All Things For Good

Introduction

Paul answered a hard question: if we are God’s children and heirs, why do we still suffer, and how should we view that suffering while we wait for the glory to come? He began by weighing the present against the future. The sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us (8:18). That glory already exists, but it is still hidden, and creation itself waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God (8:19). The apostle explained why creation waits. It was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope (8:20). One day it will be set free from its bondage to corruption and share the freedom of the glory of God’s children (8:21). Until then, the whole creation groans together in the pains of childbirth (8:22).

Paul then turned to believers. We also groan inwardly. We have the firstfruits of the Spirit, yet we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies (8:23). In this hope we were saved, and hoping for what we do not see produces patience (8:24-25). Creation groans, and we groan. But that leaves a tender question for every weary believer: what help do we have while we wait, especially when we are too weak even to know how to pray? Paul answers that we do not groan alone. The Spirit Himself intercedes for us, and God is working all things together for good for those He has called.

1. The Spirit Helps

Paul has not left the subject of suffering. “Likewise” ties this verse to what came before: just as hope sustains us while we wait (8:24-25), so the Spirit also helps us. The “weakness” he names is the condition of believers who wait for the redemption of their bodies (8:23): already sons, yet still mortal and still groaning.

Romans 8:26a: Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness.

2. The Spirit Intercedes

Paul explains how the Spirit helps. 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 the Father, who searches hearts, knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit prays according to the will of God.

Romans 8:26b-27: 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.

3. All Things for Good

Paul moves from what we do not know to what we do know. We do not know how to pray as we ought, but we know this: all things work together for good, and some ancient manuscripts make explicit what the context already implies: that God is the One who works them. The apostle describes the believer from two sides. From our side, we are those who love God. From God’s side, we are those called according to His purpose.

Romans 8:28: And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Application

Let us carry our burdens to God with the Spirit. When suffering leaves us weak, we do not pull away from God or pretend to be strong. We admit our weakness and remember that the Spirit takes hold of the load with us.
Let us pray even when we do not know what to say. We do not wait for the right words or a perfect understanding of God’s will. We bring our sighs, confusion, and burdens to the Father, trusting the Spirit intercedes for us according to God’s will.
Let us view our trials in light of God’s purpose, not our feelings. We must not use Romans 8:28 to promise ourselves or others comfort, wealth, or health. Instead, we ask how the Lord may be using our present difficulty to prepare us for glory, and we keep loving Him even when we cannot yet see the good.

Study Guide

What does “likewise” connect to, and what is the “weakness” Paul names? How does it relate to the groaning of creation and of believers? (Ro 8:22-26a)
How does the Spirit help us when we do not know what to pray for? Why can we be confident that His intercession is effective? (Ro 8:26b-27)
To whom does the promise of verse 28 apply? What is the “good,” and how does Ro 8:17-23 help define it? (Ro 8:28)

Sermon Notes