Bible, Called, Calling, Circumstances, Good, Names, Romans, Scripture

SOME CONDITIONS FOR GOD’S CARE

ROMANS 8:28

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

Today’s verse is probably one of the most recognizable verses in the book of Romans. But it is probably also one of the most misunderstood ones. It is true that God cares for everyone, even the vilest person alive. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for every person. But God will not and, because He is a just and holy God, cannot bless those who are not following Him. It goes against His nature.

Paul says two things in today’s verse which clarify His care. He does cause “all things to work together for good” to 1) those who love God and 2) those who are called according to His purpose. You really can’t make that any clearer. God puts some conditions down for His blessings. If you love God and have responded to His calling on your life, He will be there through thick and thin. You are His. That’s just the truth.

APPLICATION

So, how do you live with this truth? You have to believe, first of all, that God desires good in your life. Carl, you don’t know what I’ve been through. How could God make anything good out of this? Short answer – I don’t know. But God does. I have to believe that the God of the universe, Who took dirt and created man, Who made all of creation in six days, can make my circumstances into something good for my life.

Secondly, I believe if He has called me, He knows my name. Do you understand that? He knows YOUR name. He knows every freckle on your skin and every hair on your head. Because He knows you so completely, He knows exactly how to orchestrate your circumstances to turn anything you are facing into something good. You may not see that good for years, but He is faithful.

May I encourage you today to do a deep dive into this verse. Dissect it. Tear it apart. Look at what all the words really mean. Don’t just quote this verse lightly. It has such profound truths in it. Don’t use this verse to justify your bad choices and then expect God to make it good. The good may mean you have to live with some consequences in order to learn. But if you are a follower of Jesus, He does desire only good for you. Trust Him with that.

O Father, this verse is such a comfort for any who trust You with their life.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Holy Spirit, Intercession, Romans, Saints, Scripture

BULLSEYE

ROMANS 8:27

“and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”

Every year when I start the hunting season, I like to take my gun out and zero in the scope. That requires setting up a target with a bullseye downrange and taking some shots. I want my bullet to hit within the area of that bullseye so that when I go out hunting, I will hit my target. If I don’t do that, my bullet will never land where it is intended.

Why all this talk about bullseyes and targets? The word used here by Paul for “intercedes” is not the same word he used in verse 26. It’s similar, but not the same.  HELPS Word-studies tells us that entygxánō comes from en, “in” which intensifies tygxánō, “to obtain by hitting the mark.” To go a little further, the root of tygxánō means “to strike, hit the bulls-eye. It is even used as the antonym of harmartia “to miss the mark, sin.” So, Paul is saying that the Holy Spirit is “spot on” when it comes to going to the Father for us. We can rest assured that His words will hit the bullseye of God’s heart.

APPLICATION

I love how Albert Barnes explains our relationship with the Spirit. “We are poor, and needy, and ignorant, and blind; we are the creatures of a day and are crushed before the moth. But in the midst of our feebleness, we may look to God for the aid of His Spirit, and rejoice in His presence, and in His power to sustain us in our sighings, and to guide us in our wanderings.” Isn’t that great? I just love the picture that paints for us.

You see, God knows our hearts. Proverbs 21:2 says, “All the ways of a man seem right in his own eyes, but God weighs the heart.” That’s not talking about how many kilograms your physical heart weighs. God weighs the heaviness of our hearts when we are going through those difficult times. You know how that feels, don’t you? We’ve all been there at some time. That is why God gave us the Spirit. It is He who goes before us to the Father, and He never misses.

I want to encourage you today that you are not alone. As a follower of Christ, you will never be left alone. Sure, human companions can abandon you. Family members can estrange you. But the Spirit of God will never, ever leave you. Why? Because He is on a mission orchestrated and implemented on your behalf. That’s shouting ground stuff right there.

Lord, I praise You for the “bullseye” ability of the Spirit to speak on my behalf.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Helping, Holy Spirit, Intercession, Romans, Scripture

THE HELPING, INTERCEDING SPIRIT

ROMANS 8:26

“Now in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;”

Have you ever been at a loss for words? I know some people whom I could never say that about. Lol. Just kidding. But seriously, we do have those moments when a sudden shock or grief hits us, and we just can’t articulate the words. I have had a few of those in my life. Fortunately, I have always had friends I could call to come and pray with me and for me. Do you have friends like that?

