Redemption and the Resurrection

Understanding Our Groaning for Redemption

Romans 8:23-27
August 1st, 2021

Okay . . . some teachings, some private revelations from my own life, and we will wrap it all up with an . . . object lesson! What a day! So, Paul told us in verse twenty-two that the whole world is actually groaning under the weight of this fallen world, but that we as believers, who too groan, have something to which we are looking forward – remember? Verse 23 says:

Romans 8:23 And not only they (he said, meaning the whole world,) but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

The apostle has taken us through salvation by grace through faith, explained our adoption, said that we will suffer (and we articulated this to mean that we suffer in loving God and others) and now he has described to us that while waiting for our ultimate state of glorification, we “groan within ourselves for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.” This last point brings us not only to resurrection, which is the redemption of our body, but to the ultimate redemption of our body if possible, which Paul called, the out-resurrection or exanastasis – which we talked about a couple weeks ago. All resurrection is decided upon and rewarded as a gift from God alone, who bestows each resurrected body upon every person according to 1st Corinthians 15.

That’s a big moment when we think about it – especially if we are going to be housed in whatever body he gives us for eternity, right? Where verse 23 that we “have the firstfruits of the Spirit, which cause us to” groan within ourselves,” as we “wait for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body,” we know that our adoption as sons and daughters of God is completely validated at the resurrection or the ultimate redemption of our body. At the present we only have the deposit or earnest of the Spirit of Promise that gives us hope as we await the day.

The Redemption of Our Mortal Bodies

So, where many people think of deathSeparation from God—now overcome. Physical death remains, but it no longer separates us from life with God. as the shedding of this mortal cage of flesh I think it's important for Christians to see death not only as a putting off (of the mortal flesh) but a putting on of a heavenly spiritual body of glory bestowed by God as our eternal abode. This passage introduces us to a new Greek word we don’t often hear and that is AP-OL-OO-OTRIS – and it means exactly what the King James says – redemption, full ransom, deliverance and riddance. So, when we read it here in context it is the “full ransom of, the redemption of, the deliverance of, and the riddance of, our mortal bodies.”

Why would we seek, desire, groan to rid ourselves of these bodies that God himself designed and given us – bodies which are capable of such amazing things, bodies that can reproduce other bodies, bodies that we become so identified with? Because these bodies, being material, are subject to death, corruption, decay, pain, weight, and frankly limitation. They are going to be replaced, fully ransomed, and redeemed with . . . glory.

1st Corinthians 15:41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
43 It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
50 Now this I say, brethren,

Saved by Hope

that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of GodGod’s spiritual reign—fulfilled and present, not political or future.; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. At this point Paul speaks about the condition we are in while we wait for the day of this resurrection. And he says:

24 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?
25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

The Meaning of Hope

What does Paul mean when he says: “FOR WE ARE SAVED BY HOPE” In the absence of the fulfillment of the promise of redemption we expectantly AND patiently wait. But what about that meaty line: “We are saved by hope?”

In Romans, and Ephesians, and Galatians, etc. Paul repeatedly says that we are “saved by grace through faith” . . . often adding, and “nothing more” or “not of works” lest any man should boast?”

So, what is this business now about being saved by hope? Hope is not the instrument or condition of salvation . . . is it? And how does hope relate to faith? Are they the same and if not, how do they differ?

First of all hope (which is elpis in the Greek) is very different from faith (which is pistis in the Greek) but they are related. Secondly, the word saved (as in we are “saved by faith” and “we are saved by hope” is the same word in scripture – sode-zo.

To me, faith, hope and love are all participants in the salvation or sodezo of humankind. But they have different applications to our respective salvations. We are certainly saved by grace through faith. This appears to speak of the heavenly place, that those who look to Christ and His finished work are saved to the Kingdom of God. This is what is noted in the heavens, so to speak – Tim Jones is saved to the Kingdom.

Hope and Its Relationship to Faith

To be saved by hope seems to speak of the fact that as Christians who have been filled with the Holy Spirit and walk this world in these bodies, we are saved from total despair and anwe (as we talked about last week) by and through the hope or expectation of what awaits us at the redemption of these bodies that weigh us down.

