Romans 8 - Part 2

In the first part of Chapter 8, Paul speaks of true life that comes through the Holy Spirit; no condemnation can come to those who are in Christ Jesus. Since Christians are then in the Spirit, we are also adopted into the family and heirs with Christ. Now Paul focuses on the argument all believers will eventually be freed from struggling and suffering.

Paul has already made the following points: He looks forward to the day where he will be glorified like Christ, and is waiting for the day sin is overthrown and all is returned to the way God intended. Paul looks FORWARD to God’s larger plan. You see He understood and connected OUR need of final redemption. Yet, he also points out that it will be a struggle until we are glorified! The reality of suffering in this life is undeniable, but, for believers, it is also unavoidable.

Future Glory

Romans 8:18 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.

Why is suffering for a believer unavoidable?

Suffering for a believer can come from either persecution, or from the struggle of the spirit to overcome the flesh and this world. Christ said He came so that we could have life and life more abundantly. The struggles in this world try to steal that abundant life we have been promised. Looking back at Romans 8:17 we realize we suffer not alone, but suffer WITH CHRIST “and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him (in order that) we may also be glorified with him.” but notice the promise in order that we may also be glorified with Him. Suffering draws us closer to Christ, and makes us rely more on Him, and to grow in our trust. In doing so, we may not understand why we suffer, the purpose behind our trials and tribulations, but focus more like Paul on what is to come. The future glory will be immeasurable compared to the struggles we will endure while on earth. So, the question may come up, Is the suffering really worth it?

1 Corinthians 2:9 ESV

9 But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—

In our study of Revelation - we saw a description of heaven and the worship taking place there, so I will answer in the way I have gotten responses from kids…duh.

Romans 8:19–22 ESV

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.

The word creation refers to everything under man: animal, plant, and mineral. All creation is pictured as living and waiting expectantly for the day when the sons of God shall be glorified. The words earnest expectation (apokaradokia) mean to watch with the neck outstretched and the head erect. It is a persistent, unswerving expectation, an expectation that does not give up but keeps looking until the event happens.

What three things does Paul point out about creation?

1) Creation is subject to corruption. All creation suffers hurt, damage, loss, deterioration, erosion, death, and decay—all creation struggles for life. It is full of vanity (mataios), that is, condemned to futility and frustration, unable to realize its purpose, subject to corruption. Creation did not willingly choose to be condemned to corruption. The world was made to be the home of man, the place where he lived. Therefore, when man sinned, his world was doomed to suffer the consequences of sin with him. Man’s world was cursed right along with him. The news of Scripture is glorious: the situation of the world is neither hopeless nor final. Creation has the same hope of redemption and of renovation as man. The world was made for man, therefore all creation shall be ultimately delivered from corruption just as man shall be delivered from corruption.

2) Creation shall be delivered from corruption. Whatever happens to man is bound to happen to his world. Man is the summit of God’s creation; therefore, all that is under man is intertwined, interwoven, and interrelated to him. When man fell, his world was bound to fall with him. But this is the glorious news as well. When man is liberated from corruption, his world shall be liberated as well. God had to subject man’s world to man’s fate, but God also had to subject man’s world “in” hope. Creation will experience the glorious hope of living forever with man, of being completely and perfectly renovated. There will be a “new heavens and a new earth”.

3) Creation groans in labor for deliverance. The whole universe is dependent upon its various parts for survival. The earth could not survive without the heavens, and the heavens would have no purpose apart from God’s creation of man and his earth. Being the center of creation before God is not a truth to make man proud, but to make him humble—a truth to cause him to bow in worship and praise, appreciation and thankfulness. Being the summit of God’s creation is not a gift of privilege, not presently, but of enormous responsibility. Notice the words “groan” and “pain”. The picture is that of a woman giving birth. Creation experiences birth pangs under its struggle to survive. And note: it has been experiencing the birth pangs until now, that is, from the fall of man up until this present moment.

