Romans 8, 14 through 16, for
as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of
God. For you have not received the
spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the spirit of
adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The spirit itself, or
literally himself, bears witness with our spirit that we are the
children of God. Verse 26. Likewise, the spirit
also helps our infirmities. For we know not what we should
pray for as we ought, but the Spirit makes intercession for
us with groanings which cannot be uttered. He that searches
the heart knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he
makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
We know that all things work together for good to them that
love God, to them who are called according to his purpose. For
whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed
to the image of his Son, that we might be the firstborn among
many brethren. or over whom he did predestinate,
them he also called, and whom he called, them he also justified,
and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we
say then to these things? If God be for us, who can be
against us? 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. Who shall lay anything to the
charge of God's elect? It is God that justifies. Who is he that condemneth? It
is Christ that died, yea, is risen again, who is even at the
right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Now we have
it twice. In verse 26, the Spirit makes
intercession for us. And in verse 34, who is even
at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for
us. Now we just read the divine record
from Paul in the magnificent book of Romans and that great
8th chapter that the children of God share two divine intercessors. who make intercession on their
behalf, who are engaged in their behalf and to their good. Verse 26, it's the Spirit. Verse 24, it is Christ. The Spirit is within us and Christ
is at the very right hand of God. But before we delve into
that, let us define the nature and the extent of what we mean
when we speak of an intercessor. The word signifies, I believe,
one who approaches another. In other words, one that draws
near in behalf of another for the purpose of conferring with
that one, or entreating that one, or dealing with that one,
by means of interceding in the behalf of another, or sometimes
against another. They're both types of intercession
in the scripture. We remember, for example, when
Elijah made intercession against Israel not for them but against
them over in 1st Kings chapter 19 remembered by Paul in Romans
11 and verse 2. Now there are two variations
of the word I think in our New Testament text. Number one, the
word in verse 26, intercession of the Holy Spirit, which is
the only time they say that this word or this variation of the
word is used in the New Testament. Robertson in his word pictures
in the New Testament says that it is a picturesque word of rescue
by one who happens upon one who is in great trouble, distress,
and need, and in need of help. And so this intercessor is one
that falls in with, an intercessor. He falls in with us. for the purpose of giving help
and to consult with us about what ought to be done and act
as an influence and a leader. Now, the form of the word down
in verse 34 of Romans 8, which is five times in the New Testament,
four times it is rendered intercession. You have that in Romans 8.27,
8.34, 11.2. You have it in Hebrews 7 and
verse 25. Then in the King James Version,
at least, In Acts chapter 25 and verse 24, it is translated
simply, have dealt. Have dealt. Both two words. As Thesta speaks concerning the
Jew, who he said, hath dealt with me about you. In other words,
hath made intercession. And in this case, it would be
against him. In other words, it could be said,
have made suit unto me. The Jews have made suit unto
me. They've applied unto me. They
have petitioned me, or the word means, that is the Greek verb,
to fall in with, to encounter, to confer, and to converse, negotiate,
intercede. And this is another place, along
with Romans chapter 11, verse 2 where the word is applied in
the sin not for but again as Elijah made intercession against
Israel so the Jew made intercession against Paul at the court of
judgment. Now, to the essence of our study,
which is to show that in living the Christian life and being
a child of God and living that out, the saint of God actually
is supplied with two great divine Intercessor they're not the Pope.
