(Romans 8:23-25) How, O Lord, Do I Wait for Glory!

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Nathan Sehi

Bethel Baptist Church

Romans • Sermon • Submitted 5 years ago • Presented 5 years ago • 33:44

The Doctrine of the Last Things

Promise

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One of the hardest tasks we are faced with in the Christian life – is waiting for glory. Our hearts and minds wish every day, more and more … that it was today. But in the perfect wisdom of God we continue to wait. The last 3 verses of this paragraph begin to describe how we should wait.

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Waiting can be the hardest task anyone of us has to do.

ILLUSTRATION:

Do you remember what it was like when you were a kid

or your kids were young

....and it was the night before Christmas.

A famous Christmas poem went like this -

"Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;Twas the night before Yet a whole story about the house being quiet that you couldn't even hear a mouse ... It must be read at a different time or different era because of my experience you have kids sitting there wiggling in their beds wishing it was Christmas morning already.

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;”

Twas the night before Yet a whole story about the house being quiet that you couldn't even hear a mouse ... It must be read at a different time or different era because of my experience you have kids sitting there wiggling in their beds wishing it was Christmas morning already.

It must be written at a different time or different era … because in my experience … kids are wiggling with excitement the night before.

As a kid I stirred with anticipation.

My kids are wiggling in their beds wishing it was Christmas morning already.

I feel for teachers because - Even before Christmas night,

teachers are wrestling with kids to complete their work while all they want to do is start Christmas break.

Because our kids were so excited that they just can't focus.

Waiting for a good thing is hard.

Waiting for a good thing while you're hurting is even harder.

Our text this morning doesn't describe us as kids waiting for Christmas… But as hurting people waiting for the agony and pain to be over.

ILLUSTRATION:

A better description would be the cancer patient, who is waiting for chemo be over and the cancer be gone.

As we consider this paragraph last week, we learned that this world is

futile

painful

corrupt

in bondage.

In fact,

so great is the pain in this world that all creation is described as like a woman groaning in pain and labor.

And we along with it. We are groaning in pain. ()

Nevertheless,

We as Christians have the job of waiting until glory .

In this passage glory is -

when creation will be set free,

We are to wait and hope for the day when creation will be set free, and our bodies will be redeemed.

when creation will be set free,

and our bodies will be redeemed.

()

We are to wait and hope for the day

>>>The question I want to pose before us this morning is -

How do we wait for the glory of God?

Let’s read through this whole paragraph this morning,

as we remember what Paul has said about this world,

but also what he teaches us about waiting for the coming glory of God.

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 question at hand I want us to consider today is -

PROP: How do we wait for the glory of God?

TRANS: And this passage will give three truths we should remember when we suffer.

ILLUSTRATION/EXHORTATION:

How should we wait in hope for the coming Glory?

Waiting is hard.

Reminder - What is glory?

We often think that doing something courageous and brave for God is hard.

It is one thing to tiresly

But many times … the act of being still and waiting on God can leave us desperate and groaning.

>>> It humbles and reminds us that this world is futile and painful.

is a favorite passage of mying … but we forget it written by David during a time of desperate waiting.

Psalm 37:23 ESV

23 The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way;

Psalm 23–24 ESV

A Psalm of David. 1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. A Psalm of David. 1 The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, 2 for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers. 3 Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. 5 He will receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation. 6 Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah 7 Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. 8 Who is this King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle! 9 Lift up your heads, O gates! And lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. 10 Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory! Selah

Psalm 37:23–24 ESV

23 The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; 24 though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand.

Psalm 37:1 ESV

1 Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers!

Psalm 37:7 ESV

7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!

It is interesting that so many of the Psalms are about agony, while waiting on God.

In fact, they are officially called Psalms of Lament.

We think of King David as a mighty man … a strong and courageous soldier with a deep faith in God.

But we forget that the man who slew Goliath at times in his life wrote poems of fear and despair.

May I suggest, that one of the hardest spiritual battles we will face … will be waiting for that day.

While waiting we will face the greatest temptations of our faith.

Our minds, and hearts, and

While waiting we will face the greatest doubts of our faith.

While waiting we will face the greatest fears of our faith.

And while waiting we will face greatest weakness of our faith.

Do not take this passage lightly today … because waiting for that day will be one of the hardest Spiritual battles you will face.

