Introduction
Weren’t we just here at the end of a year and the beginning of a new one? Can you believe that Y2K was already 8 years ago? Each year seems to go faster and faster, yet each year we stop at this point and think about the year that has passed and the year that is coming.
What is it like for you at this point? Was it a good year? What brings a smile as you recall it? Were there unresolved issues? Were there tragedies and disappointments? What was there that you have to give thanks to God for?
How do you think about the year that is coming? How does the past year impact how you think about the new year? Are you filled with hope and looking forward to the blessings which are coming? What are you anticipating with joy? What are you dreading?
As we experience all of these thoughts and emotions, what is there that allows us to rejoice in the past with peace and face the future with hope?
As we continue in our study of Romans, we come to some of the most encouraging sections in the entire book. This morning we will look at Romans 8:12-30. In this wonderful passage, we will be reminded of all that is ours now which allows us to live in peace and we will also see the promises which allow us to face the new year and our whole future with hope.
Suffering 8:17-25
There is a surprising word in the middle of Romans 8. In the middle of a passage which celebrates victory in Christ, verse 17 suddenly says, “…we share in his sufferings...” What a shocker that is and yet what reality! Often as I enter a new year, I wonder, what tragedies will this year bring? The longer we live, the more we know that suffering is not only a possibility, but perhaps even a likelihood.
Jesus Suffered
But why should we be surprised? The text says, “we share in His sufferings.” This reminds us that Jesus Himself suffered. When He came into this world, He knew that His life on earth would involve suffering. In Luke 24:46 Jesus told his disciples, “…The Christ will suffer…” And suffer He did. Jesus Himself acknowledged in Matthew 8:20, “the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.” He suffered at the hands of the religious leaders. He suffered at the hands of the Romans. He suffered rejection and beating and ultimately crucifixion.
All Creation Is Subjected To Frustration
Christ suffered and as we continue to read in Romans 8 we find that in fact all of creation suffers. Romans 8:20 says that “the creation was subjected to frustration.” This means that the creation is not functioning according to the way in which it was designed to function. When God created it, He declared that it was good. But what we see in our world today is not always good. There is a show on TV called “Angry Planet” which talks about the natural disasters which happen. What do we see in the world? We see the destructive forces of hurricanes and tornadoes. We see the devastating results of climate change, volcanoes, winter storms and all the disasters which happen in the physical world.
How did the earth change from “it is good” to “Angry Planet?” This text explains that it was “subjected to frustration, not by its own choice.” It was subjected as a part of God’s curse on the human race because of sin. In Genesis 3 when God cursed Adam for his disobedience, we read, “Cursed is the ground because of you.” This explains a lot, but it doesn’t take away from the fact and difficulty of suffering.
We Groan Inwardly
If Jesus, who was creator and who was perfect, suffered in this world, what does that mean for the rest of us? The Scripture declares throughout that we will also not escape this suffering. Among the numerous places in Scripture which indicate that as Christ suffered we will also suffer is 1 Peter 4:13 which says, “But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.”
If we live in an “Angry Planet” how can we expect that we will not suffer? Romans 8:23-25, gives expression to the reality of our lives when it says, “We ourselves…groan inwardly…” In our lives we experience suffering. That is why we experience illness and disappointment and evil and man’s inhumanity to man and all that sometimes makes this world a miserable place to live and that makes us fear what this year may bring. The sad and scary reality is that there could be and likely will be some element of suffering in our lives in this coming year.
Glory
Suffering is real, but it is not the whole reality of our lives. There are many reasons to have peace and to look with hope into the future because of what God has already done, what He will do and what He is doing at this time. This passage acknowledges the reality of suffering, but is so full of hope that suffering cannot and must not overwhelm us.
The Glory We Have Received
In everything we have already seen in Romans up to this point we know that we have a great deal of good news!
Not Slavery But Sonship
Romans 8 is the climax of all that has been written in this book up to this point. The issues raised in Romans 1:16-18 have each been dealt with. There we read that “the wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness.” We have seen how God’s wrath is against all who deny Him and disobey Him. There we read that “in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed.” The righteousness of God has been revealed through the faithfulness of Jesus and given to all who respond with trust. We have discussed extensively how sin is a power which we cannot resist, not even with the law, but that Jesus kept the law and has overcome the power of sin and made us righteous. In Romans 1 we also read that the gospel “is the power of God” for salvation for Jew and Gentile. Particularly in Romans 8, we have been rejoicing that through the Holy Spirit we experience God’s power in us helping us to overcome sin and enabling us to live in righteousness.
