Romans Chapter 8 (Continued) 21~~Therefore, the creation/'material universe' itself also shall be set free   {reference to the change of nature in the Millennium   - Isaiah 35:1-7; 11:6-9; 65:25} from the slavery to corruption   {see 3:17 for the judgment on the land at the fall - this judgment   will end and there will be again 1000 years of perfect environment} into the freedom of the glory with reference to the 'small children' {teknon} of God   {resurrection bodies of believers}. {Note: Teknon is the Greek word for the small child under the authority of a teacher learning. It is used for the baby believer who is growing by means of grace in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior.} 22~~For we inherently know {oida} that the entire creation/'material universe' groans   {personalization of the agony of the earth after the fall} along with us   {mature believers in undeserved suffering} and suffers 'great agony'   {idiom literally 'the agony of a woman in the pains of childbirth} together with us until now. 23~~And not only creation/'material universe' but ourselves also   {mature believers in undeserved suffering} through possessing the first fruits from the Spirit   {divine blessing to the mature believer at spiritual maturity}, even we ourselves {mature believers} groan   {this is undeserved suffering of mature believers - they have the   doctrine in their souls to handle the suffering and this is actually   a down-payment on the permanent blessings God will give them in   eternity - if the imputation of undeserved suffering is 'real' then   so are the rewards promised 'real'} within ourselves {as per II Corinthians 12:9-10}, eagerly anticipating the adoption . . . the redemption {apolutrosis} of our body  {soma - resurrection body - this is different from the redemption of   the soul at salvation - this is the receiving of the resurrection body   - similar to that of Christ}. 24~~For, with reference to that 'hope'/'future expectation'   {elpis - means hope but when that 'hope' is certain, then it   is no longer a hope, but an expectation - see coming up}, we have been saved. Now when a hope is being seen it's not a hope {it becomes an expectation}. Moreover, who 'hopes' for what he sees? {Note: If you hope something happens and it does, then it is no longer a hope but a reality. Doctrine is reality. When you become mature, you are more sure of something because the bible says it is true rather than because your eyes and ears tell you it is true. Then it is real to you and no longer a hope of a resurrection body, but a confident expectation that your resurrection body IS waiting for you for eternity future. First 'hope' is maturity. Second 'hope' is eternity.} 25~~Now if we {mature believers} hope/'have confident anticipation' for what we do not see   {eternal blessing and rewards for mature believers} - and we do {1st class condition - viewpoint of mature believers} - then through fortitude/perseverance   {blessing through undeserved sufferings in time - enduring via   doctrine in our souls} we stand in eager anticipation {apekdechomai}. {A Ministry of God the Holy Spirit to Mature Believers} 26~~And also in the same way the Spirit Himself {God the Holy Spirit} 'gives a helping hand'  {sunantilambanomai - idiom: literally 'with against giving'   - comes to mean to give a helping hand} to our weakness   {singular - one weakness - our weakness is explained in the next   sentence - it is in NOT knowing how to pray properly to alleviate   suffering while under undeserved suffering - so God takes up the   slack} . . . for we {mature believers} absolutely do not {ouk} know how to pray as we should   {meaning perfectly while we are under undeserved suffering}. But the Spirit Himself intercedes   {huperentugchano - hope is replaced with reality -   literally - 'on behalf of' with 'to make intercession'} 'for us'/'in our behalf' with 'wordless groanings'/groanings too great for words   {stenagmos - groaning or sighing - anthropopathism to aid   creatures to understand with alaletos meaning wordless, or too   great to express in words}. {Note: RBT here says that God the Holy Spirit steps in and gives the perfect prayer as in intercession for the mature believer while under undeserved suffering.} 27~~And He {God the Father} Who keeps searching/investigating {ereunao} the hearts/'right lobes' {kardia} 'inherently knows' what {is} the thinking/'thoughts and intents' {phronema} of the Spirit {God the Holy Spirit} . . . because according to {the divine will of} God {God the Father}, He {God the Holy Spirit} makes intercession in behalf of saints/'set apart to God ones' {hagios}   {mature believers in view here}. {Note: The next section is the main difference between the teaching of Calvin and that of R.B. Thieme Jr. Rev Thieme says his teachings can be are described as 'Four Point Calvinists' (out of Calvin's Five Points). Calvin believed God 'predestined' everything. Rev. Thieme says only believers are in God's Plan and are therefore 'predestined'. Unbelievers decision to not believe is based on their own free volition. God knew what their decision would be, but allowed them the free will to make their own decision - and face the consequences.