Romans 8:18-39: From Groaning to Glory

Introduction

https://www.foodandwine.com/gravestone-recipes-cookbook-to-die-for-11830092 - Recipes on a headstone? A way to preserve the legacy of someone.

Why would you carve a recipe on a headstone? No one wants death to be the final word. We look for ways for the memory of someone to live on…

For Christians, death is NOT the final word. Resurrection life awaits us. Future glory is coming.

Knowing that resurrection life awaits us gives us much hope in this present life.

Life right now doesn’t always feel glorious. There’s much joy in this life AND much groaning in this life. We groan over broken relationships, sickness and disease, frustrations on the job, frustrations in the home, tragic events, natural disasters, wars.

Maybe this morning you’re groaning because of frustrations of this life.

You won’t always groan. In Romans 8:18-39. Someday, your groaning will give way to eternal glory.

From this passage, I want to show you three realities that will help you in your groaning as you await future glory.

We have hope in our suffering (vs. 18-25).

vs. 17 - Paul reminded us that those in Christ will share in the sufferings of Christ. If the world opposed our Savior, the world will oppose those who follow the Savior.

vs. 18-19 Paul knew what it was like to suffer for following Jesus (2 Corinthians 11:24-25).

All the suffering that comes with living in this broken world is not comparable to the eternal glory that awaits us. The suffering is REAL and PAINFUL but eternal glory will one day outweigh it completely.

vs. 19-21 - The entirety of God’s creation waits and groans for future glory.

Creation suffered the collateral damage of humanity’s rebellion - decay, death, natural disorder, chaos, etc. Because humanity fell, creation was subjected to the curse along with us.

BUT - when Christ returns - you’ll receive your glorious inheritance AND creation will be set free.

vs. 22 - Right now, creation groans like a mother in labor - painful but with hopeful anticipation. Someday this old world will give way to a new creation where everything will be right, far greater than what we experience now, and permanent.

Life might not get easier, but glory is coming.

vs. 23 - We have the Spirit as the firstfruits - a foretaste of what’s to come - and we groan with longing for what’s to come - full redemption of our bodies, no longer stained by sin and brokenness.

We were saved in this hope. We can’t see it now, but we wait eagerly for what’s to come.

Hope is confident expectation that God will finished what He’s promised when nothing looks finished.

Paul is not answering all the questions as to WHY we suffer, but he does want us to have a hopeful perspective when we suffer. How to maintain hopeful perspective:

Ask yourself, “Will my present suffering define my story in eternity?” We tend to let our suffering define our present - can’t see past it, complain about it, let it paralyze us, etc. We don’t minimize suffering, but it doesn’t define us. Your story is defined by God’s finished work in your life. Paul encouraging an eternal perspective (2 Corinthians 4:17-18).

See your suffering as God’s tool, not His absence. “How long?” is our frequent question. But, God is accomplishing in your suffering - creating a longing for eternity in you, teaching you patience, making you more like Jesus, deepening your dependance on Him, and detaching you from this present world.

Let suffering do its work. We want to get out of suffering, God wants to form you in suffering. When you suffer, look for what God is teaching you. What does He want you to see about yourself? What does He want you to learn about Him?

Olympic curlers - suffer for the opportunity to be on the stage as gold medalists - suffering preparing them for glory - the Gold Medal has already been given to you - you have your eyes on a prize you’ve already received - you’re willing to suffer not HOPING you will get the prize but knowing the PRIZE is yours.

We have help in our weakness (vs. 26-27).

When we suffer, prayer is hard. We don’t know what to pray. We’re overwhelmed by the pain and it leaves us inarticulate before God.

How many of us have ever felt like our prayers are inadequate before God?

Your inadequacy does not nullify your prayers, it deepens your dependency on the Spirit’s help.

In our suffering, we want to pray, “Take it away,” and at the same time we want to pray, “Don’t waste my suffering, God. Use it in my life.” Which requests aligns with the will of God?

We can’t see the bigger picture. It makes our prayers feel so weak. You’ve asked, “Do my prayers even matter?“(Paul’s example in 2 Corinthians 12.)

Luke thank you card - doesn’t know the right thing to say. We feel that way before God.

Paul does not tell us to try harder to pray better. He tells us the Spirit helps us in our weakness. Paul is NOT telling us that the Spirit prays instead of us. Paul is telling us that the Spirit intercedes our prayers with inexpressible groanings.

Our help comes from the Lord. The Spirit is at work on your behalf. He takes your groanings before the Father. The Father knows your heart, and He knows the work of the Spirit who dwells within you. He knows that you want to honor Him, that you want to be in His will. The Spirit expresses the intentions of your heart to the Father.