They're not the priest. They're not the preacher. They're
not our best friend They are both of them divine persons that
act as our Intercessor now one has said and one some may have
thought that they are rejoicing that they have the Lord Jesus
Christ as their intercessor and the very right hand of God but
in the same book and to the same people in the same chapter Paul
is declaring that the child of God has two divine intercessors
that act in their behalf both of them members of the Godhead
and they are in the order of mention a the Spirit of God verse
26 and 27 He mentioned three times there the spirit, even
in verse 25 and verse 26. He also personalizes the spirit
as a divine person or being. In verse 26, the spirit itself,
as it is in the King James Version, but it might also be rendered
himself, the spirit himself. We see in verse 27, We read of
the mind of the spirit. And so let us settle this matter
here and now that the mind of the spirit is not a human mind
given unto us by the spirit, but is the mind of the spirit
himself. Paul uses that word mind four
times. all of them in Roman. Three times
of men, chapter 8 verse 6 twice, chapter 8 and verse 7, and once
of the Holy Spirit in chapter 8 and verse 27. And it has the
meaning, the mind, of inclination a person or one who acts in that
request. But then be our other intercessor
is none other than he that died was buried and is risen again. He is that one who is resurrected
and sits yonder and even at the right hand of God, who also makes
intercession for us. In addition to being the one
who's justified, who has died, who lives again, he is also the
one who makes intercession, who supplicates God in our behalf. Now, let's make a few comparative
remarks before we consider each intercessor individually or separately
as to their special manner and function of intercession. First, we have two intercessors
always, always and constantly, not one for a while, then not
another for a while, but we have both of them performing a constant
work of intercession in our behavior. A distinct work it is. For example,
the Holy Spirit is an intercessor within us. He dwells within it. He shall be in you and shall
dwell in you and shall lead you into all truth and teach those
things that I have commanded you. While the Lord Jesus Christ,
though Christ is in us in a very real sin, is also at the right
hand of God, seated at the throne of God in the heavens themselves. The Holy Spirit, we learn here,
intercedes in such things as what to pray for, how to pray,
calling to our mind and our memory what we ought to pray, that he
is a very present help in the times of prayer, making intercession
for us for things that we are not aware of and do not know
how. It is one of the great works
that he performs in the believer. In spite of teaching, conviction,
leading, enlightening, and such like, he also carries on this
work of intercession. while the risen Lord, ascended
to the right hand of God, performs his intercession in heaven with
God, directly with the Father, and is there to preserve us in
the sight of God, to ensure that nothing is able to condemn us,
that our sins are forgiven. for he is our lawyer or advocate. And both of them perform their
respective intercession in behalf of the elect, the spirit in his
capacity and function and the world of the Lord in his. Not the world at large, but the
elect of God have two intercessors. Both of their intercessions are
indispensable. What would we do if we did not
have these two intercessors? But it is usually the case that
the intercession performed by the Spirit of God is vastly overshadowed
in our mind and thinking by that great intercession of our Lord. But now with that behind us,
let's consider these two intercessors and their intercessory separately
as they work in our behalf. First of all, the intercession
of the Holy Spirit, chapter 8, 26, These verses form one of
the many encouragement of the saints of God in their time of
trouble, in their time of suffering, and in their time of hardship
for the sake of Christ and for the gospel and for living the
Christian life and living under God in this present world. The first comfort is, in no way
will that which befalls us now be worthy of a comparison with
that which shall be revealed in us in the life to come. No
matter what the suffering and the hardships may be in this
life, they are not to be compared at all with the glory that shall
be revealed in the days to come. And you have that in verse 17
through verse 25 of Romans chapter 8. As Paul discusses some of
those potential troubles and sufferings, and heartaches that
may come upon the children of God. And whatever they may be,
however severe they may run, they are nothing to be compared
with the glory that shall be revealed in us. Now the second
one that we want to mention, the second ground of comfort,
is the aid that is given unto us by the Spirit of God in our
certain situation. That's in verse 25 and verse
26. And we note the opening word
of verse 25. Likewise, that is, in like manner,
similarly, or moreover, as we might say, it tells us that It
has some connection to what has gone before and what has just
been said. What is it that Paul has just
said? Well, in verse 17 through verse
25, just this, that the children of God may suffer, they may groan,
they may travail, and they do. They may desire the expectation
of their adoption to become real and permanent. Paul likens to
or illustrates by the similar case of creation in verse 21
through 23 which also was placed in bondage by God, but in verse
20 was subjected in hope of deliverance. It is not without hope that the
world has been subjected under bondage. Even so, says Paul,
the blessed hope sustains the saints in their suffering and
in their tribulation. Hope gives them strength in that
time of trouble. Because as we read in verse 24,
we are saved by hope or in hope. In hope with hope are we saved. And this hope is not an idle
wish, just I wish or I hope that I'm saved like we hear some people
say. But hope in the biblical sense
is assurance or a confident persuasion, how often scripture speaks of
the hope of the children of God. And it's not an empty wish. But
