Session 4.22: May 29, 2026
Study session scripture: Romans 8:26-39
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
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. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Study session topics:
The Intercession of the Holy Spirit (vv. 26-27)
This is an important topic because prayer itself is a confusing subject, as Paul himself concedes in v. 26 -"Likewise" or "In the same way"--connects the Holy Spirit's intercession to earlier context
vv. 22-25: our hope in God's promises is strengthened by the Spirit's intercession on our behalf
vv. 15-17: the Spirit's aid in prayer is further assurance that we are God's children
The problem with prayer--our weakness
The Holy Spirit assists us in our weakness in many ways, but here Paul is specifically talking about our ignorance
The word "our" is important here--Paul is saying this is a problem for all Christians -"helps"--a hugely insufficient word
Greek sunantilambanetai--someone coming alongside another to help bear a heavy burden -Paul transitions to his next and final point in this chapter by giving us both an assurance and an aspiration: the Spirit intercedes for Christians according to the will of God
The Spirit translates our desires into requests that fit into the will of God
The point of the Christian life is to be increasingly conformed to Christ, so we also should be increasingly petitioning God according to His will
The Practical Outworking of God's Character (vv. 28-39)
v. 28 is one of the most well known--and misused--verses in the Bible
It is not a platitude for things getting better, rather Paul immediately clarifies that he means all things work together to further sanctify us
v. 28 is the thesis of the remainder of the chapter--we can rest assured in our salvation and know that we will be further sanctified due to the One our salvation rests on
vv. 29-30 show the roadmap for God's process of saving and sanctifying His people -Foreknowledge -Predestination -Calling -Justification -Glorification
In the last section of the chapter, Paul triumphantly, almost defiantly, challenges anyone to overthrow the work of God in salvation by posing 5 questions:
Who can be against us?
How will He not graciously give us all things?
Who shall bring any charge?
Who is to condemn?
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?