Hope in the Midst of Futility

Where were you When Suffering and Tragedy Strikes

Those who were alive where were you on September 11, 2001? If you were to pose the same question to our Grandparents they might have been asked where were you December 7, 1941, the day that terror reigned down on Pearl Harbor.

You had the 750,000 lives lost in the civil war, the Galveston Hurricane of 1900 where 8,000 lives were lost.

Suffering and tragedy have marked our world from the garden tragedy until today. How do we find hope in the middle of the seemingly futility of this world?

Romans 8:18–25 ESV

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 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. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 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. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

THE TENSION OF THE CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE

We all experience the tension between the Now and not yet reality of our lives.

Meaning we live in this fallen world and many times have forgotten our purpose for existing.

Many believers feel as though it is their responsibility to fix all the problems in the world through social justice and behavior modification.

The reality is that this is not your job. In fact in the text we just read in Romans Paul is reminding us that the world is living in its own futility. The majority of the world is merely living for the present existing world, you live, get all you can while you are here, and then you die and cease to exist.

However, for the believer they are groaning with the rest of creation, waiting and anticipating with great hope something that we cannot see but because of the firstfruit of the spirit that indwells all of God’s children we know that it is a future reality. So how do we live in this tension between the now and not yet?

Note: Look at the text preceeding our text today. Romans 8:17 Paul tells us that as children of God and heirs to the kingdom of God there is a provision of our suffering with Christ.

Notice: Paul say’s “Consider this.....” or basically how could you even consider your present suffering in the same conversation with the glory that is to come?

Life of Comparison

We live in a world of comparison. Everyone is comparing what they do not have compared to someone else, whether it be financially, socially, or spiritually. We compare our jobs, we compare our standard of living, we compare our social circles of popularity and acceptance, we even are guilty of Christians of comparing our success as a church or a follower of Christ with other believers and other churches.

Facebook, is the greatest offender when it comes to comparison. Whether it was the original intention of FACEBOOK, it has become the media platform for comparison. So, what we have been preconditioned to compare a life with God in it as apposed to a life without God. The comparison could also include a life of exclusion, what would I be giving up or excluding from my current life if I did count the cost for following Christ. i.e. (friendships/relationships, addictions/hang-ups/habits, job/career, finances/hobbies).

We live in a world based on comparison.

1. Hope in the Midst of Futility Considers the Glory.

How are you Daily considering the Glory?

Glory:The Word glory: “meaning the weight of something or its worth, worthiness.”“Present suffering not to be compared to the future Glory.”

COUNTING THE COST FOR THE GLORY

How often in your Evangelism (sharing Christ) do you remind people that it is costly to follow Jesus, but so worth it in the end?

When one teacher of the Law cried out, “Teacher, I will follow you anywhere you go.” The Lord didn’t grow giddy with the thought of “one more” in his corner. He told the man to count the cost in these words: “Foxes have holes and birds have nests, but the Son of man has no place to lay his head” (Matt. 8:18-19). Which basically means “welcome to a life of homelessness and costly sacrifice.”

Even more explicitly, the Lord discusses the cost of following him in Luke 14, where he says:

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

Many people might have considered Jesus response harsh or unloving. However, Jesus was preparing people to truly count the cost for following Jesus.

The First suffering is a direct result of “Sin.” If there had been no sin then there would be no suffering in the world.

We know that suffering is an unavoidable part of life, but, we know that we are continually reminded in scripture that this is not our home.

1 Peter 2:11 ESV

11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.

Hebrews 11:13 ESV

13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

The theme of being a stranger and exile in this world are continually pointed out to the church.

Giving up everything is a consequent part of following the Lord Jesus.

Bonhoeffer’s famous words ring true: “The only man who has the right to say that he is justified by grace alone is the man who has left all to follow Christ” (Cost of Discipleship, p. 51). And, “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” Death and cost-paying are constituent parts of discipleship.

So, here is what Jesus in a sense is asking.

Are you willing to come and die for the sake of Christ?

Why do we not call people to count the cost for following Jesus today?

Here is what I believe, I believe that people are more than willing to put their faith and trust in Jesus as long as things are moving around good with little or minimal sacrifice.

However, the minute we are called to sacrifice something we may not verbally start comparing the difference between the fleeting treasures of this world and the eternal treasures of God, however, every time you choose your own selfish motives and desires over God’s in essence you are saying that there are other things that either are on the same level as the kingdom of God or have a higher priority.