it is a confident assurance and persuasion that what God has
promised, he also will do. There's a little tongue twister,
I call it, here in verse 24 and verse 25. As Paul expands upon
the word, and he said, we're saved by hope. But hope that
is seen, that is realized, or that has come to pass or attained,
is no longer hope for. We hope for that which we do
not see. Then when it is realized, it
is not hope anymore for it is reality. When it is attained,
it is what is present. It is not then the object of
hope any longer for it is realized. Thus, verse 25, while we hope
for that which is not yet attained or realized or brought to pass,
that we in patience wait for. We have hope of that. We're saved
in that hope, in that expectation that we have in the promise of
the gospel and in Christ. There's a good example. Hope
in the man Abraham in the Old Testament in Hebrews 6 and verse
15 it said that he patiently endured and then he obtained
the promise Abraham after He had patiently endured. Again, in Romans 4 and verse
18, it said there that Abraham, against hope, believed in hope,
and it came to pass. Isaac, the promised heir, was
certainly born. Abraham, when there seemed to
be no hope, yet hoped And it came to pass because God had
promised and God had purposed it. So likewise, in Romans 8
and verse 26, in like manner. And the connection and the flow
of thought seems to be, as John Murray discerned after this manner,
the hope of expectation of the glory to come. does sustain the
people of God in their suffering and groaning in this present
time. In like manner, the Holy Spirit
helps our infirmity." As hope sustains us in trouble, so the
Spirit does help our infirmity. But Paul is not saying that the
Spirit aids our infirmities against us, but aid us with our infirmity
in our distressed state, we being weak and frail and even sinful
and knowing not how to act as we are. And there is a mile-long
Greek word which Paul uses here in verse 26, which is even stronger
than the English word heps or hepa. This word in Marshall's
interlinear is rendered takes share in, but the spirit takes
share in. Now, Barry's interlinear renders
it jointly helps. Others translate it, lays hand
to our infirmity. The idea being that the spirit
suckers the saint in bearing their infirmities, trials, troubles,
and suffering. And then Paul gives a good example
of how the spirit takes share in our infirmity. In that we
don't know what we ought to pray for, but he gives and Explicit
example, Paul does, and the direct aid that we receive from the
Spirit in the matter of prayer and our ignorance of how and
what to pray for, as well as our impotence. We know not what
or how it behooves us to pray. How could we pray simply making
words, uttering words in the flesh or in our mind? But that is though we know not
what is necessary to pray and what it behooves us to pray and
to ask for, the spirit itself or himself makes intercession
for us, supplies for us the prayer that ought to be made. Here is
that word intercession that has the meaning of to go forth and
to meet. to come and meet and make supplication
and see what Paul said with groanings which cannot be uttered or literally
are unutterable in our power, our ability. Its meaning is what
cannot be fully expressed in words. Note the groaning is not
that of the spirit per se, but of the saints, which is then
sent forth unto God. In verse 27, it confirms further
what has been said, that the searcher of hearts is acquainted
with the mind of the Spirit because in accordance with the will of
God, he supplicates us or intercedes on behalf or with the saints
of God and watch the part according to God. For the Father and the
Spirit are of one and the same mind. and the Spirit like the
Son knows the mind, that is, the will of God, and makes intercession
for us according to God's will. Before we leave this, let us
acknowledge the awful the awful emptiness of such as Jude described,
having not the spirit. Think about those people who
have not the spirit, Jude verse 19. These were them without a
saving or a sanctifying influence in their life, having not the
spirit. No spirit to teach them or to
lead them or to intercede for them. So it fits what Paul says
in Romans 8 verse 9, if any man have not the Spirit he is none
of his. Then finally consider the statements
and the promises of the Lord Jesus Christ concerning the sending
of the Holy Spirit, John 14, 16 and and 17, I will pray the
Father. He shall give you another comforter,
literally a paraclete, an intercessor, a consoler, a comforter. John uses that word five times
in that place in his writing. He will abide with you forever. John 15 and verse 26, when the
paraclete is come, he will testify of me. John 16 and 3, He will
guide you into all truth. John 14 and 18, I will not leave
you comfortless. I will send unto you a heifer. I believe that is, I will not
leave you as orphan. So the conclusion is that the
Holy Spirit performs his intercessory work in the hearts of the children
of God. And he works within them, acting
as their spirit of adoption, Romans 8 15, giving reality to
our sonship, witnessing, testifying unto us of that. But now let's
consider a Our second intercessor, and that is the heavenly one,
the Lord Jesus Christ. We read it in Romans 8, 31 through
34, that he was given the immutable ground of our justification because
of the death and intercession of the Lord Jesus Christ. Especially
consider verse 34, Christ died, he rose again, He is even or
also at the right hand of God who also maketh intercession
for us. There he supplicates, there in
the presence of God he intercedes. You have it again in Hebrews
7. and verse 25, he is able to save entirely, or completely,
or forever, or as the Puritan expositor John Owen put it, quote,
he is able to save completely as to all parts, fully as to
all causes, forever as to duration unquote this on three accounts
in Romans number one he died for us he died for our sin number
two he is alive again he has resurrected He has conquered
death. And number three, he has ascended
into heaven at the right hand of God. And Hebrew 725 views
him in the capacity of a high priest, which he did something
no other Levitical priest ever did. or could have done. He died,
he rose again, he ascended to the right hand of God, there
to perform the second act or part of his priestly work. The second part of his saving
work is to enter into the presence of God In behalf of those he
represents and has redeemed by his death, he has gone to appear
in the presence of God for us. Hebrews 9.24. You remember the
Old Testament priest did that in time. He made the sacrifice
at the altar. he entered in with the blood
behind the holy into the holy of holy there and the high priest
did these things but they were only in time as he slew a sacrifice
and carried the blood in but christ offered himself, lay in
the grave, entered in by his own blood into the heavenly sanctuary
at the right hand of God. The actual presence of God to
make intercession for his people, in that he lives forever to make
intercession. He ever lives, never to die anymore. For his priesthood has this distinction. that it is after the power of
an endless life. Hebrews 7 and verse 16 in that
God said you are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. So the Lord risen from the dead
and exalted to glory in his human nature, lives what some commentators
have called, quote, a mediatorial life in heaven. A mediatorial
life in heaven for the elect, for his people. Many may think
that Christ only lives a life in heaven for himself alone,
that he has arisen, finished his work, ascended, and resumed
his pre-incarnate mode or type of existence. The truth is his
humanity was glorified in the ascension to heaven. He had assumed
that humanity and it was glorified Even so, he continues in heaven
that he might perform the remainder of his work in the same nature
by which he appeared in the world. And after that resurrection,
ascending to the right hand of God, welcomed and received to
say, sit down on my right hand. Do you ask will this intercession
ever have an end? God knoweth who can tell. This
could only be if there is full and final consummation of all
things, such as the full and final destruction of sin and
death and all things related thereunto. But it is certain
that while the world stand while the church endured, while regenerate
saints live here in the flesh in the world, struggling with
indwelling sin. So long as the elect are at home
in the body, the Lord Jesus Christ is our great high priest and
will live an intercessory life for us in heaven. Now, it may
seem an unbelievable thing to say that it is more profit to
have our Lord in heaven at the right hand of God than to have
him personally in the world with us. We are better served that
he is at the right hand of God. He said so himself. It's best
for you that I go away, that the Spirit may come. It is expedient
for you that I go away. It's profitable to your advantage
that I go away and go unto the Father. Now, using logic, it
follows, I believe, if Christ is our intercessor, then we have
need of one. If Christ intercedes, then we
have need of intercession. And the office that he performs
as intercessor is not empty and without its proper reason. Nothing
appointed that our Lord is doing is useless. How does the intercession
of Christ affect those saints that live in the world? What
effect or what benefit is derived and do we receive from an unseen
and unheard of by us mediator. What interest has his intercession
to us and in our behavior? What present benefit is derived
from the intercession of our Lord? As he told his own, his
going away would be the occasion of the coming of the Holy Spirit
in his fullness. And you have that in John 737
through 39 in Acts 2 in verse 33 He is ascended received of
the Father the Spirit and shed forth this which you now see
and hear so in closing Let's quickly revisit Romans 8 and
verse 34 where we see a fourfold accent or work of Christ here
a a fourfold aspect of Christ's priestly work He died for our
sin, he lives again, he's exalted to the right hand of God, and
he makes intercession for us. So that as one said, the reality
of the humanity, rather, of the heavenly intercession by the
Lord Jesus Christ is beyond all question and beyond all dispute,
for it is declared in the same breath, same verse, with his
death, his resurrection, and it gives us a better understanding
of the heavenly ascension. upon the same ground that one
would deny or challenge the intercession, so also his death and resurrection,
since all of them together make up the saving ministry of the
Lord Jesus Christ. His death, his resurrection,
his ascension, and his intercession. One expositor wrote that Christ's
heavenly intercession is a clearly established phase of the ministry
of our great high priest," unquote, as he was to die for our sin,
so he was to enter into heaven and make intercession. Another
wrote, by means of his intercession, every need of the elect believer
is met to the effect the consummation of his salvation is worked out,
unquote. We have time to consider a text
like 1 John chapter 2, verse 1 and 2 where Christ is an advocate
for the people of God when and if they sin if any sin we have
an Advocate with the father and this is a word that is four times
in the gospel of John Translated comforter that is we have an
intercessor. We have one who stands by to
help and and to console us and in this case is a perfect help
when the saints sin. Now a couple of quick application
and then we close to savor the good meal that we have from this
passage of scripture. Number one, the proponents are
falling from grace. haven't the slightest understanding
of the intercession of Christ. They would not have that position
if they understand the nature of Christ's intercession. And
number two, Jesus is our direct intercessor and mediator. We need not and we dare not pass
our prayers through Mary or a saint or an angel as none of them can
give us any help or any aid. Christ is the only mediator between
God and men and the only one God has supplied and the only
one that we have need of. Well, thank God we have not one
but two great intercessors, each of them effective in our Christian
life and the working out of our salvation.