Paul had been talking about the
work of the Spirit and living life in the Spirit and under
the influence of it. Now he has something else to
say about the Spirit of God in verse 26 and 27. Likewise, the
Spirit also helps our infirmities. For we know not what we should
pray for, as we ought, but the Spirit itself, or literally himself,
maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searches the hearts
knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because he makes intercession
for the saints according to the will of God, or literally according
to God. Now, verse 31 and 34, here is
another intercessor that is brought before us. What shall we then
say 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. Now watch verse 34. Who is He that condemns? It is
Christ that died, yea, rather, that is risen again, who is even
at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for
us. In verse 26 it said the Spirit
Himself maketh intercession for us. In verse 34 it said that
the Lord Jesus Christ is making intercession. Now, there will
come other texts before us. We'll not read them now, but
consider them later. Texts such as Hebrews chapter
7 and verse 25, and 1 John chapter 2 and verse 1, we have an advocate
with the Father. Now, let me sum up our premise
for this study, and here it is in a nutshell. Then we'll see
the flower open. The Christian, the child of God,
the elect, while living out their life in this world, have the
advantage of having not one, but two intercessors. And these two intercessors are
not our fellows. That is, they're not someone
like us. They are not flesh and blood. They are heavenly intercessors. They are divine intercessors. In fact, we go further and say
they are actually two members of the Godhead part of the Trinity. And in Romans chapter 8, Paul
opens to us their work and the blessing to the children of God
of having these two intercessors to act in our behalf. But first of all, let's look,
or take a look, back up and broaden, and let's look at the larger
context of Romans chapter 8. I once read someone said, it
is the chapter that begins with no condemnation and ends with
no separation. We see by the word therefore
in verse 1 that it is closely connected to something that has
already been said, so that chapter 8 does not in fact, begin a new
subject altogether, but simply moves to another aspect of the
doctrine of justification. That is that free justification
is not the cause of antinomianism or to libertinism, but is necessary
to living a life in the Spirit, that justification actually leads
to a life of sanctification, yea, is necessary forerunner
of life lived in the Spirit and lived unto God. The word therefore
in verse 1 is the same word back in chapter 7 and verse 25, and
there it is translated, at least in the King James, it is translated
so. And the word is ara. And it includes, so says Strong's
concordance, the idea of a conclusion being drawn, being a particle
and denoting an inference and that the word can mean therefore,
it can mean then, it can mean so, and it can mean truly. And the words so, then, truly
is what Paul is saying. There is truly, there is now,
there is then, so there is no condemnation to them which are
in Christ Jesus. They are the ones walking, not
after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Now notice Paul's statement. No condemnation in verse 1 is
a proper and absolute conclusion drawn from the doctrine laid
down in the earlier part of the epistle. John Brown wrote in
this part of Romans that from what has been established, especially
from chapter 3 and verse 21 on, concerning the divine method
of justification, the reality of revelation, of the righteousness
of Almighty God in the gospel. From all that Paul has said,
it therefore follows that there is no condemnation to a certain
class of people. There are some who, on account
of what Christ has done and on account of their union and relationship
unto Him, are made free and immune from condemnation of any kind. John Brown even made the connection
of Romans chapter 8 verses 1 through 4 with Paul's experience in chapter
7 and verse 25. So then with a mind, I myself
serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. And Brown sees Paul's reasoning
after this manner. Thus looking to the divine method
of justification as manifested in the saving of sinners and
proclaimed in the gospel, I find there is now no condemnation
to them who are in Christ Jesus. Now, there are two things here
that we should note before we move along further on our way. Number one, This immunity from
condemnation is absolute. There is complete immunity from