And then to add my own view on the third principle of Christianity (love) to me I think we are also saved by love from the fact that as we love as He gave command we save ourselves from the effects of non-love in our lives – which always brings remorse in our hearts as His children. That to forgive is to save ourselves from the burden of not forgiving, which we bear about in our bodies and souls.

So all three Christian traits – faith, hope and love – lend to the total salvation experience of every Christian person. Again, unbelievers do not have faith, they do not have hope, and they cannot have love to the extent that a person filled with the Holy Spirit can possess it. Our flesh can’t conjure up such selflessness by itself. So, unbelievers are relatively speaking, without the three Christian characteristics that work toward salvation.

That is why

Ephesians 2:12 says “That at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.”

Or 1st Thessalonians 4:13 which says “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.”

In the face of this, if anyone wonders if they are saved, or where they are in their Christian walk, all they have to do is examine whether there is a “hope or earnest expectation” within them and use the presence (or absence) of such hope as a fantastic insight into their walk with God.

It is very sad to me to meet people who lay claim to being Christian but when asked if they know (fully expect/hope) they are saved, they revert back to the modern meaning of the word and say something like: “Well, I hope so.” (I wish so).

No, believers have an “earnestly expectation,” of a glorious eternal future, of being delivered from this mortal condition, of being released from this present body and put in one of glory.

Object of Our Hope

What is object of our hope? Eternal life? Rewards? Scripture tells us plainly.

1st Timothy 1:1 says “Paul, an apostle of Jesus

Faith and Hope in Christian Life

Christ by the commandment of God our Savior, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope.

Colossians 1:27 calls

Christ in you, the hope of glory.

The Apostle Peter says (in 1st Peter 1:3):

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

So, faith is the trust that God has done what He has promised on our behalf, and hope is the expectation – the anticipatory longing to receive the Glory promised to those who have placed their faith on Him.

Insights from Romans

Back in Romans 5:2-5 we get some insight. Listen to what is said here:

Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

It seems from this passage that God, by and through our faith, grants us both peace AND hope, which causes us to rejoice in the glory that God will ultimately bestow upon us at our promised resurrections. I’m not sure we can really appreciate or fathom what this glory means or looks like while here. We might be tempted to translate the notion into fleshly ideas and images but I think the glory to be bestowed will be very different “from status in flesh.”

In fact, Paul says in the next verse

Romans 8:24 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?

So, we really do not have any idea, having not seen what our expectations will amount to – and so we are only left with conjecture. Paul continues and says:

Ro 8:25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

And we discover yet another reason God allows us to remain in bodies of flesh, living by faith, not knowing the realities of what awaits, and therefore having to wait… PATIENCE.

And that brings us back to the principles Paul shared with us in chapter five, right, when he said:

Romans 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulationA real historical event fulfilled in 70 A.D.—not a future apocalyptic crisis. More worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

The Role of the Spirit

And now Paul gives us insights into things often overlooked which might serve as helpers to our groaning and patience as believers here in the flesh. Are you ready for this?

26 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. 27 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.

Being human in the fallen world is trial enough. We have learned that all groan under the weight – believer and not. We all realize this the first time we fall off our bike, get a toothache, get excluded from the company of our friends, or discover that no matter what we do, it will fade, change, and become obsolete in some way. That almost everything requires maintenance. That everything changes – except God.

And again, the woeful situation is far more cumbersome and weighty for a believer, in some ways, because we do not look to the things of the world to satiate and placate us along the way. However, we also have something the world does not – the Spirit within.

Paul tells us in the previous passages here that in the midst of this pain “hope saves us,” as believers. Then (in verse 26) he shares yet another means by which believers are supported. A gift which has been subject to some varied interpretations – and which after discussing them openly with you some of you may never return. But that’s okay, right?

“Peace if possible but TRUTH…always.”

So, after telling us how hope supports us in this mortal journey, Paul says in (verse 26)

26 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.

The Role of the Holy Spirit in Our Infirmities

with groanings which cannot be uttered. This introduces a new source of consolation and support which is part of the sustaining power God gives to His children in this world. Hope is one support, but here Paul notes that the “Spirit (also) helpeth our infirmities.” The word “helpeth” translated from the Greek properly means that the Spirit sustains us – it aides us by supporting us in the trials (the infirmities) we face.