} [Verse 28: Third 'Hope' - Blessings] 28~~We {mature believers} know/perceive in fact, that for those who love {agapao} The God   {Who and what He is - Him and His divine Characteristics   to love God, you must have developed the capacity to love Him   through the consistent study of His Word.}, that all things work together for {the purpose of} the good {agathos} to those {mature believers} who are the called/elected ones { kletos} according to the 'predetermined plan'/'His purpose' {prothesis}. {Note: 'The Good' is the 7th imputation. The first is a real imputation of life, the second is a judicial imputation of Adam's sin, the third is the judicial imputation of all personal sins to Christ on the cross, the fourth is the judicial imputation of divine righteousness at the point of salvation, the fifth is the imputation of eternal life at the point of salvation, the sixth is blessing in time imputed to +R. And, blessings in eternity future is the 7th potential imputation. So, agathos here is used for divine good. This is the 7th imputation and the 'third hope'. The first 'hope' is potential salvation. Once saved, the hope is no longer a 'hope', but a reality (see previous verses). The second 'hope' is spiritual maturity and the hope of blessings in time. Once that hope also becomes a reality, then that sets up the third hope - blessings for all eternity future. RBT says that 'good' here means that the 'hope' then fulfillment, and 'hope and fulfillment, gives mature believers the 'absolute confidence'/hope that blessings in eternity future is a reality. He says that this is the 7th imputation to the believer. There are 6 in time and they combine to form the seventh and unique one in eternity at the Judgment Seat.} {Divine Thinking} 29~~For whom He has foreknown {proginosko}, He also did fore-ordain/predestine {proorizo} . . . the conformed ones {Church Age believers} . . . to the image/likeness of His Son   {Jesus had the prototype spiritual life -- we live the operational   type spiritual life based on Jesus' prototype} for the purpose that He {Jesus} might be the firstborn {prototokos} among many brethren. {Note: RBT says the order of things is important here. First was Omniscience. From God's Omniscience, He knew of all the possible ways that history (angelic and human) could play out. He decided which of the virtually unlimited possibilities He would decree to occur. These decrees, we call 'reality'. Now that the decrees were set in place, then how everything would actually play out was foreknown to God. So, God allows creatures their free will to make decisions, but He already knows ALL of their decisions - foreknowledge.} {Note: Prototokos does mean to be the firstborn. The firstborn is the ruler of the family, the priest of the family, and the one who is to receive the 'double portion' of the Father's inheritance. So, in Jesus' case the double portion is 1) the election of Israel and 2) the election of the Church Age believers}. 30~~ In Whom {Jesus} He {God the Father} has fore-ordained/predestined {proorizo} . . . these same ones . . . He has called/elected {kaleo} {to privilege}. Furthermore, in whom He has called/elected {to privilege} . . . these same ones . . . He has also justified/vindicated/ 'imputed divine righteousness' {dikaioo}. And, whom He justified/'imputed divine righteousness' . . . these same ones . . . He also glorified   {means to have a share of God's glory - blessings in time and   Ultimate Sanctification - rewards at the Judgment Seat of Christ}. {Note: How does this 'glorification' take place? God is glorified in imputing His glory to His righteousness that has been imputed in us. God is glorified in being justified for imputing blessings to the mature believer in time and for eternity future.} {Verses 31-39: The New Life and Its Five Challenges} {Verse 31: Challenge of Detractors to the Mature Believer - Opposition to Grace Teaching} 31~~Therefore face to face with these things, to what conclusion are we forced?   {idiom: literally: 'what shall we say?'} If The God . . . {keeps on being} for us {mature believers in context} - and He is {1st class conditional if} - who . . . {is} against us? {Note: The list starts with us - with negative volition and wrong priorities in life - next are sources of temptations, old sin nature, cosmic system, Satan, etc.} {The Great Verse - Second Challenge - A Fortiori Blessings} 32~~He {The God} . . . Who did not even spare {pheidomai} His Own Son {huios - meaning Jesus Christ} . . . but, in contrast {alla} 'on behalf of '/'as a substitute for' {huper} all of us', He {God the Father} delivered {paradidomi} Him {God the Son} over to judgment {imputation of all personal sins to Christ}, how shall He {God the Father} not also . . . with Him {Jesus} . . . 