Romans 8:27 - 39

Romans 8:27 - 39
(27) “AND HE THAT SEARCHETH THE
HEARTS KNOWETH WHAT IS THE MIND
OF THE SPIRIT, BECAUSE HE MAKETH
INTERCESSION FOR THE SAINTS ACCORDING
TO THE WILL OF GOD.”
The phrase, “And He that searcheth the
hearts,” speaks of God the Father. Actually,
all Three Persons of the Trinity search
hearts: God the Father (I Chron. 28:9; Jer.
17:10); the Son (Rev. 2:23); and the Spirit
(I Cor. 2:10).
However, there is a progression of order
here which is not to be ignored. Even though
the Holy Spirit is God, and, consequently,
knows all things, still, His Purpose and
Agenda is to carry out the Will of God in our
lives, even as the last phrase in this verse
proclaims. One could say that the Father
orchestrates, the Son institutes, and the
Spirit executes.
The phrase, “Knoweth what is the Mind
of the Spirit,” refers to the special means of
communication which can refer to praying
in Tongues, but not necessarily so.
The idea is, that God the Father Who
searches the hearts of His Saints, understands
the intent or bent of our unutterable prayers,
unutterable because we do not know the particular
things for which we should pray in
connection with a certain circumstance. He
knows the Mind of the Holy Spirit praying
for us and in our stead, according to the Plan
of God for our lives (Wuest).
The phrase, “Because He maketh Intercession
for the Saints according to the Will
of God,” refers to the fact that the Holy Spirit
is ensconced within our hearts and lives to
carry out God’s Will and not our will. He is
not there to do our bidding, but the bidding
of the Father, simply because the Father
knows what we need.
The idea of all of this is twofold:
THE WILL OF GOD
1. For the Will of God to be carried out
in the life of the Believer, there must be a
strong prayer life involved. In this prayer
life the Holy Spirit will at times move mightily
upon the Believer, taking the Believer
directly to the Throne of Grace, praying
through him that which is needed. Sometimes
the Believer has knowledge of what is
being carried out respecting the spirit world,
and sometimes personal knowledge may be
very slim. At times and as stated, the Intercession
will be reduced to little more than
“groans” or “sighs,” although uttered by the
Believer, they are inspired by the Spirit.
A PLAN
2. God has a Plan for the entirety of the
world and as well, a plan for each Believer.
This Plan is ever the priority of the Holy
Spirit respecting our hearts and lives. He
has the overall Plan in Mind, and as well,
our personal involvement in that Plan. He
is there for the one purpose of realizing this
which God desires.
For the Believer to work at odds with that
which the Lord desires only creates conflict.
To be sure, this is the reason for most disturbance
in the hearts and lives of Christians.
While they may think that the disturbance
is caused by other things, the reality
is that their struggle is with God. The
struggle pertains to the pure and perfect Will
of God for their lives.
The Patriarch Jacob is a perfect example.
When his life was changed, it was the result
of a wrestling match with God, which in effect
was caused by self-will (Gen. Chpt. 32).
In fact, self-will is the major problem in the
lives of Believers. Someone has said and
rightly so, that when Jesus died on Calvary,
He died there to save us not only from “sin,”
but as well from “self.”
THE MINISTRY OF INTERCESSION
Even though verses 26 and 27 speak primarily
of Intercession made by the Holy
Spirit on our behalf, still, incorporated in
the Text, is the Intercession which the Holy
Spirit promotes in the hearts of praying Believers
as they intercede for others. Actually,
it is in this manner alone which various
Moves of God take place all over the world.
This is the reason for Revival in certain areas,
for Movings and Operations of the Holy
Spirit in certain parts of the world, even to
conviction respecting individuals. None of
that just happens, it is carried out through
the Ministry of Intercession on the part of
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Believers. Of course, and as stated, the Holy NOTES
Spirit is the One Who executes all of this.
This is one of the ways that the so-called
modern Faith Ministry has been such a detriment.
It little teaches or believes in the
Ministry of Intercession, at least as we are
now portraying, but rather that such things
be confessed into existence, which Doctrine
has no Scriptural foundation.
To be a little clearer, the point I am attempting
to make is, that every single person
in this world who is Saved, and every Move of
God which takes place somewhere (anywhere),
that this has been brought about by Intercession
on the part of Believers in some way. The
Believers doing the Interceding, may have
been very much acquainted with the people
or situation, or not acquainted with them at
all. But the Holy Spirit would begin to move
upon the Believer’s heart respecting Intercession
for certain people, certain areas, certain
parts of the world, many times areas to where
the Intercessor has never been. As well, the
Holy Spirit at the same time is probably moving
on a number of Intercessors all over the
world respecting this particular area or place,
with none of these people acquainted with
each other, but yet the Holy Spirit acquainted
with all.
THE AUTHORITY OF THE BELIEVER
Even though the Lord needs nothing, He
has allowed Believers a very prominent part
in the carrying out of His Great Plan on this
Earth. Actually, the involvement of Believers
in that Plan is of such magnitude, that if
we fall down at our task, the Work of God is
very greatly hindered. Even though God’s
Plan is ultimately realized, although sometimes
delayed, still, what the Believer does
affects that Plan greatly, whether in a positive
or negative sense.
The Believer’s great part in this is characterized
as the “Great Commission” (Mat.
28:18-20; Mk. 16:15-20; Lk. 24:49; Acts 1:8).
INTERCESSION
“Intercession” in the Hebrew is “pagha,”
and means “to make Intercession, to strike
upon, or against, to assail anyone with petitions,
to urge, and when on behalf of another,
to Intercede” (Gen. 23:8; Ruth 1:16;
Job 21:15; Isa. 53:12; Jer. 7:16; 27:18; 36:25).
In the New Testament, a similar word is
used in the Greek, “enteuxis,” among several
other Greek words, meaning “to come
between, to interpose on behalf of, to Intercede”
(Rom. 8:26-34; I Tim. 2:1; 4:5). Actually,
the Greek word “entugchano” is found
in Romans Chapter 8.
MAN’S INTERCESSION
FOR HIS FELLOWMAN
Many such prayers are recorded in Scripture.
The Sacrificial act of Noah may have
been partly of this nature, for it is followed
by a Promise of God on behalf of the race
and the Earth at large (Gen. 8:20-22). Such
also is Abraham’s prayer for Ishmael (Gen.
17:18); Abraham’s prayer for Sodom (Gen.
18:23-33); Abraham for Abimelech (Gen.
20:17). Jacob’s blessing of Joseph’s sons is of
the nature of Intercession (Gen. 48:8-22).
His dying blessing of his sons is hardly to
be regarded as Intercessory; it is, rather, declarative,
although in the case of Joseph it
does approach Intercession.
The absence of distinct Intercessory Prayer
from Abraham to Moses is to be observed,
and shows at least in part, the spiritual apathy
of the time. In Moses, however, the social
element finds a further development, and
is interesting as taking up the Spirit of the
Father of the Faithful.
The Intercessory Ministry of Moses is revealed
in his prayer for the removal of the
plagues regarding Egypt (Ex. 15:25); for
water at Rephidim (Ex. 17:4); for victory
over Amalek (Ex. 17:8-16); prayer for the
people after the Golden Calf (Ex. 32:11-
14, 21-34; 33:12). There are many other
instances as well.
None of these prayers of Moses’ are perfunctory.
They are the vivid and passionate
utterances of a man full of Divine enthusiasm
and love for his people. It is Intercession
wrung from a great and devout soul on
occasions of deep and critical importance.
(In the history of Joshua we find only the
prayer for the people after the sin of Achan,
Josh. 7:6-9, although the communications
from God to Joshua are numerous. A faint
Intercessory note may be heard in Deborah’s
song as well, Judg. 5:13. Gideon’s prayer
JIMMY SWAGGART BIBLE COMMENTARY ROMANS 8:27
NOTES
302
seemed to reecho something of the words of
Moses, Judg. 6:13. Manoah’s prayers may be
noted also, Judg. Chpt. 13. However, for the
most part, from Moses to Samuel, even as it
had been from Abraham to Moses, there
seemed to have been very little Intercession.
Again this shows the spiritual climate of
that period.)
THE KINGS AND THE PROPHETS
Samuel is the real successor of Moses, and
in connection with his life, Intercession again
appears more distinct and effective.
Hannah’s song (Samuel’s Mother) though
chiefly of thankfulness, is not without the
Intercessory spirit (I Sam. 2:1-11). Also
Samuel’s prayer at Mizpeh (I Sam. 7:5), and
the recognition by the people of Samuel’s
place (I Sam. 7:8).
Going to others, one must note David’s
prayer for deliverance of the people from pestilence
(II Sam. 24:17); Solomon’s prayer for
wisdom to govern the people (I Ki. 3:5-15);
Solomon’s prayer at the dedication of the
Temple (I Ki. 8:12-61); Elijah’s prayer for
the widow’s son (I Ki. 17:20); Elijah’s prayer
for rain (I Ki. 18:42); Elisha’s prayer for the
widow’s son (II Ki. 4:33); Hezekiah’s prayer
(II Ki. 19:14-19).
Of course, there are many more of which
we do not have space to enumerate.
Also, the Poetic Books furnish a few examples
of Intercessory Prayer: Job’s Intercession
for his children (Job 1:5); the Lord’s
Command that Job should pray for his friends
(Job 42:8).
In the Prophetical Books the note of Intercession
also appears. The Prophet,
though primarily a Messenger from God to
man, has also something of the character
of the Intercessor (Isa. Chpt. 6). In Jeremiah
42:4, the Prophet consents to the request
of Johanan to seek the Lord on behalf of
the people. The Book of Lamentations is
naturally conceived in a more constantly
recurring spirit of Intercession. In the
Prophecies Jeremiah has been the Messenger
of God to the people. But, after the
catastrophe, in his sorrow he appeals to God
for mercy upon them (Lam. 2:20; 5:1-19).
Ezekiel in the same way is rather the Seer
of Visions and the Prophetic Representative
of God. Yet at times he appeals to God for
the people (Ezek. 9:8; 11:13).
INTERCESSION IN THE
NEW TESTAMENT
In the New Testament, all prayer necessarily
takes a new form from its relation to
our Lord, and in these supplications before
God, Intercessory Prayer plays its part.
At the outset, Jesus teaches prayer on behalf
of those “which despitefully use you”
(Mat. 5:44). How completely does this change
the entire spirit of prayer! We breathe a new
atmosphere of the high revelation of Love as
characterized by Christ. As well, the Lord’s
Prayer (Mat. 6:9-13) is of this character. In
fact, Christ’s High-Priestly Prayer is the most
sublime height of prayer to God and is Intercessory
throughout (Jn. Chpt. 17).
THE ENTRANCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Although the Holy Spirit has always been
involved in man’s prayer and petition to the
Lord and as well, as stated, in Intercession,
His filling the hearts of Believers after the
Day of Pentecost, due to what Jesus did at
Calvary, the Resurrection, and Exaltation,
puts a brand-new perspective on this tremendous
Ministry. It is even as we are now studying
in Romans 8:26-27.
While it seems as if the entirety of the
Text is devoted to the Spirit Himself Interceding
on behalf of Believers, still, the word
“helpeth” and the phrase, “For we know not
what we should pray for as we ought” (vs.
26), lets us know that He is actually the One
Who energizes the Believer respecting Intercession
on behalf of others. Actually, the
Divine Spirit is said to be a Spirit of Supplication
(Zech. 12:10).
Actually, we see this Intercession at work
throughout the entirety of the Book of Acts.
Hence, the prayers of the Early Church Believers
become Intercession at times, involving
the wider outlook on others and on the
world at large which Christianity has bestowed
on men. Actually, they literally breathe the
Spirit (Acts 2:24-30; 6:6; 7:60; 8:24; 9:40;
12:5-12; 13:3; 14:23; 15:40; 20:36).
THE INTERCESSION OF CHRIST
Even though this Ministry of Christ is on
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a far higher plane than that of Believers, still, NOTES
the example is very prominent before all.
The general conception of our Lord’s Mediatorial
Office is especially summed up in
His Intercession in which He appears in His
High-Priestly Office, and also as Interceding
with the Father on behalf of that humanity
whose cause He has espoused.
The function of Priesthood as developed
under Judaism involved the position of mediation
between man and God. The Priest
represented man, and on man’s behalf approached
God; thus, he offered Sacrifice, Interceded,
and gave to the offerer whom he
represented the benediction and expression
of the Divine acceptance.