I just love this verse. Don’t you? We have a Comforter within us! Paul says that this Spirit of Christ “helps our weakness” and “intercedes for us.” That’s a double whammy, right? Most followers of Christ ignore or minimize the Holy Spirit. When we do that, we are not allowing the Lord to fully work in and through us. Let’s take a look at these two roles of the Spirit that Paul mentions in today’s verse.

APPLICATION

First, Paul says, “the Spirit also helps our weakness.” What does that mean? The works “helps” is sunantilambanomai (I dare you to say that five times real fast, lol). This is a triple compound word – sýn (closely identified with“) and antí (corresponding) and lambánō, (aggressively lay hold of). Picture two people grabbing the opposite ends of a large ice chest to carry it somewhere. That’s sunantilambanomai. It’s only used twice in the New Testament – here in Romans 8:26 referring to the Holy Spirit “grabbing the other end of our prayers to lift them to heaven” and also in Luke 10:40 where we read, “But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, ‘Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do the serving by myself? Then tell her to help me.’” Martha wanted Mary to grab her end of the work.

Then Paul says the Holy Spirit “intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” The word “intercedes” is huperentugchanó. It is only used here in Romans 8:26. HELPS Word-studies says, “hyperentygxánō (intercede) refers to the Holy Spirit interceding in every scene of our lives so we can ‘come in line with’ the Lord’s eternal purpose. The content of these intercessions goes beyond human language and includes bringing sacred mysteries into our daily walk with Christ.”

Wow! Did you know you had that in you? If you are a follower of Christ, you have a helper and interceder living within you. Christ put Him there the moment you said “yes” to Him. He flooded your soul and spirit with the divine Holy Spirit sent from heaven above. Tap into that power today. Let the Spirit speak in and through you to someone else.

Father God, I am guilty of not recognizing the power that is within me through Your Holy Spirit. Forgive me.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Glory, Hope, Patience, Perseverance, Romans, Scripture, Steadfast

PATIENCE THROUGH PRESSURE

ROMANS 8:25

“But if we hope for what we do not see, through perseverance we wait eagerly for it.”

Waiting is no fun, is it? My wife will tell you that I am not a patient waiter. If we decide to go out to eat somewhere and we drive up and find a wait of longer than 30 minutes, I am ready to go somewhere else. I’m not under any pressure if I decide to sit and wait. I had just rather not spend time in a cramped waiting area or waiting outside to get a seat in the restaurant. Isn’t that why God made drive-throughs? Lol

The kind of waiting Paul is describing is important. We’ve already seen his comments about hoping in things we do not see. But in today’s verse he adds something. He says, “through perseverance we wait eagerly for it.” Not exactly my cup of tea, if you know what I mean. The Greek word for “perseverance” is hypomonē which “conveys steadfast endurance that clings to God in the face of pressure. More than passive waiting, it is active, faith-filled perseverance that refuses to abandon obedience or hope.” (Topical Lexicon)

APPLICATION

So, let’s talk about that perseverance. The writer of Hebrews says in Hebrews 12:1, “Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let’s rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with endurance the race that is set before us,…” If you have ever run a race, you know it takes perseverance. I am not a runner, but I do walk a good bit. The first mile is always the easiest. You’re fresh and ready to go. By mile two the legs get warmed up and you get a second wind. However, around mile three, you start feeling it. Do you bear up under? Do you persevere under pressure. You do if you want to finish that walk/run and get home.

Ah! That’s what Paul is saying. We persevere to reach home, that thing we are hoping for which we have not seen but are fully convinced is waiting. James says the same thing in James 1:2-4. “2 Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” The word “endurance” there is hypomonē.

On the days you are struggling, remember these words. Remember that your perseverance under pressure will be rewarded. You have the hope of glory awaiting you. It is worth the struggle. I am not saying every day will be a struggle. But we will all have those days when it seems God has forsaken us. He hasn’t! Take this last verse with you today. 2 Thessalonians 3:5 says, “May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the perseverance of Christ.” Amen!

I shall persevere, O Lord, for I know in Whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able!   

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Eternity, Faith, Hope, Romans, Salvation, Scripture

WHAT IS THIS HOPE?