the condemnation of sin. What Murray, that is John Murray,
called this complete absence of condemnation, unquote. It stands thus. There is not,
there shall never be, there cannot be any condemnation to them who
are in Jesus Christ. Now, the second thing we want
to notice, who are these that are non-condemnable? And the answer, they are those
and only those who are in Christ Jesus. They are distinguished
in a certain way. They are they that walk not according
to the flesh, but they walk after or according to the Spirit. So
that freedom from condemnation is inseparably connected to their
union with the Lord Jesus Christ. Now the question is this, how
is one quote in unquote Christ? How is one in Christ? Well, none can put themselves
in Christ. They do not have the capacity
or the capability. How then are any in Christ? Well, they were first in Christ
by the election of grace, chosen in Him before the foundation
of the world, Ephesians 1, verse 3 and 4. Back in chapter 6 of
Romans, Paul had written at some length on the elect's union with
Christ, especially in verses 3 through verse 11. that they
were crucified with Him, that they were to reckon themselves
dead unto sin, but alive unto Christ our Lord. Paul claimed
this for himself in Galatians chapter 2 and verse 20. I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless
I live. Now what shall condemn those,
those that are chosen in Christ. Shall sin condemn them? God has condemned sin in the
flesh, Romans 8 and verse 3. Shall the devil condemn them? God has destroyed the works of
the devil in the death of Christ. Shall Christ condemn them? Why,
it is Christ that has died that they might escape condemnation,
and He is risen again. Shall God condemn them? Why,
it is God that justifies who shall lay anything to the charge
of God's elect. Coming down to the end of the
chapter, who shall separate us from the love of God which is
in Christ Jesus our Lord? Some question, shall tribulation,
shall distress, shall the sword that is being mortared, shall
famine, shall life, shall death, shall angels? Well, to our subject,
that the Christian has two divine intercessors, and as we survey
Roman 8, We see a lot of assurances as to why there is and can be
no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus. Let's look
back quickly. In verses 1 through 4, the law
of sin and death has been overcome by the law of the Spirit of life. In verse 5 through verse 17,
They have the indwelling and the leadership of the Holy Spirit,
the Spirit of God bearing witness unto them as to their sonship,
directing them in prayer, leading them, comforting them, and so
forth. And in verse 18, through 25,
we have the declaration that the present sufferings, miseries,
and troubles are not inconsistent with a state of grace. That one
might have troubles and tribulation does not mean, as Job's friends
declared, that one is a stranger to God. In verse 23 through 25,
he says that we're saved in, by, and through hope. In verse 28
through verse 30, salvation, our calling, is according to
the eternal purpose of God, whom He did foreknow. Then in verse 31 through verse
34, God has given His Son the greatest gift and therefore will
freely give all things so that they are uncondemnable in the
Lord Jesus Christ. Then, the end of the chapter,
verse 35 through verse 39, nothing can separate them from the love
of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Now also in this chapter
is mentioned a two-fold intercession in behalf of the Christian, in
behalf of the children of God. There are two here that are named
that are said to act the part of an intercessor in behalf of
the children of God. So if we might repeat our opening
premise, the Christian has the advantage of having two heavenly
intercessors, two members of the Godhead, one of them dwelling
within them and in their heart, and the other yonder in heaven
in the very presence of God sitting down on the right hand of the
Father. Now the relationship to God is
also wonderful. One is the Spirit of God and
the other is the Son of God. So let's look first at the intercessory
ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. And for that, I direct your attention
again to verse 34 of the chapter. Who is he that condemneth? It
is Christ that died, yea, rather that is risen again, who is even
at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for
us. Now, this verse is a literal
treatise on why there can be no condemnation to those that
are called according to the purpose of God, whom He did foreknow,
whom He did foreordain to the image of His Son. And what Christ
has done and what Christ continues to do and to be in their behalf. Now this verse is loaded down