When we are left to our own devices we will choose us every time.

Cultural Context

The very strategically placed church of Rome, surrounded by dangers and enemies, was in great need of encouragement.

In reflecting on the glory that is to be revealed in us, as well, of course, as to us, we realize that the reality will by far surpass our greatest expectations or dreams.

2. Hope in the Midst of Futility causes Groaning with Anticipation.

How are you daily Groaning considering your Freedom?

The reason of the “fors”

In order to correctly rejoice in the truths of what Paul is trying to teach the Romans (and us), we need to think about the conjunctions. When Paul says that “creation waits with eager longing” (Romans 8:19) and that “the whole creation has been groaning” (8:22), each of these verses begins with the conjunction “for.”

Paul is communicating that our future glory will surpass our present sufferings, and the greatness of this glory is held with the conjunction: “For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.”

Why should we believe that an incomparable glory is coming for us? Because creation longs to see it. What a great glory this must be if all of creation itself waits with bated breath and anticipation of it’s arrival.

The “revealing of the sons of God” will occur at our bodily resurrection. The resurrection of the dead is highly relevant, because the people of God will be raised to imperishable life. For now we outwardly waste away. Both the rich and wealthy, the wise and the unwise all die. But one day, when we rise with new bodies, we will reveal something important about creation.

(this is where translations of scripture matters some translations like the NIV have omitted the word “for” which connects verse 17b and 18 together)

“For” now the word for clarifies a kind of suffering that is not worthy of even being compared with what is yet to come in the new heaven and new earth.

Note: Last week we read that our status as God’s children has already been inaugurated in the course of our new birth - and this status will be confirmed with a new body when the Lord Jesus returns to raise the dead.

Notice: the word for body in the bodily resurrection is a physical resurrection, so, we will be raised to physical immortality - Glorified.

The better understand the meaning of all creation groans, it helps to consider the context.

In Romans 8:19, Paul says that all creation is eagerly awaiting that future glorious day when God’s children become who they were always meant to be.

J. B. Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English renders verse 19 like this:

“The whole creation is on tiptoe to see the wonderful sight of the sons of God coming into their own.”

Because of the fall of man, every part of God’s creation was subjected to a curse (Romans 8:20).

Under that curse, all creation groans: the ground was cursed for Adam’s sake, thorns and thistles and noxious weeds began to grow, all of Eve’s daughters have labored painfully in childbirth, and death entered the world (Genesis 3:14–19).

Creation is there, and it is not silent. The heavens declare the glory of God (Ps. 19:1), the floods lift up their voice (Ps. 93:3), the rivers clap their hands (Ps. 98:8), and the mountains praise the Lord (Ps. 148:9).

But amid the shouting and rejoicing of the heavens and the earth, you can hear another sound. Creation groans.

Why does it groan? How does it? And when, if ever, will creation’s groaning end?

We long for the day that God’s promises will come full circle to their fulfillment.

THE NATURE OF THE GROANING

Are the groanings good or bad? If we experience an injury we might groan in pain; if we experience emotional exhaustion we might groan in weariness.

But groans don’t only have to mean lament. If you’re watching your favorite sports team play in a high-stakes game, you might groan with anticipation and engagement.

Your investment in the game can take an audible form. If you’re looking forward to call from a friend, you might wait with your phone nearby and verbally express your eagerness.

IN THE PAINS OF CHILDBIRTH

Childbirth is a temporary reality.

Thinking of the groans in Romans 8:22 as anticipatory is suggested by the verse’s graphic depiction of pains.

The “groaning together in the pains of childbirth” is about travail or agony, but the suffering of birth pains does not persist. As in the tension of present sufferings and future glory in 8:18, the pains of childbirth are followed by the joy and delight of the baby coming into the world.

Creation groans, but these are not the groans of total despair. The agonies of a fallen world mean that we lament, but the promises of our faithful God mean that we lament with hope.

Creation groans because things aren’t the way they’re supposed to be, but these groans are hopeful because things aren’t the way they’re going to be.

THE PROMISE OF OUR GROANING

The Lord does not turn his ear from the groans of creation. He hears them, just as surely as he hears the clapping rivers and shouting hills, just as surely as he heard the Israelite's when they were in Egypt.