ROMANS 8:24

“For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees?”

I have hoped for a lot of things in my life. When I was younger, I hoped for toys at Christmas having dogeared about a hundred pages in the old Sears and Roebuck Christmas catalog. Who remembers that? Then I hoped for a car, a girlfriend, a job, etc. It seems I was hoping all the time. But you know what? When I got those things, I stopped hoping for them. Why? Because now I had them. Now I could see them.

Paul says something similar today in verse 24 of chapter 8. But the Greek text is a little tricky here. We need to make sure we understand it. First of all, there is no preposition in front of the first “hope.” It should read, “For hope…” The verb “saved” is in the Aorist which points back to a certain point. So, it should read as the NASB has it above or perhaps as “we were saved.” Put that all together. “For hope we were saved.” The second phrase is pretty clear, but let’s look at the last phrase. The verbs “hopes” and “sees” are both in the Present tense. So, they could be translated as “hoping” and “seeing.” It could therefore read, “for who is hoping for what he is seeing.”

APPLICATION

Okay, enough Greek for today. Right? Sorry about that, but sometimes the English just isn’t clear enough. But Paul’s message is. We hope for our future glorification. That’s what that first phrase says. “For hope we were saved.” For what hope? For the hope of eternity with Christ. For the hope of knowing Him fully one day. But it is a certain hope because He promised. Hebrews 11:1 tell us, “Now faith is the certainty of things hoped for, a proof of things not seen.” I love how Watchman Nee defines this. He refers to J.N. Darby’s New Translation which reads, “Faith is the substantiating of things hoped for.” Faith isn’t just a substance or certainty. It’s making this hope real.

So, I ask you, “What are you hoping for?” Well, Carl, I hope I make it to heaven. I’ve heard so many people who claim to be followers of Christ make that remark. How silly! Our eternal home is more than a hope. Our faith has substantiated that. Christ has promised us a home. Stop hoping and start believing.

What else are you hoping for? Good health? Good kids? Wealth? Listen, start placing all your faith in Him. He will decide what is best for you, not your hoping. Do you believe He wants what is best for you? Start trusting Him. Remember, hope that is seen is not hope. We have seen Jesus! He has saved us – period. All hope is settled by our faith in Him. Hallelujah, what a Savior!

My hope is built on nothing less that Jesus’ blood and righteousness.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Adoption, Bible, Family, Holy Spirit, Redemption, Scripture

THE PRIVILEGE OF ADOPTION

ROMANS 8:23

“And not only that, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons and daughters, the redemption of our body.”

I worked for over three decades in the field of Child Welfare. This ministry included working with Foster and Adoption programs in the Southeast United States. Adoption is a beautiful thing. It gives a child who needs a permanent, loving home a place to call home and the opportunity to become part of a family. But even after the court papers are signed and all the legal hoops are jumped through, that child does not receive the full benefits of being adopted until they go home with their new parent(s). Then they get their new home and family.

Paul explains the same is true for us as believers. Yes, we are adopted as children of God at salvation. We become His child, but we do not receive the full benefit of adoption until our arrival in heaven when our old mortal bodies are glorified and where we will live eternally. Nothing can change the fact of our adoption while we are here. We know exactly where we are going when our “number” is called. We will receive that full adoption.

APPLICATION

The phrase “adoption as sons” is the Greek word huiothesia, which is only used five times in the New Testament, all my Paul, and three of those times appear here in Romans (8:15, 23; 9:4). The words “and daughters” are not in the Greek text, thus the use of italics. Paul is not excluding females. Their inclusion as children of God is implied in the Greek word huiothesia. If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, you are in His family through this adoption.

Through my years working with children, I saw a number of failed adoptions. Children were placed with a family, but due to the child’s behavior or other circumstances, the adoption fell apart. The rejection this child feels is enormous and has lasting impacts on their life. Our spiritual adoption as sons and daughters of God can never be rejected. God knows all our sins, all the dirt on us and still loves us as His own. Isn’t that comforting?

While these verses may never be brought up in a discussion about eternal security, they most certainly apply. God’s adoption of us can never and will never be broken. Paul even writes in Ephesians 1:5, “He predestined us to adoption as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,…” If God decided before the foundation of the world to adopt us into His family, I don’t think He’s going to change His mind, do you? Live like you belong.

