Romans 8:18-25
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that[h] the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.
22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves}, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
Prayer:
Thank you for another opportunity to teach and preach. As we engage in your word open Our physical eyes to see an open our physical ears to hear your word. Allow us to fly this wisdom to our heart and work out in our life. Amen!
As, I read the letters of apostle Paul, I often stumble and think, is he dictating his word to someone? The conversation is as if he’s having total contact with a Holy Ghost. However, Historians, have noted, that in some instances he has done just that. But, I wonder this, because, he often anticipates a question. I do realize that Paul was full of the Holy Ghost; therefore, the Holy Ghost knows all things this is why it appears this way, but the thought entered my mind that just maybe the one notating Paul’s writings interjected with a question. Then, Paul used their question as a springboard to bring about the next part of his speech. – This is just a little thought to ponder.
Let’s, back up a couple scriptures, because Paul makes an interesting point, that I often preach about and it is this: “16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 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.”
If I can, I would like to draw your attention to a cause-and-effect, within this scripture. Notice? -that Paul says suffering leads to glory. Therefore, provided that we suffer we become joint heirs with Jesus Christ. Amazing! Marvelous!
The Holy Spirit just showed me something! It’s one of those aha moments! It’s one of those statements of promise that will come to us. It’s one of those statements that is truth. Because we suffer we become joint heirs with Jesus Christ! Hallelujah!
I have always and often thought of why? Why, do we deserve to be joint heirs with Jesus Christ? This passage tells us that: we are worthy, because we also suffer.
Most of my suffering and your suffering does not compare to the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus Christ! However, there are those who have been martyrs and there are those who are missionaries that face suffering unto death. But we only have to suffer a little and we are promised an inHeritance beyond measure and beyond human calculation.
An inheritance not made by human hands.
An inheritance that goes on for eternity.
An inheritance where there are streets of gold.
An inheritance with crystal clear water.
I I don’t know about you, but I’m excited about that?
Can you imagine?
There will be no contaminants found in Heaven!
There will be no crying there.
There will be no goodbyes there.
There will be no death nor sin there!
There will be no more murder.
There will be no more hostility you will be continual light and continual love.
I don’t know about you, but that is the place for me!
This scripture is talked about all throughout the Bible, but until this passage, the Holy Spirit did not connect the process of suffering and glorification. Remember, Christ suffered the. He was glorified. We to suffer and then we will be glorified. Remember, Paul suffered and suffered some more.
List Of Paul’s Sufferings
2 Corinthians 11:21-33
2 Corinthians 11:21 I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also. (Sick)
2 Corinthians 11:23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
2 Corinthians 11:24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
2 Corinthians 11:25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
2 Corinthians 11:26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
2 Corinthians 11:27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
Paul echoed the concept of suffering and then glorification in his writing. Check out the following scripture: 1 Peter 2:21-22 (King James Version) “21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:”
And the steps are to live a holy life; which means sanctification for us Nazarenes. According to that verse, what kind of examples are we to be in this world? We are to be examples of virtue and love. Then, according to the Holy Ghost, we are also examples when the gifts of the spirit are present before the world. On the other hand, we are also great examples of suffering.
We all suffer together as long as we live on this earth. We all live under the curse of sin. We all face persecution; even though persecution has different levels. We all suffer loss and go through bereavement. But, I’m looking forward to that day that God will wipe away every tier from our eyes.
Wow! You didn’t know that you signed up for this when you gave your heart to the Lord? But Peter and Paul have both informed us that because of the suffering; then, comes glorification.
I think, that Paul is alluding to the following question: is all of this suffering worth it? And I think that we all could agree that it is. Paul Certainly does, because let’s read verse 18 together. “18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” As I read this, I remember that Paul suffered. Paul was not born with the silver spoon in his mouth and on daddy‘s payroll! Paul suffered.