This is encouraging: God does not expect you to know exactly what to pray for in every situation, but the Spirit of God knows how to help you by groaning on your behalf before your Father.

If the Spirit is present to intercede:

You should never feel like you cannot pray. There are no wasted prayers. There’s no fear that you’re going to pray the wrong thing. In suffering, pray, even if it’s only a sentence. “Lord help me. I’m overwhelmed. Give me wisdom.” What if you prayed more and complained less about how hard life is? God knows it’s hard.

You don’t have to wait until you know how to pray to pray. You don’t need to take a class on prayer or be an expert in prayer to pray. Just pray! You might not pray for an hour in the morning, but you can come before your Father throughout the day asking for help and giving Him praise for how you see Him at work.

You don’t have to grade your prayers. God is not grading your prayers. If you grade your prayers, you may be tempted to NOT pray. Don’t compare how you pray to others. Instead, learn from others. God welcomes your inadequacy and weakness. (Embarrassed by our prayers - especially in public.) As you pray, the Spirit will work, and you’ll grow in your ability to communicate with God.

We have confidence in our victory (vs. 28-39)

We not only have help, we have confidence. These final verses in Romans 8 exude confidence in the Lord.

vs. 28 - We’re confident that God works all things together for our good. NOT some things or most things.

For the good of His children who God has called into a relationship with Himself. God has no ill intentions for you. Everything He does is for His glory AND for our good. We are His children, heirs to His Kingdom.

The “good” might not always be what we think is best, but the “good” is always what God knows is best for His children.

vs. 29-30 cause us to ask questions: What is predestination? Do we have free will? Paul not writing to confuse us about predestination but to assure us that from eternity past, God’s plan has always been for His glory and our good.

In eternity past, God foreknew you - language of relationship. Before you were ever born, God set His love on you. He predestined you. Before you were born He determined He was going to do a work of salvation in you to conform you to the image of His Son - who is the “firstborn” - or the older brother who is the One we are all to be like.

Those God predestined, He called. All followers of Jesus have experienced God’s calling. He called you out of death and into life through a relationship with Him. You were justified and ultimately, you will be glorified. There will come a day that you will have a resurrected body like Christ and will forever live with Him in the new heavens and new earth.

vs. 31-39 - If all this is true, what can you say? How could you ever have the thought that God has nothing but good intentions for you? When the question, “Is God against me?” crosses your mind, let Romans 8:31-39 silence that question.

vs. 32 - If God gave up His most precious possession, His Son, for us, how could we ever think that He would not give us all that He has promised us?

vs. 33 - Who can bring a charge against you? God has already declared you righteous. Let people declare you guilty all they want. You know it’s not true.

vs. 34 - Who can condemn you? The only ONE who has the right to condemn you condemned His own Son in your place so you could go free. Further, His Son died in your place and then defeated death. He is now at the right hand of God interceding for you.

vs. 35 - There’s no condemnation and no separation. No suffering or affliction can separate you.

vs. 36 - Quote from Psalm 44:22 - Lament - people suffering BECAUSE they belong to God - We feel like we’re facing death daily. There’s so much opposition. But - NONE of the challenges you face have the ability to separate you from God’s love.

vs. 37-39 - We are MORE than conquerors. None can break the chain of vs. 30. Every link depends on the sustaining power of God. God will not lose any that He foreknew and predestined.

Nothing in the physical realm (death nor life) nor the spiritual realm (angels or rulers) nor anything in time (things present or to come) nor anything that opposes God’s people (powers) nor spatial (height nor depth) nor anything in creation can separate you from the love of God. Nothing!

You will suffer, but rest assured, no ounce of suffering changes the victory you have in Christ. You can be confident in your victory.

How can you walk in confidence?

Remember your story. Often look back and remember how God saved you. Look back and see how God has been with you in every season of life. Do you think He is going to stop rescuing you? (I wish I would have journaled more - taken more time to write down the God moments in my life.)

Hear the story of others. You’re in a church full of “more than conquerors.” Let the stories of other followers of Jesus encourage you to keep your eyes on Jesus when life is difficult. Make space for times of testimony in your small groups.

Live on His mission with boldness. What would you do differently this week if you truly believed that nothing could separate you from God’s love? Would that change the way you live in the present? How you share the Gospel? How you obey?

This morning, if you don’t know the Savior, believe that Jesus died and rose again for you. Repent of your sins and experience victory in Jesus that will give you hope of future glory.