Welcome Back! Let’s continue our journey through the book of Romans – “The Romans Road to Righteousness.”
The Roman’s Road to Righteousness (Chapter 8:12-30)
This
week we will conclude our reading of chapter 8, verses
12-30 as we consider our Sonship through
the Holy Spirit &
being delivered from Suffering to Glory!
Only
God has the capability to fill our life with hope. Only He can save and redeem
us. As a result, we are “debtors”
to Him. And that is exactly what the Apostle Paul says here in our opening
verses:
Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live – Romans 8:12-13
The
idea that we're confronting here is the responsibility to “put to death” the “sin” in our lives. This text is saying
that since we have no obligation to the “flesh,”
we must be about killing the sinful “deeds of the body” that we may “live” – put our “flesh” to death! All true Christians are “sons of God” and our desire is to know
God, to love God, to glorify God, to commune with God and to obey God. Although
we don't fully “live”
as we ought at times, that's our ultimate heart’s desire.
Next
Paul shares one of the most beautiful and richest passages in all of the
Scripture in which speaks about our relationship with God:
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together – Romans 8:14-17
We
are “led” by the “Spirit of God” out of “bondage” to receive the “Spirit of adoption” from our “Abba, Father” in Heaven! The word "adoption"
denotes a legal action whereby a person is taken into a family of which they
are not usually in any way related. And when taken into that family, he is then
given all the rights and privileges as a member of that family. It's a very
beautiful picture. Even in the human realm, adoption is merciful, loving and
gracious. We also become “heirs
of God” and “joint
heirs with Christ” and as we “suffer
with Him” we become “glorified
together” in Him! – Amazing!
Paul
also understood from personal experience that the “Spirit of God” brings “sufferings” into the lives of Christians:
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us – Romans 8:18
The
idea of the word “sufferings”
here has to do with persecution, mockery, scorn, ridicule and whatever else
comes to us by virtue of our union with Jesus Christ. One can mark out the “children of God” because they'll be ones
the world doesn't really like and that don't fit in with the status quo.
Persecution goes to all extremes – even martyrdom. We've all been ostracized,
alienated, looked down upon and mocked in some way or another for our faith in
Jesus Christ. However, Paul reminds us that these difficulties “are not worthy to be compared”
to the blessing of God’s “glory which shall be revealed in us” in Heaven. But
until then, Christians are going to be alienated from this world’s system.
Now
as we come to verse 19, Paul describes the
three “inexpressible groans”
for God’s glory. So, what’s all this “groaning”
about? Good question! These “groans”
are essentially for the same thing. To “groan”
means to lament or moan. Paul says everything is “groaning” about what it's like to live in this world
with all of the pain and “sin”
as we await the glorious “new world”
to come. It's the “groaning”
for God’s “glory” to arrive!
Here
we see that the Creation “groans,” the Believer
“groans” and the Holy Spirit “groans”
with “earnest expectation”
of eternity future…
First: The Creation
“groans”:
For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits 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; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now – Romans 8:19-22
This
is poetic personification. Paul is taking some poetic liberty at this point and
he personifies “creation” as
if it were a person groaning, moaning, crying and lamenting in sorrow for its
present plight in “bondage
of corruption” and “birth pangs” until this present
age.
Second: The Believer “groans”:
Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance – Romans 8:23-25
Believers
lament for their “sin” cursed
condition. There was a final and eternal work done “within ourselves” but our “body” still
has a problem – “sin.” And so,
though we have “adoption” in
terms of our “soul” we “eagerly wait”
with “hope for what we do
not see” our Glorified
body “with perseverance”
unto the Lord.
Third: The Holy
Spirit “groans”:
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 with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God – Romans 8:26-27
Here
we find the “Spirit Himself”
is involved in this “groaning”
process as He “makes
intercession” with “groanings which cannot be uttered”
over the fallenness of man, the earth and the universe. He too is longing for
the Glorious liberation of the “saints
according to the will of God” – Awesome!
The
wonder of this blessed chapter is now summarized by Paul in these final three
verses:
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose – Romans 8:28
There
could never be a more reassuring statement to a believer! There is nothing
that could bring more hope, joy, trust, confidence, happiness and freedom to a
Christian than to know that no matter what the pain, problem, trial,
tribulation or anxiety – “all
things” work out “together for good to those who love God”
and who are “called
according to His purpose.” And what was “His purpose?”
He foreknew, loved and “called”
us before the world & time-space began and then
redeemed us that we might be “conformed”
to the image of His Son Jesus Christ – Wonderful!
Notice
Paul says "all things"
– this is unqualified in its comprehension. First of all, “good” in the here and now. Second
of all, “good” ultimately in glory.