We recall that Jesus referred to the Holy Spirit as “the comforter” the parakletus, “the advocate,” which helps us by giving us strength to bear all things; by prompting with inner strength to face them in the name of our King (remember, He did not leave us alone to fend for ourselves but unlike the world we have a comforter); By pointing us always to Christ, and by teaching us all things, and aiding us in bringing forth fruit worthy of God – love. But Paul now describes another aid of the Spirit when he says:

The Spirit's Unuttered Groanings

“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.”

Have you ever been in a place in your Christian walk where you literally do not know what to say or pray for? I mean we are so full of joy, or so full of sorrow, or so bloody confused or full of information and issues that we are literally just silenced by an inability to act, think or speak? Did you know that the Holy Spirit is not only present to assist us in our physical infirmities, our emotional trials, and our spiritual weaknesses – to guide us in faith and hope and love – but it is there to help us when we don’t even know what to say in our prayers!

Let’s first talk about what it is that leads a believer to not even know what to say in prayer. I mentioned being overwhelmed. That’s one potential cause. But maybe the reason why we don’t know what to pray is we want to please the Lord in our petitions and aren’t sure what He wants from us? In other words perhaps we don’t want to be presumptuous and pray for things that are not His will? Or maybe we are just too drained – hollow, dead inside, so to speak. Maybe we are sick from disease or mourning or sadness – and all we can do is moan or groan in grief. Whatever the reason, Paul here states that the Holy Spirit “maketh intercession.”

Intercession Through Silent Sighs

And the word he uses for intercession (up-erent-ug-canei)—-does not occur anywhere else in the New Testament. It’s root word, however, means to be present for the purpose of aiding, like an advocate would aid in a court of justice – aiding, assisting and interceding on behalf of another. I have a friend who serves as a child advocate in court for children. She goes and does and speaks on behalf of the child’s benefit – saying things the child would not know what to say or how to say it.

But here’s the real kicker in the passage . . . “ . . . but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which (LISTEN) cannot be uttered.” What exactly is Paul describing here? The words are somewhat paradoxical for how does (listen to these words) the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered??? First of all, however the spirit intercedes Paul describes it as occurring through “GROANINGS that CANNOT BE UTTERED.” That is not easy to really understand, is it? “Groanings that cannot be uttered?”

The word for groanings here means sigh, so, “sighs that cannot be uttered.” And the word for cannot be uttered here means “without speaking.” So, “the Holy Spirit makes intercession for us through “sighs without speaking.”

How does the holy spirit make intercession for us believers with “sighs without speaking?” I am going to take you into part of my very private world (one my family is not even part of) and I am frankly a very private person and so I am reticent to share this with you – but I have shared it before because 1, it conforms with scripture (like right here) and 2, it is real in my life. There is no reason to accept these insights as true but we have come upon them in scripture and they need

Understanding Speaking in Tongues

I will present them in part like they were presented to me years ago, and I will try and remove all the man-made junk relative to it so you can see if it has a place in your life or not. Again, I do this reservedly and not to make it a big public ordeal.

Okay. . .

There are some passages in scripture that refer to speaking in tongues and so to praying in tongues. Some people believe that speaking in tongues and or praying in tongues are one in the same. I would strongly suggest that they are not. I am not going to talk about speaking in tongues very much here because it is a long topic that requires some real verse by verseTGNN’s Bible teaching series—book-by-book, through the lens of fulfillment and spiritual liberty. study – primarily of 1st Corinthians chapter 14.

The Gift of Speaking in Tongues

But let me summarize what I believe is the biblical stance and teaching on the Gift of speaking in tongues. First, I do believe in the spiritual gift of “speaking” in tongues based on scripture. Second, I believe that speaking in tongues is the spirit-led ability to speak a language that is otherwise foreign to the speaker. Sort of like me to suddenly break out in Tagalo or German. Third, I believe that when the Gift of speaking in tongues is properly exercised there must be an interpreter of the language spoken present to reveal what the speaker has said. If there is no interpreter who can interpret what has been said in this legitimate foreign language the expression is a show and a waste. Fourth, I believe, from scripture, that the purpose of speaking in tongues is to convince NON-BELIEVERS and not believers, and therefore the expression of speaking in tongues is NOT for the Church. I cite verse 22 of 1st Corinthians 14 which plainly states:

“Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.”