When Christ returns, he shall come with the answer to creation’s patient waiting. And the answer for our bodies and for the world we inhabit is one word: glory.

*The End Result of our Groaning is Glory.

The children of God will enter a state of bodily freedom when Christ raises them from the dead. They will be raised to behold and reflect the glory of God. They will be glorified.

Creation will be set free from it’s bondage.

Creation groans for glory, for glorification.

And creation eagerly awaits the redemption of our bodies—for our liberation from the grave will usher in a wider liberation affecting the heavens and the earth, a liberation so profound and with such far-reaching implications that John the apostle called it “a new heaven and a new earth.” The first heaven and the first earth, he said, will pass away (Rev 21:1).

The ruin and futility that sin has brought into the world is a predicament of epic proportions. The problem has both spiritual and material dynamics, so the solution must impact the spiritual and the material.

The remedy to the bondage and decay of sinners and their world is not a remedy that merely restores, however. Glorification is not just restoration. It is resurrection and transformation. It is a move not backward but onward, toward the telos—the end—for which God made creation.

*Our Groans are for Shalom.

Shalom means “peace” in Hebrew.

If you were in Israel a good Jew might greet you with the word Shalom and a kiss on the cheek. This is the desire of all Jews that God’s righteousness will be vindicated and the peace that was lost in the Garden of Eden will now be restored through His promised Messiah.

This is the peace and Holiness for which you were created for in the beginning. Our hope will be fulfilled because God is faithful and His promises never fail. So for now we wait eagerly, but we do not wait alone.

Every mighty stream, every rushing river, every shining star, every burst of wind, and every square foot of the earth you travel under foot is declaring the Glory of God and groaning for glorification.

3. Hope in the midst of Futility is the Anchor of our Soul

(Write Down Payment: Describe what this means)

Look at verse 23

We have now been given the firstfruits of the Spirit at our Conversion.

What is the firstfruits of the spirit?

When we come to faith in Christ we receive the firstfruits of what is to come at the resurrection. This firstfruit of the spirit is the guarantee or securing that we are His. We read Paul speaking of the guarantee in Ephesians 1:13-14

Ephesians 1:13–14 ESV

13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

Even now Christians have been adopted into God’s family however, in another sense we are still in the waiting room waiting for the finalization of our adoption to take place. We are waiting for the public display of our standing as children of God.

As of right now today as we sit here in worship our bodies are still subject to death. However one day our souls will have been completely delivered and eradicated from sin and death, and then our bodies will have become transformed, so that they will resemble the glorious body of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ himself. Paul states that to that great day we look forward to in great hope.

Christian Hope

How are you daily experiencing the Hope of God?

Look at how Paul describes the hope we have in Romans 5:1-5

Romans 5:1–5 ESV

1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

*We have been Justified by faith: This is a past action with a present reality of Justification through faith.

*We have obtained Access: This is also a past action that provides unhindered access to the throne of Grace.

*We rejoice in hope of the glory of God: This is a present continuous action that is taking place.

*We rejoice in our suffering:This is a present continuous reality in our lives.

*Hope does not put us to shame, “because”:Paul clarifies why hope does not put us to shame, it is because of God’s love that has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.

Note: The kind of hope that will not put us to shame is the first stage of fruits waiting for the final stage to come in the resurrection of the Body.

This kind of Hope is certain because it relies on God’s Power not our Own.

Clarification: Paul states “for in hope you were saved,” not “by hope.”

What Paul meant was that at some point in the past (probably a different date for each person) we were saved, that salvation was not delivered to us complete in one package. It did not arrive “cut and dried.” On the contrary, it came to us “with a promise of future more things to follow.”

Such elements include salvation, as election, calling, regeneration, basic conversion, faith, justification, and even, in part, sanctification, had already occured. Still to come were further progressions of our sanctification, and finally, at death, and even more fully at Christ’s return, glorification. It is clear, therefore, that Paul could write, “We were saved in Hope.”

The Word’s Hope vs. Christian Hope

Christian hope must always be distinguished from the “hope” we speak about in our daily lives. Very often hope amounts to no more than a desire that something nice may happen to us, plus a belief that it might just take place. In fact, such hope can frequently be defined as “that which precedes a disappointment.”

To give you a visual picture, it is like a drowning man grasping at a straw. But Christian hope is “the anchor of our soul, safe and secure, entering into the inner sanctuary, behind the curtain where Jesus has gone before us on our behalf.