At the conclusion we took note of Romans 8:14 which says, “those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” There we were reminded that having been saved from the power of sin, we still have to choose to live in the Spirit and that when we do, God’s power is present with us to help us live in obedience.
All of these verses encourage us as we face potential suffering because it tells us about all that God has already done for us. In this verse and those which follow we discover more of the wonder of what God has already done. There we read that those who have the Spirit, who are in the Spirit, who have the worldview of the Spirit, who walk by the Spirit, who are led by the Spirit, are children of God.
As long as we were under the power of sin we were slaves of sin. Now that we can live by the Spirit, we are no longer slaves, we are children of God. What a huge distance there is between slavery and sonship. A slave has no rights, is accorded no dignity, is property and does not belong. A son, has full rights in the family, has the dignity of association with the parents and belongs.
I know a man, in his early 30’s who has adopted himself into another family. He is a little slow, but a nice fellow. When he was in high school, he used to visit this family. They welcomed him and over the years he spent more and more time with the family. I don’t think they have ever said to him, “you are a part of our family,” but whatever they are doing, he is there. He is there at birthdays, at Christmas and many other occasions. What is really neat is that this family has welcomed him. They include him and accept him, he belongs. The picture of God adopting us into His family is even more wonderful. We did not take the initiative, God did. By calling us His children we get a clear message that we are part of God’s family and that we belong.
We Cry “Abba”
The evidence of the relationship of sonship into which we have entered is that we are able now to cry “Abba.” The word “Abba” appears only three times in the New Testament. The first time it appears is when Jesus said it in Mark 14:36. He called God, “Abba.” By doing so he let people know that He was in a special, intimate relationship with His Father. He knew the Father’s mind, He followed Him and obeyed Him. He knew He was going back to Him. He knew that he could address Him in these most intimate terms.
When that same term is now used to describe the way we can address God, it is a wonderful affirmation that in Christ we have come into an intimate relationship with God.
The Spirit Testifies With Our Spirit
But how do we know that we have the Spirit within us? The promise is found in Romans 8:16 when it says, “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” There is an inner understanding in which God Himself whispers to our deepest self that we belong. What rest! What peace is found in this promise.
When children are legally adopted into a family, a piece of paper signifies the legality of the new relationship. There is no paper that indicates that we are children of God, however, we have something better. We have the Spirit of sonship. We have God’s presence. It is as if everywhere we go, God is with us confirming that we are His children. What a privilege! What a blessing to help us face every day and every new year.
We Are Heirs
Along with sonship comes inheritance. The concept of inheritance is quite interesting. I have not often thought about it because my parents did not inherit much because they came from poverty. When my father left Russia at age 14, he left with absolutely nothing. Families who have lived in the same area for a long time are often able to build up a strong inheritance which is passed from generation to generation.
Because we are sons, we are also heirs of God. But how different that inheritance is! In earthly terms inheritance is passed on when our parents die. This is a sad time because it means that we won’t see them any more. In kingdom terms, inheritance is passed on when we die, and at that time we actually see our Father for the first time. It is not a sad time, but a joyous time!
Several times before she died, Carla’s mom gave us a portion of her estate as an inheritance. When she died, we received the complete inheritance. In the kingdom, we also already have a portion of the estate of our Father because His Spirit is with us but when we die, we will receive the full inheritance.
As we face a new year, the glory we have already received from the Father through Jesus Christ gives us hope. The destructive forces in this world, the evil in this world, the temptations in this world are not the most powerful things. The power of the gospel of Jesus Christ is the true power in our lives and helps us rejoice every day and face every day with faith in God.
The Glory That Will Be Revealed
These promises give us a wonderful understanding of all the blessings which are already ours in Christ. However, we also understand that we have not received our complete inheritance yet. We have the Spirit, but there is something more to come. We have victory over the power of sin, but complete victory is still something future. The language of inheritance implies that we do not yet have all of it.
As we go on in this passage we read about what is yet to come. In Romans 8:18, we read about “the glory that will be revealed.” What is it that we are looking forward to? Several phrases in the following verses speak about some elements of the glory that is yet to come.
In verse 19 it says that “the creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.” The glory that will be revealed is that God will let the whole world know who His children are. Now we, who are God’s children, live among those who are not God’s children and, for various reasons it is sometimes hard to tell the difference. But the day is coming when God will make known those who are His. That will be glory!
In Romans 8:21 we read that “the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay...” The time is coming when all the things that destroy – storms, illness and all evil - will be gone. When Jesus comes back everything in all of creation will be right. Then even the weather will be a pleasure all the time. That will be glory!
