Scripture Reading: Romans 8:12-27

Paul’s Letter to the Romans

Background
Paul’s writings to the Romans begin to decipher the role of the Holy Trinity for us. There is no doubt that Paul is fully aware of the threat he poses to Rome1 and to himself. In 49AD Paul had been miraculously freed from prison2 in Philippi3, a Roman military outpost in northeast Greece. He had been stripped, beaten and severely flogged with a rod4. Although his feet were placed in stocks and he was chained to a wall and stifled by the stench of urine and the sweet, pungent smell of decaying blood, his faith never wavered. The more he hurt and shivered in the darkness, the more he prayed and sang praises to the Lord.
Sometime later, Paul dictated the letter to the Romans to Tertius. He wrote to various household churches5 in the hopes of visiting Rome and addressing certain “intellectual” questions, which the saints in Rome were concerned about. Perhaps he also wanted to address tones of anti-Semitism which might have arisen due to Claudius’ decree against Jews living in Rome, but he also needed financial support to further his ministry into Spain.
This letter probably was written during Paul’s third missionary journey in 56AD6. Rome was then under Nero. Paul had moved on to Corinth, a Mediterranean city in Greece approximately 40 miles west of Athens and was heading to Jerusalem with the offering for the poor from the Gentile churches. (15:25-27)

The Letter to the Romans
(8:12-13) Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation – but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit, you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.
Here Paul warns the Romans about letting sin linger in their lives. Paul must have been highly regarded in Rome. To speak, albeit indirectly, to the nervous, volatile Emperor Nero in such terms would have been life- threatening as he well knew.
(8:14-18) For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
The Holy Spirit has a massive role in Romans 8, but he is often overlooked. As our IPC adult class was once asked: Have you ever prayed to the Holy Spirit?
(8:22-27) We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time...(and) we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption, the redemption of our bodies.… Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
This is the most wonderful glimpse into the interaction of the Holy Trinity with God on our behalf.
So, whose “groanings” are these? The Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings. These are our groanings, our worries, weaknesses, sorrows and ignorance that the Holy Spirit gathers up. When we are unsure and don’t know how to pray, we can trust in the Holy Spirit who knows exactly what to pray for.

If you are sick, what do you pray for? If you are suffering abuse or persecution, what do you pray for? Do you pray for healing? Endurance? Deliverance? Patience? This is where the Spirit can help you. He’s there to intervene, to give you the right words, to ensure the Lord hears.
And Paul? Paul continued on his way putting aside his pain, his pride and frustration. He turned it all around and went on to plant churches and even to write this wonderful letter to the Romans at a time when Rome was surely suffering.

Prayer:7 O Holy Spirit, beloved of my soul, I adore you. Enlighten me, guide me, strengthen me, console me. Tell me what I should do; give me your orders. I promise to submit myself to all that you desire of me and to accept all that you permit to happen to me. Let me only know your will. Amen.

1 Acts 16:16-18 2 Acts 16:20-24 3 The present municipality, Filippoi, is located near the ruins of the ancient city and is part of the region of East Macedonia and Thrace in Kavalla, Greece 4 Acts 16:20-24 5 https://bible.org/article/origins-church-rome
6 Acts 21 7Cardinal Mercier