>>>>>>>>Having said that, … waiting is hard … but not without hope.

This passage wasn’t written to describe how awful this world is,

but to reminds us that the glory to come is incomparable to our present suffering.

And Paul gives 3 truths that will help us wait for the wonderful day of Glory.

The first truth -

1) Remember hope is found only in Jesus Christ. ()

The only reason we can hope today is because of Jesus Christ.

Without a personal belief in Jesus dying on the cross to save us from our sins … we have no hope.

- We have no hope when we stand before God.

>>>>>We could go on and talk about how believing in Jesus saves us from punishment forever, “in hell”, …

- We also could say we would have no hope for the pain and agony of this world to end.

but the point of this passage is that through Jesus Christ

- each one of us who trust him as our savior … have promise that creation and our bodies will be one day redeemed.

Look how Paul points us to salvation in Christ as our hope from the suffering of this world.

Romans 8:23–24 ESV

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?

Romans 8:22–24 ESV

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?

“For in this hope we were saved”

What is Paul's big answer to suffering in this world?

May I personalize it,

what is the big answer to your suffering in this world?

ILLUSTRATION:

When we hurt… We look to doctors, lawyers, or our personal planning.

And I'm not saying that in the right way and in the right time there is not a place for that.

But at the end of the day… At most these are tools to help us endure.

The are not redemption.

Redemption is the idea be set free.

Paul

Nothing in this world can set us free from suffering of this world.

Nothing.

Which is why Paul doesn’t point us to this world… In fact he points out what is wrong with this world.

What does he point us to? … The hope found only in Jesus Christ.

In a attempt to simplify salvation…

In a attempt to simplify salvation… We've reduced the gospel of Jesus Christ to an insurance policy that protects us from God's holy anger.

We as evangelicals have often reduced the gospel of Jesus Christ to an insurance policy that protects us from God's holy anger.

But that is only one part of the Gospel.

The Gospel is so much more then just savings us from our sins.

That is the reason our identity changes when we are believers in Christ.

Just in this book consider what the Gospel is.

It is certainly salvation from sin. ()

It is adoption as children of God.

It is freedom from the slavery of sin. (, in particular)

It is adoption as children of God. ()

And now Paul points us to another reality - the Gospel gives us a promise to end suffering.

We are saved with a promise.

The promise that one day … God will take away the suffering of this world.

Only Jesus Christ can offer us that … and thus hope in the midst of suffering can only be found in Jesus Christ.

So a basic

So consider the question at hand - how do we wait for Glory?

Everyday I hope you wake up and remember the promise of redemption that Jesus Christ has given us.

Everyday … part of your prayers should include both confession that I believe in Christ and thankful praise for his salvation.

And that praise should include the whole Gospel.

That is yes -

salvation from God’s just anger … but also

Freedom from besetting sin

Comfort as adopted children.

And the promise of being saved from suffering.

Why is a daily habit of confessing Christ so important?

Because in this world you will suffer.

All of us will groan together at some point in life.

But we need to purposefully, carefully, intentionally remind ourselves that this world is not forever.

We need to carefully prepare our souls to hope in Christ alone when we suffer.

And I think the best way to do that … is to make it part of our daily prayers.

{{{{Wake up every morning remembering that Christ has saved you and he has saved you from the suffering of this world. }}}}

So - how do we wait for Glory?

First, We remember the hope found in Christ.

We remember the hope found in Christ.

Why is Paul telling us to

What is Paul telling us about the future hope in God?

And secondly,

2) Remember our hope is in the future - we cannot see it now. ()

Literally the hardest part about waiting is that we can't see it.

We can't touch it… It has to be a matter of faith.

When we suffer, especially when suffering catches us by surprise.

We find it hard to wait.

We have to have faith and trust that God will keep his promises.

It is so hard to wait.

- When we suffer were tempted to doubt the reality of God.

- We are tempted to - ask questions like - does God care?

We ask questions like - does God care?

We wonder - if God loves us?

- We often struggle with anxiety and fear.

- Depression is common.

We are often literally at the weakest point of our faith - when we suffer.

The section Paul cautions us about hard it is to wait.

What this is so hard

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.

Romans 8:24 ESV

24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?

If I was to say what Paul said here

- you would say okay Capt. obvious.

>>> Hope is to look to something that you can’t see.

But I am not the one who said it –

Paul did... which means God did.

