Romans 8:26,27 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
The first three words, Likewise the Spirit. That means in the same manner. In the same manner the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities. So before we get into any of the text, I want to answer the question What manner? Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmites? Likewise means on the same wise. What wise? It means in the same manner. What manner? What wise? Likewise the Spirit gives us the indication that Romans 8:26 and 27 is the next on the list. The Spirit of God also helpeth our infirmities. That also tells us that Paul is adding to the list.
There’s two ways of looking at this: And honestly, I’m not sure which way is the right way. The question is what list? Paul is adding to what list? Is this a more primary list in Romans of all the ways that God helpeth our infirmities, or is Paul adding to a secondary list of all the different ways in which the Spirit helps us. Is the point that throughout Romans God helps with our infirmities and this is another manner in which God does this? Or is the point that the Spirit helps us with many things and in many ways, and this is but one of them?
Wise #1: Paul demonstrates throughout the letter to the Romans that God helps our infirmities
So if we look at it in the first light, where the point or the theme is that of our infirmities, then when Paul speakes of those infirmities, he’s reaching all the way back into other chapters here.
Romans 3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested
Romans 3:24, 25 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood
Roman 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
Romans 4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
Romans 4:23,24 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
Romans 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
Romans 5:8 God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Romans 5:14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
Romans 5:20,21 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Over and over Paul declares our infirmities, our sin, our depravity, but everytime, he answers with what Jesus has done or what God has made so. All throughout this book Paul is trying to help us understand what God has done for us. And then when we get into Chapter 7, he’s dealing with sin again and infirmities, but now he’s dealing with it in saved folk.
Romans 7:13 But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
Romans 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
Romans 7:17,18 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
Romans 7:21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
Romans 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
He’s laying down the groundwork for this next thing on the list of help which is the Holy Ghost. But in this groundwork, I found something that intrigued me. There was something that Paul said that caught my attention.
Romans 7:22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man… What does that sound like? It sounds a lot like what David said, But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of wate, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. Paul says I delight in the law of God after the inward man, David, just like you do. But David, you still committed adultery with Bathsheba. You still murdered Uriah. You still distrusted God and numbered Israel. David, your delight was in the law, yes, and you did prosper yes, but there was still sin. Paul said David, just like you, I delight in the law of God after the inward man, BUT I see another law warring in my members, warring against the law in my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Do you see the contradiction in this passage. His delight is in the law of the God, but instead of prosperity, he finds war and with war comes destruction and death. I don’t think people realize even after they’re saved how much they’re still living and serving the law. Paul said in Chapter 7:6 But we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held, that we should serve in newness of spirit and not in the oldness of the letter. Why would God preserve these letters for us if they weren’t pertinent? Most of Galatians is about the same thing.
Paul said David I delight in the law of God, but the law is not good enough. That’s why he said verse 3 of chapter 8, “For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh…” He said, “The law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin…” If I was all spirit, we’d be alright. But I’m not. I’m flesh. And I know that in me (that is in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing. But what does dwell in there are infirmities. He said who shall deliver me from the body of this death… it’s the body of infirmities.
And honestly, I find no indication that we’re gonna be delivered from the body of this death in this life. Our new glorified bodies will be presented at glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Paul is still waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of his body. He’s still waiting along with us for the manifestation of the sons of God. When Paul says in verse 11, “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall quicken your mortal bodies by his spirit that dwelleth in you.” There’s no indication that this quickening of your mortal body happens in this life. He said shall quicken. He didn’t say quickens. He said shall quicken.
