Bible Commentaries
Romans 8

Verse 1

Romans 8:1

Romans 8:1

There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus.—The provisions of the gospel for those who are in Christ Jesus are so complete that there remains no reason why they should be condemned. But there is a general impression that God demanded a more rigid obedience to his law under the Jewish dispensation than under the Christian. It is imagined that through the death of Christ in some way an indulgence from God was secured by which man might be allowed greater license in neglecting the law of God and in going his own way. This is a fatal mistake.

Verse 2

Romans 8:2

Romans 8:2

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death.—-“The law of the Spirit” is the law given by the Spirit through which life comes. It is placed in contrast with the law of sin and death that reigns in our flesh, and its superiority over the law of Moses is shown in that it made free from the law of sin and death that reigns in our flesh, and its superiority over the law of Moses is shown in that it made free from the law of sin and death, which that law could not do. The Spirit dwells in and works through his law, and he who takes the law into his heart and nour­ishes it as the seed of the kingdom has life. That law of the Spirit, if man could be from birth kept under it, would pre­serve him from sin and death. As it is impossible to so bring man under that law from infancy until he is brought into Christ, inasmuch as the law works and can be conformed to only in Christ, so it makes provision for freeing him for sins committed and for bringing him into Christ, in whom he may find deliverance through the law from sins committed. But remember that the law is God’s direction into the channel in which he works. It defines the conditions on which God blesses or refuses to bless. The law is a guide to man to lead him into the channel in which God exerts his power for good in which his blessings are bestowed. It reveals to man that by placing himself within these channels in which God works he may be the recipient of the fruits of the divine working. And in harmonizing himself with these operations, being guided by them, and exerting his powers under these direc­tions of God, he becomes a coworker with God in securing the joyful results of God’s works to others. Man is the chan­nel in which God works, and in harmony with the forces of divine life is molded into a likeness with God and borne forward by the working of God into an everlasting union and companionship with God. So that God’s destiny becomes his destiny and God’s home his eternal home.

Verse 3

Romans 8:3

Romans 8:3

For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh,—The law of Moses was weak in seeking to control the flesh instead of the heart. [If it were not for the flesh, we could be perfect. The weakness is in the flesh, not in the law. The law will not justify us unless we are perfect, and our weakness through the flesh prevents our reaching perfection.]

God, sending his own Son—Jesus Christ came to fulfill, to do the whole will of God. It was his meat and drink to do his Father’s will, and to do not his own work, but the work his Father sent him to do. He came not only to do this himself, but to inspire everyone who believes on him with the same spirit—with the same anxious desire to fulfill all righteous­ness, to do the whole will of God. One cannot believe in Christ Jesus with all the heart, without imbibing this spirit of the Master, without being filled with the desire to fulfill all righteousness, with the desire of doing not his own will but the will of the Father who is in heaven. Jesus Christ came as the living and perfect embodiment of obedience to the law of God, and with the purpose of inspiring others with the same spirit and leading all who trust in him to the same obe­dience from the heart to the law of God. His object was to call them away from their own wisdom, their own reason, away from and out of themselves, to the law of God as given by him, and exemplified in his own life as the only life rule of right to guide and bless man.

in the likeness of sinful flesh—Jesus came and took on himself our nature, was tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. [This describes man’s animal nature as having become the seat of sin. But of that nature of itself sin is no part nor property, only its fault and corruption. Hence, the Son of God could take of the human flesh of Mary, his mother, without the quality of sinfulness which sin has ac­quired in Adam’s posterity. In his case the flesh did not lead to sin, because he kept it in perfect subjection. He con­trolled it absolutely, and thus kept it from leading to sin, and in doing so made it sinless.]

and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:—God, sending his own Son in the flesh, tempted with sin as we are, and as an offering to deliver from sin, overcame sin that dwelled in the flesh. [God condemned sin in the flesh by exhibiting in the person of Jesus Christ the same flesh in substance, but free from sin; he proved that sin was in the flesh only as an unnatural and usurping tyrant. And, again, he condemned sin practically and effectually by destroying its power and casting it out. The law could condemn sin only in word, and could not make its condemnation effectual. Christ, com­ing “for sin,” not only died for sin, but, uniting man to himself “in newness of life” (Romans 6:4), gave actual effect to the condemnation of sin by destroying its dominion in the flesh.]