THE WORK OF CHRIST
As in Sacrifice, so in the Work of Christ,
we find the proprietary rights of the offerer
in the Sacrifice. For man, Christ as One
with man, and yet in His Own Personal
Right, offers Himself (Rom. Chpt. 5; Gal.
4:5; Heb. 2:11).
There was also the transfer of guilt and
its conditions, typically by laying hands on
the head of the animal called the scapegoat,
which then bore the sins of the offerer and
was presented to God by the Priest. The acknowledgment
of sin and the surrender to
God is completely fulfilled in Christ’s Offering
of Himself, at His Death (Lev. 3:2, 8-13;
16:21; Isa. 53:6; II Cor. 5:21).
Our Lord’s Intercessory quality in the Sacrifice
of Himself is not only indicated by the
imputation of guilt to Him as representing
the sinner, but also in the Victory of His Life
over Death, which is then given to man in
God’s acceptance of His Representative and
Substitute.
ITS INTERCESSORY CHARACTER
In the Epistle to the Hebrews, the Intercessory
character of our Lord’s High-Priestly
Office is transferred to the Heavenly Condition
and Work of Christ, where the relation
of Christ’s Work to man’s condition is regarded
as being still continued in the Heavenly
Place (Heb. 9:11-28). This entrance
into Heaven is once for all, and in the person
of the High Priest the way is open to the
Very Presence of God.
From one point of view (Heb. 10:12) the
Priestly Service of the Lord was concluded
and gathered up into His Kingly Office (Heb.
10:13-18). But from another point of view,
we ourselves are bidden to enter into the
Holiest Place; as if in union with Christ we
too become a Kingly Priesthood (Heb. 10:19-
22; I Pet. 2:9).
THE RIGHT OF ENTRANCE
It must not be forgotten, however, that
this Right of Entrance into the Most Holy
Place is one that depends entirely upon our
vital union with Christ. He appears in Heaven
for us and we with Him, and in this sense He
fulfills the second duty of His High-Priestly
Office as Intercessor, with the added conception
drawn from the legal advocacy of the
Roman Court.
The term “Advocate” in I John 2:1 is in
the Greek “parakletos,” which in John 14:16
is translated “Comforter.” The word has a
familiar use in Greek for the legal Advocate
in Roman Law who appeared on behalf of
his client. Thus, in the double sense of
Priestly and Legal Representative, our Lord
is our Intercessor in Heaven. In other words,
He guarantees our Salvation and Redemption.
His Legal Representation is guaranteed
by the “Seal of Promise” given by the
Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13; 4:30).
THE MANNER OF HIS
REPRESENTATION
Of the modes in which Christ carries out
His Intercessory Office, we can have little
knowledge except so far as we may fairly deduce
them from the phraseology and suggested
ideas of Scripture. As High Priest, it
may surely be right for us to aid our weak
Faith by assuring ourselves that our Lord
pleads for us, while at the same time we must
be careful not to deprave our thought concerning
the Glorified Lord by the metaphors
and analogies of earthly relationship.
To be sure, it is done, but on a much
higher plane and level, than we can too very
well comprehend.
The Intercessory Work of Christ consequently,
may be thus represented: He represents
man before God in His Perfect Nature,
His Exalted Office and His Completed Work.
JIMMY SWAGGART BIBLE COMMENTARY ROMANS 8:27
NOTES
304
The Scripture Word for this is “To appear
before the Face of God for us” (Heb. 9:24).
This plainly proclaims an active Intercession.
This is the Office of our Lord as “Advocate”
or “Parakletos.” That this conveys some relation
to the aid which one who has broken
the Law receives from an Advocate cannot
be overlooked, and we find Christ’s Intercession
in this aspect brought into connection
with the Text which referred to Justification
and its allied ideas (Rom. 8:34; I Jn. 2:1).
THE MANNER OF INTERCESSION
AND REPRESENTATION
Whatever else it may include, the following
must be a part of that which the Lord
does for us as our Personal Representative
in Heaven:
1. His appearing before God on our behalf,
as the Sacrifice for our sins, as our High
Priest, on the ground of Whose Work we receive
the Remission of our sins, the Gift of
the Holy Spirit, and all needed good.
2. Defense against the sentence of the
Law and the charges of Satan, who is the
great accuser.
3. His offering Himself as our surety, not
only that the demands of justice shall be
shown to be satisfied, but that His people
shall be obedient and faithful.
4. The oblation of the persons of the Redeemed,
Sanctifying their prayers, and all
their services, rendering them acceptable to
God, through the savor of His Own Merits.
Even this expression of the elements
which constitute the Intercession of the Lord
on our behalf, cautious and spiritual as it is
in its application to Christian thought and
worship, must be carefully guarded from a
too complete and materialistic use.
Without this care, worship and devout
thought may be degraded and fall into the
mechanical forms by which our Lord’s position
of Intercessor has been reduced to
very little more than an imaginative and
spectacular process which goes on in some
Heavenly Place.
It must not be forgotten that the metaphorical
and symbolic origin of the ideas
which constitute Christ’s Intercession (for
instance, the duties of the High Priests of
old) is always in danger of dominating and
materializing the spiritual reality of His Intercessional
Office. (D. Bevan).
Nevertheless, even though of necessity our
understanding is limited, still, the example
portrayed by Christ in His Intercessory role
on our behalf, at least should produce in us
a Love for the lost and especially our fellow
Believers.
(28) “AND WE KNOW THAT ALL
THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD TO
THEM THAT LOVE GOD, TO THEM WHO
ARE THE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS
PURPOSE.”
There are two key words in this verse. They
are “Love” and “Purpose.”
The phrase, “And we know that all things
work together for good,” presents the beginning
of one of the most often quoted Scriptures
in the Bible.
In view of the broad brush of this Text,
and especially considering its vast consequences,
one would not do violence to Scripture
by asking the question, “Do in fact, all
things work together for good concerning
Believers?”
The answer is “yes” and “no!” “Yes” if
the conditions are met, and “no” if they
aren’t met.
Paul begins this great Promise by saying
“We know,” which means that not only does
he know this, but as well, it is meant for
every other Believer to know.
Also, “all things,” cover the entirety of
the spectrum respecting Life and Godliness.
It refers to every effort made by Satan against
the Child of God, every scurrilous plan devised
by him for our destruction, and even
pertains to evil men working with him
(whether they realize it or not) to further
the designs of darkness concerning our own
personal lives.
LOVE
The phrase, “To them that love God,” proclaims
the first qualification. However, in
the Greek Text, the Apostle designates the
Believers as not merely loving God, but being
beloved by God. The Divine side of our
security from harm is brought out, as combining
with and ensuring the other. We are
sure that all things work for our good, not
only because we Love Him Who worketh all
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305
things, but also because He Who worketh NOTES
all things has loved and chosen us, and carried
us through the successive steps of our
spiritual life.
So, we learn from this Passage not only
the requirements on our part, but as well, as
to what the Lord is doing for the Believer.
The question could be asked if the phrase
insinuates that there are some Believers who
do not Love God?
No, that’s not the idea. The idea of the
Text is, that all Believers in fact do Love God.
Actually, it would be impossible for a Believer
not to do so (providing he is a True
Believer), and for the reason that Believers
at the moment of Conversion have the Divine
Nature imparted unto them. To the
degree of that Love, however, is something
else again!
HIS PURPOSE
The phrase, “To them who are the called
according to His Purpose,” proclaims the second
qualification. Our lives must be for His
Purpose, and not our purpose, and here is
where the great conflict begins.
The working of the Holy Spirit in our lives,
sent to us to carry out the Will of God, pertains
here to the Calling of which the Apostle
speaks. It is twofold:
1. First of all it is the Calling as it pertains
to the everlasting Purpose of God,
which was ordained before the foundations
of the world were laid.
2. This Calling concerns, as we have previously
stated, a personal objective, even as
it is a part of the whole.
That spoken is the effort being carried out
by the Holy Spirit and it is our business, to
see to it that His Purpose is our purpose as
well. Unfortunately, the terrible struggle of
self-will enters in here, which greatly hinders
the Holy Spirit and presents a conflict
to the Believer not easily overcome. The
“flesh” is so subtle, that most of the time it
masquerades under great spiritual claims. It
takes total consecration on the part of the
Believer, in order for the Holy Spirit to point
out these areas of spiritual weakness, sometimes
which we think in our delusion are
great spiritual strengths. In fact, it is a lifelong
struggle. However, the Lord does not
require perfection in this area, simply because
were that the case, none would qualify.
He does require Love for Himself, and that
portrays the direction of our hearts.
In that view the Text literally reads, “And
we know with an absolute knowledge that
all things are constantly working together,
resulting in good for those who are loving
God, for those who are Called ones according
to His Purpose” (Wuest).
Having these qualities of Love for God,
and our Calling being according to His Purpose
and not our own, all things then must
work together for our good.
(29) “FOR WHOM HE DID FOREKNOW,
HE ALSO DID PREDESTINATE TO BE
CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF HIS
SON, THAT HE MIGHT BE THE FIRSTBORN
AMONG MANY BRETHREN.”
The phrase, “For whom He did foreknow,”
speaks of God’s foreknowledge.
WHAT IS FOREKNOWLEDGE?
God is Omniscient, meaning that He
knows everything, past, present, and future.
Consequently, “foreknowledge” is His
Ability to look down through time in whatever
capacity, or to whatever degree, and,
therefore, to see and know what will take
place at that particular time, and with whomever
it involves.
It is true that the Scripture makes use of
anthropomorphic (related in human terms)
forms of expression regarding the way in
which God obtains knowledge (Gen. 3:8), and
sometimes even represents Him as if He did
not know certain things (Gen. 11:5; 18:21);
nevertheless the constant representation of
the Scripture is that God knows everything.
This perfect Knowledge of God, moreover, is
not merely a knowledge which is practically
unlimited for all spiritual purposes, but covers
every aspect of all things in the strictest
sense of the term.
In the Historical Books of the Old Testament
the Omniscience of God is a constant
underlying presupposition when it is said that
God watches men’s actions, knows their acts
and words, and discloses to them the future;
while in the Psalms, Prophets and Wisdom
Books, this Divine Attribute becomes an object
of reflection, and finds doctrinal expression.
JIMMY SWAGGART BIBLE COMMENTARY ROMANS 8:29
NOTES
306
ALWAYS HAS BEEN
It cannot, however, be said that this Attribute
of God, the knowing of all things,
appears only late in the history of Special
Revelation; it is a characteristic of the Biblical
idea of God from the very first, and it is
only its expression which comes out with
special clearness in the later Books. God’s
Knowledge, then, is represented as perfect.
Since He is free from all limits of space, His
Omniscience is frequently connected with His
Omnipresence (He is everywhere).
GOD IS NOT BOUND BY
TIME RESTRAINTS
God is also, according to the Old Testament,
free from all limitations of time, so
that His Consciousness is not in the midst of
the stream of the succeeding moments of time,
as is the case with the human consciousness.
God is not only without beginning or end
of days, but with Him a thousand years are
as one day or vice versa. Hence, God knows
in one eternal intuition that which for the
human consciousness is past, present, and
future. In a strict sense, therefore, regarding
the foreknowledge of God, and the distinction
in God’s Knowledge which we derive
from His Word, such is actually the only
way in which we can conceive of Divine
Omniscience in its relation to time, and our
understanding of such.
GOD’S KNOWLEDGE OF EVENTS
It is God’s Knowledge of events which
from the human point of view are future that
constitute His Foreknowledge in the sense
of that which we understand, or attempt to
understand. God is represented as having a
knowledge of the entire course of events before
they take place. Such knowledge belongs
to the Supernatural Power of God from
the very outset of Special Revelation.
He knows beforehand what Abraham will
do, and what will happen to him; He knows
beforehand that Pharaoh’s heart will be hardened,
and that Moses will deliver Israel (Gen.
15:13; Ex. 3:19; 7:4; 11:1). Actually, the
entire history of this period of Revelation
exhibits plainly the Foreknowledge of God
in this sense.
PROPHECY
Prophecy, which makes up about onethird
of the Bible, is actually the Foreknowledge
of God. This means that nothing future
is hidden from Jehovah (Isa. 41:22; 42:9;
43:9-13; 44:6-8; 46:10; Dan. 2:22; Amos 3:7),
and this Foreknowledge embraces the entire
course of man’s life, whoever that man may
be (Ps. 31:15; 39:5; 139:4-6, 16; Job 14:5).