Why would Paul tell us something so obvious?

Because we struggle with remembering this world is not everything.

Because we believe this world is everything

- we feel like are whole world is crashing down when we suffer.

Suffering is temporary ...

ILLUSTRATION:

In 2012 I moved to Minneapolis.

Minneapolis is one of those towns that host a lot professionals such as engineers, corporate executives, and lawyers.

In the course of being there,

I met a number of people who in 2008 lost their job just short of retirement.

For many, they were at an age in which the business world no longer wanted to look at them.

>>>> In a tight market, a close to retiring executive simply is not an ideal candidate.

In a tight market, a close to retiring executive simple is not an ideal candidate.

So they had to take jobs which paid less and came with less prestige.

And many dreamed of the good old days.

Where depressed and frustrated with what they had lost.

They resented having to work nights.

But while there I was impressed by one particular person.

A believer, who was an engineer, but ended up having to work at a medical equipment factory.

He was an engineer, but ended up having to work at a medical equipment factory.

For many, when they lost their jobs their whole world fell apart.

>>>>Because to them this world is everything.

But this one individual was different,

because he was thriving in his lower paying and less prestigious job and often night job.

Why?

Because he found a place where he could uniquely reach people for Christ.

Because of his faith in the promises of God

… The world said his whole world was crashing down,

but he it just kept doing what he had always done.

Serving the Lord, waiting for the day, when glory comes.

You see – if this world is everything to you,

then suffering brings down your whole world

After all, this is all that matters.

But if your believer, trusting in the future glory of God … then suffering isn’t the end of the world as you know it.

But a short burp in our eternal life.

Paul makes the point – we are not living something we can see now, something we hope for the promises of God.

and Glory has not yet come.

Because we believe this world is everything … we forget that there is something better to come.

God has promised us redemption ... but today is not the day of redemption.

In fact, glory so outweighs even the suffering of this life… that suffering really doesn’t matter.

We have to have faith and trust that God will keep his promises.

Realize you cannot see glory today.

This world in no way can satisfy you because it's not glory.

We hope for something we cannot see yet.

When you suffer, realize your suffering, is but a burp compared to the wonderful treasures you have in Christ.

If you keep your eye on that which is to come… Then you can live the life joy and hope even as you suffer.

If you keep your eye on that which is to come

Rather then the suffering of now… Then you can live a life of joy and hope, even as you suffer.

So,

How do we wait for glory.

We -

We Remember hope is found in Christ alone.

We Remember hope is in the future - we can’t see it now.

But thirdly

The third truth -

3) Remember hopeful waiting is characterized by patience. ()

Recognize how these truths were talking about stack upon each other.

The foundation to waiting for glory is remembering that hope is only found in Christ.

Then we need to remember that this world is not glory, but we need to look towards the future for glory.

But finally,

teaches us the kind of character we should have as we wait for the return of Jesus Christ.

Read in the text with me if you would –

Romans 8:25 ESV

25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

If you are a believer in Christ,

and know what you have been promised in God,

you realize that this world suffering is incomparable to that which is to come,

And that which is here now is not that glory

Then what single task do you have?

>>>> You have the job to wait.

We literally have the job to wait until the day Christ returns and glory is given.

The question at hand really becomes – how do I wait?

According to this text we are to wait >>>>>>>>>>>>>> with patience.

Other possible translations might include

perseverance

or endurance.

One of the hardest tasks we face in the Christian life… Is not in the grand task God is given us, but for living patiently in a fallen world.

One of the hardest tasks we face in the Christian life… Is not in the grand task God has given us,

but in living patiently in a fallen world.

What does it mean to suffer patiently?

And I think we have to look back at an important passage in .

Romans 5:3–5 ESV

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.

As we can compare the parallels – between and :

According to this passage as we can compare the parallels –

We need to realize the suffering happens for a reason.

Together we need to realize the suffering happens for a reason.

God grows us through this suffering.

Suffering is not a sign of a God who doesn’t care … but a sign of a God who immensely cares.

Patience means enduring the training program of God.

From a topical sense,

patience means to experience suffering with –

joy

endurance

godly character

and hope.

If we are looking to Christ,

and we have the Holy Spirit,

we are remembering the promises of God… then we have everything we need to wait patiently.

We can suffer with joy, endurance, godly character, and hope.