Verse 4

Romans 8:4

Romans 8:4

that the ordinance of the law might be fulfilled in us,—Jesus came and overcame the law of sin, dwelling in the flesh, that through his help we might attain the righteousness set forth in the law. [In “the likeness of sinful flesh,” in which he came, he paid the penalty fixed by the law and condemned sin. “Him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; that we might become the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21). We live unto righteousness only in Christ. All the human race is included in him, and he represents the whole human family; therefore, he can take away our guilt. This great fundamental truth that “Christ died for all” was pro­phetically announced by John the Baptist when he said: “Be­hold, the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). God finds no fault in his Son; and if we are in is Son, he will find no fault with us. “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way and Jehovah hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:4-6).]

who walk not after the flesh,— [To walk after the flesh is to obey the dictates of the flesh, to allow the appetites and pas­sions of the flesh to mark out our path. To do this is to obey sin, which dwells in the flesh.]

but after the Spirit.—The Spirit dwells in the law of Christ revealed through inspired men, and to hear and obey their words is to walk after the Spirit.

Verse 5

Romans 8:5

Romans 8:5

For they that are after the flesh mind the things of the flesh;—Those who are governed by the law of the flesh care for, or seek, the things that pertain to the flesh. [They are either engrossed with the gratification of worldly lusts or their one object in living is to hoard up wealth or to squander it in worldly amusements. They are lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God, or their one thought is how to get in society, or to distinguish themselves. They seek to be popular or to take the lead. They have men’s persons in admiration because of advantage to themselves. Paul enumerates the works of the flesh: “Fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties, envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like.” (Galatians 5:19-21). As indicated by “and such like,” there are many similar evil dispositions, vices, and vanity which destroy spiritual life.]

but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.—They that follow the law of the Spirit seek to restrain the fleshly desires and follow the teachings and desires of the Spirit. [They make a serious business of reading the word of God, meditation, prayer, and thanksgiving. They provide for such things, no matter how full of business is their every­day life, and into it they bring their religion.]

Verse 6

Romans 8:6

Romans 8:6

For the mind of the flesh is death;—To follow the law of the flesh is to bring the mind and spirit into subjection to the law of sin that dwells in the flesh and brings death. [This state of mind, this desire and pursuit of carnal things, is, in its own nature, destructive. It leads to all the Scriptures mean by death, alienation from God, unholiness, and misery.]

but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace:—To follow the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus is to foster the spirit that brings us to life with God. This is the only way to fit the soul for companionship with God and the spirits of the heavenly land. We can gain the heavenly home only by being fitted to breathe its atmosphere, to find fellowship with the spirits that dwell there, and to add joy and happiness to its peaceful realms. The church is a training school to fit man for that eternal home; and the teachings of Christ is a disci­pline, a schooling, to prepare us for that blessed companion­ship.

Verse 7

Romans 8:7

Romans 8:7

because the mind of the flesh is enmity against God;— Paul said: “I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing.” (Romans 7:18). Then the flesh in its desires is at enmity with God. [“Enmity against God” is expressive of an ill feeling toward him. It characterizes a course of con­duct. “Mind of the flesh” is a life, and as such is contrary to God’s law. It is, therefore, called “enmity.”]

for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can it be.—They who are ruled by the flesh cannot be obedient to the law of God. The law of God and the evil tendency of the flesh are two antagonistic things; hence, they must turn away from the rule of the flesh before they can be brought into harmony with God.

Verse 8

Romans 8:8

Romans 8:8

and they that are in the flesh cannot please God.—The reason why they cannot please God is because they are con­stantly sinning against him. The flesh must be brought into subjection to the Spirit before they can be brought into har­mony with God. The human spirit cannot gain the mastery over the flesh until it is strengthened by the Spirit of God in Christ Jesus.

Verse 9

Romans 8:9

Romans 8:9

But ye are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you.—If we are in Christ Jesus, the Spirit of God dwells in us; and if the Spirit dwells within, it makes us free from the law of sin that dwells in the flesh. [To be in the flesh is to live the life of the sinner; to be in the Spirit is to live the life of the Christian. The flesh governs the one; the Spirit, the other.]

