22 For we know that the whole creation agroans and labors with birth pangs together until now.
23 Not only that, but we also who have athe firstfruits of the Spirit, beven we ourselves groan cwithin ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the dredemption of our body.
24 For we were saved in this hope, but ahope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees?
25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.
26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For awe do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but bthe Spirit Himself makes intercession1 for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
27 Now aHe who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints baccording to thewillof God.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those awho are the called according to His purpose.
29 For whom aHe foreknew, bHe also predestined ctobe conformed to the image of His Son, dthat He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also acalled; whom He called, these He also bjustified; and whom He justified, these He also cglorified.
God’s Everlasting Love
31 What then shall we say to these things? aIf God is for us, who canbe against us?
32aHe who did not spare His own Son, but bdelivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? aItis God who justifies.
34aWho is he who condemns? Itis Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, bwho is even at the right hand of God, cwho also makes intercession for us.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written: a“For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”
37aYet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor aprincipalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,
It is fairly easy to understand that, once we have what we desire, we no longer have to hope for it. As a hope fulfilled, we do not need that longing or desire for it anymore. Right now, we do not have what we are hoping for in its fullness. We have a vision of it, and that vision may not be very clear, but we can see it and believe in it. However, we need to focus mainly on how important Paul says this is: We are saved by it. But are we not saved by grace through faith? Yes, we are!
That is ultimately how salvation comes, but God is not merely trying to save us. Saving us is the easy part. The more difficult part is to achieve the fullness of His purpose for each one of us, which is for us to be created in His image. For that to occur, our cooperation is required. We will not cooperate unless we are hoping in the right thing. If we are not hoping in what God wants us to hope for, we will begin heading in a different direction. If we have a different vision, we will go off the path God has set us on. Having the right hope is absolutely essential.
Notice how he lays the foundation by turning our attention to our hope. He reminds us that God purposefully made life subject to futility. Futility is a frustrating quality that wears away at one's confidence. It can produce a sense of hopelessness that leads us to think that nothing will work out. Sometimes our pilgrimage seems so long and arduous that we take our eyes from our Savior, and hopelessness builds. However, Paul reminds us that God does everything in love and wisdom and for our good. Futility is an obstacle that we must overcome through faith in God. Yet, He has willed that futility be present, intending that we use it as a prod to use our faith in cooperation with Him despite its presence.