Don’t get this mixed up with Ephesians 2. And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins… Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
I read this verse, and something inside of me says, “Praise the Lord! I’m saved, I’m raised in Christ. I’m sitting in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” But, we might as well face it, there’s absolutely nothing about this body and this flesh that sitting up in heavenly places. There ain’t nothing heavenly about this body. There’s nothing raised up about this body. My soul is saved! My spirit is renewed! But this old flesh. God gave me this thought the other day: Salvation is for the soul. Santification is for the Spirit. But the glorious resurrection is for the body. Paul said, “Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. It’s called the glorious liberty of the children of God because the souls of the children of God are already in there. And, don’t quote me, but I think sanctification, being filled with the Holy Ghost, is about getting our spirits in the glorious liberty of the children of God. But the resurrection, the coming of our blessed hope, when the trump of God shall sound, and the dead in Christ shall rise, that is when our bodies get delivered into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
So Romans 8, Paul is trying to help us with this old body, this flesh, this sin in our members. And I really think that why he says we’re saved by hope. Romans 8:24,25 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. He’s getting us to wait for it, to patiently wait for the glorious appearing of our Lord and Savior, the redemption of these wretched bodies. He’s saying just wait and see… Just be patient. For the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us… He didn’t say don’t compare them. He just said they’re not worthy to be compared to the glory. He’s saying you ain’t seen nothing yet… And see, that helps us. He’s not saying to just go on sinning because of the flesh. He’s getting us to recognize the reality of the flesh, and take advantage of the help that God has given us until that blessed day until we won’t have to. It’s like when he told the Galatians (6:9) And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
He’s saying don’t give up. Don’t give up. Don’t give up. Paul is saying I know there’s a war going on in your member, but don’t give up. The best is yet to come. The Spirit of God bears witness with our spirit of the unimaginable divine inheritance that awaits us. We are heirs, heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ. That means we’re going to get everything Jesus gets. It means Jesus is going to share everything the Father gives him with us. Romans 8:29 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things. He saying store up for yourselves treasures in heaven. You see he’s trying to help us while we’re down here. He’s demonstrating to us and encouraging us to operate according to the facts, the future, and our faith.
That is what this book of Romans, especially these chapters 5,6,7, and 8, is about. Paul is trying to help us. And he’s giving us great truths regarding our salvation; the facts, the future, and our faith. This is the manner of God, a God that wants to help us. A God that extends to us a helping hand and encourage us. Romans 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: Paul is demonstrating that God understand. That God know that Romans 7:10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. And God know Romans 7;11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. God knows (14) that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. God know this and God did something about it because he loves me and wants to help me. He sent his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh.
So when we his this verse and see Likewise the Spirit, and we understand that to be in the same manner and ask What manner? The manner of God is to help us with our infirmities, therefore the manner of his Holy Spirit is the same; to help us with sin. God has yet again extended out a helping hand in the Holy Ghost.
Wise #2: Paul demonstrates throughout chapter 8 that the Holy Ghost helps with and in many things, our infirmities being one of them.
So let’s go back a little through Chapter 8 and and just see the actions of the Holy Ghost.
- Verse 2, The Spirit makes us free
- Verse 5, The Spirt gives us things to put our mind upon.
- Verse 6, To be spiritually-minded is life and peace
- Verse 9, Paul is saying that if Spirit of Christ dwells in you, then you belong to Him.
- Verse 11, He gives us the promise that these mortal bodies shall be quickened by his Spirit.
- Verse 13, Through the Spirit we can mortify the deeds of the body
- Verse 14, The Spirit of God leads the sons of God.
- Verse 15, The Spirit of God is the administrator and facilitator of adoption
- Verse 16, The Spirit bears witness to our spirit
And I want to stop there and talk about this.
These past weeks I’ve been reading three different book about the Holy Spirit. I’m still seeking and trying to learn more about the Holy Ghost. I picked up these book at the camp. They used to belong to Brother Fain Jordan. It’s interesting how there’s slight nuances in everybody’s understanding of the Holy Ghost. No doubt mine is unique from others as others are unique from each other. One of these books had a chapter or a portion on this concept of the witness of the Spirit. And the author was expounding on three different verses that speak on this matter the bible. And he didn’t say anything really about this, but something dawned on me as I was reading this and it was regarding Romans 8:16: The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: I realized that it’s possible that I misunderstood this verse all my Christian life.
