Good Morning!
Yesterday, we left off anticipating the guarantee. Let’s take a look at that.
Romans 8:31-34 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died – more than that, who was raised – who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
I’m going to stop right there for a minute. Notice what Jesus is doing? He’s interceding for us. To intercede is to intervene on behalf of another. Hmmm. Isn’t that what we found the Holy Spirit is doing, too? “…but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” (v. 26). Listen, we have two parts of the Godhead interceding to God the Father on our behalf, for our benefit. I don’t recall a single prayer of Jesus’ that God the Father did not answer positively. Here’s a couple of examples of Jesus’ prayer for you to chew on:
Luke 22:31-32 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”
John 17:8-9, 14-15, 17, 20-21, 24 For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you, and they have believed that you sent me. I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours… I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one… Sanctify them in the truth; your world is truth…. I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me…. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
That’s the kind of stuff Jesus is doing for you. That’s the kind of stuff the Holy Spirit is doing for you. Remember, Jesus is this dude:
John 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Colossians 1:15-20 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconciled to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
And the Holy Spirit:
John 14:15-17, 26; 15:26 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him or knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you… But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all that I have said to you…. But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.
v. 16:7-15 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth; it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
I think we need to stop there and ponder all this. This is a big, big deal. I don’t think we have the slightest appreciation of what this means for us.
Father, wow. Help me comprehend all this. Amen.
Copyright © 2019 Scott Powers
Photo by Sebastien Gabriel on Unsplash