Passages from Isaiah show that it is from
the occurrence of events in accordance with
Jehovah’s predictions that the Prophet will
prove His Foreknowledge; and that in contrast
with the worshipers of idols which are
taken by surprise (in other words they don’t
know what is coming), Israel is warned of
the future by the Omniscient Jehovah.
THE NEW TESTAMENT
In the New Testament likewise, God’s Omniscience
is explicitly affirmed. Jesus taught
that God knows the hidden secrets of man’s
heart (Lk. 16:15); and this is also the teaching
of the Apostles (Acts 1:24; 15:8; I Cor.
2:10; 3:20; I Thess. 2:4; Rev. 2:23).
In a word, according to the author of the
Epistle to the Hebrews, everything is open
to God, so that He is literally Omniscient,
i.e., “All-Knowing” (Heb. 4:13).
Actually, Jesus asserts a Foreknowledge by
God of that which is hidden from the Son,
at least was hidden at that time (Mk. 13:32),
and James asserts that all God’s Works are
foreknown by Him (Acts 15:18).
DOES GOD’S FOREKNOWLEDGE
IMPACT FREE WILL?
Denials of the Divine Foreknowledge, have
been occasioned by the supposed conflict of
this Truth with human freedom, in other
words, free will and choice on the part of
man. It was supposed that in order to be
free, an event must be uncertain and contingent
as regards the fact of its future happening,
and in the most absolute sense, that
is, from the Divine as well as the human
point of view. Hence, there have been many
in the past who have denied the Foreknowledge
of God.
It was supposed either that God voluntarily
determines not to foresee the free volitions
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307
of man, or else that since God’s Omniscience NOTES
is simply the knowledge of all that is knowable,
it does not embrace the free acts of
man which are by their very nature uncertain
and, consequently, unknowable, at least
they say. And upon this view of freedom,
this denial of God’s Foreknowledge was logically
necessary.
Of course, to take that view, one has to
come to the conclusion, erroneously I might
quickly add, that God has created all things,
and merely sits by as an onlooker regarding
the course of all events be they present or
future, and which are necessarily entirely independent
of His Purpose and Control. However,
if anyone reads the Bible at all, we know
this thinking has no place in Scripture, considering
that God is involved in everything.
If God foreknows future events as certain,
then they must be certain, and if so, then
the certainty of their actually occurring must
depend either upon God’s Decree and Providential
Control, or else upon a fate independent
of God, which we know is not the case.
TO WHAT EXTENT?
It has been the thinking of some, that
God has a knowledge of events as conditionally
future, that is, events neither
merely possible nor certainly future, but
suspended upon conditions undetermined
by God. However, this is not true. Besides
being contrary to the Scripture in its idea
that many events lie outside the decree of
God, and that God must wait upon man in
His Government of the world, there is really
no such class of events as this theory
asserts. As we have already stated, God is
involved in everything.
If God foreknows that the conditions on
which they are suspended will be fulfilled,
then these events belong to the class of
events which are certainly future; whereas if
God does not know whether or not the conditions
will be fulfilled by man, then His
Foreknowledge is denied, and these events
in question belong to the class of the
happenchance. Nor do the Scripture Passages
to which appeal is made to try to buttress
such a Doctrine, such as Genesis 11:6;
Exodus 3:19; Deuteronomy 7:3-4; I Samuel
23:10-13; II Samuel 12:8, etc., afford a basis
for this Doctrine.
The Scripture recognizes that God has
put all things in particular categories, and
speaks of what can or cannot happen under
such and such conditions; but none of these
Passages assert or imply that the events are
suspended upon conditions which are either
unknown or undetermined, or not controlled
by God.
GOD’S PLAN
God’s Foreknowledge, according to the
Scripture, is based upon His Plan or Eternal
Purpose, which embraces everything that
comes to pass. God is never represented as a
mere onlooker seeing the future course of
events, but having no part in them. That
God has such a Plan is the teaching of the
entire scope of Scripture. It is implied in the
Old Testament conception of God as an Omnipotent
(All-Powerful) Person governing all
things in accordance with His Divine Plan.
This idea is involved in the Names of God
revealed to the Patriarchs, “El,” “Elohim,”
“El Shaddai,” and in the Prophetic Name
“Jehovah of Hosts.” This latter Name teaches
not only God’s Infinite Power and Glory, but
also makes Him known as interposing in accordance
with His Sovereign Will and Purpose
in the affairs of this world, and as having
also the spiritual powers of the Heavenly
World at His disposal for the execution of
His Eternal Purpose. Hence, the idea of God
comes to signify the Omnipotent Ruler of
the Universe (Ps. 24:10; Isa. 6:3; 51:5; 54:5;
Jer. 10:16; Amos 9:5).
HUMAN HISTORY
Not only in this conception of God as Omnipotent
and Sovereign Ruler is the thought
of His Eternal Plan evolved, it is explicitly
asserted throughout the whole Old Testament.
The Purpose of God as determining
human history in the Book of Genesis lies
clearly upon the surface of the Narrative, as,
for example, in the history of Abraham and
of Joseph.
And where there is no abstract statement
of this Truth, it is evident that the Writer
regards every event as but the unfolding of
the Purposes and Plan of God. In the Psalms,
Prophets, and Wisdom Books, this Truth
JIMMY SWAGGART BIBLE COMMENTARY ROMANS 8:29
NOTES
308
finds explicit and reiterated assertion. Jehovah
has an Eternal Purpose (Ps. 33:11),
and this Purpose will certainly come to pass
(Isa. 14:27; 43:13).
As well, this Purpose includes all events
and renders certain their occurrence (Isa.
14:24; 40:10; 46:9-10; Zech. 1:6).
Also, the Providential control wherewith
Jehovah executes this plan includes the heart
of man (Prov. 21:1).
Likewise, and stated, the New Testament
regards all history as but the unfolding of
God’s Eternal Purpose (Acts 4:28), which includes
man’s Salvation (Eph. 1:4-5; II Tim.
1:9), the provision of Christ as Saviour (I
Pet. 1:20), and the character and nature of
the Christian (Eph. 2:10).
SO HOW DO WE ANSWER ALL THE
QUESTIONS WHICH GOD’S
FOREKNOWLEDGE PROPOSES?
Knowing and understanding that God is
involved in every single event of human history,
even to a far greater degree than our
human minds can grasp, how are certain
things reconciled? If one is to consider that
the Lord notes every sparrow’s fall, and numbers
the hairs on each and every head of
every person in the world (Mat. 10:29-30),
then one has at least some idea as to the
degree of involvement. As stated, it is beyond
comprehension.
So how can God have this much involvement,
thereby foreknowing all things, and
not at the same time impact the free will of
man? This we do know concerning man’s
free will:
While God speaks to men, deals with men,
moves upon men, convicts and even pressures
men, there is no record in the Word of
God that He violates the free moral agency
(free will) of any person. Actually, the entirety
of the tone and tint of Scripture is
“Whosoever will” (Rev. 22:17).
The only answer that one can give in respect
to this question is that God, Who has
and Who is Divine Power, Divine Knowledge
and Divine Presence, can involve Himself in
anything desired and to any degree desired,
and at the same time, not affect man’s free
moral agency, at least to go beyond the normal
appeal. Still, in every sense of the word,
once a certain level is reached, God is beyond
the comprehension of man.
The phrase, “He also did predestinate,”
proclaims here the basic Bible Teaching of
Predestination, which deals with God’s Plan.
However, Predestination does not pertain to
individual conformity of free wills to that
Plan. God has called all men and all are free
to accept or reject the Call (Jn. 3:16; I Tim.
2:4; II Pet. 3:9; Rev. 22:17).
All who do accept, He has foreknown and
predestinated to be conformed to the Image
of His Son that His Son might be the firstborn
among many Brethren.
Those who reject the Plan, He has foreknown
and predestinated to be consigned to
Eternal Hell as an everlasting monument of
His Wrath on rebels (Isa. 66:22-24; Rev. 14:9-
11; Mat. 25:41, 46).
PREDESTINATION AS A DOCTRINE
As is known, there are several views on
this subject, with the view I have just given
being that of this Writer.
Many in the Church world subscribe to
the Calvinistic view of Predestination, that
it is the aspect of foreordination whereby the
Salvation of the Believer is taken to be effected
in accordance with the Will of God,
Who has called and elected him, in Christ,
unto Life Eternal. In other words, the individual
has nothing to do with his or her eternal
destination, that having been decided by
God from Eternity past.
However, this same teaching concludes
that while God has elected some for Salvation,
that there is nothing taught in Scripture
which points to personal reprobation
— in other words, that God has predestined
some to be eternally lost, i.e., consigned to
the Lake of Fire forever. However, to believe
one is to believe the other. It is impossible
to have it both ways.
If God has elected certain persons for Salvation,
then simply by not being elected,
automatically consigns them to eternal
darkness.
Calvin’s view of Predestination, which we
believe to be rank error, had a strange way of
addressing this problem. He said, “Man
therefore falls, God’s Providence so ordaining,
but he falls by his own fault.”
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That statement is a contradiction in NOTES
terms. How could he fall by his own fault, if
God had so ordained it?
The argument may well be made, which
it seems that Calvin tried to make, that
God ordained the Fall only to the extent
that through foreknowledge He knew it
would happen.
However, once again the problem of contradiction
arises. If God ordains the Fall,
then man has no choice in the matter.
It is true that God has ordained, even as
this 29th verse proclaims, that if man falls
through his own free will, he will be eternally
lost. (Fall is here used in the sense of
dying lost.)
AUGUSTINE
Augustine lived about 400 years after
Christ and was called by some “The Father
of Theology.”
In his teaching on the absolute Will of
God, he made Divine Grace the only ground
of man’s Salvation; it was to him the irresistible
power working Faith within the heart,
and bringing freedom as its result.
He was partly right! Divine Grace is the
only ground of man’s Salvation (Eph. 2:8-
9). However, Grace cannot be an irresistible
power, for in so doing, it would cease to be
Grace. As Grace is a free Gift of God, it must
be freely offered, and the entire scope of
Scripture maintains, that if it is Grace, it
must be freely received.
Evidently, Augustine was attempting to
reconcile the plain teaching of the Word of
God respecting Grace with an erroneous view
of Predestination.
Calvin’s teaching on Predestination simply
carried the Augustinian theory to its logical
and necessary conclusion, and he was the
first to adopt the Doctrine as the cardinal
point of a theological system.
Calvin’s mode of defining Predestination
is that such is the Eternal Decree of God, by
which He has decided with Himself what is
to become of each and every individual. For
all, he maintained, are not created in like
condition; but Eternal Life is foreordained
for some, eternal condemnation for others.
However, even Calvin confessed that his view
of Predestination was a “horrible decree.” But
yet he somehow maintained that it was Love
— “the Fatherly Love of God,” as he terms it
— the efficiency of Saving Love — which
fueled these decisions. (Calvin lived in the
16th Century.)
THE DOCTRINE OF UNCONDITIONAL
ETERNAL SECURITY
From the teachings of Augustine and
Calvin came the unscriptural Doctrine of
Unconditional Eternal Security. In brief,
this teaching claims that once a Believer is
Saved, he cannot be lost irrespective of what
he may do or how much he may habitually
live in sin. However, most advocates of this
Doctrine differ from Augustine and Calvin,
in that man is Saved not because he is predestined
to be so, but because of his own
free will.
This Doctrine, as far as I am concerned is
dishonest, in that it embraces part of Calvinism,
while rejecting the rest.
Both Doctrines have caused untold millions
to die eternally lost. If it is already
predestined, then one should not even be
concerned about one’s soul, knowing that
what will be, will be. As well, all Evangelism
stops respecting Predestination. What’s
the point? Those who are going to be Saved,
will be Saved, and those who are not going
to be Saved, won’t be Saved, irrespective in
either case as to what anyone does. Some
have attempted to address this glaring conclusion,
by claiming that while it already has
been decided, still, those who are Saved must
work very hard to bring in the others. However,
that is only a salve attempting to address
the gross error.
Once again, if it is already predestined,
what difference does it make as to how hard
one works to bring others to Christ, it’s all a
moot point!
Likewise with Unconditional Eternal Security.