I have always understood this verse to mean that God’s Spirit, the Holy Spirit, bears witness to my spirit, or testifies to my spirit that I’m a child of God; that He speaks to my Spirit, to my heart, and tells me that I’m his own, his child. Now I’m not saying that God doesn’t do that. Surely he does. But that is not what this verse is saying. The verse is saying distinctly that His Spirit bears witness with our spirit, not to our spirit. In other words, we are co-witnesses. We bear witness together. He’s saying that our spirit bears witness also. Our spirit agrees with the Holy Spirit. Our spirit confirms the voice of God. It’s not t-o, it’s t-o-o, which means also. It’s not t-o, it’s t-w-o. which means it’s both spirits bearing witness.
Now after that kind of dawned on me, I made a mental note to go look it up in the Greek, and make sure that I’m not misinterpreting or going down a wrong road in my thinking. So I look up the verse, and the expression is συμμαρτυρεῖ (symmartyrei) which comes from the word συμμαρτυρέω (summartureó) And expression means I bear witness together with. It’s a word that was made from two words, from sun and martureó. Matureo means to bear witness or testify, while sun means with or together with. So, at this point, now, I realized, “Wow, all these years I misunderstood this…”
Now, I always want to be careful. I don’t want to get carried away. Because I’ve known many preachers to preach this verse the way I’ve previously understood it. I’ve learned a few things in my years. One thing I learned in my studies is that etymology is insufficient to determine the meaning of words. In other words, just looking at the meaning of words and how they were derived is not enough to determine what a writer may have been conveying. Often times, usage will determine the meaning of the word. In other words, we have to understand how the writer is using the words to understand what he means. So what I like to do is see other examples of how this word is used to make sure I’m not nuts.
So, I’m gonna be like those Berean Christians in Acts 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. So that’s what I did. It turns out that this word is really only used three times in your New Testament. And this isn’t the first time this has happened to me, but this same word is used in the by same author in the same book three times. So when this happens, you’ve got a pretty sure way to determine your understanding of the word or words because it was used all times at the same time, and in the same letter, and by the same person, so there’s little chance the meaning will very. If different people used it, it casts a doubt. If it’s used at different times, it casts a doubt. But the same person, same book. You can’t beat that.
Romans 2:15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) Also bearing witness is that expression again, and sure enough it’s exactly what it means. Paul is saying that their heart testifies, and their conscience testifies. Both bear witness.
Romans 9:1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, Paul is has got something to say in Romans, Chapter 9, but he’s making not that his conscience also has got the same thing to say. His conscience confirms what he’s about to say. Him and his conscience are on the same page.
And that is what we are to understand in Romans 8:16. My spirit and the Holy Spirit are on the same page. We are both testifying and bearing witness that I am a child of God. That’s Romans 8:16. Matthew 18:16 is it’s sister verse. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. It’s one thing to say that I’m a child of God, but it’s wonderful when two more people inside of me that are saying the same thing. My new spirit that God has quickened and made a alive and freed is saying that I’m a child of God, and the Holy Spirt is confirming that and testifying of that. Bless the Lord, every word may be established. That is what Paul is trying to do, to establish us in the faith. He’s trying to help us. The Holy Spirit is trying to help us.
And this was just a gold mine for me when I found it. Look I don’t like being wrong, but I’m glad I found out I was wrong about this verse. You ever heard that expression Knowledge is power. A right understanding of the scriptures can help us, but a misunderstanding of them can hinder us. And I can see how that misunderstanding this verse has hindered my faith and suppressed truth. This verse Romans 8:16 has been so integral in my life. I’ve heard it quoted many many many times and it has always been part of the framework of my understanding of the Holy Spirit, and thus God. And I had it wrong. Like I said, I’m not saying the the Holy Spirit doesn’t speak to us, to our hearts, to our spirits. Sure he does. But I’m gonna have to find another verse when I talk about that.
