Freedom for the future

May 8 Lesson 10 (KJV) FREEDOM FOR THE FUTURE DEVOTIONAL READING: Romans 8:18–30 BACKGROUND SCRIPTURE: Romans 8:18–30

ROMANS 8:18–30 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. 24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. 26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

.KEY TEXT I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.—Romans 8:18

I. Present Sufferings (ROMANS 8:18–25) A. Glory to Be Revealed (v. 18) 18. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Paul was trained by the respected Jewish teacher Gamaliel (Acts 5:34; 22:3). So for Paul to reckon was for him to draw on both his faith in Christ and his vast knowledge of Scripture. His thoughts are not to be taken lightly. Paul was careful to put the sufferings—whatever their causes—of this present time in proper perspective. Jesus’ resurrection initiated a new era of salvation and restoration (see lesson 9). Because God’s faithfulness to His salvation promise has been revealed (Hebrews 1:1–3), suffering of any kind pales in comparison to the glory which shall be revealed in us. Forms of the word glory occur here and in Romans 8:21, 30 (see below), further defining what believers have to anticipate. The path of suffering ends with being glorified with Christ and with all who have traveled the same path.

What Do You Think? How do you find a faithful balance in dealing with current challenges without losing sight of hope? Digging Deeper What barriers prevent you from maintaining this balanced approach to the present and future?

1st story PAIN AND REWARD

The Sistine Chapel nearly defeated Michelangelo (1475–1564). Between 1508 and 1512, the man who considered himself a sculptor faced the frustrating difficulties of painting the Sistine’s ceiling. He fought with the pope on concepts, overcame physical challenges in scaffolding, fussed with his helpers, and spent agonizing hours on his back with brush and paint. Throughout the period, Michelangelo carried on personal feuds with painter Raphael and inventor Leonardo da Vinci. But Michelangelo persevered. The result is considered one of the greatest works of art in all the world. Michelangelo’s years of agony led to triumphal ecstasy. Paul’s decades of toil and tribulation would lead to a glorious reward from his Lord Jesus. We, too, deal with pain. This may come from our faith commitments or simply from our life’s circumstances. But Paul promises a future in which sufferings will give way to glory with our Lord. Are you paralyzed by personal pain, or encouraged by future reward? —M.K.

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B. Great Expectations (vv. 19–25) 19. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. Creature includes anything and everything God has made (see Romans 8:22, below; compare its use in 8:39 [not in our printed text]; Colossians 1:15; Revelation 3:14). Here it refers to the entire created world with the exception of the sons of God. While the adoption of believers is a present reality (Romans 8:14–15, not in our printed text), this fact can be obscured by the troubles of living in a sinful world. The suffering that results from our fallen world can further conceal the reality of redemption that is already present (8:17–18).

20a. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same. Following Adam and Eve’s sin in the Garden of Eden, God cursed the ground as part of the humans’ punishment (Genesis 3:17–18). Through no fault of its own, creation was thwarted from flourishing and made subject to vanity. The phrase him who hath subjected the same could be taken to refer to Adam as the reason for the curse rather than to the power behind the curse. This would be in error, although the thinking behind the supposition is sound: because humanity was to exercise wise rule over creation (Genesis 1:26–30), the fall revealed that people were not up to the task. As a natural outcome of humanity’s foolishness, creation suffers. Its caretakers fell into sin and were no longer capable of exercising proper dominion. However, in context it is clear that God is the one who subjected creation to futility. 20b–21. In hope, because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. In the midst of the curse, God made a promise: “I will put enmity between [the serpent] and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel” (Genesis 3:15; compare Romans 16:20).Creation, despite its suffering, has reason for hope! The crushing of Satan’s head was good news not only for all who put faith in Jesus but for all of creation. The bondage of corruption further defines the “vanity” of Romans 8:20a (above). Since human sin resulted in creation’s fallen state, only when the liberty of the children of God is finally and fully gained will the creature be released from the curse as well. The Greek word translated glorious (compare Romans 8:18, 30) can be interpreted in two ways: as an adjective to describe liberty or as a noun standing on its own. This second option would explicitly refer to believers’ status as being glorious rather than experiencing a glorious liberty. This goes beyond restoration to a fulfillment of God’s plan for people. The fate of creation is inextricably tied to God’s fulfilling His promises to those who have been adopted into His family (Galatians 4:4–7). 22. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. The Greek word translated travaileth can refer to the intense pain of giving birth. Childbirth is painful (to say the least), but the healthy infant who is born brings immediate joy. The analogy captures a common first-century Jewish belief: that as the salvation of God drew near, conditions on the earth would worsen progressively, like the contractions that get worse and worse until finally the baby is born. Portions of Daniel chapters 7 and 9 helped shape this expectation. Jesus also spoke of the difficulty of the end times, both concerning events that were near at hand and others that would continue until His return (Matthew 24; John 16:1–11, 31–33). His disciples continued to speak of the troubles that would be seen before Jesus’ return ended this age (example: 1 Timothy 4:1–3). All that pain, though, is meant to result in joy for the world. It is not a vain struggle.

