Longing for New Creation
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Romans 8:17-22
Big Idea: Suffering does not compare to future glory, and it will end when new creation comes
Introduction
Well, if there’s one thing to remind us that went not in control, it’s suffering is it? We have all suffered in one form or another. you can’t run away from it. and sooner or later we all the question. Why God? if you are as powerful and strong as you are, why didn’t you stop that terrorist attack on September 11 ? i remember sitting at home, jaw dropped, starring blankly at that tv screen. couldn’t believe my eyes. why God? or seeing a bunch of coptic christians walked down the beach ‘are you a christian?’ yes. you know what happens next. why God?
Sooner or later we ask the when question, when God when will this anxiety end? this mental battle, when is it going to lift? When are you going to give me a spouse? When are you going to give us children? When will the world stop persecuting Christians?
Whether its mental, psychological, relational, spiritual you will ask the questions – why God? and you will ask, when God?
These are real questions
The Bible gives us real answers.
The Bible talks about suffering. It’s realistic, doesn’t shy away from it.
Romans 8 talks about suffering, creation groaning longing for new creation. It’s hopeful. Not blind hope. real solid hope. hope you can trust.
So I have two questions this morning
Suffering: is it worth it and the second question: suffering when will it end? You can find it in your outlines.
Let’s begin with the first question
2. Suffering: Is it worth it? (8:17-18)
Suffering, is it worth it?
Now, if you’ve been with us in this series this talk may feel out of place. We’ve slowed down in Romans 8 really flesh out what it looks like to walk in the Spirit. And each week has just gotten better and better and better hasn’t it?
Romans 8 kicks off bang there’s no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. This is the best news. we are sinful. we have rejected God but Christ has died for us. We can be right with him. There’s no more condemnation. And the news gets better and better and better doesn’t it? We’ve learnt that God’s Spirit dwells in us. He’s taken up home in our hearts. And last week, we learnt that we are led by the Spirit because God is our father. He is the judge of the earth, but we don’t need to be afraid, you and I are adopted into his family. All because of Jesus. It’s wonderful.
But then when we get to verse 17 we get a healthy dose of reality. Look at verse 17 with me
and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
That verse is pretty positive right; children of God, heirs, glorified with God. But one word makes you twitch doesn’t it? Suffer. Did you notice it? It’s conditional. We will enjoy those things if/ provided we suffer with him. walking in the spirit is a path of suffering like Jesus.
Of course, if we think a bit deeper it does make sense. If you are with Jesus, you are part of the same family. Jesus is not just your Lord and Saviour but he is also your older brother. He is 100% God but also 100% human. human like us. So when we suffer, it’s because we’re part of the same family. It’s family resemblance.
This week, I was sitting with Joy on our phones browsing, you know, reminiscing, looking at photos of the kids. Reminding ourselves why we got had them, probably been a hard day lots of tantrums. We ended up trying to work out who Rebecca looks like. She’s our youngest. Joy says: Bri she looks like you, she’s a replica of you. I’m like no I can’t see it – look at this photo, she’s clearly got your mouth, your eyes. To be honest, I would prefer our girls look like their mother, right, why would I want them to look like me. But it’s family resemblance. They are our children. They look like us whether we like it or not.
We’re in God’s family. We’re adopted as his children. He suffers. We suffer. The way of the Saviour is the way of his people. Jesus says Matthew 16:24
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
And friends, if anyone knows what it means to suffer it’s our Lord Jesus. He is not a despot leader – cruel, oppressive sends his subjects into war while he hangs back. No, Jesus comes into our suffering. He gets it.
Here's what Jesus went through
He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Jesus knows suffering. Jesus endured scorn and shame. Jesus was mocked. Jesus was abused. Jesus was shunned by man, rejected by his own people. He knew grief. And Jesus went to the cross.
But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.
Beaten, wiped, crown of thorns on his head, blood nails driven through his hands, suffocated over 3 hours. He steps into this world and suffers. he knows suffering.
Why does he suffer? For our sins. For our transgressions. He did this because of love. He obeys his Father. He loves his people. He died for us. When we grab hold of this fact that we are co-heirs with Christ, when we understand his death and this suffering he went through for us, then it changes our view of suffering doesn’t it? it starts to make more sense. The way of the Messiah is the way of his people. That’s family resemblance.
Friends we need a strong, a robust understanding of suffering. Not just up here, but its got to get down here. following Jesus means we suffer more, not less. we wrestle with our own sins - putting it to death by the Spirit, persecution because we live differently, talk about Jesus. So when we’re asking why God. Remember Christ – the man who knows suffering. he suffered for us. we’re God’s children. he loves us. it’s family resemblance.
And i think it’s also its true, when we suffer that’s when we ask life’s bigger questions. it’s not all bad. My family has been going through a bit of suffering lately. wider family. I’d never heard my sisters say this before – can you please pray for my husband? That he might come to know Jesus.’ never heard that before. It stunned me. When life is going well, we’re self sufficient, nothing to worry about. But when we experiencing suffering, we come to God on our knees, we ask why. it can soften us, stop us from being proud, arrogant, reject God.