Father, You are my Father! You have made me Your child through adoption through Your Son.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Uncategorized, Suffering, Bible, Scripture, Creation, Romans, Groanings, Childbirth

GROANINGS AND LABOR PAINS

ROMANS 8:22

“For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.”

If you are like me, you have probably experienced some groans and sufferings in your lifetime. Whether they be from physical pain or emotional pain, those groans and sufferings are real. What can make those even worse is if they are experienced by more than one person. When the terrorist attacks happened back on September 11, 2001, the whole nation groaned and suffered. It was a deep groan and deep suffering. You probably still remember where you were the moment that happened.

Paul uses a word today that is used only here in the New Testament. The word is sustenazó which comes from sun (together) and stenazo (groan). That preposition sun is that inseparable togetherness. You are bound by this groaning. Paul is saying in today’s verse that all creation is bound together in this groaning and suffering. Then Paul uses another “one-time” word. The phrase “suffers the pains of childbirth together” is one Greek word – sunódinó. It also has the preposition sun. It is joined to odino (birth pains, labor). What a great word picture Paul paints for us.

APPLICATION

Since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, creation has been groaning. There would have been no earthquakes, volcano eruptions, floods, hurricanes or tornadoes if man had not sinned. Not only did Adam and Eve begin to experience the decay of death, but so did creation. Thorns and thistles grew where once there was just beautiful meadows or fruit trees.

How does this apply to us? We are decaying as I write these words. There is nothing we can do to stop our physical decay. We can take a thousand multivitamins and spend thousands of dollars on doctors and therapies, but we will all still die. Our bodies simply break down. I know I feel mine breaking down every day.

But we do have a remedy for our spiritual body, our spirit and even our soul. Jesus gives us a new birth. We are regenerated through His Holy Spirit. He transforms our minds (Romans 12:1-2). He transforms our spirits and knits it together with His. He transforms even our souls (our personalities). Think about that last one. Don’t tell me you don’t see that in that person who gets saved. They stop telling those off-color jokes. They stop looking at stuff they shouldn’t look at. They stop being the person they were before Christ. Our groanings and sufferings may continue physically, but spiritually we have no need for that anymore. Hallelujah, praise His name.

Thank You, Father God, for hearing my groans and seeing my sufferings. You have rescued me and given me a new life.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Chains, Freedom, Romans, Scripture, Slaves

FREEDOM

ROMANS 8:21

“that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.”

Oh, this verse rocks my world. Doesn’t it yours? Just think about what freedom means? I have to quote Gill’s Exposition here. Get ready. This will rock you too. Gill’s says this freedom is “a freedom from the dominion of sin and Satan, from the law and bondage of it, in the free use of Gospel ordinances, in liberty of access to God, and a freedom from the fear of death, and a glorious liberty it is; or the liberty of glory the saints shall enjoy in the other world, which will lies in a freedom from the prison of the flesh, from the body of sin and death, from all sorrows and afflictions, from all reproaches and persecutions, from the temptations of Satan, from doubts, fears, and unbelief, and in the full vision of God through Christ, and in a free conversation with angels and saints.”

This is what Paul is saying in today’s verse. Woohoo! We are destined for an eternal freedom. The word “freedom” is the Greek word eleutheria which means the “liberating reality that believers possess in Christ.” (Topical Lexicon) So, let me ask you this question. Are you walking in that freedom today? Or are you still walking around like you are chained to the sin nature in you?

APPLICATION

Peter says it well in 2 Peter 2:20. “For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome,” Is that you? I pray not. We are to walk in victory, brothers and sisters, not to sin. Which is easier, to walk free or chained?

Paul writes the Galatians in Galatians 5:1 with the same message. “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.” Do you get it now? Stop strapping yourself down by the yoke of slavery to sin. Will you walk perfectly? Of course not! No one can. But we do not walk this path alone. Christ, through the power of His Holy Spirit, has broken the chains that bind us.

Chris Tomlin writes these lyrics in his song “Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone).” 

My chains are gone; I’ve been set free. 

My God, my Savior has ransomed me 

And like a flood His mercy rains 

Unending love, Amazing grace 

Walk in victory today and every day. He has set us free!

Thank You, Lord, for the freedom I have today and forever!

