Romans 8:18-30

Main idea: Being led by the Spirit requires a partnership between an expectantly patient person and the loving, sovereign will of God.

Verses 18-25 give four characteristics of an expectantly patient person.

Verses 18-19 - He does not grow weary in today’s afflictions because there is a better, not-yet-revealed future.

For centuries, the Jewish community anticipated their current way of life would be replaced with something the covenant would deliver. They believed that is was a “better, not-yet-revealed” future. Isaiah 65:17 says, “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.” One commentator said, “Jews anticipated a glorious time when all pain, oppression, slavery, anxiety, sorrow and persecution would end and the Lord would establish his own perfect kingdom of peace and righteousness.”

That is comparable to us saying, “Jesus can come back any day now.” We speak words of anticipation, but do we live with an anticipation that we could be removed from this world and be face-to-face with Jesus Christ today?

Look at verse 19 - part of the “better, not-yet-revealed” future is the revealing of authentic believers. We should be able to agree that believers and unbelievers have lifestyle commonalities. We fish in the same lakes. We go to same beaches. We eat in the same restaurants. We drink the same coffee. We wear the same clothing. We play the same video games. As we get closer to the return of Jesus, the lifestyle and morality separation between believers and unbelievers is supposed to widen. That is how authentic believers are revealed.

Let me shepherd you for a moment. As the morality separation widens in our country, I believe isolating ourselves from unbelievers is unhelpful and unbiblical. Write this down - a lamp stored in the attic has no mission. Matthew 5:14-16.

Chris, it’s easier to avoid the moral mess. I’m certain that getting on a cross so that glory could be revealed wasn’t easy either. We are not called to live an easy life. We are called to live on mission so a “better, not-yet-revealed” future can be revealed for the glory of God.

Verses 20-22 - He anticipates that life’s bondage to sin and corruption will be replaced with a guarantee of the “freedom of the glory”.

Verses 23 - He remains eager for the fullness of his adoption and redemption.

Look at Galatians 5:16:24 for a moment.

Verses 24-25 - His hope looks beyond what he can understand about God’s activity around him.

Verses 26-30 give four attributes of the loving, sovereign will of God.

Verse 26 - An unlimited supply of help to sustain our weaknesses.

Verse 26 - Gracious intercession on our behalf when we do not know what to pray.

Verse 27-28 - Merciful shepherding that shapes us and works in us according to the Lord’s best interest.

Verse 29-30 - A continual call that conforms a believer in a way that continually glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ.