comments
Media
• LESSON 14 (July 20) • Romans 8:18-39 The Glory That Is To Be Revealed To Us As Christians, we are being called to walk a difficult walk. It is a walk that is Father-defined, Christ-centered, Spirit led, gospel-empowered, faith-fueled, and glory-focused. It will lead us, at times, down pathways of suffering. The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. (Rom 8:16-17) Will it be worth it? The Spirit’s answer throughout the rest of Romans 8 represents some of the most encouraging God-breathed words in all of Scripture. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (8:18) Life in this sin-darkened world will involve suffering. Since Genesis 3 when sin came into the world, suffering of a terrible variety has been a reality. But Paul encourages Christians to trust God enough to compare the present reality with the future glory that is going to be revealed. Similarly, in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18: So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 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.This present, transient time is a time of groaning. • CREATION is groaning. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. (8:19-22) • CHILDREN OF GOD are groaning. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. (8:23-25) • THE SPIRIT OF GOD is groaning. Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weaknesses. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. (8:26-27) Mention of the will of God naturally leads Paul to express and encourage great confidence in the sovereign providence of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For… (8:28-29a) “For” serves as a connective link between the confidence expressed in Romans 8:28 and the reasons that undergird the confidence Paul is encouraging in the lives of his fellow believers. Why should we be confident?