2020-04-12 Covid Easter Romans 8
Notes
Transcript
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.
19 For the creation eagerly waits with anticipation for God’s sons to be revealed.
20 For the creation was subjected to futility—not willingly, but because of him who subjected it—in the hope
21 that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage to decay into the glorious freedom of God’s children.
22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now.
23 Not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits—we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.
24 Now in this hope we were saved, but hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees?
25 Now if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience.
Rom 8:18-25
I. The world is broken.
I. The world is broken.
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.
19 For the creation eagerly waits with anticipation for God’s sons to be revealed.
20 For the creation was subjected to futility—not willingly, but because of him who subjected it—in the hope
rom 8:
A. How did the world break?
A. How did the world break?
Rom 8:
20 For the creation was subjected to futility—not willingly, but because of him who subjected it—in the hope
Illus: When I say that the world is broken I want to be clear. Our world is under the curse of death, and everything it will continue to produce death and destruction on this earth.
To understand the way our world is now we have to go all the way back to the begining of the Bible.
When God created the world he created it perfect. Adam, Eve, and creation lived in perfection with God.
It really was a place of life. There was a tree in God’s garden called the tree of life where Adam and Eve could eat and live for ever.
That said, God also gave Adam and eve the choice to live under his authority or not. There was a single tree in the garden which God instructed them not to eat form.
The choice was simple, live under God’s authority and experience perfect life, rebel against God and experience death.
BUT, Adam and Eve chose to rebel against God by eating from the single tree God told them not to eat of.
Because of that single act, God brought punishment to Adam and Eve, and as a result of their rebellion the world of life became a world of death.
Before you get angry at Adam and Eve about the mess they made, understand that you are culpable too. The Bible teaches that your rebellion against God is not different that Adam and Eve’s.
12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned.
B. We can see the effects of our broken world today.
B. We can see the effects of our broken world today.
20 For the creation was subjected to futility—not willingly, but because of him who subjected it—in the hope
Illus: Let’s take a moment and talk about what we are seeing in the world around us today. We live in a broken world of death.
The question needs to be answered how can something like the corona virus exist, and the answer is simple. We live in a world still under the curse of death.
Our world is quaking with this curse.
Viral outbreaks, natural disasters, mass shootings are all symptoms of a single source. We live in a world cursed by death and furthered by the devil.
When we ask , how can such things exist, it is important to look back to the very beginning of the bible when death took up residence on this earth.
BUT… We know that it is not permanent. Our sovereign God has and is working out a plan to transform our world.
10 The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little while.
II. This world will be set free.
II. This world will be set free.
20 For the creation was subjected to futility—not willingly, but because of him who subjected it—in the hope
21 that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage to decay into the glorious freedom of God’s children.
22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now.
23 Not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits—we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.
Rom 8:20-
A. God is going to set us free from our broken world.
A. God is going to set us free from our broken world.
20 For the creation was subjected to futility—not willingly, but because of him who subjected it—in the hope
21 that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage to decay into the glorious freedom of God’s children.
Illus: When sin and death came into our world God could have destroyed the world and reset it, but in doing so he would have doomed the human race.
To understand the way our world is now we have to go all the way back to the begining of the Bible.
When God created the world he created it perfect. Adam, Eve, and creation lived in perfection with God. BUT, Adam and Eve chose to rebel against God by eating from the single tree God told them not to eat of.
Because of that single act, God brought punishment to Adam and Eve, and as a result of their rebellion the world of life became a world of death.
God could have destroyed the world and reset it, but in doing so he would have doomed the human race.
Instead he began a plan of coming to this world of brokenness taking on all the weakness of humans in Jesus christ.
God became a human being, Jesus Christ. He lived the perfect life, he suffered just as we do, he was tempted just like we are.
God did all of this to free us from the punishment for our rebellion, and the curse of death we are due.
When Jesus died on the cross, God embraced all of the brokenness of man, he embraced all of the death of the world, and faced both physical and spiritual death.
It didn’t end there. Jesus, as God, did what no mere human could. He conquered death and the curse it has brought to this world.
Easter is the celebration that we hold saying death has already been defeated, and looking forward to when God makes all things new.
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
2 I also saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.
3 Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God.
4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away.
Rev 21:
B. In your pain, long for eternal restoration.
B. In your pain, long for eternal restoration.
22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now.
23 Not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits—we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.
Illus: It is ok to feel the sting of living in the world of death. We feel it today.
The sheer oddness of meeting across this parking lot with widows closed unable to get out of our cars and talk with one another should feel unsettling.
It should create in us a longing for the world to be put back in order.
We are not the people who pretend like everything is ok.
Every time our world brings death back to our eyes we should yearn for God to make all things new.
Many times when people talking about the coming of God there is a terror there.
Yes, one day all that we know on this earth will be destroyed. Don’t we want the corona virus to be destroyed? Don’t we want a better place than a world where mass shootings and constant strife are the norm?
Embracing the resurrection of Jesus is knowing that there is a resurrection waiting for us and our world when God makes every thing new.
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief; on that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed.
11 Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, it is clear what sort of people you should be in holy conduct and godliness
12 as you wait for the day of God and hasten its coming. Because of that day, the heavens will be dissolved with fire and the elements will melt with heat.
13 But based on his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
III. Place your hope in God’s future resurrection.
III. Place your hope in God’s future resurrection.
Rom 8:24
24 Now in this hope we were saved, but hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees?
25 Now if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience.
A. Embrace a patient hope in God.
A. Embrace a patient hope in God.
Ilus: One question you might ask is why doesn’t God just fix things now.
Here is the simple answer. God is giving every person the choice to embrace the resurrection of Jesus.
What does that mean? Adam and Eve’s sin was rejecting the authority of God. When they sinned, rebelled against God, they came under the curse of death.
When you sin, you continue under the curse that Adam and Eve began.
BUT, since God has worked in Jesus conquring death, you don’t have to remain under the curse.
You can embrace the life of Jesus through faith.
What is faith? Faith is more than just wanting to go to heaven, it is embracing Jesus’ sacrifice and placing yourself under his authority.
It is rejecting the way of Adam in the garden and embracing new life.
Today I want to give you the opportunity to place yourself under God’s authority. (Salvation prayer)
Now, if you have genuinely trust Jesus, embrace what God promises.
31 What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us?
32 He did not even spare his own Son but offered him up for us all. How will he not also with him grant us everything?
31 What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us?
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,
39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Rom 8:37
Rom 8: