Paul’s Redemption
The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. Romans 8:16-17 NASB
If – We critically examined the first part of Paul’s declaration, concluding that his loose language about spiritual confirmation can’t be understood as a private claim. “Testifying with” must include public observance, unless Paul really is Martin Luther in disguise. And Paul makes this abundantly clear with a tiny Greek conditional particle, eiper. In fact, eiper is a conjunction of two other Greek words, ei and per, a primary particle of conditionality and a second particle meaning “however, altogether,” or “indeed.” Everything about this word shouts “maybe.”
Did you receive an internal witness of the spirit that you’re good with God? Great. Now comes the “maybe” part—suffering. Paul tells us what the external sign of divine confirmation is. It’s suffering with the Messiah. Remember that little particle sun (found in Romans 8:16 in symmartyreín—”to be a witness with”)? Well, here it is again—sympáschō. This time it means, “paschō,” (“to experience something, usually painful”) and “with.” What is the sure sign of your internal spiritual confirmation? You know what it means to be pained because of your relationship, and it’s not because you choose it. Sympáschō is about being afflicted. It happens to you. Other people and life’s circumstances beat you up, take revenge, treat you as an outcast, revile you, make things hard—and basically, don’t understand you at all. I wonder if we would have a very different reaction to life in the Messiah if we started the conversation with “You know, you’ll have to suffer” rather than “God has a wonderful plan for your life”? What was it that Albert King sang? Oh, yes, “Everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die.”
Is the internal witness of the spirit important? Yes, of course! You won’t get very far living just according to the rules. You’ll need something that tells you you’re on the right path. But if you thought that path meant all things work together for your good, then you’re going to be sadly disappointed. It’s God’s show. You just play your part—and for those who choose to play (because there are a lot of us who play a part even though we don’t choose it), the real role of the follower is to take on the agony of the Creator. Following the God of Israel hurts. Brokenness is a necessary spiritual experience.
You know, that’s probably enough to think about for one day.
Topical Index: sympáschō, if, suffer, Romans 8:17