But if any man hath not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.—Unless the law of the Spirit dwells in us and so controls us, we are none of his. If the law of the flesh rules, the law of the Spirit does not dwell within us. They are antagonistic. [The possession of the Holy Spirit is declared to be absolutely necessary to our being acceptable to God. To be destitute of the Spirit, therefore, is to be destitute of everything well- pleasing in the sight of God.]

Verse 10

Romans 8:10

Romans 8:10

And if Christ is in you,—[In verses 9, 10 are three phrases meaning the same thing—“the Spirit of God,” “the Spirit of Christ,” and “Christ.” He comes from God, the Fa­ther (John 14:16; John 14:26; Acts 1:4); he is given in Christ, the Son (Romans 8:2); and does not “speak from himself” (John 16:13), but manifests “Christ” (John 14:21). The threefold mention shows the work of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in the salva­tion of the believer in Christ.]

the body is dead because of sin;—The body, or the flesh, as the ruling power, is dead through Christ to sins to which it would lead.

but the spirit is life because of righteousness.—The spirit is life toward him; it leads to the righteousness in Christ. The practice of righteousness comes from life in God, and that righteousness grows stronger by the exercise.

Verse 11

Romans 8:11

Romans 8:11

But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwelleth in you,—The Holy Spirit actually dwells in every obedient believer. (Acts 2:38; Acts 5:32).

he that raised up Christ Jesus from the dead shall give life also to your mortal bodies through his Spirit that dwelleth in you.—God will by that Spirit give life to our dead bodies and raise them to immortal life. [Two things may be included in this part of the verse—(1) that the possession of the Spirit, which is the source of life, is a pledge and security that our bodies shall rise again, because it would be unseemly that bodies thus honored by the Spirit should remain under the dominion of death; and (2) that the resurrection of the saints is evinced by the rising of Jesus; for he is risen not only as their Lord and Judge, but as their head, to which they are united as members of his body, for “he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead” (Colossians 1:18), as “the first-fruits,” by which all the lump is sanctified and accepted (Leviticus 23:9-14); so “now hath Christ been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of them that are asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20). The children of God are endued with the Holy Spirit, and thereby their bodies become “the temple of the Holy Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 6:19). Now, as the promise of the Holy Spirit was upon the resurrection of Christ, so the gift and possession of the Spirit is an assurance of the resurrection of all those who are in Christ.]

Verse 12

Romans 8:12

Romans 8:12

So then, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh:—Since all good comes to us by living after the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, and the law of sin dwelling in the flesh brings evil and death, we are under no obligation to live after the flesh, but are under obligations to God, who has redeemed us, and to ourselves, to live after the Spirit. In following the Spirit we mortify and restrain the deeds of the flesh.

Verse 13

Romans 8:13

Romans 8:13

for if ye live after the flesh, ye must die;—This is so because Christians lose spiritual life in proportion as they indulge the appetites and desires of the flesh that are contrary to the teachings of the Lord. If, for example, a Christian indulges in anger, or malice, or any of these passions that the Lord condemns, he is not only violating the word of the Lord, but he is destroying the spiritual man, and weakening it every day, and giving the flesh greater power over the Spirit; and so the flesh will dominate and control the whole man, while the spiritual man languishes and dies.

but if by the Spirit ye put to death the deeds of the body, ye shall live.—If through following the law given by the Spirit of life we restrain and control the desires of the flesh, we shall live with Christ.

Verse 14

Romans 8:14

Romans 8:14

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.—[Those thus led are already in Christ, and in them the Holy Spirit dwells. The leading is both internal and external. To whatever extent the Holy Spirit by its in­dwelling strengthens the human spirit to enable it to control the flesh, to that extent the leading is internal; to whatever extent the motives of “the law of the Spirit,” when brought to bear on the heart in the New Testament, enlighten and strengthen, and so enable it to keep the body in subjection, to that extent the leading is external. The leading, then, con­sists of the whole of the influences of every kind exercised by the Holy Spirit on the human spirit, enabling it to keep the body under. Hence, the exhortation is given: “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who worketh in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:12-13).]

