The Epistle to the Romans
Lesson 15
Special English Version

Righteousness Perfected

Reading Assignment: Romans 8

Introduction
We now come to the second part of the greatest chapter in the Bible. In Romans 3:21-5:11, Paul was concerned with our JUSTIFICATION and in Romans 5:12-8:17, with our SANCTIFICATION. In Romans 8:18, he turned to the subject of our future GLORIFICATION.

In Romans 8:1-17 we saw Righteousness Realized. We learned that the righteous will of God, which we could never do in the flesh, is fulfilled in us by the power of the Holy Spirit.

In Romans 8:18-39 we shall see Righteousness Perfected in the fulfillment of God’s Promise, Purpose, and Presence.
Pray earnestly as you study the lesson that God will give you understanding. Approach it as though you are on holy ground.

Importance of this Lesson

• It is important to understand that our redemption is not complete. The best is yet to come.
• It is important to learn that when you have no words to express the desires and troubles in your heart, there is Someone who understands perfectly and tells your need to the Father.
• It is important to know that God has planned a glorious and eternal future for the believer. He will protect us, take care of us and guard us until that plan is fully completed.

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The Lesson

Outline:

1. God’s PROMISE of Future Glory – verses 18-25
2. The Spirit’s PRAYER for the believer – verses 26-27
3. God’s Eternal PLAN for All Believers – verses 28-30
4. God’s Unfailing PROTECTION – verses 31-34
5. God’s Complete PROVISION – verses 35-37
6. God’s Inseparable PRESENCE – verses 38-39

I. THREE GROANINGS – Romans 8:22-27 – Before proceeding with a verse-by-verse commentary, we call attention to the three groanings mentioned here.

1. The groaning of Creation – verse 22
   1. God’s curse is on all the earth because of Adam’s sin – Genesis 3:17-19.
   2. Until NOW – God did not discontinue this curse. Man, beast, and all creation are dying. Every destructive wind, every earthquake, every drought, every strong flood or feared disease is part of this groaning.
   3. But this will not last forever – there is hope. Creation will share in the complete redemption of the children of God – verse 21.
2. The groaning of a Christian – verse 23
   1. Paul here stated that all believers share the first fruits of the Spirit. These fruits are the things we have learned in this chapter, the things the Holy Spirit did for us in the past and is doing for us today. (Know these for your exam.)
      1. He has made us free from the … law of sin and death – verse 2.
      2. He assures us of our salvation – verses 9,16.
      3. He enables us to live righteously – verse 4.
      4. He restrains the deeds of the flesh – verse 13.
   2. These wonderful first fruits are the first part of the complete redemption of our bodies – verse 23.
   3. Every Christian knows that as long as he is in his body his redemption is not complete.
   4. He looks forward to that glorious event when Christ will “…change our vile (sinful) body, that in order that he may make it like unto his glorious body…” (Philippians 3:21).
   5. Until then, every Christian experiences the aches, pains, weaknesses, and sickness just like all other people. …we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption… – verse 23.
3. The groaning of the Spirit – verses 26-27
   1. Here we are taught that when we try to pray but find we have no words to express the desire and hardships of our hearts, the Holy Spirit steps in. He knows exactly what we mean and what we need and He tells that need perfectly to God the Father. The Holy Spirit does it with such power that Paul says it is with groanings that cannot be uttered.
   2. God understands completely because He knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit – verse 27.
   3. These verses emphasize the need for the believer to yield to God’s will in such a way that when we pray, we actually pray “in the Spirit” who makes …intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