That's the extent of the believer’s eternal security! God makes everything
“good” because here in Romans we see the Holy Spirit is constantly
interceding on our behalf. In Hebrews 7
(and other places the Scriptures) it promises that Jesus Christ the Son of
God is constantly interceding on our behalf. Everything “good” doesn't just happen because of the decree
of God, that's where it's initiated. It's carried out by the intercessory work
of both the Holy Spirit and the Son of God. We are “called” according to His “purpose” – Praise the Lord!
Next
Paul shows us that whom God “foreknew”
He also “predestined”
– His purpose of salvation:
For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren – Romans 8:29
The
goal of our salvation is that we be “conformed
to the image of His Son.” In other words, God is redeeming “many brethren”
– an eternally holy Christ-like glorified race of humanity. And so when we go
to Heaven we're going to receive a glorified body as that of the Lord Jesus
Christ. Not only will we be like Him physically (whatever that physical
glorified body may be like) perhaps we will be like Him in the spiritual
dimension as well. Although we will not become deified – “little
gods” – we will be outwardly and inwardly perfect!
Paul
says that "For whom He
foreknew, He also predestined" – he then continues:
Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified – Romans 8:30
NOTE: Twice Paul says “He predestined” – God proorizo. It's the word horizon
with a prefixed pronoun. It means to appoint before. It's the word to predetermine.
Predestination = predetermining destiny.
God chose us – He predetermined us to be the redeemed. These passages
speak directly to the often harshly debated truths of the Sovereignty of God
and Human Responsibility. In Salvation, do these two important doctrines
mesh? Are they both true? Yes!
It
is here in the “calling” where
God's eternal plan intersects with your life. In eternity past He predetermined
to have a love relationship with you – the Christian. Therefore, He “predestined” your salvation. The first two
– “predestined”
and “called”
– preceded time. The last two – “justified” and “glorified” – flow out of it. We are
the “called” and God is “working all things together for them that love Him and
them who are the called according to His purpose.”
This
is not a reference to an outward general “call”
but an inward effectual “call.”
It has reference to the work of God turning the heart of the believer to
Himself! The once unregenerate heart could never have known God
and could never understand the Gospel. The lost heart is blind, dead and
ignorant of the things of God and without a hope in the world. Salvation is God’s work!
IMPORTANT:
Question:
Do the doctrines of Predestination and Election teach that God chooses
people for damnation?
Answer:
Absolutely not! Nowhere in the Bible is it taught that God chooses
to damn anyone!
When
God saved you, He predetermined to love you and He “predestined” you to be “redeemed” – in eternity past before
the world began. God “called”
you away from your “sin” by
His “grace” and through His “gift” of “faith”
has made you right with Him through Jesus Christ the protatakus –
Preeminent One. And to Him you will give your praises forever and ever… That is
our eternal security
– Halleluiah!
In
Closing:
Remember…
We are not “debtors”
to the “flesh” – the life of
deadness in which we are no longer engaged. We owe the “flesh” nothing and must “die” to it every day. We are “debtors” to
God and have a responsibility to be the kind of obedient Christian He
would have us to be – for His glory and by His “Holy Spirit” power. We must
understand this truth – Thanks be to Jesus
Christ!
In
the year 1656, Richard Baxter in his book titled The Reformed
Pastor wrote the following statements to fellow pastors of his day:
"Take heed to yourselves lest you live in those sins which you preach against in others and lest you be guilty of that which you daily condemn. Will you make it your work to magnify God and when you have done dishonor Him as much as others? Will you proclaim Christ's governing power and yet condemn it and rebel yourselves? Will you preach His laws and willfully break them? If sin be evil, why do you live in it? If it be not, why do you dissuade men from it? If it be dangerous, how dare you venture on it. If it be not, why do you tell men so? If God's threatenings be true, why do you not fear them? If they be false why do you need righteously troubled men... why do you righteously trouble men with them and put them into such fright without a cause? Do you know the judgment of God that they who commit such things are worthy of death? And yet, will you do them? Thou that teachest another, teachest thou not thyself. Thou that makest thy boast of thy law through breaking the law, dishonorest thou God. What, shall the same tongue speak evil that speaks against evil? Shall those lips censor and slander and backbite your neighbor that cry down these and the like things in others? Take heed to yourselves lest you cry down sin and yet do not overcome it, lest while you seek to bring it down in others you bow to it and become its slave yourselves. 0 brethren, it is easier to chide at sin than to overcome it…"
Wow. I find that to be a
very important and humble warning in my own life… And I trust you do as well…
Please continue reading verses 12-30 of
the eighth chapter of Romans.
We are not guaranteed tomorrow – tomorrow may be too late! If you haven't yet made that most important decision of your life, won't you make Jesus Christ your personal Lord and Savior today - before it's too late? Today is the day of Salvation!
If you have been blessed by this message or have a specific question, prayer request or testimony, please send me a note to: encouragingconcepts@live.com
I love hearing from you. Keep reading Encouraging Concepts!
Blessings!
Shane K. Morin <><
Encouraging Concepts
Truth for Today
"Living Life From a Biblical Worldview"Lighthouse Publications <><