This passage seems to mean that to the unbelieving world that sees and hears a person speaking in a language unknown to them would serve as a sign of a great spiritual miracle. This is the purpose of speaking in tongues, just like it was the purpose of those who spoke in tongues at the day of Pentecost. Gathered there were people from all over who spoke different languages and the gift of tongues was not only a miracle to the unbelievers it was needed and purposeful to the event at hand. I strongly suggest that the application of tongues being spoken in the church today and being crazy babbling is a misapplication of scripture and a product of religious zeal and emotionalism. There are other factors related to speaking in tongues that ought to be considered in a more in-depth study.

Praying in Tongues

So, what is this about praying in tongues?

Let’s begin by noting that here in Romans 8 Paul (on three occasions) Paul uses the word “groan, groans, or groaning.” The world is groaning. Believers are groaning, and The Holy Spirit is groaning.

Please understand that due to my cynical nature, for an idea or practice to pass my personal litmus test of authenticity it takes both an act of congress AND an act of God. I am not easily persuaded by anything – except the truth when it presents itself. But years ago I was taken aside by a Christian friend. She said something to the effect of “I realize that you will probably not accept what I have to say at face value but I want you to at least hear about something that has been a blessing to me in my life.” Because I respected her, I listened to what she had to say. She went on to explain that when we pray vocally, or even silently for the most part, we have been trained (mostly through methods of education) to take our thoughts and break them down into bite sized representations – or what we call . . . words. Through this means of compartmentalization we are able to pull from a vast amount of observations and information and create strings of communications through what we call sentences. Of course, sentences combined become paragraphs, and before we know it we are communicating (usually to others) the best of our thoughts and observations – either in spoken word or in writing – through the compartmentalized communications of words. The very best writers are able to put these representations down in such a way that they convey thoughts in

Communicating with God

Profoundly moving ways. And the best speakers are able to speak these words in ways that they are able to greatly influence and sway others to all sorts of response. But when it comes to communicating with God, language (words) actually inhibits and interferes with the contents of our hearts and minds. They are actually too boxy, too limited, too much in our power and not His. We speak of letting him reign, of our being branches and Him being the vine, well the same principle can be true in our prayers – if we let it. And so God has given us an advocate in the communications we send to Him. Of course, God knows the totality of all these things rolling around in our heads and hearts but as human beings, our standard way of communicating them through words is truly ineffective as both forms of expression fail to enhance our communications with God but again, actually hinder them. Our words, like the works of our hands, are lacking, so to speak. And so God is willing to partner with us in our prayers. I would imagine that when we are freed from the confines of possessing physical eyes, you know, as spirit beings, when we are able to “see” with spiritual eyes that this is what I am attempting to express when it comes to praying in tongues. People who apparently pass to the other side and return also speak of communications without words in the great beyond so too, perhaps there is something to tapping into that in our spirit life.

Praying in Tongues

“So,” my friend said, “this is what I was taught to do.” And she literally went on and explained to me how to pray in tongues. I resisted this right off the bat. “Hey,” I said, “I think that if I am supposed to know about this God will teach and give it to me,” I said. She gently reminded me that God uses others to teach things – to which I had to concede. So, she continued.

Instructions from a Fellow Believer

“So, first of all, sit somewhere where you are alone and safe from being heard and or from interruption,” she said. “Then just sort of let yourself relax in the Lord. Tell Him what you are doing, and ask Him to send the Spirit to fill you up to overflowing.”

“Now,” she said, “the Holy Spirit is a gentleman. He does not force words out of us nor does He speak through you. He is merely aiding your heart to speak its contents through utterances of breathing. But here’s the deal – you have to let the utterances out. He won’t force them out. He will not create a language. He will not have you pray in a foreign tongue you do not comprehend. But He will aid you, support you, and bring to mind the things you ought to utter, that you ought to consider bringing to God. Don’t use your language or human words – just allow yourself to exhale or sigh out breaths – it will be strange because you KNOW you are allowing yourself to sigh or breath– but you, as a human being who was created to make sounds – are making them in the context of prayer to God. And the Holy Spirit will then take this and use it to help you communicate more effectively with Him.”

I walked away from that conversation HIGHLY suspect. But her words remained with me and I remained open to see if this Christian was just another kook with another kooky practice. Later that week, after flying back to Southern California, I was driving alone one evening along the coast. My heart was full of thoughts, concerns, difficulties, and joys relative to the ministry, family and life. There was a lot of pressure from the ministry and we were struggling in a lot of different ways. As I pondered upon these things swirling around my brain I remembered what this believer had said to me about letting the Holy Spirit aid me in my prayers. Now, she had warned me that to make the first step was a challenge for most – to let utterances come from my mouth that were not captured in words – that for a man like me (she said) it was going to be difficult, embarrassing, kind of strange. But as I drove, and my mind spun more and more around the thoughts of my heart, I allowed a breath to escape my

An Unexpected Experience

It was a sigh – at best. I allowed it. And I knew it. But within that breath came a release of thoughts – a whole bunch of them carried on the one exhaled breath. It surprised me and I pulled over to the side of the road in Newport Beach and just relaxed by the beach, letting my mind rest, while openly breathing in and exhaling. Now, understand, I could hear myself exhaling and I knew I was the one making it happen but as I surrendered my thoughts over they became less and less my own, and they rolled forward in a grand display of issues, ideas, worries and people over which I had no control.

The best way that I can describe would be like this: I exhale and my mind presents the daughters in various places in life, in living motion, the Television station in Salt Lake City, the staff, my Bible, Mary my wife and things she was doing, the Lord, the Wasatch mountain range, the Angel Moroni, crying faces, a man at Intermountain health in a bed, clouds, flights, an email, a critic, The Wasatch mountains rolling in with thousands of people standing at the base with an idea for a program passing by, and then my girls again talking and laughing and Mary coming in and smiling, then a Bible passage, then some homeless man I had met merging with a meeting I was in that week before an edit that was needed in an up and coming book.

Spiritual Overflow

In the midst of this ocean of seemingly disconnected thoughts I relaxed more, allowing Him to work through my heart and mind and I was filled with warmth and love and could feel the burden of my mind and heart being unloaded off my back . . . and I realized that all of that was contained in one sigh. And I continued on like this for a few minutes then opened my eyes and put a stop to it because it was too much. But I found myself emptied of the inner groanings that before had consumed me. And I was at rest. You see, when we allow the Holy Spirit to teach us what we need to pray, the volume and items from within us transcend words, and sentences, and paragraphs. And it’s not like one scene of images but an ocean of scenes converging into the greatest multi-media experience you can imagine.

The Experience of Praying in Tongues

And I experienced for myself what it meant to pray in tongues . . . and what it meant to have the “Spirit itself maketh intercession for me with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

Now, please hear me. Like salvation, I suppose that praying in tongues is a wholly subjective and individual experience. It is all between you and the Lord and if you do NOT experience what I experienced it is perfectly acceptable. Trust the Lord. Also, if you reject this out of hand, it’s okay. I almost did too. But, if you are looking for a greater manifestation of the Holy Spirit in your walk, this is what I believe Paul is describing here in verse 26 of Romans eight.

One more thing relative to this topic that I think I need to illustrate again here since we are on the subject. We know from scripture that the Holy Spirit works in and through humankind in a few ways. First, it works “upon” us – or in the Greek “para.” This is not working from within, but from an outer position, with para meaning around or beside us. At the reception of God’s solution to sinMissing the mark of faith and love—no punishment, just lost growth or peace., Jesus Christ, and according to His will, the Holy Spirit moves in – indwelling us – with the Greek word saying that He is “en” us. Many believers are satisfied in this state of relationship – the En.

But there is another experience we can have with the Holy Spirit and that is the Greek, the “epi” which we might describe as overflowing.

Anytime we are exercising the spiritual gifts we have respectively been given it is the Holy Spirit overflowing, so don’t allow yourselves to be caught in the trap that you MUST exercise it by prayer in the Spirit.

Finally, there are three primary passages of scripture that are often cited as evidence for “praying in tongues”

Romans 8:26 is one, and may be the most significant.

Ephesians 6:18 which

The Role of Praying in the Spirit

“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.” And Jude 20 also says, “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost . . .” Having said this let me be perfectly clear:

Praying in the Spirit does not in any way determine salvation nor does it prove salvation in a person. It is simply a gift for those who want it.

Verse 27 Analysis

Let’s wrap up with verse 27 where Paul adds the following:

27 And He that searcheth the hearts (God) knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because it maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

We will talk more about this next week before moving on.

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