II. GOD’S PROMISE OF FUTURE GLORY

1. Keep our over all outline in mind. Here is glorification as righteousness perfected – verses 18-25.
   1. Verse 18 – All of us know something about physical suffering. Christians, through the ages, received beatings. People burned them at the stake, and beheaded them for Christ’s sake. Even today, others reject you, they look down on you, they hate you because you love the Lord Jesus Christ. In this verse, Paul was teaching us that compared to our future inheritance and glorification with Christ, this present suffering is like nothing, no matter how cruel it is. Regarding this, please refer to such passages as 1 John 3:1-2; Colossians 3:4; Philippians 3:20-21; 2 Corinthians 4:17; Revelation 22:5; and of course, Romans 8:17.
   2. Verses 19-22 – These interesting verses have puzzled many students of the Bible but they are not so difficult if the following facts are kept in mind:
      1. Paul wrote like a poet. He made nature look like a person.
      2. The word “creature” should be translated “creation.” In this passage it means this earth. Compare Colossians 1:23 where the phrase “to every creature which is under heaven” should read, “in all creation,” and Genesis 3:17-18 where God said “cursed is the ground for thy sake…Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth.” In other words, all plant and animal life and all the created world, (earth) bears the curse of Adam’s sin.
      3. The material universe does not share in the liberty of grace (Galatians 5:1) experienced by every born-again child of God. For its own redemption and deliverance, it must wait for the time when Christ comes back to reign over the earth. At this time, this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, this mortal shall have put on immortality”(1 Corinthians 15:54), when we shall shine as the stars (Daniel 12:3), when God transforms us into Christ’s likeness (1 John 3:2), and God glorifies us together with Christ (Romans 8:17).
   3. In verse 19, the words, earnest expectation mean “eagerly awaits.” All creation waits and looks forward to the time when God will bring “the sons” out into the open to show them to the world.
   4. Verse 20 says that God, because of Adam’s failure, made creation empty. God made the world meaningless, full of anger. It could not reach the state for which God made it. All creation groans and struggles in pain (verse 22). All of creation is under … bondage of corruption…(verse 21).
   5. All creation knows about its Creator and it know about God’s program to bring it back to it’s original state. It knows about God’s plan for His children (verse 21).
   6. After sin came into the world God made creation empty. He did not leave it without hope. He …subjected the same in hope (verse 20). God will deliver all of creation from the curse, the feelings of anger, and the …bondage of corruption. Some day the wolf also shall live with the
      lamb, the sucking child shall play on the hole of the snake, and the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, in the same way waters cover the sea (Isaiah 11:6-10).
   7. Verses 24-25 – …we are saved by hope…. Hope is a blessed part of our salvation. It keeps us faithful (Hebrews 6:19). Christ in us is indeed “the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). Naturally, hope that is seen is no longer hope, but we have within us a living hope (1 Peter 1:3), which enables us to wait patiently for God to show us this hope fully in the future.

III. THE SPIRIT’S INTERCESSORY PRAYER – verses 26-27

1. Verse 26 –Likewise– Just as the Spirit helps us to identify with creation in its groaning (verses 22-23), so He helps us in our prayer life to pray in harmony with the will of God. …helpeth our infirmities…: or weaknesses. Actually the word infirmities is singular and should read “infirmity.” The Bible designates us as completely weak – …we know not what we should pray for as we ought….
2. It is not that we don’t know for what to pray. It is that we don’t know HOW to pray. This is why it is so important to pray “in the Spirit.” He knows where the greatest needs are and how to express those needs …according to the will of God (verse 27).

IV. GOD’S ETERNAL PLAN FOR ALL BELIEVERS – verses 28-30

1. Verse 28 is one of the most widely quoted and best loved versed in the whole Bible. There is no need to say much about this verse. But here are some things to consider:
   1. This promise is not for everyone. It is for all those people who love God…who are the called according to His plan.
   2. This is a promise of which every believer should be absolutely certain. Notice the “and we know.”
   3. We must look at all of the experiences of life, the good and the bad, as one experience for only then can we see that God's plans are for our good. Things that people are working on, such as a painting or a rug, usually do not yet look like the finished product.
   4. Notice that the Bible does not say that all things work together for our health or wealth, but for our “good.” God knows what is good for all of us.
2. Every believer is a child of God because God called him (Romans 1:6-7; Hebrews 3:1; 2 Timothy 1:9).
3. God has a glorious plan for every person who loves Him and we see that plan in verses 29-30.

V. GOD’S UNFAILING PROTECTION – verses 31-34

• In this amazing portion, Paul speaks of the Christian’s security and position.

1. Verse 31 – …What shall we then say to these things?… What things? Most likely Paul referred to all the things God did for us as revealed from Romans 3 until now. Romans 3-5 talked about our justification. Romans 6 explains our sanctification, Romans 8 reveals our future glorification, which God promised. Now we see God’s sovereign election and eternal plan for those He foreknew and called.
   1. What CAN we say to such “things?” When we question them we show our unbelief. We must accept these “things” in faith. We should greatly rejoice in them.
   2. …If God be for us, who can be against us?… Almighty God protects and keeps us with His power. Who can harm or destroy us if God defends us? “God is our shelter and strength, therefore we will not fear, though God removes the earth (Psalm 46:1-2). Who would dare challenge the power of our great God?
2. Verse 32 – God so loved us that He was willing to share His own Son and offered Him up as a sacrifice for all of us and for all our sins. Surely His grace will supply “all your need according to his riches in glory” (Philippians 4:19). In Christ we are complete, we need nothing else (Colossians 2:10).
3. Verse 33 –Who can charge anything to someone whom God has chosen? All we need for glory is God’s approval and we are approved and accepted by Him “in the beloved” (Ephesians 1:6).
   Remember, in Christ, God has declared us to be justified. We are free of guilt and blame. We need not fear anyone’s accusations.
4. Verse 34 – Who is going to condemn us? Surely not the One who died for us and is even now defending us and praying for us at the right hand of God.
5. Before continuing, have you noticed that the last four verses are a continuous series of questions? Let’s take one quick look at them:
   

   1. If God be for us, who can be against us?	No one.
   2. How shall He not, with him (Christ), freely give us all things?	He does and He will.
   3. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect?	No one can.
   4. Shall God that justifieth?	Certainly not.
   5. Who is he that condemneth?	No one is able.
   6. Shall Christ who now makes intercessions for us?	Never!

