Understanding a Wonderful, Encouraging Passage: Romans 8:26-36

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.”

Romans 8:26-36

In this wonderful passage, Paul reveals several blessings we can enjoy if we are “in Christ.” But wait! How does someone get into this wonderful state. How does one get “into Christ”?

Romans 6:4 says, “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” In order to receive the blessings found “in Christ,” we must be buried with Him in baptism. That’s when we are saved from our past. That’s when we become a “new” person. And that’s when we come to enjoy the blessings we find in Romans 8:26-36.

First, there is the blessing of the Holy Spirit’s intercession. When we struggle to put into words what we want to pray, the Spirit speaks to God the Father on our behalf.

Second, when we struggle with life, we can be assured that God will bring good out of those bad things that have happened or are happening.

Third, we can know we are a part of those God has predestined to justify (make righteous) and glorify. Note: He has not predestined individuals to be saved or lost. He has predestined a group of people to be saved, those who are “in Christ” because they have been saved from their past when they were “baptized into him” [into a special relationship with Him].

Fourth, nothing can separate us from God. We can continue to enjoy His rich and wonderful blessings as long as we remain faithful to Him and, as the opening verses of this same chapter say, “do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:1 NKJV).