Romans 8:28-30 We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and t...  Read More

Romans 8:30 …and these whom [God] predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.Romans 8:30 resumes the chain of salvific, theological terms that began in v. 29 with God’s foreknowledge and predestination. These terms reveal, at a minimum, that the salvation of sinners did not begin when they were born and later heard the g...  Read More

Romans 8:29 For those whom [God] foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren…The explanation of why God works all things for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (v. 28) is found in v. 29 as indicated by “for,” an explanatory particle. So, in vv. 29-30 Paul reveals the purpose, or pl...  Read More

Romans 8:28 We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.Oftentimes there is a difference between what we think is “good” and what God knows is good. What we think is good is often bad, and what God knows to be good is always what He accomplishes in and through us—even the most gut-wrenching experiences over th...  Read More

Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.In the context of Christian trials leading to future glory (8:18-27), Paul assures believers that although the sufferings of life can be difficult, they will indeed be worked out by God for the Christian’s ultimate good. The Greek verbs in v. 28 are n...  Read More

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.Like all humans, Paul was getting older. His earthen vessel was not only decaying (cf. Eccl 1...  Read More

Romans 8:26-27 In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; 27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.All of God’s creation groans under sin’s curse (vv. 19-23). When God’s son...  Read More

Romans 8:23-25 …but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. 24 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.Having taught tha...  Read More

Romans 8:20-22 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.The personified creation in v. 19 longs for t...  Read More

Romans 8:18-19 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.After having tied in the issue of suffering with being a Christian in 8:17, Paul now seeks to encourage all of God’s children who are burdened by the general sufferings related t...  Read More

Ephesians 5:18 Do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit.Paul’s letter to Ephesus is so closely linked to his letter to Colossae that the two epistles are commonly called sister epistles. Instructing the Colossians to “let the word of Christ richly dwell within you” (v. 16), Paul tells them what results is teaching and admonishing one another with psalms an...  Read More

Romans 8:16-17 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.The Holy Spirit “testifies” with the spirit of man—his intellect, that he is indeed a child of God. The present tense verb “testify” (Gr. summartureō) means “to conf...  Read More