However, nothing on this earth or in this earth compares to our inheritance in glory. This is why we say we have hope. Remember the following rhetorical question saying, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:36-37).
Then, Paul writes this in verse 19: “19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God(A) to be revealed.” Paul has written this information for us Christians! He devotes his time in expressing that our present sufferings on this earth is only a vapor of time compared to eternity. Then, Paul compares our suffering to God‘s glory. In this, he says our suffering compares not to the glory of God and heaven. Though the suffering of some of us is enormous it still does not compare to how wonderful our glorification will be in Eternity. Knowing that, – does not minimize our suffering, it only acknowledges it; while, keeping a positive eternal perspective.
Verse number 20 tells us why we suffer and then are glorified. Let’s read it together. “ 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope” This creation, meaning all God has made, is suffering. It is subject to something described perverse or false. This futility—or “frustration”—came long ago, when sin entered into the world. God did not create the world this way, and creation itself did not choose this. The trees and streams and animals and sky did not choose an existence of frustration. Rather, God subjected creation to frustration in response to Adam’s sin in the garden of Eden. God did not design creation to suffer. That hardship came after all was meaningful and “very good.” This warped, struggling existence came about when God cursed all of creation in response to human sin (Genesis 3:14, 17–19).
I can relate to the word futility, because it means uselessness. We live in a world that lacks purpose. We were created in the image of God; so, that we could love him. Absent from our relationship with the Lord everything is vanity. Remember, that King Solomon said everything under the sun is vanity? No man has ever been given more wisdom then King Solomon, because God gave it to him. Then, he looks out into the world and he says: “Do you know what? Everything under the sun is vanity!” Apart from God, there is no meaning to life!
Now, I understand why people in our society walk around with so much hopelessness. I remember when the spirit of depression had settled on me so bad that I felt empty. I felt as if I had no purpose. I felt as if I had no meaning. The spirit of depression was not lifted from me until I realized that in Christ Jesus I have value and worth. So, when we look at the unsaved their natural state of mind is hopelessness. Their substance is given over to this futility. There is no help, besides Jesus Christ.
Paul is creating a vision of this depraved world. He is correct! There is no hope, if we are not suffering for Jesus Christ; then our eternity is Hell. The prince of this world is the devil himself. He is running things. We are either a child of God or we are yoked up with the devil.
The devil wants us to feel the frustration!
Satan wants us to be involved in evil actions.
Satan wants us to be on a road to distrustion.
Satan wants us to feel pain and agony!
The devil wants us to feel hopeless!
Satan wants us to have a meaningless life!
The devil wants to ruin our life!
The Devil not only wants to ruin our life, but he wants to ruin our eternity too!
Verse 21 says: “that[h] the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.”
As we look out into the world we see that Christ brings us out of our bondage and out of our decay. Paul describes what’s happening on the inside of us in 2 Corinthians. Check out second Corinthians chapter 4 verses 16 through 18. “16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self[a] is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” As we age our body grows and decays, but our inner person (our inner soul), is renewed daily. As we look in the mirror we see a downward movement of our body. We grow wrinkles. We can get stretchy skin. We get gray hair. But our inner person grows closer to the image of God. It becomes our power. It becomes our mite. Through the Holy Ghost all things are possible. So even our bodies are subject to this bondage of sin. After a while, living on the earth, and experiencing old age, we start hoping for the transformation that will take place. We begin to long to be with God.
We start longing for those bodies that are unique.
Those bodies that are in mortal.
Those bodies that will thirst no more.
Those bodies that will not wear out.
Those bodies that will live for eternity.
In heaven, there will be no bondage and there will be no decay.
That is something to look forward to!
So, Paul tells us not to lose heart.
Keep your eyes on Jesus!
Perhaps, the those absent from God, in bondage and sin, are swallowed up in the futility of the world and this is why people are involved in drugs and alcohol?
Perhaps, this is why addiction and depression exist?
Perhaps, this is why people are so unhappy?