This train of thought puts forth the idea that creation awaits the Day of Redemption in the same way we daddies await a new child; anxiously, expectantly, longingly, and to finally be delivered.

Romans 8:23–27 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? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. 26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

When a believer is truly saved, they possesses the Holy Spirit and bears the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace). It is when we are saved that we truly understand the meaning of living abundantly and eternally because we experience life IN the Holy Spirit. As a result, we will also groan just like creation for deliverance.

It is hope that delivers and saves man. Hope saves us, for it is hope that keeps us seeking after God and His redemption. We hope for redemption; therefore, “with patience we wait for it”.

What is hope?

Assured expectation, confident knowledge, inward possession, spiritual surety.

The believer’s hope cannot be defined as the world defines hope. The believer’s hope is entirely different from the world’s hope, desire, or wish. The world desires and wishes for what it can see, and they may or may not be able to get what they long for. The believer’s hope is entirely different in that it deals with spiritual things and the believer will unquestionably get what he hopes for. The believer’s hope is based on the inward experience and witness of God’s Spirit.

It is prayer and the Holy Spirit that delivers and saves a man. As the believer faces the sufferings of this life he has the greatest resource imaginable: prayer. He has the right to approach God whenever needed, and to ask God for the strength to walk through and to conquer the suffering. That is what prayer is all about. Paul brings two points forward about prayer; believers do not know how to pray as they should, and the Holy Spirit helps our infirmities (here specifically pointing to prayer).

But note this; while we pray, it is God who delivers and saves us. These last verse point out God searches the heart of us all. There is no exception. He knows exactly what is within our hearts. He can read and understand what our groanings and needs are. Not a need will be missed. God knows the mind of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit prays for us according to the will of God; therefore, God knows exactly what the Spirit is requesting for us. There is perfect agreement between the Holy Spirit and God the Father. God will answer our prayer and meet our need. He will deliver and save us, causing the very best thing to happen.

Romans 8:28–30 ESV

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

All the discussion in Chapter 8 up to this point has now moved to the summit. Those who love God and are called by Him will definitely be freed from the bondage and corruptions of this life and ushered into glory. Nothing, absolutely nothing, shall prevent God’s settled plan and purpose from coming about in the life of the believer.

God works all things out for those who love Him. This is the first assurance of deliverance. What a comforting declaration! Scripture actually declares that “all things work together for good” for the believer. Nothing could assure the believer any more than God’s working all things out for his good.

God has determined to fulfill His purpose for the believer. This is the second assurance of deliverance. This is not dealing so much with theology or philosophy, but more with the spiritual experience of the Christian believer. If the pure logic of philosophy and theology are applied, then the passage says that God chooses some for heaven and others for a terrible hell. But this is simply not the meaning God intends for the passage. What God wants believers to do is to take heart, for He has assured their salvation.

What is predestination?

The word predestination (proorisen) means to destine or appoint before, to foreordain, to predetermine. The idea is a glorious picture of what God is doing for the believer. The boundary is marked and set off for the believer: the boundary of being conformed to the image of God’s dear Son. The believer shall be made just like Christ, conformed to His very likeness and image. Nothing can stop God’s purpose for the believer. It is predestinated, set, and marked off. The believer may struggle and suffer through the sin and shame of this world; he may even stumble and fall or become discouraged and downhearted. But if he is a genuine child of God, he will not be defeated, not totally.

God has set the glorification of the believer once-for-all. This is the third assurance of deliverance. It must be remembered throughout this passage that Scripture is talking about the genuine believer. A genuine believer is a person who sincerely believes in Jesus Christ and diligently seeks to please Him by living soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world.

Again, does this mean that some are destined to hell and some to heaven? No, a thousand times, no! This is not the purpose of this Scripture. God’s purpose is to give enormous assurance to the true believer: he shall be delivered from the struggling and suffering of this sinful world. He is going to be freed—if he is a true believer—freed from all the sin and shame, failure and shortcoming, pain and death. He is going to be glorified right along with God’s dear Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

God’s Everlasting Love

Romans 8:31–33 ESV

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.

The glorious message of Romans is that God assures deliverance (freedom) from struggling and suffering—through Christ. This is the whole point of all that has been written before. Man desperately struggles against the pressures and forces both within himself.

We struggle against the weight and discouragement of trials; against the pollution and corruption of life; against the relentless accusations and bombardments of conscience and law; against the pain and decay of his body; against the striking fear and hopelessness of an eternal judgment hereafter. He struggles against the unknown and against pain, hurt, sorrow, loneliness, alienation, aging, death, and hell (Ga. 5:17 “17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.” ). Somehow, through his suffering and struggle throughout life, he feels that his suffering and struggling are due to a wrong relationship with God.

Therefore, man views his many problems as really being one supreme problem: how to get right with God. If he can establish the right relationship with God, he feels sure God will help him through his trials and take care of his future hereafter.

What is the message of Romans?

Man needs to get right with God, for he is under the condemnation and wrath of God. Man needs a right relationship with God; he needs to be justified, that is, declared righteous by God. Man needs to be freed from the struggle of sin, for sin corrupts and leads to death. Man needs to be freed from the bondage of law (spiritual legalism); for the law enslaves, accuses, condemns, and strikes hopelessness within the heart. God does not charge us with sin. In fact, He does not lay anything to our charge; He justifies us.

Romans 8:34 ESV

34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

Christ does not condemn the believer. This is the fifth assurance of deliverance. Note how direct and forceful the question is: “Who is he that condemneth?” It is Christ; only Christ can condemn us for our sin and shame. But the glorious news is that Christ does not condemn us. Christ has died for us. Christ is our glorious Savior. When we honestly come to Him, He does not condemn us for our sin and shame; He forgives us. He is able to forgive us because He died for us. Christ has risen from the dead for us. Christ is our risen Lord.

What did the resurrection do for the believer?

The resurrection of the Lord proves that God was perfectly satisfied with the death of Jesus Christ. What Christ did—His dying for our sins—was acceptable to God; therefore, God has accepted Jesus’ death for us.

The resurrection of the Lord gives the believer a new life, making the believer a new creature and a new man.

The Lord Jesus Christ is exalted as the Sovereign and majestic Lord of the universe. He is the Ruler who reigns and rules over all, who possesses all might and power and is full of all wisdom and truth. He is the One who is going to destroy and utterly eliminate sin and evil in the world. He is the One who is going to establish a kingdom of righteousness, justice, love, and truth in the new heavens and earth. Christ makes intercession for us before the throne of God. He is our great Intercessor, our Mediator, and Advocate who stands between God and man.

Romans 8:35–37 ESV

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

What do we find in scripture that can separate us from the love of Christ?

Christ delivers the believer from the severest circumstances. This is the sixth assurance of deliverance, and it is the most wonderful assurance imaginable. “Who [or what] can separate us from the love of God?” Too many people, even believers, feel that God does not love them, that He just could not love them. They feel unworthy of His love, for they come too short, are too disobedient, and fail too often. How could God possibly love them when they go against His will so much? That way of thinking brings us to think we are unworthy, we condemn ourselves, we grow discouraged, our confidence is weakened, we have low self-esteem, and we already live as though we are defeated. Such feelings totally contradict Scripture. Look at the verse: “Who [or what] can separate us from the love of Christ?” There is no circumstance, no situation, no event that can cause Christ to turn away from us. No matter how terrible or severe the situation, it cannot separate the true believer from the love of Christ.

Romans 8:38–39 ESV

38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Christ delivers believers from the most extreme experiences and forces. This is the seventh assurance of deliverance. There is nothing in the universe that can separate the believer from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Note the grand finale: if there be any other creature than the ones named, that creature cannot separate us from “the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Leadership Ministries Worldwide. Romans. Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 1996. Print. The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible.