Romans: Sovereignly Secured Identity

Romans 8:26-30

“Please read that verse you read the last time you were here.” That’s what Bruce requested when I stopped by for a visit. Bruce was a prominent lawyer in our city and known as a mover and shaker. He had mellowed over the years, and his heart was tender from the news of terminal cancer. I opened my Bible and read Romans 8:26-27 aloud.

Romans 8:26-27
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. 

In this part of his letter, where Paul emphasizes Christian growth (Rom. 6-8), the apostle states that the defining mark of a believer is the Spirit’s indwelling presence. Paul has expressed, “Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him” (Rom. 8:9).

For the true believer, the Spirit “helps us in our weakness.” The word “helps” is in the present tense, showing that the Spirit “keeps on helping.” The Greek term translated as “helps” refers to “someone helping another carry a heavy load.” The word “weakness” (Greek: asthenia) includes physical, emotional, or spiritual limitations.

When we are unable to pray, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us. This isn’t about believers speaking in a prayer language; it’s the Spirit petitioning on our behalf in a way that cannot be expressed in human words. Sometimes we are exhausted and worn out by our circumstances, so we don’t know how to pray, but the Spirit does. He is God; therefore, the Spirit always acts in accordance with God’s will. That’s why we can trust that he will work all things for our good.

Roman 8:28
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

“Those who love God…who are called according to his purpose” describes true believers who have trusted in Jesus’ finished work on the cross. They have been justified—declared “Not guilty!” Their debt of sin is erased, and a right standing before God has been credited to their account. They have the Holy Spirit living in their hearts.

Let’s make this personal. When God works in your life and the Holy Spirit dwells within you, testifying with your spirit that you are a child of God (Rom. 8:16), there’s one thing you can always trust: that God will cause everything to work together for good. Here’s why you can be confident of that. 

Romans 8:29-30
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. 

Let’s work through the flow of these remarkable truths.

Foreknew: Our relationship with God began with his knowing us from eternity past. God told Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you…” (Jer. 1:4-5).

Predestined: God knew us from eternity past and determined our destiny. God “chose us in [Christ] before the creation of the world, to be holy and blameless in his sight” (Eph. 1:4). In eternity past, God desired that, through Jesus, we—those who are believers—would be “conformed to the image of his Son.”

Called: God knew us from eternity past and chose us before creation. Then, one day, he called us to himself. Perhaps your calling happened when you were young. God used family or friends to reveal himself to you. Maybe you were going through a tough stretch and realized your desperate need for him. Or there was a great blessing in your life that God used to open your eyes. Whatever the circumstance, God brought you to himself and allowed you to say, “I believe.” 

Justified: God knew you, chose you, called you, and then he justified you—by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Through Jesus' work, he declared you “Not guilty!” He paid the debt from your sin and credited his righteousness to your spiritual account. Christ’s work on the cross “leads to justification” and makes you righteous (Rom. 5:18-19). Because of Jesus, you have peace with God for eternity (Rom. 5:1-11). 

Glorified: One day, when we die or Christ returns, our sin nature will be eradicated, and we will be conformed to the likeness of Jesus, prepared for eternal life in our resurrected bodies. Notice that the word “glorified” is in the past tense. We have not yet been glorified, but in God’s eyes, it is as good as done.

Again, consider the flow of these essential truths. This is the story for every believer. God knew us and chose us before the foundation of the world. One day, he opened our eyes to understand the work of Jesus and called us to himself. At that moment, he declared us “Not guilty!” One day, we will spend eternity with him in a new body. As one old writer said, “God completes his plan without slippage.”

Let me conclude with these two points. “Foreknowledge” and “predestination” are complex terms that many people find hard to understand. Paul recognized this. We will go over these theological concepts in Romans 9-11. 

Second, people often quote Romans 8:28 to others during tough times. I apologize if you heard it after a broken engagement or while being single but longing for marriage. I’m sorry if another believer referenced Romans 8:28 to you after a miscarriage or when you shared your struggles with infertility. This shouldn’t be the first verse to share when someone is diagnosed with an illness, is standing at a loved one’s grave, or is deep in grief. We should remember that sometimes the best support is simply being present—the ministry of presence—rather than quoting passages to those facing hardships. 

So, I just want you to know today that whatever you're going through, God loves you deeply, and he never wastes our time or our pain. He is at work, and you can completely trust him. 

PERSONAL TIME WITH GOD
Time in the Word: Read and reflect on Romans 8:26-30. The process of becoming a believer is entirely God's work, so take time to thank him for his sovereign work. 

Talking to God: Can you identify a hard season in your life where God later worked for your good—and how did it shape your trust in his purposes?

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