Perhaps, this is why they have no joy?
Because the world is depraved and sin abounds.
Because they are absent spirit.
Because they have not yoked Jesus Christ
Therefore, “22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.”
You know, we have the ability to see the babies in 3-D today? Oh yes! A 3D ultrasound is something marvelous! The ultrasound allows us to see the baby sucking on their thumb and the sucking on their toes! You can see their eye lashes and entire body! But Paul did not have this when he wrote this passage. However, he understood childbirth; thus, this is the perfect example. It used to be, that we didn’t see the baby until it was born, but we knew it was there. We knew it existed. We also knew all the signs of childbirth, because women for centuries have been giving birth. Then, at some point, birth begins to happen. There’s this groaning. There is a realization that is going to happen now, Because all the signs are present. Paul, here in scripture, says that our creation is groaning. Can’t you look out in our society and see all of its struggles? Can’t you see the symbolism here of the world groaning in pain?
Don’t we see and hear rumors of war? Is there peace anywhere? What about crime? What about injustice? What about decaying lands? What about the severe weather patterns?
Isn’t that perfect example of what’s going on in the world? Well, Paul goes on to say that besides creation having labor pains -we too also experience labor pains. Let’s read the next scripture. “23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.” Can you be a witness to this? It doesn’t come out of your mouth! But, it comes out of your heart and felt deeply in your spirit. We understand that we live in this futile world, we struggle along, and we hope in the day of of our resurrection. We hold unto this hope as we mature in entire sanctification, but we really grown for glorification.
We groan for the newness of life!
We groan for vitality.
We grown for unification with Jesus Christ.
We grown for all eternity has to offer.
So, we learn from Paul that we groan for all of these things. I believe we are looking to be set free, because we have been set free inwardly.
Next, Paul says: “24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”
And with this hope we were saved. The Salvation of our souls came with the sacrifice. The sacrifice of Jesus Christ. However, some of us go through life saying: “Great! My sins have been forgiven! “Now, I can just go through life!” We can’t just go through life with a license to see in, because there is so much more. God has placed a calling on each one of our lives! And in our human condition we all want happiness and apart from God there is no true joy. For example, I was called to preach. Until I submitted to that calling I was a lady most miserable. I felt as if I was living a lie, because I was operating under the umbrella of teaching, but what I was really doing was preaching. Thus, once we are saved we are called and we have a responsibility to obey that calling.
Romans 12:1 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
So, we have this hope that when we die or when Jesus comes back, we will receive our inheritance and this futility will end. We hope for what we will have. See, this is where the Hope of the world differs from the hope of a Christian. The hope of the world may or may not happen, but the hope of a Christian will come to pass. It will come to pass because our God is not a liar. What he has under covenant with us will come to pass. We can bank the promises of God.
I want to conclude with first John 3: 2-3.
“2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”
This is who we are in Christ and this is who we will become in Christ. We know that when he appears we shall be like him. We are going to see Jesus Christ as he is and everyone that has this blessed hope in him purifies himself, because God is pure. John enlarges on Paul’s writing, because he says here -that this hope gives us more than a confidence. When we have a hope in Jesus Christ and it is firmly founded we live our lives differently than the unsaved. This hope is actually so real and tangible that it changes us from the inside out.
As we look to him in hope, you and I, are being transformed inwardly every day. God transforms us as we pray, read our scriptures, and grow closer to God. We are not matured at rebirth, but we are changed in small increments to the image of God. Now, we can’t always see this outwardly, but it’s going on in the inside, and we feel it.
This is why we cannot clean ourselves up. It is the work of the Holy Ghost. This is why we work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. This is why and what we call maturing in Christ Jesus.
Glorification takes place, when this body dies, and our inner person meets Jesus face-to-face. It’s in understanding of this hope that we realize the vanity and futility of this world will come to an end for us. As sanctification gives away into glorification we will receive our inheritance beyond measure.