with gospel truth if we look at it. And let's look at the
parts of it. Number one, Christ has died. Christ gave His life. He shed
His own blood as the price of the ransom and redemption of
His people. He laid His life down. No one took it from Him, John
10, I lay it down of myself. and even dying and submitting
to the death of the cross, the death of death, being made a
curse for us, his death was therefore vicarious and expiatory. That means it was in behalf of
and it removed the sin of those for whom He died. Now the second
part of verse 34, He not only died, but He was not held by
it, but rather is risen again. He died, yea, what's more, or
more than that, He is risen. He has taken up His life again,
His resurrection proving, declaring Him to be the very Son of God,
but giving us an evidence of the perfection of His sacrifice. That our surety is let out of
prison means that God is satisfied with the death of His Son. Thirdly,
not only is he dead and risen, but he is ascended to the right
hand of God, as Hebrews 1 and verse 3, has set down on the
right hand of the majesty on high. He is the great high priest. has entered into heaven. He has
been highly exalted. In fact, he's made sovereign. He's made Lord and he's made
Christ, as Peter says in Acts 2. And then fourthly, what is
the Lord doing in heaven? Is he idle? Has he no further
work to do in our behalf? Says Paul, not only is he ascended
to the right hand of God, but while there, he also makes intercession
for us. I'm reading John Murray. He wrote
on verse 34, quote, four pivotable elements. in Christ's redemptive
work are adduced as the guarantee that nothing can separate from
the love of God." Now consider a passage I mentioned but did
not read earlier. Hebrews 7, verse 24 and 25, as
ascribing unto Christ a superiority of his priesthood over that of
Aaron, his sons and successor. the Hebrew author writes, because
he continues ever has an unchangeable priesthood. I think that literally
means intransmissible priesthood. It will never pass to another
as did Aaron, because there is no need for it. And then look
what he had. Wherefore, he is able to save
them unto the uttermost, literally completely or forever, always
for the ages, or as John Owen expressed it, quote, He is able
to save completely as to all parts, fully as to all causes,
and forever as to duration, unquote. He is able to save forever them
that come to God by Him, notice, seeing He ever lives to make
intercession for them. Death put a complete end to the
high priesthood of Aaron. When he died, never again would
he appear at the altar to slay a sacrifice. Never again would
he appear there to bring that blood into the Holy of Holy and
put it upon the mercy seat, or appear before the presence of
God there in the Holy of Holy, the Shekinah glory. Never again
would He come out and raise His hand to bless the people, having
made an atonement typically for them. But the death of Christ
did not put an end unto His priesthood, yea, His death was actually a
means to propel Him to the second aspect of His priesthood, and
that is His entering into the very presence of God for us. Hebrews 9 and verse 24, to make
intercession for us. Romans 8 and verse 34, an ever-living
intercessor The Lord acts as an intercessor. He acts in heaven
for them that are upon the earth. Now, someone said, we must agree,
too little is made of the session of Christ at the right hand of
God. To which we might also add, too
little is known of the importance of the intercession of Christ,
that it is actually part of the saving work of our blessed Lord,
being part of it that is performed in heaven in His glorified state
in the very presence of His Father and our God. In fact, we see
the Lord acting as an intercessor even while He were upon the earth
wearing the likeness of our flesh. Even before He gave Himself as
a sacrifice for sin, we see our Lord making intercession in behalf
of His own. Remember that passage, that startling
passage in Luke chapter 22 31 through 32, the Lord speaking
unto the apostle Simon Peter says to him, quote, Satan has
desired you that he may sift you like wheat. Compare the case
of Job in the Old Testament. Please note in Luke 22, that
this was said to Peter as the disciples, back in verse 24,
had disputed among themselves which one of them was to be reckoned
as the greatest. John Brown called that, quote,
petty, petty ambition and jealousy, end quote. Just before the Lord
predicted the fall of Simon Peter in Luke 22 and verse 34. Now we read that Satan is the
accuser of the brethren, Revelation chapter 12 and verse 10. And that he accuses them before
