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From Sufferings to Glory
1
Introduction:Having shown how through Justification and Sanctification, God saves the believing sinnerQuestion:
o
What about the future?
o
Will this salvation stick?
o
Will it last?Chapter 8 answers those questions
o
Begins with no condemnation (8:1) and
o
Ends with no separation (8:39)
o
Theme is security
o
Ground of security is the Lord Jesus ChristIn Christ we have:
o
A new position (1-4)
–
we “walk according to the Spirit”
o
A new life (5-13)
–
the life of the Holy Spirit Who indwells
o
A new relationship (14-17)
–
we are sons of God!
o
A new hope (18-25)
–
the redemption of our body (vs. 23)
o
A new knowledge (26-30)
–
all things work together for good for the true saint
o
A new assurance (31-39)
–
nothing can over throw the salvation we have in Christ
Tonight’s text begins with “sufferings” (8:18) and ends with “glory” (8:30)
Note the use of the word “groans” (22), “groan” (23), “groanings” (26)
o
8:22, “we know that the whole creation
groans and labors with birth pangs together
until now”
(
συστεν
ά
ζω (hapax, verb)
)
o
8:23, “
Not only
that,
but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselvesgroan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.
”
(
στεν
ά
ζω, (verb): Cf also:
2 Cor 5:1,2, “
For we know that if our earthly house,
this
tent, is destroyed, wehave a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2
For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation whichis from heaven
”
2 Cor 5:3-
8, “
if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked.
4
Forwe who are in
this
tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to beunclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life.
5
Now He who has prepared us for this very thing
is
God, who also has given usthe Spirit as a guarantee.
6
So
we are
always confident, knowing that while weare at home in the body we are absent from the Lord.
7
For we walk by faith, notby sight.
8
We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the bodyand to be present with the Lord.
”
o
8:26, “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we
should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us
withgroanings
which cannot be uttered.”
(
στεναγμ
ό
ς (noun)
)
From Sufferings to Glory
2
Outline:1)
The eternal comparison (8:18)2)
Creation groans (8:19-22)3)
Believers groan (8:23-25)4)
The Spirit groans (8:26-27)5)
The believer’s confidence (8:28)
6)
The “golden chain” (8:29
-30)Detail:1)
The eternal comparison (8:18)a)
Text: “
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy
to be compared
withthe glory which shall be revealed in us.
”
b)
The sufferings of the present time: (same
π
ά
θημα, “sufferings, afflictions,
misfortune, calamity,
evil, affliction”
i)
2 Cor 1:3-
7, “
Blessed
be
the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of merciesand God of all comfort,
4
who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able tocomfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves arecomforted by God.
5
For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation alsoabounds through Christ.
6
Now if we are afflicted,
it is
for your consolation and salvation,which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we arecomforted,
it is
for your consolation and salvation.
7
And our hope for you
is
steadfast,because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also
you will partake
of the
consolation.”
ii)
Phil 3:8-
11, “Yet indeed I also count all things lo
ss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them asrubbish, that I may gain Christ
9
and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness,which
is
from the law, but that which
is
through faith in Christ, the righteousness which isfrom God by faith;
10
that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and thefellowship of His sufferings
, being conformed to His death,
11
if, by any means, I may attainto the resurrection f
rom the dead.”
c)
Not worthy:i)
Greek
ἄ
ξιος –
think “axis” or “fulcrum”
ii)
If one weighs all the terrible sufferings in this life (on one side of the fulcrum or scale) …
iii)
Of no consequence in light of eternity(1)
The time scale … here temporary … there eternal
(2)
The worth scale … here may be terrible …
there will be glorious!
From Sufferings to Glory
3
d)
The confidence: “
the glory which shall be revealed in us
”
i)
Greek: “
ἀ
ποκαλ
ύ
πτω”
ii)
Cf I Peter 1:3-
5, “
Blessed
be
the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according toHis abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of JesusChrist from the dead,
4
to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fadeaway, reserved in heaven for you,
5
who are kept by the power of God through faith forsalvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
”
iii)
1 Corinthians 2:9-
10, “
But as it is written:
“ Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor haveentered into the heart of man,
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
10
But God has revealed
them
to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes,the deep things of God.
”
2)
Creation groans (8:19-22)a)
Text: “
For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.
20
For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him whosubjected
it
in hope;
21
because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
22
For we know that the wholecreation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.
”
b)
Creature or creation?i)
KJV has “creature”
ii)
Cf Mark 10:6, “But from the beginning of
the creation, God
‘made them male and female.’
”
iii)
Romans 1:20, “For since the creation of the world His invisible
attributes
are clearly seen,being understood by the things that are made,
even
His eternal power and Godhead, so that
they are without excuse,”
iv)
Romans 8:39, “nor height nor depth, nor any other
created thing, shall be able to separate
us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
v)
Comment: Speaks of all creation including all worlds and beings (including angels!) created!c)
Affects of the Fall (blame it on Adam!):i)
“subjected to
futility
” (vanity, depravity, frailty) –
under the crushing tide and authority of the effects of the Fall!ii)
“bondage of
corruption
”
(speaks of ‘that which perishes’ (eg man’s body in the grave!),
moral decay (ethical sense), defiled, corrupted)iii)
“groans and
labors with birth pangs
”
/
συνωδ
ί
νω travail in birth pains
(1)
With birth pains you know something is going to happen!(2)
And it is going to happen soon(3)
Women giving birth go from suffering to the joy of the birth of a child!d)
Notice the future hope:i)
“the earnest expectation”
ii)
“eagerly waits
for the revealing of the sons of God.”
iii)
“will be delivered … into the glorious liberty of the children of God”
iv)
This certainly looks ahead to the:(1)
Coming of Christ(2)
The new heavens and the new earth!
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