Verse 15

Romans 8:15

Romans 8:15

For ye received not the spirit of bondage again unto fear;—[This points to the time when they believed, were bap­tized, entered into the kingdom, and received the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38), by whom they were led (Romans 8:14). The bondage which throughout this Epistle is contrasted with the liberty of the children of God is the bondage of sin (Romans 6:6; Romans 6:16-17; Romans 6:20; Romans 7:25), and of the corruption of death as the consequence of sin (Romans 8:21). They had all been once under this bondage, which tends unto the fear of death. (Hebrews 2:14-15).]

but ye received the spirit of adoption,—In coming into Christ they received not, as under the law, the spirit of bond­age, in which they were moved by fear. They had now been adopted as children into the family of God and received the spirit of children. [The reference here is a Roman legal process by which one man took another’s to be his own son. The adopted son took the name and rank of the one adopting him and stood in exactly the same legal relation to him as a born son.]

whereby we cry, Abba, Father.—Having been adopted as a child into the family of God, they could cry, “Father.” “Abba” is the Chaldee word for “father.” Whenever it occurs (Mark 14:36; Galatians 4:6; and here), it has the Greek interpretation subjoined to it. This is apparently to be explained by the fact that the Chaldee, though frequent in prayer, gradually ac­quired the nature of a most sacred proper name, to which the Greek-speaking Jews added the appellation from their own tongue. Under Christ the heart is touched with love, and we come to love God because he first loved us; but under Moses they served from fear; under Christ, from love.

Verse 16

Romans 8:16

Romans 8:16

The Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are children of God:—The Spirit gives directions through the word of truth how to become children of God. Our spirits bear witness as to whether from the heart we have complied with these conditions, and so they jointly bear testimony that we are children of God. When it is established that we have become God’s children, there must be the conjoint testimony of the two witnesses that we continue in the faith. The Holy Spirit gives directions as to the kind of life we are to live, and our own spirit bears testimony as to whether we conform our life to these instructions. But the Holy Spirit, through this testimony or witness, molds the human spirit into his own likeness, dwells with our spirit, directs our spirit; so that the same spirit that was in Christ Jesus dwells in us. We are led by the Spirit, and through us the Spirit of God acts and works, because our spirit is imbued with the purposes, thoughts, temper, and being of the divine Spirit. So, then, if we faith­fully bear the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), there is a happy and harmonious union of the Spirit with our spirit that brings confidence and assurance to our heart that enables us to cry: “Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are.” (1 John 3:1).

Verse 17

Romans 8:17

Romans 8:17

and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ;—If the Spirit of God and our spirit give assur­ance that we have been adopted as children of God, we know that we become heirs of his inheritance and joint heirs with Jesus, the only begotten Son of God.

if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glori­fied with him.—As children we must share the sufferings of Jesus here that we may be glorified with him in the future state. “For if we died with him, we shall also live with him: if we endure, we shall also reign with him.” (2 Timothy 2:11-12). “Beloved, now are we children of God, and it is not yet made manifest what we shall be. We know that, if he shall be manifested, we shall be like him; for we shall see him even as he is.” (1 John 3:2). We are heirs with him of all his glory.

Verse 18

Romans 8:18

Romans 8:18

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time—[This is not merely a supposition or opinion, but the conclu­sion drawn from comparing things present and things to come, that the former are of no weight or worth in comparison.]

are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to us-ward.—Paul suffered much as a follower of Christ, but he says it was too insignificant to be compared with the glory to be revealed to us-ward. “For our light affliction, which is for the moment, worketh for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory.” (2 Corinthians 4:17). In that eternal state all who have been adopted into the family of God will share with Christ his eternal glory.