Along with creation being liberated from bondage to decay, we will also experience “the glorious freedom of the children of God.” What has been given to a degree and what has been established in Christ will be completed. Sin will not be a problem any more and death will be utterly removed. That will be glory!
Along with freedom, there will be the completion of the adoption process. Romans 8:23 indicates that we wait “for our adoption as sons.” What is now already true will be completed. That will be glory!
The same verse also indicates the completion of the redemption process. Romans 8:23 speaks of “the redemption of our bodies.” Now already our souls have been redeemed, then our bodies will be redeemed and the process will be complete.
We look forward to the glory that will be revealed. There is glory coming that surpasses all that God has already done for us. What a word of encouragement and promise! What is even more encouraging is that the glory that will be revealed will be awesome. In the face of present suffering, Romans 8:18 encourages us that “our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed.” Although we don’t know what the new year will bring, we can give thanks that no matter what it is, there is glory coming which will be so great that all present suffering pales in comparison. May the hope of glory encourage us as we move into the new year.
Living In Hope
But there is even more of God’s blessing and glory about which we can rejoice. In the midst of suffering there are things that God is doing right now.
The Spirit Intercedes
Suffering implies weakness. It implies that we cannot overcome. Romans 8:26,27 indicates that part of our present weakness is in prayer. The power of God is available to us and the promises of God in answer to prayer are also available to us, but we don’t know how to ask properly. The Bible tells us that whatever we pray for that is according to the will of God will happen, but we don’t know what the will of God is. How can we pray appropriately so that the power of God will help us in our suffering?
What is more, we don’t even know what is truly happening in our own deepest selves. What is it that we are really seeking? There is our spoken prayer and then there is the prayer that is deep within us and sometimes they are not the same. So in this way there is also a weakness in our ability to pray well. How can we pray appropriately so that the power of God will help us in our suffering?
God’s promise given to us in the midst of our suffering is that the Spirit of God, who knows the mind of God is operating deep within us at a level below our own consciousness discerning what our deepest prayers are and taking those deepest prayers directly to the throne of God. So not only do we have Jesus interceding for us in the presence of God, but we have God’s Spirit interceding for us in a real depth communication.
When we are suffering, in any way whether in minor annoyances or deep tragedy there is stuff that is going on inside us that is our true prayer. The Spirit knows those deep prayers that we don’t even know and forwards them to the Father and reinterprets those prayers according to God’s will.
When we know that God hears and answers prayer and when we understand that something is happening deep within us by the Spirit of God, we have every reason to be greatly encouraged. By the Spirit we have a constant, honest, accurate communication with God that is heard. This is especially important for those times when we are so deeply burdened that we cannot even articulate our prayers. At that point we know that our deepest unspoken and even un-thought prayers are ascending to the Father who hears and answers those prayers according to His will.
God Works For Good
As we look into the new year we know that there are things which will happen which we wish wouldn’t happen. Some of them are annoying, some are hard to bear and some are tragic. We have the wonderful promises of all that God has done for us in Christ. We have the hope of glory which will be so amazing that it will surpass all our present suffering. We have this wonderful promise of God’s Spirit praying deep within us. In spite of all that, we still dread some of the things that will happen. The passage we are looking at today concludes with what may perhaps be the cherry on the whipped cream on the ice cream sundae. It concludes with this wonderful promise that “we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him…”
This promise does not state that only good things happen to those who love God. It does not take away from the strong presentation already made that as long as we are on this earth there will be suffering. However, it does make this amazing promise that God can take even that which is tragic and bring good out of it and that He does this in all things.
With an interesting literary device of repetition and building we have this promise that God calls, makes us right and in the end will glorify all those who are His.
The cliché “it’s all good” is not just a cliché. When God is in the picture, it is also a profound truth.
Conclusion
As we come to the close of 2007, these words encourage us to give a heartfelt thanks to God. Besides all the blessings we can name which we have experienced in this past year – blessings of enjoyable times, family, friends, work and all the ways in which life has been good, we can also give thanks for all that God has done for us. We are His children when we walk by the Spirit. we are in an intimate relationship with Him. We can give thanks for the hope that lies before us, the hope of a glory that will be unmatched by anything we experience now. We can give thanks that the Spirit intercedes for us and that we know that God works for good in all things.
As we face 2008, we don’t know what the year will bring, but we can face it with hope and confidence. After all, we are God’s children. We have an intimate relationship with God. We are heirs of God. We have the hope of glory. God’s Spirit intercedes and God works for good in all things to those who love Him. So go in peace and with joy and love Him.
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