But that’s not to say go seek suffering. Force people to ask why. no no, live long enough and suffering will come. Christian or non christian. But notice what Paul says about suffering for the Christian in verse 18. Look at the comparison he makes.
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
How does Paul compare suffering today to glory in the future? Notice the first 3 words for I consider – Paul has thought carefully about this. He comes to conclusion after weighing it up..
He concludes: It’s like he sticks out his chest, and he declares: suffering in this life is not even in the same league as the glory to come.
Imagine I put these two items on a weighing scale. The feather from a magpie near my place, this represents suffering. And the brick represents future glory. What will happen if I put this on the scales? You know what will happen. The brick outweighs the feather. no contest right. it’s a silly comparison.
Friends, Christians might not have the all the answers to suffering. I can’t tell you why the drunk driver who sped stayed alive. But his passengers all died. I can’t. can’t tell you why suffering is distributed unevenly. But when you read verses 17 and 18 you get the best answer.
The buddhist says – suffering is just an allusion
The Hindus say this is just karma – that’s not satisfying
The Muslim says this is the will of Allah – shh
The Atheist shrugs – bad luck.
Look at those answers and compare that to what we have here in Romans 8. This is believable.
We will look back and say
It was all worth it. Jesus suffered for me. He knows suffering. But you know, we are now in eternal glory gathered around the throne of Jesus worshipping, glorifying him forever. It was all worth it.
Friends I’m not saying we don’t experience pain. Grin and bear it. don’t mishear me. Not saying we pretend suffering doesn’t really hurt. Or don’t cry. Stiff upper lip, or we shouldn’t experience pain grief mourning in a very real way. We’re not bullet proof. Jesus wept. John 11:35. Shortest verse in the bible. Jesus wept when his mate Lazarus died.
But here’s the thing; We know Jesus suffered for us on the cross. He calls us to suffer with him. But we suffer with that day in mind. In heaven, around the throne with glorified resurrected bodies. We look back at the suffering now and we go, that was worth it compared to this glory. we need to live with the future in our minds.
(PAUSE)!
When you’re suffering, you can’t wait for the pain to end. When is Jesus returning?
Paul tells us. it won’t be forever. there’s an end point.
Our second question: suffering; when will it end?
3. Suffering: When will it end? (8:19-22)
It will end when God brings in the new creation.
Come with me to verse 19. Let’s read 19 to 22
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.
Paul’s logic sounds a bit tricky. Let’s go through this step by step. I’m going to work backwards;
(slide verse 22 only)
For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.
3.1 Creation groans
Do you notice how creation is described here? Almost like a person. He’s not talking about mother nature. But it’s like creation has human feelings. The whole Creation has been what? groaning. And notice this groaning is described very vividly. Groaning together in the pains of childbirth. I got to say my respect for my wife Joy, skyrocketed in, during, after labour. 10, 20, 30 hours of labour. Just wow. Someone said to me once; labor - it’s like a glorious storm. I think it’s true. After the storm, what do you get? A baby. It’s pure joy. The joy that awaits. That’s why you go through it.
Now Paul uses that imagery to say that creation groans. It’s waiting to be set free. Creation is waiting to be liberated. It will happen.
3.2 Why does it groan?
The difference is it’s not 10, 20, 30 hours. Creation has been groaning for a whole lot longer. How long? Since Adam and Eve sinned in the garden. Look at verse 20
For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope
Now you look at that verses and you think who subjected creation to futility? Here’s the tricky answer. Not Adam and Eve. Not Satan. But God. He made this happen. God cursed the ground. He made the thorns and thistles, the earthquakes, the Tsunamis, the bushfires.
Why? Well it’s because Adam sinned.
We know this because in Genesis 3 God lays out the curses to Adam and Eve. They were the pinnacle – the high point – of God’s creation. They were made to rule the world under God. God gave him that privilege to rule the land, the animals under him.
So when Adam decided to rebel against God. When he decided with Eve they would eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, it had a cosmic impact. Not just for him and his family but for all of us. Come to Genesis 3:17 – God has just cursed the serpent, cursed Eve and now Adam
And to Adam he said,
“Because you have listened to the voice of your wife
and have eaten of the tree
of which I commanded you,
‘You shall not eat of it,’
cursed is the ground because of you;
in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;
God subjected creation to frustration. Why? Because of sin. Creation has been groaning since that day. Friends, can you see how this idea of creation groaning changes the way we see the world?