Romans 8:24–25 ESV

24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

The obvious truth of the text is that when that for which a person has been hoping for actually arrives, and is now standing or lying in front of him, so so now that he actually see’s it for himself (implying: and can take hold of it), it ceases to be an object of hope.

Cultural Context

Here is the present day reality: There are those who think that they have already arrived and have nothing else to receive from God.

*They believe that forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors is not for them.

*They believe that they have already received the second blessing and are superior to other Christians. (Catholic Papal Beliefs)

* There are even those who propagate the lie that the body is already perfected, sickness being a figment of the imagination. Any future redemption of the body has little significance for them. (the health and wealth gospel/prosperity)

If this is the case then the Biblical doctrine of Salvation in hope is not for you, who can hope for what he already things he has......?

Note:

Remember Paul said in

Romans 12:3 “Do not think of yourselves more highly than you should.”

Romans 14:10 “You, then, why do you judge your brother, for we will all stand before the judgment of God?”

Romans 14:13 “Let us stop passing judgment on on another, and decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in their way.

Romans 15:1 “We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak.

Philippians 2:12–13 ESV

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Work Out your Salvation with Fear and Trembling

This is the continuing work of the firstfruits in a believers life. The Christian life is not a passive or sedentary life, it is a life of action, it is an active life. It is a life in which we take part in, and are involved with the work of our salvation.

It is not the means of our Salvation, but as James reminds us in James 2:14-16 by asking the question, “what good is it, (salvation) my brothers, if someone says he has faith, but does not have works? Can that faith save him (speaking of saving faith)? He goes on to give the illustration of a brother or sister who is poorly clothed and lacking their daily food, and one of you, without acting simply say’s go in peace, “I hope you get warm somewhere and someone see’s that you get some food, but, it is not going to be me. What good is that? The point James concludes here is that faith by itself, without the firstfruits leading us to action, is dead faith.

How do you tell is someone is living or dead? You take their pulse, to see if the blood is still coursing through their veins. There are some of you here this morning that have been living on life support for a long time. Eventually the life support will be shut down and you will be flat-lining.

The Hope that we are anchored to today is not a dead hope or inactive hope. We are not merely waiting in a comatose, or vegetative state for the final culmination of our faith to be realized.

Cultural Context

The real Christian hope that anchors our Soul trusts in Christ for everything, but also lives for Christ. Along those lines we must ask the all important questions this morning, what does it mean to be a disciple of Christ. Because if you are not His Disciple, then you are not His.

The life of the church is the beautiful picture of the living hope we are called to in Christ Jesus. We gather every Sunday, and on Tuesday’s and Wednesdays in community groups. We are not merely here this morning to take up space or waste our time out of some felt need we might have or obligation to fulfill.

We are here this morning to be active servants in the life of the church as recipients of the blessing of God’s great hope he has so graciously lavished on all who are His children.

Here is the problem, many of you here today have never put your faith into action, you possibly put your faith in Christ alone for your Salvation but, have failed to live out the hope of your Salvation. You see, you cannot have one without the other. You cannot trust God with your eternity on faith and not live it out with your future hope of glory.

CONCLUSION

WHAT ARE YOU FIXING YOUR EYES ON?

The Word glory: “meaning the weight of something or its worth, worthiness.”“Present suffering not to be compared to the future Glory.”

Dwight L. Moody

“A few hours before entering the “Homeland,” Dwight L. Moody caught a glimpse of the glory awaiting him. Awakening from a sleep, he said, “Earth recedes, Heaven opens before me. If this is death, it is sweet! There is no valley here. God is calling me, and I must go.” His son who was standing by his bedside said, “No, no, father, you are dreaming.”

“ “No,” said Mr. Moody, “I am not dreaming: I have been within the gates: I have seen the children’s faces.” A short time elapsed and then, following what seemed to the family to be the death struggle he spoke again: “This is my triumph; this my coronation day! It is glorious!” ”

Here is our Takeaway from what we have read today.

2 Corinthians 4:18 ESV

18 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.

So, we fix our eyes firmly on Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 12:2.

Hebrews 12:2 ESV

2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Jesus is described as the author and finisher of our faith. Not only is Jesus the one who holds our future in His hands he is also the one who sustains our daily life and the finisher of final Journey.