Untold millions have been taught
they could live any way they wanted to live
after supposedly getting Saved, with no fear
of the loss of their souls. Consequently, that’s
exactly what many who believe this Doctrine
have done and are doing.
ARMINIUS
Jacob Arminius lived in the late 16th
JIMMY SWAGGART BIBLE COMMENTARY ROMANS 8:29
NOTES
310
Century. He strongly opposed Calvin’s teaching
on Predestination. It is his interpretation
of the Scriptures respecting this subject,
to which we basically subscribe.
Arminianism gives Grace a supreme place,
and makes it, when welcome, pass into Saving
Grace.
The idea of that statement is simply that
it is by Grace that one is Saved (Eph. 2:8-9).
However, it is only when Grace is welcomed
and accepted, that it then becomes Saving
Grace. In other words, the Grace of God is
abundant to all, but can only be extended to
those “whosoever will” so that it be extended
to them (Rev. 22:17).
He made election depend on Faith, which
is the condition of Universal Grace.
This statement means that God has elected
people to be Saved who exhibit Faith in His
Son, The Lord Jesus Christ, and the Sacrifice
He gave of Himself at Calvary. While
Grace is universal, meaning free to all, as it
must be if it is to be Grace, the condition for
receiving Grace is, as stated, “Faith.”
Arminianism rejects the so-called Elect
Grace of the Predestination Theory. This
teaches that Grace is extended only to those
who are predestined to be Saved. Of course,
the Bible teaches no such thing.
Arminianism holds the awakened human
will to cooperate with Divine Grace, in such
wise that it rests with the human will whether
the Divine Grace is really accepted or rejected.
Arminianism looks to Faith and Repentance
as conditions of Personal Salvation
(Acts 20:21). The Arminian standpoint admits
the Foreknowledge of God, but denies
foreordination (some ordained to be Saved
and some ordained to be lost).
The Reader may think these Doctrines to
be of little significance; however, to be blunt,
there are untold millions at this moment in
Hell simply because they had an erroneous
view of these subjects as it concerned their
soul’s Salvation. No, these Doctrines are not
of small consequence, but rather the very
opposite. The Believer should know what
he believes and why he believes it.
THE IMAGE OF HIS SON
The phrase, “To be conformed to the Image
of His Son,” is the Predestination addressed
here, and the only Predestination addressed.
Those who of their own free will who accept
Christ, are predestined to be conformed
by the Holy Spirit, which we have been addressing
here throughout the entirety of this
Chapter, into the Christlike Image.
Let us observe the way in which Paul introduces
this subject, so as to better understand
his drift.
He has been speaking of the trials and imperfections
of the present life, and urging
his readers not to be discouraged by them,
on the ground that if they continued to “live
after the Spirit,” these things will by no means
hinder, but rather further, the final issue.
To strengthen this position he introduces
the thought of God’s Eternal Purpose.
The idea is that the Believer being in the
State of Grace in which he now finds himself,
is due to God’s Eternal Purpose to call
us to this State, and our having accepted.
Consequently, it is impossible that the circumstances
in which He has placed us, or
any power thereafter, should thwart His Purpose,
providing we continue to believe Him
(Barmby).
“Conformed” in the Greek is “summorphos,”
and means “to be made like unto.” So, the
idea is that the Believer become Christlike
in every way. Hence, He said, “Learn of Me”
(Mat. 11:29).
“Image” in the Greek is “eikon,” and means
“a copy, representation, resemblance.”
THE FIRSTBORN
The phrase, “That He might be the Firstborn
among many Brethren,” has to do with
Jesus being the prototype, which means the
original model on which other things are
patterned, in this case Believers.
Jesus as the “Firstborn” is the Only Begotten
Son, meaning the first of all creatures
(Incarnation) to be begotten of God,
the Only One of all beings begotten of God,
the first and Only One of the family of adopted
and “created” Brethren begotten of God (Eph.
4:24; Col. 3:10).
The Church is the Called-out people of
the One Who is the Firstborn (Heb. 12:23).
Adam and Angels were by creation, not by
begetting (Gen. 6:1-4; Job 1:6; 38:4-7;
Lk. 3:38).
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311
All Creation came into existence by cre- NOTES
ative acts, not by a begetting as in the case
of Jesus. Even those many Brethren are not
begotten in the sense Jesus was by the Holy
Spirit. They (we) were begotten by men,
not by God, and were thus brought into the
human family, not the family of God. The
only way one gets into God’s Family is by
adoption (Rom. 8:14-16; Gal. 4:5-6; Eph.
1:5). Jesus was not adopted, but Begotten,
hence, the “Firstborn.”
In the New Testament the word “Firstborn
(prototokos)” appears only nine times.
Twice it refers to Jesus in a literal way —
that is, as the first child in the family of Joseph
and Mary (Mat. 1:25; Lk. 2:7). This
word occurs one time in the plural, to identify
Believers as the “Church of the Firstborn”
(Heb. 12:23).
This phrase suggests a position of special
intimacy with God. One other use of
“prototokos” is historical, a reference to the
events of the Redemption of Israel from
Egypt (Heb. 11:28).
BY AND LARGE ONLY TO JESUS
In most cases, however, “prototokos”
serves as a technical theological term, applied
only to Jesus (Rom. 8:29; Col. 1:15,
18; Heb. 1:6; Rev. 1:5).
This use is not literal but is intended to
suggest Jesus’ supreme rank and the uniqueness
of His special relationship with the Father.
In connecting the title of “Firstborn”
with the Resurrection (Col. 1:18; Rev. 1:5),
Scripture also offers us hope. Jesus has entered
the realm of Glory. We too, though
junior members of the family, will also share
in the Glory Jesus now enjoys.
ERRONEOUS DOCTRINE
Some have contended from this verse, that
Jesus was Born Again as any believing sinner
is, therefore, the “Firstborn.” Furthermore,
they claim that this was done in Hell, in other
words, that when He died on Calvary, He died
as a sinner, went to Hell, and was Born Again
in Hell.
Of course, there is nothing in Scripture
to even remotely suggest such a thing. Jesus
was not a sinner, and did not die as a sinner.
Jesus was the most Pure, Righteous,
Perfect Human Being Who ever lived. In
fact, He had to be this way in order to be a
Perfect Sacrifice, in order to be the Sin-
Offering, which in effect was His Perfect
Body. Any sin would have marred this Sacrifice,
and made it unacceptable unto God
(Ex. 12:5).
On the Cross Jesus was made to be a Sin-
Offering, which paid the terrible penalty of
man’s sin, consequently, satisfying the Sin
Debt. To satisfy that Debt, He had to die,
but His Death had to be perfect, i.e., “a
Perfect Offering.”
While He did go to Paradise which was in
the heart of the Earth and separated from
the burning side of Hell only by a great
gulf, there is no record in the Word of God
that He went into the burning pit with all
the lost souls, which are claimed by some
(Lk. 16:23-31).
If one is to notice, the Scripture says “The
Firstborn among many Brethren,” not “The
Firstborn among many lost.”
(30) “MOREOVER WHOM HE DID PREDESTINATE,
THEM HE ALSO CALLED:
AND WHOM HE CALLED, THEM HE ALSO
JUSTIFIED: AND WHOM HE JUSTIFIED,
THEM HE ALSO GLORIFIED.”
The phrase, “Moreover whom He did predestinate,”
refers not to some predestinated
to be lost and others to be Saved, but rather
refers back to the previous verse, in that those
who accept Him of their own free will, He
has “predestinated (them) to be conformed
to the Image of His Son.”
“WHOSOEVER WILL”
The premise of “Whosoever will” runs like
a deep river all the way from the Book of Genesis
through the Book of Revelation. Actually,
the first invitation was given in the Garden
of Eden immediately after the Fall, when
“The Lord God called unto Adam and said
unto him, Where art thou?” (Gen. 3:9). It
closes out in the Book of Revelation with such
an appeal that no one need misunderstand
what is being said. As well, understanding
that these were among the last words given
by the Holy Spirit as He closed out the Canon
of Scripture, there need not be any misunderstanding
as to His intentions. Actually, it
is the only time in the Bible that the Holy
JIMMY SWAGGART BIBLE COMMENTARY ROMANS 8:30
NOTES
312
Spirit refers to Himself as speaking, and says,
“And the Spirit and the Bride say, Come.
And let him that heareth say, Come. And
let him that is athirst come. And whosoever
will, let him take the Water of Life freely”
(Rev. 22:17).
As well, in between those great beginning
and ending Books of the Bible, the Words of
Jesus echo to the whole of humanity, when
He said, “If any man thirst, let him come
unto Me, and drink” (Jn. 7:37). If one is to
notice, He said “any man,” and He meant
exactly what He said, which means the invitation
is not extended to only a few who are
predestinated. In fact, and as we have said,
if men are already predestinated for Heaven,
what’s the point of the invitation anyway?
THE CALLED
The phrase, “Them He also called,” has a
twofold meaning:
1. First of all, God has called, even as I
think we have adequately illustrated, the
whole of humanity, and for all time. If Salvation
is available to one, then it must be
available to all. As stated, that’s the warp
and woof of the entirety of the Bible. That
means there is no such thing as a limited
Atonement or a limited Salvation, or a limited
Call for that matter (Jn. 3:16; 7:37).
Actually, God has to Call in order for anyone
to be Saved. Man is so spiritually dead,
that on his own he does not, and in fact,
cannot Call upon God. With no spiritual
life in him whatsoever, he is dead to all things
which pertain to God. Therefore, no human
being in his sinful, unconverted, unregenerate
state, has ever called on God, without
the Holy Spirit first of all in some manner
awakening him to his need. As stated,
that Call is going out to the whole of humanity,
and has for all time.
This is done despite the fact, that God
through foreknowledge knows who is going
to accept and who is going to reject. Nevertheless,
in respect to those who reject, when
they stand at the Great White Throne Judgment
(Rev. 20:11-15), they will not be able
to say that they had no opportunity. Paul
makes that abundantly clear in Romans 1:20.
About a thousand years before Christ, the
Holy Spirit through Solomon said, “Turn
you at my reproof (repent): behold (if you
will do this), I will pour out My Spirit unto
you, I will make known My Words unto you.
“Because I have Called, and ye refused; I
have stretched out My Hand, and no man
regarded;
“But ye have set at nought all My Counsel,
and would none of My Reproof:
“I also will laugh at your calamity; I will
mock when your fear cometh” (Prov. 1:23-26).
Predestination, erroneously thought,
claims that all who are “Called” accept; however,
the Word of God is clear and plain that
all who are called do not accept.
2. As this “Call” is given to something,
rather someone, it is also given for something,
“to be conformed to the Image of
His Son.” The sinner is called from something,
to something, in this case from darkness
to light, from sin to Salvation, from
lost to found, from Hell to Heaven, from
spiritual death to Spiritual Life, from Satan
to Jesus, etc.
JUSTIFICATION
The phrase, “And whom He called, them
He also Justified,” means that God takes away
the guilt and penalty for sins, and bestows
upon the believing sinner a Positive Righteousness,
even Jesus Christ Himself, in
Whom the Believer now stands forever, innocent,
uncondemned, and Righteous in every
point of Law. This speaks of the Moral
Law of Moses, which in reality is the Law of
God, and is incumbent upon every human
being who has ever lived. It cannot change,
because it is Moral Law, therefore, it stands
forever. I speak of the Ten Commandments,
minus the Fourth, which was not carried over
into the New Covenant, because it of all the
Ten, was not moral but rather ceremonial.
GLORIFIED
The phrase, “And whom He Justified, them
He also Glorified,” refers to the Act of God,
yet to come, which will transform the Believer’s
body at the Rapture (Resurrection) into a body
like the Resurrection Body of our Lord Jesus.
As stated, this is a future event.
Yet the Apostle puts it in the past tense.
How can he do this?
The Holy Spirit through Paul said these
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Words in this way, because in the Mind of NOTES
God, it is a guaranteed event although future.
Actually, only God can guarantee future
events. The idea is, that just as surely
as the Believer has been Justified, just as
surely will the Believer be Glorified.
The whole argument of Chapters 6-8 has
been that Justification and the new life of
Holiness in the Spirit are inseparable experiences.
Hence, Paul can take one step to the
end, and write, “But whom He Justified, these
also He Glorified.” Yet the tense in the last
word is amazing.
It has been said, that this particular phrase
is the most daring anticipation of Faith found
in the entirety of the New Testament. As
well, the life is not to be taken out of it by
the philosophical consideration that with
God there is neither before or after. The Glorification
is stated as already consummated,
though still future in the fullest sense.