What Do You Think? How do you respond to the fact that creation suffers because of human sinfulness?

Digging Deeper How can you intentionally care for God’s creation this week?

23. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. Firstfruits as a concept comes from the Feast of Harvest, also called the Feast of Weeks (Exodus 23:16a; 34:22a; Numbers 28:26–31; etc.). The people would make sacrifices to the Lord of the first grains they gathered. This expressed thanks for God’s providing the harvest and confidence that God would bless the people with bounty throughout the harvest season. Like the firstfruits of a harvest, the indwelling of the Spirit within believers is a kind of down payment, guaranteeing what is still to come (Ephesians 1:13b–14). Adoption in the Roman world differed from our laws and customs. One common scenario would involve a wealthy Roman man who had no sons. He would adopt a promising young man from a poor family, paying the natural father for rights to bring the son into the new, adoptive household. This adopted son would be groomed to take over the family business, continue the good name of the adoptive father, and become the adoptive father’s heir. Such adoption is seen in the history of the Caesars, who frequently adopted a nephew or other male to inherit their title. Examples include Julius Caesar’s adoption of Gaius Octavius, who was later called Caesar Augustus, and Augustus’s own adoption of Tiberius. Adoptions such as these were familiar to everyone in the Roman world, but especially to residents of Rome itself. Although believers are already children of God, we still await the redemption of our body, victory over physical death (Romans 6:8; see lesson 9).

ADOPTION

I was perplexed by the parents of my childhood friends. The children were my age, but their parents were much older than my own parents. I continued to wonder about this for years, not learning until I was a teenager that these were my friends’ grandparents. The couple had adopted their grandchildren as toddlers due to tragedy with the children’s natural parents. This godly couple had given them their name, their home, and their love. Other than the ages of those parents, I might never have realized their family was different from mine; my friends were secure in their family, just as though it had never been otherwise. Paul used adoption imagery to describe our future reward as sons and daughters of God. Christians become “joint-heirs” with Christ (Romans 8:17), heirs to the glory of salvation promised to believers. We assume the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Christian, as our identifying mark to the world. And we continue our Father’s business, seeking the lost for salvation. Are you living so that others recognize that your Father is raising you in His image and you are secure in His love? —M. K.

24–25. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Christian hope is not wishful thinking or anticipating a probable outcome; rather, it is assured because hope is based not on our own faithfulness but on God’s faithfulness to His promises (Titus 1:2–3). Still, we see not what we hope for, because in that case we would no longer require hope. When Paul declares that “faith, hope, [and] charity” abide and the last is the greatest (1 Corinthians 13:13), it is not because faith and hope are of dubious value. Instead, it indicates that when faith and hope are realized in Heaven, we will not need them as we do now, to anticipate our promised future. But love will still be required, even in Heaven. God has given us every reason for confidence, which gives us the patience [to] wait for our hopes to be realized (see Romans 5:3–5).

What Do You Think? How does impatience affect your relationship with the Lord?

Digging Deeper What opportunities has God placed before you to grow in patience?

