It is future but will one day be present. If we had it already it would not be hope “…for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?”

d. We groin within waiting for it with hope.

3. Verse 25 “But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.” Yes we do!
2. Verse 26 “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”
1. “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities…” Likewise in how He convicted our hearts to salvation, how He gave us the knowledge of hope, how He gave us the other fruits of the Spirit, He also helps us in our weakness.
2. “…for we know not what we should pray for as we ought…” How good of a prayer warrior are you? Even the best are not very good. We pray but truly are weak in our prayers. The Holy Spirit helps our prayers (1.) by bringing things to memory and (2.) Being with us while we pray and causing us to pray properly.

a. We must remember to Whom we are praying to; God the King of kings and God of gods. God accepts no errors therefore our prayers must be perfectly prepared for God the Father.

b. Prayer is not to be taken lightly and must be thought out, because we do not want to pray for the wrong things, for something that is bad for us, or for something that is not in the Fathers will, therefore The Holy Spirit assist us in our prayers because He knows the future, He knows the will and mind of the Father.

3. “…but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” Most will say that the Holy Spirit does not pray for us and I agree, however I believe since we are weak on what to pray about that the Holy Spirit takes our prayers and makes the presentable to the Father. I also believe it is Jesus who delivers our prayer to the Father because our prayers must be through Jesus and not the Holy Spirit.

a. We do not know God’s will for our future therefore He intercedes for us.

b. Notice verse 27 “And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” He knows what we want and knows what we need and also knows what is God’s will for us, and helps our prayers to fit all of this. We do not have to pray perfect prayers but I believe when they get to the Father they are perfect.

c. Do not be afraid to pray, you have the Holy Spirit helping you, we pray to God not to those around us.

d. We as Christians never walk alone in any part of our life. Jesus and the Holy Spirit are there helping us along, in fact we would not make it through life without either one.