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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