II. Present God

(ROMANS 8:26–30)

A. The Spirit’s Help (vv. 26–27) 26. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. The state of the world can leave us so completely horrified that we are left speechless. Our infirmities include every piece of evidence that we live in a sin-sick and dying world. But when we know not what we should pray, the Spirit steps in on our behalf. This comes as no surprise since Jesus promised the Spirit would be His disciples’ “Comforter” (John 14:16, 26; 15:26). Paul built on this, giving believers confidence that the Spirit … maketh intercession for us. When words fail us, the Spirit does not. Groanings is the noun form of the verb “groan” in Romans 8:23 (above). This context suggests that the Spirit’s intercession also happens within ourselves. This is supported by the fact that creation does not speak in language but does groan in brokenness (see 8:22, above). 27. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. He that searcheth the hearts refers to God (1 Samuel 16:7; 1 Chronicles 28:9; Psalms 7:9; 139:23; etc.). Note that, like Jesus, the Spirit only speaks according to the will of God (John 14:10; 16:13). Though we may not always pray according to God’s will—especially since we do not knoweth what is the mind of Father, Son, or Spirit—nevertheless the Spirit will only intercede in keeping with God’s plans.

What Do You Think? How do your prayer practices reflect that the Spirit intercedes for you?

Digging Deeper What changes can you make to remain aware of the Spirit’s help when you pray?

B. The Supreme Plan (vv. 28–30)

28. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Even the darkest night of the soul does not mean we are cut off from God. Paul had an unshakable faith that all things are under the control of God, that all things work together for good to them that love God. Faith in the sovereign God means believing that He is in control of all things. Even the evil in our world that causes the suffering of righteous people is not beyond His control. Our problem is that of limited perspective. Only God can see how all things work together for good. The question about suffering, then, is not why (compare Judges 6:13), but how long. The why is because of human decision to turn away from God (Genesis 2:16, 17; 3:19; 6:3; Romans 1:21, 28). The question can only be how long—how long will the suffering continue until my soul is flooded again by God’s love and comfort (compare Psalms 6:3; 94:3; Revelation 6:10)?

What Do You Think? How would you respond to Christians experiencing despair in their circumstances?

Digging Deeper What other Scriptures would you cite to bolster faith, hope, and love in your fellow believers?

29. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. While doctrines of foreknowledge and predestination are important to consider, Paul’s letter precedes by centuries debates about these terms and does not address the arguments that future Christians would engage in. Rather, Paul’s point is that God is working within a plan, not haphazardly throwing people or events together in some sort of cosmic or salvific experiment (compare Ephesians 1:11–14). Though chaos or chance may seem to rule the day, we take comfort that the Lord knew us long before we accepted the call to join Him in His ultimate purpose for people: to be conformed to the image of his Son (Psalm 139:13). This is both a new creation and a re-creation, for to be made in the image of Christ is to be restored to our unsullied state of having been created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). As the first to rise from the dead into glory, Jesus’ bodily resurrection made Him the firstborn from the dead (Colossians 1:18). Because of His resurrection, we expect to be among many brethren who will also return to life (contrast 1 Corinthians 15:12–19). The promise of our own resurrection is the ultimate hope we have in the midst of our sufferings (compare Acts 23:6; 1 Corinthians 15).

30. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. Although elaborate and confusing doctrines have been offered to explain the concept of predestination, it is a rather straightforward idea as presented by Paul. The word translated predestinate in this context means that God has made an earlier decision about our future (see commentary on Romans 8:29, above). This predetermined plan has three stages. First, God has called us, giving us the opportunity to respond to the gospel by faith. Second, a positive response leads to being justified, declared righteous through our faith in Christ because of His sacrifice on our behalf (Romans 3:24–26). The final stage is our being glorified when our own resurrections take place and we join Christ in Heaven for all eternity (compare 1 Corinthians 15:42–58).

Conclusion

A. Hope for the Future

Christians have a hope that persists through the ordeals of life. Outside of faith in Christ, this hope is not possible. Still, we observe and experience suffering. Focusing on these things makes a person nearsighted. Only with an eye on our future glory can a Christian not only endure hardship but also thrive in the hope of God’s promises.

While we hope for the glorious future in Christ, we still have work to do. Though our minds turn to evangelism—and rightly so—these verses remind us that we also have a responsibility to all creation. God has made us stewards of His good earth. While people suffer, all creation suffers. Likewise, believers’ peace is the peace of the world; our glory will be the glory of creation. We wait in hope for the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promises. May we, as people who have died with Christ and live again in the Spirit, be beacons of God’s wonderful intentions for all creatures, great and small.

B. Prayer Father, help us view suffering through the perspective of faith. Teach us to depend on Your Holy Spirit. Thank You for Your Son, who has purchased our freedom. In His name we pray. Amen.

C. Thought to Remember God is working all things together to accomplish His perfect will.