Verse 19

Romans 8:19

Romans 8:19

For the earnest expectation of the creation waiteth for the revealing of the sons of God.—The “creation” here means the world, embracing all animated nature below man. The sin of man brought a curse upon the earth, and mortality and death came upon all creatures, and they are represented as earnestly waiting for the appearance of the sons of God from the grave, when the world will be delivered from the curse under which it labors on account of the sins of man, its ruler. [Paul personifies the world, just as the prophets do when they make the floods and trees clap their hands. (Psalms 98:8; Isaiah 55:12). It is one of the frequent figures of speech thus to make nature sympathize with man. When the Assyrians were overthrown, Jehovah said: “I caused Lebanon to mourn for him, and all the trees of the field fainted for him.” (Ezekiel 31:15). In the passage before us, human feelings are ascribed to inanimate things without reason. Under this figure is pre­sented the truth revealed in the Old Testament that the whole world of nature placed under man’s dominion has a real con­cern in the past history and future destiny of man. When God said to Adam, “Cursed is the ground for thy sake; in toil shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life” (Genesis 3:17) ; when he punished man’s wickedness by bringing the flood, in which “every living thing was destroyed that was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and creeping things, and birds of the heavens; and they were destroyed from the earth” (Genesis 7:23) ; and when “the earth also is polluted under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, violated the statutes, broken the everlasting covenant. There­fore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are found guilty: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left. The new wine mourneth, the vine languisheth, all the merry-hearted do sigh” (Isaiah 24:5-7). In all such passages the same truth is expressed that “the cre­ation was subjected to vanity.”]

Verse 20

Romans 8:20

Romans 8:20

For the creation was subjected to vanity,—As a result of Adam’s sin, the whole creation was cursed and fell away from its original design and became subject to the reign of death. [The word is, therefore, appropriately used of the disappoint­ing character of present existence, which nowhere reaches the perfection of which it is capable.]

not of its own will,—Not of its own fault or action, but through the sin of man, which brought mortality and death upon the creation.

but by reason of him who subjected it, in hope—[This, in accordance with the history, can be no other than God. He who first placed the creation under man’s dominion also sub­jected it to the effects of man’s sin (Genesis 3:17-19; Genesis 5:29), and will make it partaker of the blessing of his restoration.]

Verse 21

Romans 8:21

Romans 8:21

that the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the liberty of the glory of the chil­dren of God.—The hope is entertained that when the deliver­ance comes to the children of God, when they are delivered from the bondage of corruption and from the prison house of the grave, then the whole creation will share this deliverance and be freed from the corruption and mortality to which it has been subjected by the sin of man. It shared the corrup­tion and mortality of man’s sin, and will share his deliverance from it.

Verse 22

Romans 8:22

Romans 8:22

For we know that the whole creation groaneth and tra­vaileth in pain together until now.—The whole creation suf­fered from the effects of man’s sin. It is represented as suf­fering and groaning in its mortality and together travailing in pain. Animated nature suffers, vegetable nature struggles against, but succumbs to, death and decay, and the laws of all nature are disturbed and in commotion on account of man’s sin. [These pangs of a world in travail cannot be unmeaning. They point to a coming time of delivery, when, “according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, where­in dwelleth righteousness.” (2 Peter 3:13).]

Verse 23

Romans 8:23

Romans 8:23

And not only so, but ourselves also,—Not only does the whole creation thus groan, but even Christians, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan and suffer within themselves.

who have the first-fruits of the Spirit,—[The first fruits were that portion of the productions of the earth which were offered to God. (Exodus 23:19; Exodus 34:26; Leviticus 23:10-12). From the na­ture of the case, they contained the evidence and assurance of the whole harvest being secured. The idea, therefore, of an earnest or pledge is included in the phrase, as well as that of priority. This is the general, if not the constant, use of the word in the New Testament. Thus Christ is called “the first- fruits of them that are asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20), not merely be­cause he rose first, but also because his resurrection was a pledge of the resurrection of those who “are Christ’s at his coming.” In the following passages—Romans 11:16; Romans 16:5; 1 Corinthians 16:15; James 1:18—both ideas may be, and possibly ought to be, retained. In the passages before us what is called “the first-fruits of the Spirit” is elsewhere (2 Corinthians 1:22; 2 Corinthians 5:5; Ephesians 1:14) called “the earnest of the Spirit.” The phrases, “the first-fruits of the Spirit” and “the earnest of the Spirit,” are, therefore, synonymous. The expression, there­fore, is descriptive of all Christians and not of any particular class of them.]