I can see how that misunderstanding has hindered my faith and suppressed truth; has suppressed my Spirit. In a sense, through the misunderstanding of this verse I’ve essentially been waiting on a word from the Holy Ghost; waiting for the Spirit to speak to my Spirit, when all along, it’s not waiting that my spirit should be doing but instead witnessing. I have a new spirit within me that is me that wants to cry Abba Father. Romans 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. Where by we cry, not he cries. We cry! Our spirit cries Abba Father. Our spirit bears witness together with the Holy Spirit that we are the children of God.
The Holy Spirit, listen, He’s cheering us on. He’s saying go go go. And my spirit is saying go go go. Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. We’re in this together. And I don’t know about you, but that helps me. I like this new understanding better. I tell you, when this broke out on me, I could feel such a weight lifted. My fellowship with God in prayer suddenly God real good. My yearning and craving for the bible got more acute. The morning after I got in my truck and cried from my driveway in Sinton all the way to McKenzie just praising God and thanking him. I tell you God is so good to me, and the sweet Holy Spirit is good to me.
Something Else
“I am not called upon to improve myself – to gradually improve the old nature; but I am to reckon that I have died to its power and authority; and I am to recognize that my real life now is that of the risen Christ, which is to be manifested in me. This is what Christian baptism rightly signifies. “We are buried with Him by baptism unto death.” In that act I confessed that I – the old, selfish, worldly, sinful man – came to an end in the death of Christ.” H. A. Ironside
When Paul says in Romans 7:4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another; even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. When he says this (Now this has taken me some time to nail this down in my mind), he is talking about two different ye’s. Notice (and this has bothered me for some time) how in Paul’s discussion regarding the law and marriage, it’s the husband that is either alive or dead, and it’s the woman that marries another. So when we get to verse 4, I’ve always wonder why Paul changed from the husband being dead in verse 2 and 3, to now saying ye are become dead to the law, ye being the woman figure. Well, the reason why is because he doesn’t. He hasn’t changed. We are to understand that the ye that is become dead to the law by the body of Christ is not the ye that should be married to another. I always thought it was, but it’s not.
I always kinda pictured a resurrection between the two ye’s, but for the most part the two ye’s were the same person. Now they are of the same person. But I believe in Paul’s thinking, no. What is resurrected is a new creature in Christ Jesus. Therefore, there is a distinction between the old man and the new man.
I know this might be a little difficult to swallow, but consider the glorious verse of Galatian 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live: He that was crucified with Christ was not resurrected, but a new creature. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. New means new. And we’re not talking new to you. We’re not talking about getting someone’s hand me downs, something that is torn and battered and worn out with sin. No. New is what we are. Remember when we discussed life and death, how that life has nothing to do with death, and visa-versa, death has nothing to do with life. We cannot in our entirety be dead and alive at the same time. One man must be dead, and the other man must be alive.
Romans 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed. Now the body of sin is destroyed, destroyed, destroyed. And the body of sin is not resurrected, but rather a new man in Christ Jesus is resurrected.
So that’s why I say that the I that was crucified with Christ cannot be the I that lives. No, like Ironside said, that I, or that ye, came to an end in the death of Christ. So the I that was crucified with Christ is dead and the one that lives is a new I. Like wise, going back to Romans 7:4, the ye that has become dead to the law by the body of Christ is the husband and the ye that should be married to another is the woman. Jesus said in John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Passing from death to life is not just simply a matter of state and standing, but a matter of existence. Don’t get me wrong, we have a new standing in Christ Jesus, but bless the Lord, the only reason we can boast a new standing is because we are new creatures.
Now maybe that might be difficult to understand. It’s taken me years to even just get an understanding of this, and this, I’m sure, is due to my stubbornness and disobedience. God does not ask that we understand this, but rather that we just believe it. Paul said in Romans 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. He didn’t say to understand it, but to just reckon it. Account it. Believe it. Cash it. That’s the ABC’s of the Christian life right there.
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The Big Problem
So here’s the problem: Why are we still dealing with infirmities and sin, when we have so decisively and surely been crucified with Christ. If Christ condemned sin in the flesh, then why am I still dealing with it? Unbelief.
alatian 5: The Spirit is the seed bed of righteousness in the body; good deeds, works, the work of God in this body.
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