We might think of creation groaning as an oil tanker spilling oil in the great barrier reef. And that’s right. We might think creation is groaning when there’s global warming, tsunamis, floods, bush fires, earthquakes – I mean, you can’t go to the zoo – I go every couple of weeks with the kids. Creation is groaning, save the animals. do your bit. But actually, the whole of creation groans. I went to bush kinder with my daughter Chloe at Gresswell park. I was a volunteer parent this week. It was great. As we walked we enjoyed the beautiful sun, fluffy white clouds, beautiful greenery. Kids stopped and checked out the millipedes. We had the best time. I was not thinking creation is groaning. I was thinking wow God’s creation is beautiful. But Paul’s point here is the whole of creation has been groaning. Even that beautiful park is groaning. Even the most pristine untouched part of the amazon rainforest.
Look again at verse 20 with me just to make the point clear. how is creation described right now?
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.
Creation wants to be set free. it’s in bondage to corruption. It’s dying. It’s decaying. Its decomposing. This world we live in is broken.
While yes, we want to love our neighbor, recycle, do our best to reduce our carbon footprint. Yet none of that can restore creation to its pristine condition. God has subjected it to futility. Why? Because of human sin.
So friends don’t be afraid to say to a friend the reason why the world is broken is because our relationship with the God who made this world is broken. He has cursed the ground. it’s a warning isn’t it? It’s judgment in place to remind us to turn back to him. Stop living foolishly. of course, we got to be careful when we say that. It’s not this particular earthquake means God’s judging them in particular. We can’t say that. But this whole world is broken. bushfires, droughts, floods should warn you to turn back to God. Repent and turn back to God. Trust in Jesus.
That’s important. You can say that.
But even better, here’s the good news. We know this broken world won’t last forever. it’s subjected to futility in hope. Creation has something to look forward to. What is it? verse 19
For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.
Isn’t the creation like a kid at Christmas. Eagerly awaiting… Walking past presents under the tree. Their eyes light up. They just cannot wait. They are counting down the days. They can see it coming. They are eagerly waiting to see what’s in the present. You don’t eagerly await something that might happen. You eagerly await something that will happen.
What’s creation waiting for? God’s sons to be revealed. The children of God. the whole of creation is waiting urgently, eagerly, longingly for the unveiling of God’s children. like you’re waiting Les Miserables in London and you are waiting for the curtains to be drawn. just can’t wait.
So there it is. Creation is waiting for the Christians to be revealed. it’s waiting for Jesus’ return. When followers of Jesus pass from suffering into glory. This will free creation from its groaning. Why? Because when God’s children are resurrected in Christ – this begins a chain of events that will culminate in a beautiful new creation. When Jesus returns he will make all things new. We will be with him with our perfect resurrected spiritual bodies in a renewed creation.
let’s remember the questions. suffering is it worth it? of course it is. Jesus suffered, he knows our suffering we’re part of the family, more than that our future will be so glorious. it’s not worth commparing. and suffering: when will it end? When the new creation comes. It’s guaranteed, creation is eagerly awaiting, it’s groaning for that day. The unveiling of followers of Jesus. When Jesus returns.
4. Conclusion
So as we conclude I want you to take away 2 things
4.1. Suffer for Jesus by speaking about him
Friends, suffering is part of the ordinary Christian life in this age. it’s the way of the saviour. it is the way of his people. Of course we will suffer all sorts of things. but friends, let’s suffer for the Gospel. if you’re suffering for Jesus. preaching the Gospel, living by the Spirit, you’re on the right track. God is on your side. See creation is longing for the revealing of the sons of God. it’s longing to see followers of Jesus. I hope you didn’t miss that. Creation is not longing for environmentalists. It’s longing for evangelists. What creation wants is not more Greta Thunbergs – ripping into politicians about the environment. But more John Chapmans – ordinary Sydney Anglican evangelist. He preached the Gospel. he lived it. If you want to see the planet saved, come to Jesus. If you want to see the end of global warming – speak about Jesus.
Now please don’t mishear me. It’s a wonderful thing to stop deforestation. We want to love others. We want to be good stewards of what God gives us. This is God’s creation. I hate that there’s plastic in our oceans. But net zero. That’s when Jesus comes back.
We can’t fix this planet but God can and he will bring in a new creation. That’s what we long for. We want our family and friends to be there don’t we? We pray that God will work by his spirit in their lives don’t we? We need evangelists. Ordinary folk who will suffer for Jesus by speaking about him.
4.2 Present suffering, future glory
if that sounds hard, let’s remember this suffering does not compare to future glory.
Friends, when you’re in heaven and you bump into the parent who lost their child, what will they say?
When you speak to your mate who lost his Christian brother tragically in a car accident, or in the presence of another Christian who was persecuted and even died as missionaries in a foreign land, and you ask didn’t you suffer so much in that time?
What will they say? What will they say? Suffering, I did suffer yes. But you know what, it’s not worth comparing what we have now. I’m with Jesus now with my brothers and sisters in Christ gathered to worship and enjoy him forever. Friends its hard for us to believe that, we can be so distracted, so very short sighted. but that is the hope of the Gospel. Remember suffering now, future glory. keep standing with Jesus, remember his sufferings, his great love for you and keep trusting him.
present suffer - future glory.
Let’s pray.