even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for our adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.—[The word “adoption” is applied to two very different events in the life of the redeemed. It is applied to their entrance into the king­dom of God at their conversion. They, therefore, enter it by being “born of water and the Spirit.” (John 3:5). Into the everlasting kingdom they shall enter by being born from the grave. From a grave in the water they emerge into the king­dom of God here on earth; from a grave in the earth, into the everlasting kingdom. Hence, though the two events denoted by adoption stand wide apart and are entirely distinct, yet they resemble each other very closely—so much so, indeed, that the same word is used to express them both.] Christians are waiting for the redemption of their bodies from mortality and suffering. Their redemption in Christ will not be completed until their bodies are raised from the dead and glorified and are become like Jesus in his glorified and immortal state. Paul has in these verses presented to us the far-reaching and ap­palling results of sin, and has given to us a picture of the future glorious state that shall come to man and earth when the deliverance from sin is completed. The earth will rejoice and be glad as well as man.

Verse 24

Romans 8:24

Romans 8:24

For in hope were we saved:—[This verse and the fol­lowing seem to depend upon the mention of “waiting” in verse 23. Now, this waiting is the very substance and essence of hope. When we believed in Christ, we believed in one who will return again and receive us to himself.] When we were baptized into Christ, we were baptized into one who died and rose again, in the assured hope that if we have been planted in the likeness of his death and been made partakers of it, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection and be made at last fully partakers of it. But as regards the adoption and redemption of our bodies, it is future, and so is an object of hope; and so faith, so far as the renewal and spiritualizing of the body is concerned (1 Corinthians 15:44), “is assurance of things hoped for” (Hebrews 11:1). The assurance of the last six verses gives us hope of the immortal state to come; and by this hope we are strengthened to continue to labor and suffer for the promised blessings.

but hope that is seen is not hope: for who hopeth for that which he seeth?—The things that are present, that we now enjoy, are not objects of hope; for who hopes for that which he now possesses ? Hope looks to the future blessings.

Verse 25

Romans 8:25

Romans 8:25

But if we hope for that which we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.—But if we hope for treasures now out of reach, that we expect hereafter to gain, then we bear with patience present labors and delays needful to gain them.

Verse 26

Romans 8:26

Romans 8:26

And in like manner the Spirit also helpeth our infirmity: —Not only does hope buoy us up and strengthen us, but the Spirit of God that dwells within us helpeth our weaknesses.

for we know not how to pray as we ought; but the Spirit himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which can­not be uttered;—Although we have no definite conception of what we desire, and cannot state in fit language in our prayer, but only disclose it by inarticulate groanings, yet God receives these groanings as acceptable prayers, inasmuch as they come from a soul full of the Holy Spirit. The spirit of the child of God often desires blessings that he cannot express in lan­guage. It is God’s Spirit that dwells in him that leads to do this and secures blessings for which he does not know how to ask.

Verse 27

Romans 8:27

Romans 8:27

and he that searcheth the hearts—[This is a common paraphrase for God, and here most appropriate.]

knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit,—As no man knoweth the thoughts of a man save the spirit of man that dwells in him, to read those unexpressed emotions of the soul is the prerogative of that Being to whose eyes all things are naked and opened. “I, Jehovah, search the mind, I try the heart, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.” (Jeremiah 17:10).

because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.—The Spirit dwells in and intercedes for the saint only as he brings himself in life and heart into conformity with the will of God. So the Spirit dwells in his heart and molds the desires and groanings of his own spirit, and through directing his spirit in prayer the Holy Spirit makes inter­cession.

Verse 28

Romans 8:28

Romans 8:28

And we know that to them that love God all things work together for good,—The purpose of God is to call the worthy and true souls of humanity into his church and to discipline and educate them so as to fit them to dwell with him in his eternal home; and to those who love him and are called in har­mony with his purpose, all things work together for good. When he says “all things,” he means even things that are painful; for even if affliction, poverty, imprisonment, hunger, death, or any other thing, come upon them, God is able to turn all things to their good and fit them for his eternal home. If they are not able to bear the trials and afflictions that come upon them and accept them as means of discipline from the hand of the Father, they judge themselves unworthy of eter­nal life. If they fail to do his requirements, they deprive themselves of the education that will fit them for service in the eternal kingdom.

even to them that are called—These have been called by the gospel, and accepted it. Many others are called, Jews and Gentiles; but only those who hear and obey are God’s chosen ones. (Matthew 22:14).

according to his purpose.—God determined that man should be called by the gospel; hence, to be called according to God’s purpose is to be called by the gospel. In speaking of this call, Paul said: “But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, for that God chose you from the beginning unto salvation in sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: whereunto he called you through our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14).