The idea is this: the step implied in “He
Glorified” is both complete and certain in
the Divine Councils.
The Holy Spirit is explaining here the totality
of Salvation. As such, He does it as
only it can be done by proclaiming its totality.
Consequently, even though the last step
of Glorification the Saint does not yet have,
its certitude is as sure as God. He has already
decreed it; therefore, the Resurrection
is certain (the Resurrection will be the time
of Glorification).
In fact, Jesus is the Resurrection. When
Martha said unto Him, “If Thou hadst been
here, my Brother had not died . . . Jesus saith
unto her, Thy Brother shall rise again.”
Martha understood that to refer to the coming
Resurrection of all Saints and answered
accordingly. However, “Jesus said unto her, I
am the Resurrection, and the Life.”
In other words, He said to her, “Martha
look at Me, you are looking at the Resurrection,
I am the Resurrection and the Life”
(Jn. 11:20-26).
(31) “WHAT SHALL WE THEN SAY TO
THESE THINGS? IF GOD BE FOR US,
WHO CAN BE AGAINST US?”
The question, “What shall we then say to
these things?”, is meant to take the Believer
far above the difficulties of this present time,
in other words, looking to that Coming Day,
the Resurrection, when all things will then
be made right.
The two words “these things” refer to the
suffering presently endured (vss. 17-18) in
comparison with “the Glory which shall be
revealed in us.” The Apostle has disparaged
the suffering in comparison with the Glory.
He has interpreted it as in a manner prophetic
of the Glory (vss. 19-27) (Denney).
The question, “If God be for us, who can
be against us?”, puts everything in its proper
perspective.
“If” in the Greek is “ei,” and means “a fulfilled
condition.” Consequently, it should have
been translated, “Since God is for us . . . .”
As well, the words “be” and “can be” are
in italics in your Bible, which means that
they are not in the original Greek Text, but
were supplied by the translators in an effort
to fill out the thought.
The thought of Paul is not in the form of
a hypothetical condition, as if it were a question
whether God is for us or not. His
thought is, “In view of the fact that God is
for us, who is or could be against us, so as to
do us harm? That is, since God is for the
Saints, on their side, who can harm them?”
(Wuest).
A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
This particular question, actually asked
in the form of statement, “If God be for us,
who can be against us?”, is very dear to me
personally, as it is, of course, to all who Love
the Lord. What I’m about to relate is minor
and of little consequence relative to the suffering
for Christ which many have endured
through the ages. However, it will, I think,
make the point.
In our last Crusade in Houston, Texas,
which was conducted in one of the Auditoriums
in the City, the Lord moved mightily
with many being Saved and Baptized with
the Holy Spirit. Actually, the Saturday Night
Service experienced a powerful Moving of the
Holy Spirit. God Anointed me mightily to
preach, with conviction touching the congregation
in a strong way, with many responding
to the Altar Call.
Having experienced this Move of God,
and wishing that the entirety of the Church
in Houston could have experienced that
JIMMY SWAGGART BIBLE COMMENTARY ROMANS 8:31
NOTES
314
particular Service, and especially the Pentecostal
Denomination with whom I had formerly
been associated, I was heavy hearted
because that had not been the case.
In fact, that particular Denomination had
opposed us greatly, even to the point of
threatening their people if they came to the
meetings. As stated, I was heavy hearted over
that and actually grieving in my spirit.
When Frances and I walked into the Hotel
that Saturday night after the evening Service,
and my mind heavily upon these things,
the Spirit of the Lord came all over me in a
powerful way, so strong in fact, that I began
to weep.
I was thinking in my heart, “Why do they
oppose me so much, do they not know that
the Spirit of God is moving greatly and why
would they oppose that?” As well, the
thoughts were crowding my mind, as to how
we could reach the people with that type of
opposition, especially considering that it was
almost total in its application?
To those thoughts the Lord spoke to my
heart that night these very words, “If God be
for us, who can be against us?”
It greatly comforted me, even tremendously
so, even though the hurt and the
grieving remained.
THE OPPOSITION
In fact, there are many who are “against”
the Child of God, with much of the opposition
sadly and regrettably, coming from the
Church itself, even as it has always done. But
at the same time, God is bigger than all of
that, actually bigger than anything that may
attempt to hinder. As someone has well said,
“God and one Believer, is a majority in any
situation.”
Since 1988, I have watched and experienced
the entirety of the News Media of this
Nation, along with political efforts, to attempt
to shut down this Ministry. Even above
that, I have observed virtually all of the
Church World who have done the same identical
thing. The only thing that has not
been done, at least to my knowledge, is that
no one has been hired to attempt to kill us.
Consequently, it has taken the Miracle-Working
Power of God, even on a daily basis, to
keep this Ministry alive. There has just been
simply no other way that it could survive.
In late 1991, even as I have mentioned,
the Lord told me to have two prayer meetings
a day which we have done, with the exception
of Service times and Saturday morning.
We have literally cried to God during
these times, imploring Him for Leading,
Guidance, and Direction, knowing that if He
did not provide such that we would not be
able to survive. The only way that David
could survive Saul, was by the Miracle-Working
Power of God.
Please be certain, that Saul did not die
with that Monarch those many years ago.
He is alive and well and still attempting to
kill those who are of God, and are called of
God, even as he tried to kill David.
But God did perform Miracle after Miracle,
which He continues to do unto this very hour.
Having said that, thank the Lord that
there is a segment of the Body of Christ
around the world, with some few Spiritual
Leaders who truly Love God, and are led by
the Holy Spirit, who have been a great blessing
to this Evangelist, to whom I will ever
be grateful. There haven’t been many, but
those few have been very special, very precious,
and have meant more to this Preacher,
than words could ever begin to describe.
In all of this there is one thing that really
matters and one thing alone, and that is that
“God be for us.” If the whole world is for us
and God isn’t, then nothing is going to work.
Conversely, if the whole world is against us,
and God is for us, it will turn out alright.
(32) “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?”
The phrase, “He that spared not His Own
Son,” concerns the Great Gift of God, The
Lord Jesus Christ.
“Spared” in the Greek is “pheidomai,” and
means “to treat leniently, to spare.” The
idea is, that God did not treat His Son leniently
or spare Him. He gave Heaven’s best.
The idea is, that there was never any question
that Love would do this thing, because
Love must Redeem, at least if it is possible,
but that the tremendous Cost and Price was
ever before God, in this which He did.
The phrase, “But delivered Him up for us
ROMANS 8:32 JIMMY SWAGGART BIBLE COMMENTARY
315
all,” concerns the whole of mankind, and NOTES
not just a select, predestined few.
Delivered Him up to what?
JESUS
He delivered Him up to become a Man,
which Form incidentally He will retain forever.
That within itself, is altogether beyond
anything that we could even begin to
think. What He was, the Creator of the ages,
“Dwelling in the Light which no man can
approach unto; Whom no man hath seen,
nor can see,” is beyond our comprehension
(I Tim. 6:16).
For 33 1/2 years He lived as a Peasant, and
during His 3 1/2 years of Public Ministry, was
reviled, scorned, rejected, and then Crucified.
All of that was one thing, but the bearing
of the sin penalty for all of mankind, was an
act that was so absolutely unselfish, with that
word being totally inadequate, but at the
same time so awful, that even God could not
look upon the scene, portrays that to which
no other human being has ever experienced.
Even though He now resides in a Glorified
Body, and will do so forever, still, that
is a far cry from that which He once had,
but will never have again, due to what He
did for humanity.
The question, “How shall He not with
Him also freely give us all things?”, lays bare
before Believers the tremendous price paid
for our Redemption. The idea is, that if God
has done this, the giving up of His Only Son
in order that we might be Saved, how can
we think that He is going to allow us to be
overcome by the Evil One, and I speak of
those who truly want to live for God.
NO NEED FOR CONCERN
This does not mean that God will keep
one against their will, but it does mean that
irrespective of what comes or goes, those who
want to live for God, irrespective of the opposition,
need not fear. If the Lord did what
He did respecting our Salvation, then one
can be certain that He will do whatever it
takes to keep that for which so much has
been paid.
These things being so, if God be for us
who can be against us so as to injure us? As
well, Believers need not be anxious, for God
being for us, fills the heart with a Rest and a
Peace that shuts out all anxiety as to anything
that could trouble it; for how could
the Heart and the Hand that gave what was
most precious to them fail in bounty, liberality
and protection to those whom He has
Saved? (Williams).
He Who has done so much, is certain to
do much more.
In the first phrase of the Scripture, “His
Own” in the Greek is “idios,” and means
“one’s own peculiar, private possession.” Our
Lord is the Father’s Very Own, Private Possession,
infinitely dear to Him (Wuest).
“Freely” in the Greek is “dorean,” and
means “without a cause, freely, gratuitously.”
God freely gives us that which is
most precious to Him, His Son.
In other words, God “gives us all things,”
not because we deserve them, when in reality
we deserve the very opposite. He does it
because of His Love and His Grace. In other
words, it is done not because of merit, nor is
it expecting anything in return. It is a “Gift.”
The phrase, “He not with Him,” speaks of
both God the Father and God the Son, working
in conjunction to bring about this great
Redemption, and also working to give us Divine
Protection, and as well, a guarantee that
everything which goes with Salvation such
as Glorification, will ultimately come.
(33) “WHO SHALL LAY ANY THING TO
THE CHARGE OF GOD’S ELECT? IT IS
GOD THAT JUSTIFIETH.”
The question, “Who shall lay any thing
to the charge of God’s Elect?”, in effect
means, “Who shall pronounce those guilty
whom God pronounces Righteous?”
This means that every single sin by the
trusting Believer which has ever been committed,
has been washed away by the Precious
Shed Blood of Jesus Christ, and because
of one’s Faith in that Shed Blood. As
someone has well said, “The Christian has
no past, and Satan has no future!”
This means that it is terribly improper,
and actually an insult to God, for a Believer
to bring up the sins of another which have
long since been washed clean by the Blood
of Jesus. As well, it is insulting to the Lord
for the Believer to drag out his own sins
again, which the Lord has already forgiven.
JIMMY SWAGGART BIBLE COMMENTARY ROMANS 8:33
NOTES
316
It does such a terrible injustice to the Mercy
and Grace of God, considering that God does
much more than merely forgive, but actually
erases the sin from the account of the
Believer, consequently, treating him as if the
infraction was never committed. Actually,
that is what Justification means. The sin is
not only forgiven, but it is stricken from the
record, and as far as God is concerned, it was
never committed.
The phrase, “It is God that Justifieth,”
means that no one, not even Satan or his
evil angels, dare question or deny, God’s great
Plan of Justification.
Even God cannot do both, accuse and justify
at the same time. And since our Justification
resides in a Person, the Lord Jesus
our Righteousness, in Whom we stand as
uncondemned and unchargeable even as the
Son Himself, it is impossible, after having
been Justified, that we be again accused —
and brought under condemnation (Wuest).
The word “Elect” in the Greek is
“eklektos,” and means “chosen out ones.”
Paul’s argument is, “Who shall prefer any
charge or accusation against the chosen-out
ones of God?”
WHAT DOES “ELECT” MEAN?
God’s purpose is to save all who conform
to His Plan — and this is His Choice or Election
in the matter. By Grace, men who conform
will become the Elect and be Saved,
while those who do not will be damned (Mk.
16:15-16; Lk. 13:1-5; Jn. 3:16-18; I Tim. 2:4-
5; II Pet. 3:9; Rev. 22:17).
The choice was first on God’s part; but it
must be accepted by men for them to receive
the benefits and become a part of the
Elect or Chosen Ones of God (Jn. 15:16; Eph.
1:4; 2:10; II Thess. 2:13); men must make
their Calling and Election sure as stated in
II Peter 1:10.
It is Scripturally erroneous to think that
God has elected some people to be lost and
some people to be saved, as some teach.
Furthermore, according to this erroneous
teaching, there is absolutely nothing they
can do about their place or status. They are
either doomed to die eternally lost, and they
cannot stop it, or they are destined to go to
Heaven, which will happen no matter what
they do. Such false doctrine, and false doctrine
it is, is not taught in the Word of God.
The truth is: As the Gospel is preached,
anyone, irrespective as to who they might
be, if they will accept the Lord, they immediately
become “God’s elect” (Jn. 15:16; Rom.