our God day and night. Again, remember the accusations
brought against Job. that he was only a formal materialist
and that he only served God for the return that he could get
out of it. And that if he came into real
trouble, if God took away the hedge and the blessing, then
he would curse God unto his face. Yes, Satan is an accuser of the
brethren. Then I ask you, what place is
sweeter as seeing our Lord interceding than that prayer in John chapter
17? We get a glimpse of the Lord
as an intercessor. Here in this chapter, the God-man
mediator at prayer. Behold He prayeth, as it was
said of another. And in John chapter 17, we can
break it up a little bit. He prays for himself in verse
1 through 5. He prays to be restored to the
glory that he had with the Father before the world. Then in verse
6 through 19, He prays for the then apostles and disciples with
him at that time. Finally, down in verse 20, he
begins to pray and to intercede for future believers. For example,
in verse 9 of that chapter, I pray for them, I pray not for the
world. Our Lord prayed and interceded
for specific people. Looking in chapter 17, verse
15, we find the words, I pray. We find again in verse 20, I
pray. And this prayer has been called
the high priestly prayer of our Lord, and it was made while He
was yet in the flesh and among His own, just prior to His going
out to the agony of the garden, which was just prior to his being
taken unto his death. But now our Lord is an intercessor
in heaven, in a glorified state, and in or before the face of
God the Father. Robert Haldane wrote in Romans
chapter 8, his purpose in being at the right hand of God is interceding
for his people, unquote. Now, please sharpen and listen
carefully. Because Christ prayed orally
on the earth, using words, does not necessarily follow that his
intercession in heaven is strictly what some Lutherans call vocalis
et realis. That is, that his intercession
in heaven is also vocal, only vocal and in words. And yet, he is an intercessor. He makes intercession for His
own. Romans 8.34, who is even at the
right hand of God, who also makes intercession. Again, Hebrews
7 and 25, He is able to save to the uttermost, seeing or because
He ever lives to make intercession for them. I once read from an
old-time preacher So great is the work of salvation that it
is necessary that our Lord lead a mediatorial life in heaven
before God the Father. And even when we sin, we have
an advocate with the Father. Not only so, but that intercessor
is not Mary, nor is it an angel, nor is it one of the saints,
nor is it dear old mother. No, the intercessor is Jesus
Christ, the righteous, the nearest to God in affection, dignity,
and authority. Well, how then does the Lord
intercede? In what way, if not vocally or
not strictly vocally, Lewis Burkhoff wrote, as have quite a few others,
quote, Christ is continually presenting his completed sacrifice
to the Father as the all-sufficient basis for the bestowal of pardoning
grace from God Constantly applying that death that he died on the
cross to the effectual justification of them for whom he died. In short, that the intercession
of Christ in heaven consists primarily in the presence of
the God-man in heaven before the very Father. so that we are
acceptable and have access unto God through Jesus Christ, that
they might be brought to heaven at last. For in John 17, 24,
our Lord prayed this, Father, I will that they also whom Thou
hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my
glory. As Gale put it, the intercession
of Christ is a branch of his priestly office, but is not to
be separated from his work as a mediator between God and men. Upon earth he sometimes interceded
with tears. and with groanings and strong
crying, as upon the cross, saying, Father, forgive them, for they
know not what they do. Not so now, for He is crowned
with glory and crowned with honor. And as Gil wrote in a chapter
on the intercession of Christ, through Christ, he said, God has pacified for all their sins,
and His sacrifice is ever before the Father. Who will violate
that sacrifice? Certainly not God the Father. But as noted in the beginning,
the children of God have two intercessors, not one. The other being the blessed Spirit
of God. Paul tells us in our text that
this intercessor does aid and comfort the saint. One way of
many, we might add, that the Spirit works for our good and
blessing. For as with the Lord Jesus Christ,
intercession is a part of the Spirit's work and ministry. While Christ intercedes from
afar, if I may use that term, without appearing to be irreverent,
the Spirit is actually interceding within. And this particular intercession