Verse 29

Romans 8:29

Romans 8:29

For whom he foreknew, he also foreordained to be con­formed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren:—Here he proves the assertion of the preceding verse by the blessing conferred upon those who were faithful to him in past ages. Of them it is said: “And these all, having had witness borne to them through their faith, re­ceived not the promise, God having provided some better thing concerning us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.” (Hebrews 11:39-40). They were not perfected until the provision was made through Christ. The promise was not fulfilled while they were still living under the old dis­pensation. “And for this cause he is the mediator of a new covenant, that a death having taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant, they that have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.” (Hebrews 9:15). The transgressions of the first covenant were not removed till Christ died. God ordained that these ancient worthies should be conformed to the image or likeness of his Son, that he might be the first born from the grave among many brethren. He came forth from the grave. “And the tombs were opened; and many bodies of the saints that had fallen asleep were raised; and coming forth out of the tombs after his resurrection they entered into the holy city and appeared unto many.” (Matthew 27:52-53).

Verse 30

Romans 8:30

Romans 8:30

and whom he foreordained, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.—These ancient worthies whom he had thus ordained to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ he called from their tombs, justified them, and glorified them with Jesus at the throne of God. It is probable that they ascended with Jesus in his triumphal train, as predicted by David: “Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors: and the King of glory will come in. Who is the King of glory? Jehovah strong and mighty, Jehovah mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; yea, lift them up, ye everlasting doors: and the King of glory will come in. Who is this King of glory? Jehovah of hosts, he is the King of glory.” (Psalms 24:7-10). The risen and glorified Christ was the first to enter. “But Christ having come a high priest of the good things to come, . . . entered in once for all into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption.” (Hebrews 9:11-12). This is given in explanation of how all things work together for good to them that love God, and is an assurance that those who are faithful children of God shall share his immortal glories in the world to come.

Verse 31

Romans 8:31

Romans 8:31

What then shall we say to these things?—From all that has been said, what comfort may we derive from it ? We are persecuted and despised, it is true; but as God has called us to love him, and all things work together for good to them that love him, and if we continue to possess that faith that works by love, it will bring us, both body and soul, to his eternal glory. Seeing therefore, that all these things are so, what comfort in our tribulation shall we derive from them?

If God is for us, who is against us?—No being is, and none can be. God is for us, and as long as that is true we have nothing to fear.

Verse 32

Romans 8:32

Romans 8:32

He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all,—If God so loved us that he did not spare his own Son, but delivered him up to suffer for us, will he not with him freely give us all things needed to gain the salvation Jesus died to gain for us?

how shall he not also with him freely give us all things?—Inasmuch as God has done the greater in giving the most precious Being in his sight, he will with him give all less costly gifts that are needed to perfect our salvation. May I not ask, if God has so freely made such provisions for man’s salvation, can we believe that he will permit a single soul willing to accept the gospel and be saved through it to die without the knowledge of it? The Spirit declared through Peter: “Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is acceptable to him.” (Acts 10:35). He declared this on the occasion that God sent the gospel to Cornelius, a Gentile, because he saw that he was desirous of knowing and doing the will of God. If God is no respecter of persons and he chose Abraham while he was an idolater, Paul while a perse­cutor, Cornelius and Lydia in the midst of idolatry, because he saw they were anxious to know and do the truth and had courage and perseverance to be true to it to the end, we may rest assured that he has never permitted, nor will he ever per­mit, a single soul with the same willingness and ability to know and continue in the truth to perish without the knowl­edge of the same.

Verse 33

Romans 8:33

Romans 8:33

Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect?— Who shall lay anything to the charge of those whom God has selected and purified.

It is God that justifieth;—When he justifies through his own Son, who can condemn ? This is to show the fullness and sufficiency of God’s care and his blessings for us. God and his Son and all his servants are for us; who, save the enemy of all, is against us? Who can effect anything to our hurt?

