Sunday, May 25, 2014

Paul's Epistles Part 18 – Present Suffering and Future Glory

Paul's Epistles
Part 18 – Present Suffering and Future Glory
Pastor Bruce A. Shields
House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org

INTRODUCTION
We are going to look at the Epistles of Paul in this series of sermons. In Chapter 6 we looked at Paul telling us to be Dead to Sin, and Alive in Christ and that we are Slaves to Righteousness, Released from the Law and Bound to Christ, That which I hate, I do, Life in the Spirit.

Today we will take a look at Romans 8, our Present Suffering and Future Glory.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE Romans 8:18-30
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 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.

26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.









                   I.            THE SUFFERING OF CREATION (VS. 18-20)  
a.      The suffering of this present time
                                                                         i.      Speaks of the world and its present condition because of the fall

                                                                      ii.      The glory of the coming future time (the new earth) will bear no relation to the misery of this present time.


b.     The coming glory is to be revealed in US!
                                                                         i.      Our glory shall be a reflective glory, coming from Christ.

                                                                      ii.      The way we live is important, for we foreshadow God's love, Christ's forgiveness, and the coming Glory of a redeemed man and creation.


c.      For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 
                                                                         i.      Creation, like us, are in desperate need of redemption from the fall, and are eager to receive our all the benefits of the resurrection of life.


d.     The creation did not willingly fall
                                                                         i.      Not that it is possible for creation to sin.

                                                                      ii.      However, just as you and I did not willingly fall, we too, are subject to the result of Adam's sin which is death.


                                                                   iii.      vs. 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"
1.      Speaks of God as the one who passed sentence because of Adam's fall, but at the same time gave us a "Hope"; that "Hope" is Christ, who will rectify all things.



               II.            DELIVERANCE (VS. 21-25)
a.      Creation itself shall also be delivered!
                                                                         i.      like us, from the bondage of corruption (death, decay)

                                                                      ii.      And brought into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

                                                                   iii.      When man fell, creation fell.

                                                                     iv.      When man is delivered, so shall creation be.


b.     All of creation groans in pains
                                                                         i.      Everything has been affected by Satan's rebellion and Adam's fall.

                                                                      ii.      Like us, creation too logs for being brought back to its original perfection.


c.      But we, followers of our Lord, are but a dim reflection
                                                                         i.      Although our souls have been redeemed, and we have obtained part of the promise, through the Holy Spirit, we only have part of the possession now. The remainder will come at the resurrection when we will receive our new bodies.

                                                                      ii.      Until then, we, through the power of the Holy Spirit, produce FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT, and use the GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT, and withstand our sufferings and groans until we receive our resurrected bodies with the power of the WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD.

                                                                   iii.      During this time, fulfilling the Will of God.

1.      God's first Will - You receive Salvation
2.      God's second Will - You share it with EVERYONE
3.      God's third Will - Specific to how God has enabled YOU to serve Him.




            III.            OUR SUFFERING UNTIL FUTURE GLORY (VS. 26-30)
a.      We have PART of our inheritance now
                                                                         i.      The greater part of our Salvation is to come in the future.


                                                                      ii.      Our souls redeemed, and having received the Holy Spirit, we await the greater part of our reward. Our new perfect bodies, to be in the presence of the Lord, and live eternity out with fellow believers in a New Creation.


b.     What is coming is beyond our comprehension
                                                                         i.      vs. 24 reveals that our hope is not for what we already have, but for what is coming, and that what is coming is so far beyond what is present, there is no comparison.


c.      Until then, we, and all of creation still suffer the consequence of the fall
                                                                         i.      We are shown in vs. 26 that we who follow Christ have the Holy Spirit, who helps us through our infirmities, which we receive because of Christ and the Cross.

                                                                      ii.      And also reveals that prayer without the Holy Spirit is to no avail.
1.      If you have not received Salvation that is the ONLY prayer the Lord will receive.

2.      After Salvation, all prayers go through the Holy Spirit, even when we do not know what to pray, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us.

3.      If we step out of life IN THE SPIRIT and return to LIFE IN THE FLESH, God can no longer hear us, because sin has separated us from Him.

4.      The only prayer the Lord will receive at this time is confession, and repentance to return you to life in the Spirit.

CONCLUSION

The Holy Spirit "Himself" makes intercession for us, even when we know not what to pray.

To carry out the Will of God in our lives, not our personal will!



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