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Pastor's Blog June 3, 2021
"View of God in Romans XII"
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In Romans 8:18-30, Paul says there are two things we know about God and one thing we don't really know about ourselves. Romans 8:22 boldly states, "For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now" (NASB).
Many Christians often feel like they DON'T know this! But according to Paul, we do know this - and he gives the reason for our knowledge in verse 19: the creation anxiously longs for God to reveal "the sons of God," which is Paul's way of talking about God making us new at the second coming of Jesus! Because we know God wants to glorify and immortalize us when Jesus comes, we also know that the entire creation is anxiously awaiting the day it will be renewed by God. But because we don't exactly know what it means that God will glorify and immortalize us, we struggle to really know how to pray: "In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words" (Romans 8:26, NASB).
Thankfully, the Holy Spirit helps us pray and he even prays for us, especially when and because we neither know how to pray nor how to anxiously long for that last day when Jesus will glorify us and make us immortal. Yet it's because we know God has big plans for us and helps us when we don't know how to pray that Paul points out the final truth we do know: "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 the will of God" (Romans 8:28, NASB). We know this because God has predestined us to be conformed to the image of Jesus, thereby also calling us, justifying us, and glorifying us in Jesus (Romans 8:29-30)!
Friends, it can be overwhelming to be told that you already know that creation is looking forward to us being made new at the second coming, and that you already know God helps us to pray while he works all things out for our good. But be assured of this: you already know these things BECAUSE God has shown you he is the God who is on your side, the One who works for your benefit and salvation from start to finish.
God bless,
Pastor Nathaniel Gamble