Verse 34

Romans 8:34

Romans 8:34

who is he that condemneth?—No human tribunal, no earthly judge can condemn. All judgment has been com­mitted to the Son, who is our Advocate with the Father. (1 John 2:1). [In support of this assertion the four great facts about Christ Jesus are here presented.]

It is Christ Jesus that died,—[All ground of condemnation is removed by his death for our sins.]

yea rather, that was raised from the dead,—His resurrection as the evidence of the validity of all his claims is a much more decisive proof of the security of all who trust in him than his death could be, for by it he was proven to be the Son of God. In his speech before the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers at Athens, Paul said: “The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked; but now he commandeth men that they should all everywhere repent: inasmuch as he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in right­eousness by the man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.” (Acts 17:30-31). Another inspired man says: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy begat us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3).

who is at the right hand of God,— [This solemn investure with power “in heaven and on earth” is with express refer­ence to the salvation of his people. (Matthew 28:18-20; John 17:2; Ephesians 1:20-23).]

who also maketh intercession for us.—He stands at the throne of God ready to plead our cause. He has already pro­pitiated the favor of God to the whole world through the sacrifice of himself in its behalf. If he found joy in enduring the cross and despising the shame for us when we were sinners, how much more ready must he be to offer petitions in behalf of his erring disciples! (1 John 2:1).

Verse 35

Romans 8:35

Romans 8:35

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?—If God is for us, justifies us, and Jesus is our Advocate at the right hand of God, and the Holy Spirit dwells within us and inter­cedes for us with groanings that cannot be uttered, who shall separate us from love that so guards us?

shall tribulation, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?—Shall we let the things brought upon us to school and fit us for the enjoyment of the eternal honors God has for us in heaven, discourage, dishearten, and turn us back and cause us to forfeit those honors and glories purchased for us by the blood of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer?

Verse 36

Romans 8:36

Romans 8:36

Even as it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we were accounted as sheep for the slaughter.—The whole Psalm refers to the suffering of God’s people, and this verse is typical of what the followers of Christ would suffer for his name. This was all trial and suffering to discipline them for eternal honors. It was a part of the present suffer­ing that would work out for them a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

Verse 37

Romans 8:37

Romans 8:37

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors— Instead of drawing back from suffering for Jesus’ sake, or for­saking him because of tribulation through these, we are to be crowned more than conquerors. [But who can be “more” than a conqueror? Certainly he that cannot be conquered. These sufferings are a mighty battle, but we come through them more than victors. We gloriously triumph.]

through him that loved us.—[This cry of triumph is not selfish, for the abounding cry is: through Jesus, our Lord, who loved us and died for us.] His dying for us is the manifesta­tion of love for us that begets the heroism in man that leads him to rejoice in sufferings for the sake of Jesus and the good of man.

Verses 38-39

Romans 8:38-39

Romans 8:38-39

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor death, nor any other crea­ture, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.—To persuade is to win to a pur­pose or course where there are difficulties, of which the testi­mony commingled with the earnest desire convinces that it can be accomplished. Earnest, self-sacrificing for the accom­plishment of the desired end gains acceptance for the prayer and secures the blessing. Without this earnestness of heart that makes us willing to sacrifice to God, our prayers will not reach the throne of God and will not prevail. It may not be necessary to sacrifice all for what we pray before God will hear and answer the prayer, but it is necessary that we in heart be willing to labor and sacrifice to gain the end before God will hear and answer the prayer. With this truth under­stood we need not be surprised that so few of our prayers are heard or answered. Jesus Christ himself is the great and perfect example in all these things to the child of God. The thing needed to gain acceptance and favor for our prayers is earnest self-sacrificing labor and devotion on our part to gain that for which we pray. Then God will hear and grant our prayers even before we ask. The great trouble with us is we are not in earnest in our service, it is not rendered from the heart, and our prayers are vain, talking without corre­sponding deeds of devotion. What is needed for our own good and the good of the world is to realize that our religious lives should be more earnest and devoted. We can make our prayers prevailing if we will, but we cannot do this without self-sacrifice like that made by those who did prevail with God and whose examples are given for our encouragement and imitation.