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Flesh, Glory, Heaven, Romans, Scripture, Sin

HARD WORDS TO HEAR

ROMANS 8:20

“For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope”

Do you remember as a child when your parents said, “This is for your own good”? Usually, that involved a spanking or some type of discipline for you to learn by. I never understood (or believed) that until I had children of my own and found myself saying the same thing. Sometimes the only way we can learn valuable lessons is go through a trial or perhaps even discipline. (Hebrews 12:11)

Today’s verse is a little difficult to comprehend at first glance. Can I boil it down for you? As followers of Christ, we are subjected to sin and all the consequences of it. God could have chosen to save us and then take us directly to heaven. Instead, He left us here on earth for a reason. Why would He do that? Didn’t He know it would be difficult for us? Didn’t He know we would fail and lapse into sin from time to time? Didn’t He know we would face discouragement in the midst of these trials?

APPLICATION

You know I reference Albert Barnes a lot in my blogs. Well, he gives some good reasons why God allows us to remain here and to be subjected to sin after we are saved. Look at these examples he gives: “1. Christians are subjected to this state to do good to their fellow sinners. 2. By their remaining here the power of the gospel is shown in overcoming their sin; in meeting their temptations; in sustaining them in trial; and in thus furnishing living evidence to the world of the power and excellency of that gospel. 3. It furnishes occasion for some interesting exhibitions of character – for hope, and faith, and love, and for increasing and progressive excellence. 4. It is a proper training for heaven. 5. It is fit and proper that he should engage here in the service of Him who has redeemed him.”

Now, these examples Barnes gives are not straight from Scripture, but each could be shown true in Scripture. For whatever reason God has chosen to leave us here, it is good because He is good and all that He does is good. We may not understand it now, but we can trust in His goodness. God is preparing us all for a future glory. Doesn’t that give you hope?

As you go through your own life lessons, lean on the truth of God’s Word. He has given us freedom from the penalty of sin and the power to refrain from it. He has not saved us to make us suffer here in our sinful, fleshy bodies. No, He has saved us to be a shining example of His power through fallen man. Trust in His power, not your own, to overcome the sinful desires in your life. He is able!

Lord, I so desire to be with You in glory but use me while I am here to show Your glory to others.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Anticipation, Bible, Glory, Revelation, Romans, Scripture, Waiting

EAGERLY AWAITING

ROMANS 8:19

“For the eagerly awaiting creation waits for the revealing of the sons and daughters of God.”

I watched this movie recently about a young girl who ran cross country. She overcame some great obstacles, including battling asthma, to win a state championship. Even though that race is a long distance race, it was won at the very end by just inches as she fell forward across the finish line in front of the previous state champion runner. It was literally a photo finish.

Why do I bring that up? Because the Greek word used by Paul which is translated “eagerly” gives us that picture. It’s the word apokaradokía “(from apó, ‘away from’; kara, ‘the head’; and dokéō, ‘thinking’) – properly, thinking forward (literally with head out-stretched), referring to eager, intense expectation.” (HELPS Word-studies). The word is used twice (here in today’s verse and Philippians 1:20). Paul’s use of the word here shows his keen desire for us to see the future of our glorified bodies. He can hardly contain himself.

APPLICATION

In Philippians 1:20 Paul uses apokaradokía when he writes, “according to my eager expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.” Not only do we see our glorified bodies being eagerly sought, but we also anticipate that our current bodies are a means in which Christ is exalted. Don’t you just love that? We are to be always eagerly anticipating Christ’s work in our lives, now and in the future.

Can you honestly say that you’re eagerly anticipating these things? We all look forward to heaven, but most of us are in no hurry to get there. The older I get, the more my head strains toward that finish line. Don’t get me wrong. I love my life and what Christ is doing in and through me. But I am more and more ready for that day when I will see my Savior face to face. How about you?

More importantly, though, I have to ask myself if I am as eager to see Christ exalted in my mortal flesh, this earthly body. Every day I should strain myself towards that goal so that I can draw others to Him. I have to admit that I don’t do that as often. My prayer for you and for me is that we will be so busy straining our heads to exalt Jesus that the coming glory we will experience will just be icing on the cake. Will you join me?

Lord, I am stretching forth to reach all that You have for me, both now and later.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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