'in grace give' {charizomai} to us 'the all things' {imputed blessing in eternity}? {Verses 33-34 Application - Third Challenge of Attitude Toward other Believers Also in the Plan of God} 33~~Who will bring 'accusation against'/judge {egkaleo} the elect {eklektos} of God (believers)? God is the One Who justifies/vindicates {dikaioo}. {Note: Every time you judge another believer growing in grace, you interfere with God's plan for that believer. The word 'devil' actually means the 'accuser' and refers to an unauthorized judger of others. Satan is in heaven today judging believers and Jesus is our defense attorney in the Supreme Court of heaven. Satan's accusations are unauthorized - as is the accusation of any believer outside the proper situations set up by God - under correct circumstances - parent, boss, pastor while teaching, etc.} {Who is the ONLY Judge of the Elect?} 34~~Who . . . {is/'keeps on being'} the One Who condemns/'judges against' {katakrino} {the elect}? Christ Jesus . . . {is} the One Who died   {spiritual death in view here (then physical death of Christ does   follow)}. Yes, more/rather {supplemental information to follow}, having been raised {egeiro}   {Christ raised from the dead - now in Resurrection Body} - Who is/'keeps on being' on the right hand of God - Who {Jesus} also petitions/'makes intercession' {entugchano} on behalf of us   {refers to our High Priest - Jesus Christ's role as defense attorney   for us in the Supreme Court of heaven - see I John 2:1}. {Verses 35-37: Fourth Challenge - Imputation of Undeserved Suffering and Martyrdom - Seven Categories of Undeserved Suffering for the Mature Believer In Time} 35~~Who shall separate us from the love {agape} of Christ? Shall tribulation/pressure/affliction {thlipsis}   {extreme circumstantial pressure - historical disaster, historical   catastrophe}, or anguish {stenochoria - mental pressure}, or persecution {diogmos - truly undeserved persecution in context}, or famine {limos - depravation of food}, or nakedness {gumnotes - depravation of clothing}   {no clothing for cold weather, no heat or nothing to warm the body   i.e. being deprived of another of the necessities of life}, or danger {kindunos}   {physical or natural disaster e.g.. earthquake, hurricane etc.}, or a sword {machaira - the Roman short sword}   {crime, violence, military disaster or revolution} {separate us from Christ}? 36~~As it stands written in the past with results that last forever   {Psalms 44:22 - quoted from the Septuagint}, "For Your {Jesus Christ's} sake we {mature believer} are being put to death the whole day   {meaning the historical era in which Paul wrote - the reign of Nero   and includes any martyrdom of the Church Age}. We have been imputed/counted {logizomai} as sheep {implies helplessness} for slaughter." {Note: RBT says Paul wrote this circa 58 AD. Nero became emperor in 54 AD and began the tremendous persecution of the Christians. This is telling us that to be martyred for Christ is a great honor that God only bestows on the most mature of believers. It is God's guarantee that these martyrs will receive the highest honors and blessings in eternity future. Paul himself was martyred by Nero 10 years later - and coincidently (sure) Nero himself died a few weeks later.} 37~~Nevertheless {alla}, in all these things   {underserved suffering and blessing of mature believers in   martyrdom} we 'win the supreme victory' {hupernikao - over and above conquer} through Him {God the Father} Who loves {agapao} us. {Note: We are the objects of His love because we are imputed with His divine righteousness.} {Verses 38-39: Fifth Challenge - 10 Challenges in 6 categories of 4 Couplets and 2 Singles - Doctrine of Eternal Security} 38-39~~So I {Paul} stand convinced {peitho} that,   {1st category- human events in life} neither death {thanatos - any manner of dying}, nor life {zoe - any events of life};   {2nd category- angelic intrusion in human events} neither angels {aggelos - referring to lower ranks of fallen angels}, nor principalities/'ruling angels'   {arche - referring to Satan and his fallen angelic commanders};   {3rd category- Time} neither present things {present suffering}, nor future things {anticipated sufferings};   {4th category- human organization - a single} nor powers {one grand and glorious system of evil   - it stands by itself} . . . 39~~   {5th category- space} neither height/Heaven   {hupsoma - used for anything living in stellar space - heaven}, nor depth/Hell {bathos - used for those living in Hades};   {6th category- human beings - another single} nor any other of a different kind {heteros} of created thing   {anyone with influence over anyone else} . . . shall 'have the power to be able to' {dunamai} separate us {mature believers in context} from the love {agape} of God . . . {which is} in Christ Jesus our Lord. {Note: Eternal Security: Once saved, always saved! Once God imputes us with His righteousness and then His eternal life . . . then not even He can take back what He has graciously given. And, no creature or part of creation can do so either. God the Father infinitely loves God the Son. He also loves all of those creatures who are in Union with His Son - Christ Jesus.} ************************************************** This page is sponsored by Kenneth Sidley, CPA, an Orange County California CPA (949) 706-3133. This page is sponsored by Moxxor For Pain Free Living.