takes place in conjunction with the saint of God in prayer, in
Romans 8.26. Now, this word means in the same
way, in the same or the like manner, or in a similar way. And so it looks back to something
that has already been said, but how far back is the question? possibly back to verse 11 through
verse 25. Well, let's look there. The Spirit indwells, verse 11. Mortifies the deeds of the body,
verse 13. Leads the saints, in verse 14. Bears witness with them in their
heart of their sonship, in verse 16. And verse 18, present sufferings
are not comparable to the glory that is coming. Then you have
the example in verse 19 through verse 22 of creation itself cast
under bondage with the expectation of deliverance, having hope of
being delivered from its present bondage and from its groaning. Just as verse 23 through verse
25, we also groan being saved in hope. That is, we have the
hope or the expectation of final deliverance. And so in verse
26 and verse 27, in the like manner, in the like manner that the Holy
Spirit performs these other functions that we have just mentioned and
begats a lively hope of deliverance in them. Even so, number one,
the Spirit also helps our infirmities. In other words, lends us support
in our infirmities. Very central linear has it. The
Spirit takes share in the weaknesses of us, unquote. Infirmities,
weaknesses is a very broad term. Some of them our Lord did partake. The weaknesses with which we
are compassed in this life and in this world. and they will
be many. But we are not orphans. We have one who shares our weaknesses. Now, not that the Spirit has
our weaknesses, but that He lends aid to us in our weaknesses and
infirmities. Then, in the time that we have
left this morning, we consider a particular aspect of the work
of the Spirit. That is number two, the intercessory
work of the Holy Spirit, who makes intercession. Listen, because
the saint knows not exactly what to pray for as it behooves them. Now the saints know to pray. They know they ought to pray.
And they know who to pray to, none but God the Father. And
they know words that they might use to form their prayer. But
still they might fall into formalism or vain repetition or hypocrisy
as the Pharisees who prayed only that they might be heard and
seen of men, except The Spirit makes intercession, which Paul
says he does as John Gill said. He indicts their prayers for
them in their hearts, stirring them up to pray, giving them
liberty and boldness to come before God And such intercession,
notice the word, is said to be unutterable. This may be more
than our minds can comprehend or understand. Paul does not
tell us how much aware we might be of this intercession of the
Spirit being carried on in us, but that he does so with groanings. He intercedes with groaning. Now again, it is not the Spirit
per se that is doing the groaning, but it is the person in whom
the Spirit is interceding. And this answers that class or
that section back with creation, back yonder in verse 22. Creation groans and travails. Now, these unutterable groanings
are, as John Murray wrote, quote, they are the media of the Holy
Spirit's intercession. They ascend to the throne of
grace in the form of moanings. What a needed service of the
Spirit is this unto us. In verse 27, let us read it again. And he that searches the hearts
knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he makes intercession
for the saints according unto God. Now the searcher of the
heart is God. Holy Spirit is the one making
intercession and makes that intercession only in harmony with the mind
and the will of God. And a short summation of the
27th verse. The Holy Spirit begets in the
heart what Paul calls unexpressable groaning, but which are clearly
intelligible to God, for God knows the mind of the Spirit,
who only excites what is according to the will and the mind of Almighty
God and are as agreeable to the will of God as the intercession
of Christ the Son, who only intercedes in accordance with the will of
God. Christ shall have what he asks
for, we read in the Scripture, for he asks only according and
by the will of God. And if such groaning be unutterable,
yet the Father knows the mind of the Spirit and vice versa. So the Spirit makes intercession
with groanings. which we unutterable and the
mind of God knows, the mind and the groaning stirred up by the
Spirit. So we can only say, thank God
for our intercessors. Both of them, one at the very
right hand of God, the other in our very heart, indwelling
us, making intercession when we come before the Lord in prayer. Thank God for this aspect of
the work and ministry, mediatorial work of Christ our Lord.