VI. GOD’S COMPLETE PROVISION – verses 35-37

• The important verse in this short section is verse 36. Nay, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

1. In and through our blessed Lord Jesus, God provided complete deliverance from the “things” that Satan might use to turn us or to tear us away from His love.
2. Paul often used the number seven (7) because it is the number of perfection and completion. Here, in verse 35, he listed seven things Satan uses to “separate us from the love of Christ.”
   1. Tribulation – the trials and troubles which the believer experiences throughout the ages for the Gospel’s sake. See 1 Thessalonians 1:6,3:4; John 16:33; Acts 14:22.
   2. Distress – that which causes misery, suffering, pain, and sorrow and anguish of heart.
   3. Persecution – suffering at the hands of those who reject the Gospel. See John 15:20; 2 Corinthians 4:9; 2 Timothy 3:12.
   4. Famine – Lack of food. In Philippians 4:12-13, Paul wrote, “I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ….” Read also 2 Corinthians 11:27.
   5. Nakedness – People have often shamed Christians for Christ’s sake. Read 1 Corinthians 4:11.
   6. Peril – Even today, millions of Christians live in dangers that threaten their lives. Paul knew every kind of danger. Read 2 Corinthians 11:26.
   7. Sword – Old Testament saints were killed by the sword (Hebrews 11:37). Throughout the ages the sword killed many believers. The sword often killed in the name of religion. Verse 36 is a quote of Psalm 44:22. The writer sees the believers as being killed all the day long and they are looked upon as …sheep for the slaughter. Many believers in the early church were killed the way this verse mentions. If Christ stays away, Christians may have to endure this again at the hands of a world that hates both Christ and the truth.
3. Satan may use of all these things in his cruel and wild attack upon us, but he cannot separate us from the love of Christ. We are gloriously, eternally, bound to Christ and that will never change. This is a glorious truth.
4. In fact, “we are MORE that conquerors” in all these things. “…God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ…” (2 Corinthians 2:14).

• We are in the hands of a God who has all power and nobody can stand against us!

VII. GOD’S INSEPARABLE PRESENCE – verses 38-39

• In the final verses of this incomparable chapter, Paul soared to the height of inspired eloquence as he presented yet more things that can never separate us from the love of God.

1. …I am persuaded… – Paul wrote with absolute confidence in his heart that these things were so. He had personally experienced all the things mentioned in verses 35-36. Through Christ, he had won the victory. He was more than a winner. He knew from experience that God’s love and presence would never leave him.
2. …neither death, nor life… – Death, for every believer, is an enemy that has already lost the war. (Hebrews 2:14; 1 Corinthians 15:54-57). Life with all its disappointments, sorrows, troubles and pain can do nothing to separate us from the love of God.
3. …nor angels… – Evidently, as “the anointed cherub” (Ezekiel 28:14), Satan was head of a great many angels who followed him in his rebellion. Read Ezekiel 28:14-19; Isaiah 14:12-15; Jude 6; 2 Peter 2:4. Like Satan, these angels are sentenced to eternal judgment. Still they may help Satan to do evil.
4. …nor principalities, nor powers… – The Bible recognizes the existence of mysterious, evil, and unseen principalities and powers. As Christians, we fight against them (Ephesians 6:12). The believer is sure he can win over them because Christ died to “triumph over them” (Colossians 2:15). These powers, whether good or bad, cannot separate us from our gracious God.
5. …nor things present, nor things to come… – We need not fear any present or future situation of life. We are being “kept (guarded) by the power of God” (1 Peter 1:5) and nothing will ever be able to separate us from Him.
6. …Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature (created thing)… Remember that before Christ went up into heaven, He went down first into the lower parts of the earth (Ephesians 4:8-9). He is the creator and He controls all things in this universe (Colossians 1:16-17). Nothing in all creation can ever separate us from the Creator!
7. …which is in Christ Jesus our Lord – The love of God is centered “in Christ.” And, as believers, that is where we are, “chosen… in him (Christ) before the foundation of the world” (Ephesians 1:4).

• This great chapter began with “no condemnation” for those who were “in Christ.” It ends with the hallelujah that there is “no separation” from the love that is “in Christ.” Amen!

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