But we have to choose.

Let me ask you - are you waiting patiently?

On one hand doubt and struggle is natural.

and on the other hand … we have to ask -

- Am I waiting patiently by living with joy, endurance, Godly character, and hope.

- Am I allowing my flesh to control me, waiting with bitterness, besetting sins, and fear.

When we realize in suffering where true hope is found … it changes everything.

Because of Christ

… I challenge us to face suffering not with fear and anger

… or use it as an excuse to sin and doubt against God.

But instead to endure this world with patience … as we await the coming glory.

CONCLUSION:

Impatience is a sin that afflicts us in both obvious and not so obvious ways. Some of the most serious distortions of Christian truth are a direct result of people’s impatience.

What provokes people, for example, to go around teaching that God always wills healing and that Christians, if they are truly believers, will never be sick? The logic of that is that if they were never sick, they would never die, and we should expect that they would be translated into heaven in the same way as Enoch and Elijah. That wrong teaching is a result of human impatience with present suffering. It is as if we were claiming for the present what God has promised for the future.

The same thing happens with perfectionism: people claiming that they can have total victory over sin in this world. We certainly will be glorified as God has promised, but in the meantime we struggle with sin as well as with sickness and death. It is impatience with the struggle that produces these wrong theologies.

CONCLUSION:

So, consider this passage.

How do we wait for the coming glory?

Based on this text - when we suffer we should -

TRANS: And this passage will give three truths we should remember when we suffer.

1) Remember hope is found only in Jesus Christ. ()

2) Remember our hope is in the future - we cannot see it now. ()

3) Remember hopeful waiting is characterized by patience. ()

When we suffer, especially when suffering catches us by surprise.

Context/Application - The hard part of waiting is being patient through the futility, pain, corruptness (suffering)

Would you examine a your life, and would people by your time, energy, confession, and prayers … that you are waiting for the Lord to come?

How should we wait in hope for the coming Glory?

When we suffer, especially when suffering catches us by surprise.

We find it hard to wait.

While waiting we will face the greatest temptations of our faith.

While waiting we will face the greatest doubts of our faith.

While waiting we will face the greatest fears of our faith.

And while waiting we will face greatest weakness of our faith.

That is -

- When we suffer were tempted to doubt the reality of God.

- We are tempted to - ask questions like - does God care?

We wonder - does God loves us?

- We often struggle with anxiety and fear.

- Depression is common.

We are often literally at the weakest point of our faith - when we suffer.

While waiting we will face the greatest doubts of our faith.

While waiting we will face the greatest fears of our faith.

And while waiting we will face greatest weakness of our faith.

But this passage gives us the prescription to thrive while waiting on God in a futile, painful, and corrupt world.

“Even in the regenerate man there is no power of goodness in himself: he has and can have nothing that he does not each moment receive; and waiting on God is just as indispensable and must be just as continuous and unbroken, as the breathing that maintains his natural life. It is, then, because Christians do not know the relation to God of absolute poverty and helplessness, that they had no sense of the need of absolute and unceasing dependence, or the unspeakable blessedness and continual waiting on God.” (Andrew Murray, Waiting on God)

This passage gives us the prescription to thrive while waiting on God in a futile, painful, and corrupt world.

Andrew Murray, an old Dutch Reformed Pastor in South Africa once wrote -

“Even in the regenerate man there is no power of goodness in himself: he has an can have nothing that he does not each moment receive; and waiting on God is just as indispensable and must be just as continuous and unbroken, as the breathing that maintains his natural life. It is, then, because Christians do not know the relation to God of absolute poverty and helplessness, that they had no sense of the need of absolute and unceasing dependence, or the unspeakable blessedness and continual waiting on God.” (Andrew Murray, Waiting on God)

Because of the Gospel

- let’s leave here with hope and patience … even when we suffer.

HANDOUT: R.C. Sproul on the dangers of Impatience in :

R.C. Sproul on the dangers of Impatience in :

Impatience is a sin that afflicts us in both obvious and not so obvious ways. Some of the most serious distortions of Christian truth are a direct result of people’s impatience.

Response:

a) Why is Christ the foundation of hope and endurance of suffering?

b) Why is it important to remember that we cannot presently see glory, but hope for glory?

c) What does a Godly patience in suffering look like? (See -3-5) What does impatience look like? (See the quote below)

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