8:33; Titus 1:1). Satan has caused many to
be lost because they have believed the lie that
they are elected to be lost.
Let us say it again: There could be nothing
further from the truth. The Scripture
still says, “Whosoever will . . .” (Rev. 22:17).
ELECTION FOR A SPECIAL PURPOSE
Election in this capacity, and which happens
constantly, is the act of choice whereby
God picks an individual or group out of a
larger company for a purpose or destiny of
His Own Appointment. The main Old Testament
Word in the Hebrew for this is the
verb “beahar,” which expresses the idea of
deliberately selecting someone or something
after carefully considering the alternatives.
The word implies a decided preference.
The reason that God does this is known
only to Him. Having perfect knowledge, He
looks at a Believer and chooses that Believer
on the basis of what He knows that Believer
can and will be in Him. That means that
every single Preacher of the Gospel, has in a
sense been elected by God for this particular
task, with God of course, knowing all they
would be and do at the time of their Calling.
So, He called David anyway, knowing that
David would fail miserably in the case of
Bathsheba and her husband Uriah. In fact,
He chose Israel, knowing they would fail and
even crucify His Own Beloved Son. This did
not come as a surprise to Him.
WHY WOULD GOD ELECT SOMEONE
KNOWING THAT THE END RESULT
WOULD NOT BE GOOD?
First of all, if we judge anything accordingly
by its present appearance, we are judging
wrong. Anything and everything that
God has elected, will ultimately come out
to the good. In other words, Israel will one
day be totally and completely restored. However,
it will be at the time of their own volition,
and as they make a choice to accept
Jesus Christ as their Messiah and Saviour.
ROMANS 8:33 JIMMY SWAGGART BIBLE COMMENTARY
317
Admittedly, all of those who lived through NOTES
the many centuries of rebellion and rejection
will be and are eternally lost. Nevertheless,
Israel will ultimately come back, even
as God knew all along that they shall.
Despite the fact of the Apostate Church
and lukewarmness, there is a Remnant, as
there has always been a Remnant, who loves
God and serves Him. They do it of their own
choice, freely, willingly, loving Him out of
their heart, which has to be of free will or it
simply cannot be Love. In that case, it is “A
Glorious Church” (Eph. 5:27).
(34) “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.”
The question, “Who is he that condemneth?”,
is very similar to the question of the previous
verse, but with one difference.
The climax of this Chapter is now reached
and the Apostle triumphantly challenges anyone
to lay anything to the charge of God’s
Elect. This glorious word “Elect” first occurs
here in the Epistle.
The expiatory character of Christ’s Death
is affirmed in verse 34, and the meaning of
Justification in verse 33. The challenge,
“Who shall bring a charge against God’s
Elect?”, i.e., who shall pronounce those
guilty whom God pronounces Righteous,
makes clear its significance.
The only one who dares to condemn the
Child of God, especially considering what
Jesus Christ has done for him, and the price
in which He paid, is Satan and his followers.
The Scripture labels him as the “Accuser of
the Brethren” (Rev. 12:10).
Consequently, when a Believer stoops to
the low, low level of accusing or condemning
another Believer, they have then joined
the league of Satan, and have actually entered
into a form of witchcraft.
WHAT DOES PAUL MEAN BY
THE WORD “CONDEMN?”
Condemnation is an important concept.
It is important both theologically and spiritually,
for there are many persons whose
sense of guilt leads them to fear condemnation.
It is important even for those who need
not fear condemnation, for too often Christians
are tempted to take God’s place and
judge (condemn) others!
THE OLD TESTAMENT CONCEPT
The Hebrew word usually translated “condemn”
is “rasa.” It means “to be wicked” or
“to act wickedly.”
Another word, “asam,” which means “to
offend” or “to be guilty,” is also infrequently
translated “to condemn” or “to be condemned.”
The thought is that the person
who chooses a wicked rather than Godly
lifestyle has brought himself or herself under
condemnation.
It is important to remember that the
wicked can turn from their ways (Ezek. Chpt.
18) and that Repentance and Confession can
restore a right relationship with God.
THE GREEK WORDS
There is a large family of Greek words
which can be translated “condemn.” However,
the basic word is “krino,” which means,
“to judge” or “to decide.”
There are a number of related words. The
noun “krima,” is usually rendered “condemnation”
and means “to give judgment
against,” and thus, “to condemn.”
Another Greek word “kataginosko” means
“to make a negative moral assessment,” and
thus, “to blame.”
Another Greek word is “katadikazo,” and
means “to pass judgment on.”
Originally “krino” and its associate words
indicated simply “an assessment.” A person
examined a matter and then came to a conclusion
about it.
By New Testament times these words had
become a part of the legal terminology used
to speak of bringing charges, of judging, and
of passing judgment. When used of God,
“krima (judgment)” is understood as “condemnation,”
for one judged by God is already
condemned.
DIVINE CONDEMNATION IN
THE NEW TESTAMENT
The New Testament reminds us that Jesus
did not enter our world to condemn us. He
came because humanity was already condemned
(Jn. 3:17-18; Rom. 5:15-16). Those
JIMMY SWAGGART BIBLE COMMENTARY ROMANS 8:34
NOTES
318
who fail to respond to God’s Word are in a
state of condemnation already (Jn. 3:36; 12:48).
Jesus came to save the world. His success
has reflected in assertions such as this:
“There is now no condemnation for those
who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1).
Because of Jesus, God’s attitude toward
Believers is not one of condemnation. What
God still condemns is the sin in sinners
(Rom. 8:3). We who respond to the Gospel
Message in Faith have the assurance that no
one can successfully charge us. Jesus, “at
the Right Hand of God,” is “also interceding
for us” (Rom. 8:34).
CONDEMNING OURSELVES
AND OTHERS
Those who remain outside the circle of
God’s Grace by their refusal to respond to
the Gospel (Jn. 3:18; 5:24) stand condemned;
they are under Judgment for their sinful actions
(Mat. 12:41-42; Jn. 5:29; 12:48). But
we who have trusted Christ have passed beyond
condemnation (Rom. 8:1).
God views us as being in His Son, and no
charge can be lodged against us. Yet two
important Truths are taught in the Scriptures
about Believers and condemnation.
First, we are to be careful to do what is right
so that our consciences will not condemn us
for actions we believe are wrong (Rom. 14:22;
I Jn. 3:20-21).
And second, we are not to condemn fellow
Believers (Rom. 14:3).
Theologically, condemnation can be
avoided only by trusting in Jesus, Who bears
our sin and thus removes us from the position
of prisoners before the Bar of Divine
Justice. Spiritually, we are to recognize the
freedom from condemnation that Jesus
brings us and learn to live as forgiven men
and women.
Released from this burden ourselves, we
are to bring the Gospel to others so that they
may be freed as well (Richards).
The phrase “It is Christ that died,” refers
to the price, great price, overwhelming price,
a price absolutely paid which guarantees our
Salvation. In other words, when one condemns
a fellow Believer, one is condemning
Christ, the Price He paid and the Victory He
won. In effect, one is saying that the Price
is not enough, insufficient, inadequate, for
to condemn the Believer is to condemn
the Price.
PENANCE AND PUNISHMENT
Who would be so foolish as to dare do such
a thing?
Of course, Satan would do such a thing,
even as we already have said. However, for
Believers to do such a thing, proclaims to all
that they have left Grace and entered into
Law. In other words, they are saying that
the Believer simply having Faith in Christ
and what He did at Calvary is not enough for
their sins, but other penalties must be added
as well. Whether such people say so or not,
they are actually advocating the Catholic
Doctrine of “Penance.”
To do “Penance” is to carry out some task,
whatever it may be, which is then supposed
to pay for the sin, etc. In fact, the Major
Pentecostal Denominations engage in this
foolishness, at least with their Preachers. If
something is done that is wrong, these
Preachers are forced to get out of the Ministry
for two years or some such period of time,
and at times they are forced to move to another
City, etc.
While they may personally deny that such
is “Penance,” but rather “Punishment,” still,
it all amounts to the same. In the first place,
no Believer has the right, irrespective of who
they may be, to condemn or to punish another
Believer. The Lord has plainly said
that “Vengeance (punishment) is Mine; I will
repay, saith the Lord” (Rom. 12:19).
James asks, “Who art thou that judgest
another?” In other words he is saying, “Who
do you think you are, thinking you are qualified
to judge someone else?” (James 4:12).
He then went on to say that the Lord was
the only One Who was qualified to judge.
The phrase, “Yea rather, that is risen
again,” refers to the ratification of that which
He purchased for sinners in His Death. The
Resurrection ratified the fact that Jesus was
the Perfect Sacrifice, and that God accepted
it as such. So, what is being said is this:
IS IT NOT ENOUGH?
If God has accepted the Sacrifice of His
Only Son, and proven it by raising Him from
ROMANS 8:34 JIMMY SWAGGART BIBLE COMMENTARY
319
the dead, which He did, then who are we, or NOTES
anyone else for that matter, to question such
by condemning those who have placed their
Trust and Faith in Him!
These are bold statements, and every Believer
should readily and soberly understand
what is being said and adhere to it very
cautiously.
The phrase, “Who is even at the Right Hand
of God,” refers to the Exaltation of Christ.
When He ascended, He was then given
His rightful place at the Throne of God. It
is at His Father’s Right Hand. This speaks
of Power and Authority. Actually, Jesus
said after His Resurrection, “All Power is
given unto Me in Heaven and in Earth”
(Mat. 28:18).
Our Faith should rest on Christ’s Death,
but to that must be joined His Resurrection
and Dominion, for without such, His
Death was to no avail. He as the Second
Adam purchased back for us what the First
Adam lost.
As well, we must ever understand, that
at this very moment He is Exalted at the
Right Hand of God, and there for a Divine
Purpose.
The phrase, “Who also maketh Intercession
for us,” tells us what that purpose is.
The “Intercession” He makes, is different,
even as we have already said, than the
Intercession made by the Holy Spirit for us.
The latter is that of help, while the former
is that of guaranteeing our Redemption and
the Forgiveness, Cleansing, and Washing of
all sin from our lives. His Intercession guarantees
not only what He has already done
respecting our Salvation, but guarantees any
future sin to be Washed and Cleansed as
well, at least upon Repentance and Confession
(I Jn. 1:9).
UNDERSTANDING THE INTERCESSION
OF JESUS ON OUR BEHALF
Most Believers think their understanding
of the Intercession provided for us by Christ
is correct, that is if they have thought of it
at all. With some that certainly may be true,
but with the majority, I fear their understanding
is inadequate.
To properly understand His Intercession
on our behalf, we have to understand it in
the same context as that of His Death and
Resurrection. Actually, even as Paul here
now makes the case, it is placed in that category,
consequently, linked together.
THE PSALMS
Most would hardly understand the Psalms
as being the explanation of this extremely
important subject; however, it is!
In some Bibles, as the Psalm is listed, in
the instructions before some of them, the
words “Messianic Psalm” are applied. That
means that this particular Psalm refers to
Jesus in some way, whether to His Life or
Mission. By these identification characteristics
it is being said that only these Psalms
apply to Jesus, with the others to other
things, etc. However, the Truth is, all 150
Psalms refer to Jesus Christ in some way.
WHAT THE PSALMS TELL US
The Book of Psalms is a Volume of Prophecy;
its principle predictions concern the Perfection,
the Sufferings, and the Succeeding
Glories of the Messiah.
God having been dishonored by human
unbelief and disobedience, it was necessary
that a Man should be born Who would perfectly
Love, Trust, and Serve Him; and Who
would be the True Adam, Noah, Abraham,
Israel, Moses, David, etc.
God’s moral Glory demanded that sin
should be judged; that sinners should repent,
confess, and forsake sin and worship
and obey Him; and being God His Nature
required perfection in these emotions of the
heart and will.
Such perfection was impossible to fallen
man, and it was equally out of his power to
provide a Sacrifice that would remove his
guilt and restore his relationship with God.
The Psalms reveal Christ as satisfying in
these relationships all the Divine Requirements.
He, though Himself sinless, declares
Himself in these Psalms to be the Sinner;
and He expresses to God the abhorrence of
sin accompanied by the Repentance and Sorrow
which man ought to feel and express
but will not and cannot.
Similarly the Faith, Love, Obedience, and
Worship which man fails to give He perfectly
renders.
JIMMY SWAGGART BIBLE COMMENTARY ROMANS 8:34
NOTES
320
AS THE HIGH PRIEST OF HIS PEOPLE
Thus, as the High Priest of His people
He, the True Advocate, charges Himself with
the guilt of our sins; declares them to be His
Own; confesses them, repents of them, declaring
at the same time His Own sinlessness;
and atones for them.
Thus, those Psalms in which the Speaker
declares His sinfulness and His sinlessness
become quite clear of comprehension when
it is recognized Who the Speaker is.
This is the manner of His Intercession.
WHAT MOST THINK!
As stated, if most Believers think about it
at all, they visualize Jesus as turning to the
Father and asking Him to forgive us of our
sins, etc. The Father hears Him, and does
what He requests. However, that is not the
way it happens.
When Jesus took our place at Calvary, He
literally became the sinner, even though He
never sinned. As a result, punishment was
loaded on Him, with sin’s demands met
which was death, and the Curse of the Law
satisfied. Upon Faith the Believer is literally
in Him when He died (Rom. 6:3-4;
8:1). The same holds for His Burial and
Resurrection.
If one is to notice, it continues in the
Exaltation, even as Paul speaks here concerning
Jesus at the Right Hand of God. Paul
said, “And hath raised us up together, and
made us sit together in heavenly places in
Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:6). So, as Christ is
seated at the Right Hand of the Father, we
are in effect seated with Him and in Him.
However, it does not stop there, but continues
in the same manner respecting the
failures and sins of Believers. Jesus takes
these failures and sins, makes them His Own,
seeks for forgiveness, even though He never
failed. Because He has never failed, forgiveness
is always automatic, which extends to
the Believer, and because we are in Him.
So, His Intercession for us is of far grander
magnitude than at first thought. It is not
merely a request for others, even as important
and wonderful as that would be, but in
reality, the taking of our place, even as He
has always taken our place.
THE WONDER OF IT ALL
When one thinks of this, it is beyond comprehension.
It amazes us, even as it should
amaze us. What a Mighty God we serve, and
what a Wonderful Christ Who has Saved us.
God’s Requirements must be satisfied, in
order that His Righteousness not be abrogated.
That is not a matter of stubbornness,
but rather of necessity. God wants to approach
us, and for us to approach Him, but
in a sinful condition on our part, such could
not be done. Therefore, He made it possible,
by becoming Man, The Man Christ
Jesus, and in so doing, served as the Representative
Man, and for all who will believe,
the Saviour of all the Ages.
When one thinks of what Paul is saying
here, as already stated, it humbles one. Why
He would Love us in this fashion, I think we
will never know. But yet we know He does.
Even at this very moment, 11-22-97, as I
dictate these words, He is making Intercession
for us, and the moment you read them,
whatever time or day that is, He will be faithful
in continuing this all-important task,
until one day we stand before Him, even precious
in His Sight.
There are many examples in the Psalms
of His Personal Intercession. As He does
this, even declaring Himself a Sinner, and I
might quickly add, on our behalf, for He
has never sinned, because of a lack of understanding
of True Intercession on the part
of many, they do not recognize these Psalms
as being of Christ even as all the others.
For instance, of all the many that could be
chosen, Psalm 51 is perhaps the greatest
example. It is the plea of David, but yet, of
the Greater Son of David.
(35) “WHO SHALL SEPARATE US FROM
THE LOVE OF CHRIST? SHALL TRIBULATION,
OR DISTRESS, OR PERSECUTION,
OR FAMINE, OR NAKEDNESS, OR
PERIL, OR SWORD?”
The question, “Who shall separate us from
the Love of Christ?”, if one is to notice, speaks
of the Love of Christ for the Believer, instead
of the Believer’s love for Christ.
In verses 35-39, some have attempted to
promote the unscriptural Doctrine of Unconditional
Eternal Security, which teaches
ROMANS 8:35 JIMMY SWAGGART BIBLE COMMENTARY
321
that after one is truly Saved, they cannot be NOTES
lost irrespective of what they may do, or how
deep they may go out into sin and remain
there, etc. Of course, this Doctrine is not
Scriptural and for many and varied reasons.
However, the main reason is that it abrogates
all personal responsibility, as well as
violating the free moral agency of man. In
effect, and as we have already stated, it is
another form of the erroneous Doctrine of
Predestination, which teaches that all are
either predestined to be Saved or lost, and
there is nothing anyone can do to change
that situation.
GOD WILL NOT PROTECT US
FROM OURSELVES
While it is true that God protects the Believer
as is recorded here from all outside adversity,
there is nothing in these Passages
which says that God protects the Believer
from Himself. In other words, the Believer
still retains the power of choice, and it is
that choice that decides his eternal destiny.
No! It is not that man’s choice is greater
than God. Such thinking is silly. But God
has given man the privilege of choice, and
in effect, the love spoken here, has to be by
choice, or it simply cannot be love, whether
it is on the part of God or man.
In other words, the very nature of one’s
living for God has to be on the principle of
choice. It is the same as a husband and wife.
One cannot force the other to love. That
must be one’s own prerogative. It is the same
with God. We must freely love Him, or else
it is not love.
In fact, this is the manner in which God
made man in the very beginning. Had He
wanted some type of human computer, He
would have easily made man without a
“will.” However, to obtain that which He
desired, which is that man would love Him,
man had to be given the Power of Choice.
The question, “Shall tribulation, or distress,
or persecution, or famine, or nakedness,
or peril, or sword?”, presents the foe’s
armory as containing seven weapons — the
whole of his resources.
But however these weapons may disfigure,
deform, degrade, or denigrate the Believer,
Christ will still Love and Prize him.
For instance, Joseph was just as dear to that
love when lying in the dungeon as when seated
on the Throne. It is possible to separate from
human love, but not from Christ’s Love.
For instance, a man may love his betrothed
very deeply, but if by the power of an enemy
her beauty and her character be destroyed, it
is possible his love for her can die. But not
that of God toward those who are His.
That of which the Text speaks, and that
of which we have spoken, pertains to the love
of Christ for the Believer. However, on the
other side of the coin, these things are allowed
by God, as detrimental as they may
seem on the surface, to rather deepen our
love for God, rather than the opposite. And
so it does!
Satan uses these weapons to try to separate
us from the Love of Christ, not so
much regarding the Lord loving us, for the
enemy knows that is impossible. However,
he does have the mistaken idea that these
foes will weaken our love for God. There is
a reason for that.
JOB
Satan claimed that Job loved God not because
of Who God is, but for what God had
done for Job (Job Chpt. 1). Actually, that is
the entire contention of Satan against God.
He claimed then that men loved God because
of the wonderful things the Lord did
for them, and he continues to do the same
presently. He refuses to admit that men love
God simply because of Who He is. In other
words, we will love Him, irrespective of what
He does for us in the material and physical
sense. Whether it is poverty or riches, we
will love Him. Whether it is health or sickness,
we will love Him. That and that alone
is True Christianity.
Satan refuses to acknowledge that, which
actually is the bedrock of serving God. In
other words, we serve Him for Who He is,
rather than for the things He gives us.
ONE REASON THAT THE MODERN
PROSPERITY GOSPEL IS SO EVIL
This so-called Gospel, which in reality is
“another Gospel,” makes money the priority.
In other words, and irrespective as to
how much it is denied, money and money
JIMMY SWAGGART BIBLE COMMENTARY ROMANS 8:35
NOTES
322
alone is that Gospel. Jesus Christ and what
He did at Calvary, plus the entirety of the
Plan of Salvation to Redeem humanity from
sin’s terrible bondage, is cheapened to mere
“things.” Hence, Jesus said, “Take heed, and
beware of covetousness: for a man’s life
consisteth not in the abundance of the things
which he possesseth” (Lk. 12:15).
While God definitely does bless people, and
financially as well, still, this is not the main
thrust of the Gospel, and in fact, never has
been. It plays right into Satan’s hands with
his age-old contention that no one truly loves
God. Any supposed Love, he says, is merely
a ploy to get things, etc. So, the Preachers
who claim this as their Message, are not
preaching the Gospel, are not winning people
to Christ, and are actually playing into the
hands of the Evil One.
If we forget the True Purpose for which
Jesus came, which is to Redeem man from
sin, then we have totally abrogated all that
He did at Calvary, the Resurrection, and the
Exaltation. Then as stated, we are preaching
“another Gospel” (II Cor. 11:3-4).
THE ENTIRETY OF THE SO-CALLED
CONFESSION MESSAGE
This false message which is prominent today,
and has been prominent for several decades,
claims that if the Believer has enough
Faith, and his confession is proper, he can
void all these tribulations, distresses, etc.
This fits right in with the Prosperity Message,
and in fact, is the Prosperity Message.
However, the entirety of the tenor of the
Bible presents the very opposite of that
preached. The Believer is not exempt from
these things, but actually the very opposite.
The people in the world who are giving Satan
great problems, are the True Believers in
Christ. Consequently, he will use every
means at his disposal, to attempt to stop the
Child of God, as should be obvious. In fact,
the Believer is at war, and will be at war with
the Evil One, at least regarding his Faith,
until the Trump of God sounds.
However, if one will study Church History,
one will find that great opposition and
persecution by the Powers of Darkness, and
in whatever manner these came, even to the
giving up of one’s life, have never weakened
or hurt the True Church of the Living God.
For all who were snatched from its ranks,
several others took their place, even knowing
that it could mean their lives, as well.
So, persecution has really never hurt the
Church, actually only strengthened the
Church, i.e., the individual Believer. To be
frank, this is one of the very reasons it is
allowed by the Lord.
That which weakens, hinders, stunts the
spiritual growth, and turns aside the Believer,
is the opposite message, with which we have
been regaled for the last several decades —
the false Prosperity Message.
LEAVEN
I realize that the Reader may think I am
overly hard upon this particular subject.
However, if that be the case, it is not Preachers
per se proper to whom I address these
remarks, but rather the message itself. It is
the lie to which I am opposed, and not the
people themselves. And yet, I realize that it
is very difficult to separate the man and his
message, perhaps impossible. Consequently,
it is incumbent upon the Preacher of the
Gospel not to allow his heart to be adversely
affected by the propagators of this false message,
but to stay focused on the true task at
hand, the Evil One who is behind all of this,
Satan himself.
Let not the Believer think that Satan
doesn’t know what he is doing. In fact, his
greatest weapon is to make his message sound
as near to the True Message as possible, so
near in fact, that it takes one truly close to
God to actually see the difference. In fact,
he loads up his lie with Truth, which makes
it very plausible. However, it is the “leaven”
in the Truth which must be exposed, and
which causes so much danger respecting the
Believer (I Cor. 5:6). Irrespective as to how
small the amount of “leaven” may be at the
beginning, if it is not removed, it will ultimately
take over the whole, until there is
nothing left but leaven. That is Satan’s purpose,
and he is very good at what he does —
mixing error with Truth.
(36) “AS IT IS WRITTEN, FOR THY
SAKE WE ARE KILLED ALL THE DAY
LONG; WE ARE ACCOUNTED AS SHEEP
FOR THE SLAUGHTER.”
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323
The phrase, “As it is written, For Thy sake NOTES
we are killed all the day long,” is taken from
Psalm 44:22.
If one carefully reads that particular
Psalm, it speaks of God Who had done great
things for His people, but then seemingly
withdraws His Hand of help and protection,
allowing His people to seemingly be overcome.
However, verses 20 and 21 tell us why.
Israel had strayed, and “God (would)
search this out, for He knoweth the secrets
of the heart.”
The Lord allows tribulation for two purposes:
A. To expose the “leaven” in our
lives; and, B. To draw us nearer to God. It is
sad that Believers need such chastisement,
but often we do.
The phrase, “We are accounted as sheep
for the slaughter,” proclaims a Great Truth
that we should learn.
THE LIFE OF THE BELIEVER
When the sinner comes to Christ, his life
ceases to be his own, it then becoming the
property and possession of our Lord. Consequently,
at that moment, we give up our
lives, which is exactly what Jesus told us to
do. He said, “For whosoever will save his life
shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life
for My sake shall find it” (Mat. 16:25).
One of the great problems of the modern
Believer is that he is attempting, erroneously
I might add, to build a Paradise out of this
present life, which makes him not too desirous
of the one to come. If one is to notice
the attitude of the Early Church, their hearts
were on things above. I am afraid that presently,
too many of us have our hearts on
things below. Once again, and even though
I am overly repetitive, the modern Prosperity
Gospel fits perfectly into this scheme.
While the Believer has a great work at this
present time to do, and while that work is of
extreme importance, still, the Believer must
ever know and realize that the Sons of God
have not yet been manifested. That will happen
only when Jesus comes. Please allow
me to ask this question:
How many Believers and for whatever reason,
truly want Jesus to come at this present
time?
Some few do, while most know nothing
about His Coming, or else they have been
erroneously taught, thinking that His Coming
depends on them. Nothing could be more
crass, even the height of prideful absurdity.
Such is the modern Kingdom Message.
(37) “NAY, IN ALL THESE THINGS WE
ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS
THROUGH HIM THAT LOVED US.”
The phrase, “Nay, in all these things we
are more than conquerors,” means that such
has never stopped the True Church of God,
and such will never be successful in that effort.
The phrase, “More than conquerors,” in
the Greek is “hupernikao,” and means “to
conquer, to carry off the Victory, come off
Victorious.” However, the Greek word
“huper” attached to “nikao,” means
“above,” thus, “to come off more than Victorious,
to gain a surprising Victory.” It is
a holy arrogance of Victory in the Might of
Christ (Meyer).
Perhaps it is a mistake to define in what
the “more” consists; but if we do, the answer
must be sought on the line indicated
in the note on “For thy sake we are killed
all the day long”; these trials not only do
not cut us off from Christ’s Love, they actually
give us more intimate and thrilling experience
of it (Denney).
The phrase, “Through Him that loved us,”
means that He allowed these things to come
to pass, not to destroy us, but rather the very
opposite. It is because of His Love, which
some have called “Tough Love,” that He allows
adversities.
Such not only draws the Believer closer
to God, and for the simple reason that we
know our only hope is in Christ, but as well,
these great Victories won by the Child of God
despite the worst of adversities, portray to all
of Heaven, as well as the darkened host of
Satan, that God’s people do not serve Him
for “things,” but rather because they love
Him. In other words, they are willing to lay
down their lives for His Sake.
The “conquering” carries the idea, not so
much of deliverance from these things, but
rather that we did not allow these adversities
to sully our Testimony, but rather to sharpen
our Testimony.
In other words, these who have gone
through such trials, and many have, did not
JIMMY SWAGGART BIBLE COMMENTARY ROMANS 8:37
NOTES
324
do so because of a lack of Faith, but rather
because of their Great Faith. Actually, it was
meant to strengthen their Faith, which it did.
(38-39) “FOR I AM PERSUADED, THAT
NEITHER DEATH, NOR LIFE, NOR ANGELS,
NOR PRINCIPALITIES, NOR POWERS,
NOR THINGS PRESENT, NOR
THINGS TO COME,
“NOR HEIGHT, NOR DEPTH, NOR ANY
OTHER CREATURE, SHALL BE ABLE TO
SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD,
WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD.”
The phrase, “For I am persuaded,”
comes from the heart of the Apostle, meaning
that he has faced the things of which
he now speaks.
There are probably few people in history,
if any, who have suffered as Paul suffered in
order to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a
hurting world. While the Victory of his heart,
even according to this 8th Chapter, was overflowing
with strength and power, with Satan
making no headway there, still, the Evil
One fought the Apostle on every hand, with
beatings, stonings, shipwreck, and about everything
that one could possibly think. So,
when he says, “I am persuaded,” it refers to
something, or rather someone who has stood
the test, namely himself.
The phrase, “That neither death,” means
that Jesus has pulled the teeth of that monster.
The True Believer no longer fears death,
with untold numbers down through history,
who have willingly laid down their lives for
the Cause of Christ. In fact, not long after
the writing of the Book of Acts, Rome turned
ugly toward the Church, with the floors of
its Arenas turning red with the spilled blood
of those who died for Jesus.
The world of that day other than Christendom,
was plagued with a myriad of gods.
In other words, there were all types of gods
worshiped by all types of people. Consequently,
the Roman Senate voted that their
Caesar, whoever he would be, would be declared
as “deity” or “god.” Most of the Caesars
realizing their humanity and, consequent
frailty, refused to have such a title attached
to their name. However, Nero demanded to
be called “god.” Consequently, untold thousands
died at the mercy of wild animals and
Roman spears, simply because they would
not say “Caesar is Lord.” Their cry even unto
death was, “Jesus is Lord!”
What a Testimony!
APOSTASY OF THE CHURCH
As well, down through the Dark Ages, the
Church itself turned ugly, forsaking Christ,
gradually evolving into what became known
as the Catholic Church, attempting to bring
about the Kingdom of God by force. As a
result, untold thousands, with some even
claiming millions, died for the Cause of
Christ simply because they refused allegiance
to the Catholic Church and the Pope. It
was called the “Dark Ages” for a reason.
So, the great freedoms we presently have,
did not come cheaply. They were paid for
with blood, and not only on the field of
battle, but even more so in the spirit world.
The phrase, “Nor life,” refers to the vicissitudes
or difficulties of life which come to
the Believer, even as Paul has here enumerated.
Someone has said, and perhaps rightly
so, that at times it is harder to live for God,
than it is to die for Him.
FALLEN ANGELS
The phrase, “Nor Angels,” refers to Fallen
Angels, who threw in their lot with Lucifer,
himself an Angel, when he rebelled against
God in the ages of the past (Isa. Chpt. 14;
Ezek. Chpt. 28).
These Fallen Angels are powerful beings,
helping Satan orchestrate and manage his
Kingdom of Darkness. Consequently, they
are very much involved in the opposition
against the Child of God, helping to carry
out these evil schemes. We are here assured,
however, that if we will cling to Jesus, that
their power is foiled irrespective as to what
they may attempt.
The phrase, “Nor Principalities,” refers to
the Satanic powers of Ephesians 2:2; 6:12.
These are Fallen Angels who are of greater
power than normal, who are in fact, in charge
of certain areas of the world. They are Chief
Rulers of the highest rank and order in
Satan’s Kingdom (Col. 2:10).
The phrase, “Nor Powers,” again refers to
Fallen Angels, who derive their power from
and execute the will of the Chief Rulers, i.e.,
Chief Angels.
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325
If one is to notice, this speaks of the world NOTES
being divided into areas, with powerful Fallen
Angels in charge of certain sections, with
other Angels under them carrying out instructions,
all under the Chief Fallen Angel,
Satan himself. This is evident in Daniel
Chapter 10. The powerful Fallen Angels
which were being fought by Gabriel and
Michael, themselves the most powerful Angels
in God’s Kingdom, concerned spiritual
authority in the world. (Please see our Commentary
on Daniel, Vol. 5, which covers both
Ezekiel and Daniel.)
The phrase, “Nor things present,” refers
to present trials engineered by these “Principalities
and Powers.”
The phrase, “Nor things to come,” refers
to the plans being made at this very moment
against the Kingdom of God by these
fallen beings, which will materialize in the
future. However, we need not fear, knowing
that Jesus has defeated all of these Powers
of Darkness.
The phrase, “Nor height, nor depth,” refers
to Satan as the “Prince of the Powers
of the air,” and to the horrors of Hell itself
(Eph. 2:2).
“Height, nor depth,” also refers to the severity
of Satan’s planned attack against the
Child of God. It will fail, as fail it must!
The phrase, “Nor any other creature,” is
not meant to insinuate that there are other
spheres of operation which can oppose the
Child of God, other than Satan, his Fallen
Angels and Demon Spirits, but is meant to
cover any and all things, that may conceivably
oppose the Believer. In other words,
the Holy Spirit through the Apostle is saying
that there is absolutely nothing which
Satan can originate or institute against the
Believer that will be successful, that is, if
the Believer will cling tenaciously to Christ.
The phrase, “Shall be able to separate
us from the Love of God,” guarantees the
conclusion.
The phrase, “Which is in Christ Jesus our
Lord,” refers to everything we have, everything
we have been given, every privilege and
blessing which has come our way, our Salvation,
our Baptism with the Holy Spirit, our
Eternal Life, our Redemption in totality, all,
and He means all, being in, through, of, and
by the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Manifestation
of the Father, and in Him are all things.
He is Life, Salvation, Grace, Mercy, Compassion,
and Resurrection. He is our Saviour
today, and will be our Judge tomorrow.
JESUS AND HIS PEOPLE
His people love Him and believe in the
fidelity of His Love to them; for trials do but
assure the heart which knows His Love that
nothing can separate from it; and they know
well that being Called, Justified, and Glorified
no link is wanting in the golden chain
that binds them to His Heart.
That chain begins in the immeasurable past
and reaches into the immeasurable future.
It stretches from one Eternity to the other.
Love and purpose planned that they should
have the one and same portion with Himself.
This Faith makes them more than conquerors
over “all these things,” i.e., these
trials. Joseph, Daniel, etc., are examples.
THE ENEMY OF OUR SOULS
Let the enemy search death and life and
the present and the future; let him mount
to the greatest heights or descend to the lowest
depths; let him turn to all created things,
and to men, Angels, and Demons, and he
will fail to find any power that can separate
the Redeemed from the Love of God which
is in Christ Jesus the Lord.
A PERSONAL NOTE
The Lord Saved me when I was eight years
of age and Baptized me with the Holy Spirit
a few weeks later. When I was nine years old
I knew that I would be an Evangelist, and I
knew that this Ministry would be worldwide.
When I was about ten years old, I had an
experience which was but a portend of that
which was to come. Strangely enough it was
not in a Prayer Meeting or a Church Service,
but rather while I was alone, with me at this
time not actually remembering the setting.
How it happened and what brought it on,
I also fail to remember. But this I vividly
remember.
For the first time in my life I sensed the
Powers of Darkness. At that time, and at
that very early age, Satan or else one of his
demon spirits began to speak to me, telling
JIMMY SWAGGART BIBLE COMMENTARY ROMANS 8:39
NOTES
326
me, “I will stop you, you will not succeed in
doing what God has called you to do.”
At that time, I seemed to see a globe of
the Earth and it spinning slowly, showing
the continents of the world. This thing was
so strong, that I became extremely fearful,
not really knowing or understanding what
was happening. In later years I would know,
and to be sure.
Satan meant what he said, and set out
almost from that moment to carry out his
threats. For me to enumerate all of these
efforts by the Evil One, would be pointless at
this particular time. All Believers suffer opposition
from the Powers of Darkness. However,
I share the sentiments of the great
Preacher E. M. Bounds, who said, “Those
who are a great threat to Satan, feel the
power of his opposition keenly.”
I may not have his exact words, but that
is close to his statement, and ever so true.
THE ATTITUDE OF THE BELIEVER
No, I am not blaming wrongdoing or failure
on Satan, for the simple reason that all
wrongdoing is the fault of the individual irrespective
of the circumstances. However,
for anyone to think that the matter is simple,
that person is either hypocritical or else he
has never faced the Powers of Darkness.
Some time ago I read a Message by a
Preacher who lived and ministered in the
1700’s. In his Message he made a statement
which I think is well worth repeating, even
though I have quoted it elsewhere in these
Volumes. It is as follows:
1. When one hears something negative
about a fellow Believer one should treat it as
gossip, which means to ignore it, and above
all to never repeat such slander, because slander
is what it is.
2. Even if one feels one has firsthand
knowledge of the circumstances, still, are you
sure that you know and understand the degree
of spiritual warfare involved?
3. If you had been placed in the same
circumstances, would you have done any
better or even as well?
A long time ago, the songwriter said:
“I have seen the lightning flashing, I
have heard the thunder roll,
“I have felt sin’s breakers dashing, trying
to conquer my soul.
“But I hear the Voice of Jesus, telling
me Fight On.’
“He has told me I’ll never leave you,
I’ll never leave you alone.”
“No never alone, no never alone,
“He promised never to leave me, never
to leave me alone.
“No never alone, no never alone,
“He promised never to leave me, never
to leave me alone.”
However, as I close the Commentary on this
Chapter, I want to go back to its 2nd verse and
say with the Apostle Paul, and do so with great
Joy and Thanksgiving, “For the Law of the
Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus hath made me
free from the Law of Sin and Death.”
I wish the whole world could say the same
thing. As well, every single Believer who
has ever lived and who stands victorious in
Christ Jesus, must say the same thing, because
elsewhere no Victory is possible! It is
ever “In Christ Jesus,” and Christ Jesus Alone!
As someone has well said: Satan says
things about me. People say things about
me. God says things about me.
It is only what God says that matters.