Not only does Nature groan and do we groan, but “the Spirit too is helping us in our weakness, for we do not know what we ought to pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with unspoken groanings.”
Such groaning is not ineffective. God discerns and grants the ardent desire of the Spirit, so that full salvation for both soul and body will come to us (verses 19-27).
This is true not because of the saints’ love for God, but because of his love for them, as is shown by the words, “… to those who love God all things work together for good; that is, to those who are called according to his purpose.”
Moreover, this cooperation of all things for good is happening not only now but has always been the case-“For whom he foreknew, he also foreordained to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he might be the firstborn among many brothers; and whom he foreordained, these he also called; and whom he called, these he also justified”-and will continue thus: “and whom he justified, these he also glorified,” that is, “these he will most certainly also glorify.” So certain is this fact that the past tense is used, as if it had already happened! (verses 28-30).
Therefore More Than Conquerors Are They (verses 31-39) “If God is for us, who is against us?”
It is God who gives. In fact, he did not spare even his own Son, but gave him up for us all. “How will he not also with him graciously give us all things?”
It is God who forgives. He blots out our sins so completely that no sustainable charge can be brought against God’s elect. “It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns?” The assurance that our sins have been blotted out is, however, not based solely on the fact that Christ died for us, but also on the fact that in addition the Father raised him from the dead, thereby proving that this death had been accepted as a fully adequate atonement for our sins. To make assurance even more sure we are comforted by the Savior’s session at God’s right hand. Here he is interceding for us, without ceasing taking care that the merits of his sacrifice are fully applied to us (verses 31-34).
It is clear therefore that Christ loves us with a love from which no one and nothing can ever separate us. And for this very reason we are “more than conquerors.” Not merely conquerors, so that the forces that oppose us are neutralized, rendered ineffective, but more than conquerors, so that death, life, angels, principalities, things present, things to come, heights and depths, yes every created thing.
