GOD IS FOR US - ROMANS 8:15-30

CURRENT SERIES

“GOD IS FOR US”

TODAYS MESSAGE

THE GOSPEL BENEFIT OF GROANING

I. YOUR SUFFERING IS NOT MEANINGLESS (14-25)

SOVEREIGN PURPOSE OF SUFFERING (14-25)

PAUL’S POINT IS VERY CLEAR AS SUMMED UP IN VERSE 17: THE PAIN AND SUFFERING (WEAKNESSES) THAT WE EXPERIENCE IN THIS LIFE AS WE LIVE AS PEOPLE IN THE SPIRIT ARE TO BE UNDERSTOOD AS THE

This speaks to our identity (we are His children) and therefore to our assurance which, combined provide a new way of viewing life, reality and our present experiences in this world

“Abba Father” means DEAREST Father. Note two things about this phrase:

1. It is the very words Jesus uses in the Garden in His anguish

That the Romans are suffering is connected to with Christ who is in anguish - struggling in some mysterious way - to go to the cross

2. It is the SPIRIT who cries out

Galatians 4:6–7 ESV

And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

and how His presence makes us sons and faith hoof God.

THE HEART THAT CRIES OUT, IN FAITH AND DEPENDANCE ON THE LORD IN TIMES OF DIFFICULTY SUFFERING AND PAIN IS THE HEART THAT SHOWS PROOF THAT THE SPIRIT OF GOD ABIDES WITHIN THEM.

SO WHEN PAUL SAYS IN VERSE 15

Romans 8:15 ESV

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

SLAVE IN VERSE 15 REFERS TO THOSE WHO ARE DEPENDENT ON AND CHAINED TO THE FLESH AND ITS SOLUTIONS

THOSE WHO ARE IN THE FLESH DEMONSTRATE THIS, IN NO GREATER WAY, THAN WHEN THEY ARE IN TIMES OF TESTING, STRUGGLES AND SUFFERING

CHILDREN OF ISRAEL: LET’S GO BACKL TO EGYPT

Pain and suffering that come from our commitment to the gospel are not signs of ABANDONMENT nor are they signs that should promote FEAR. Instead, Note this:

OUR PAIN AND SUFFERING ARE NOT MEANINGLESS BECAUSE:

1. Pain and Suffering Are the PROOF of our SONSHIP

- Jesus in the Garden

- Jesus on Golgotha (bearing our shame)

- Jesus on the cross (receiving our punishment)

PAUL IS ALSO TEACHING US THAT OUR PAIN AND SUFFERING ARE NOT MEANINGLESS BECAUSE:

2. Pain and Suffering POSITION Our Affections Toward Eternal HOPE (V18)

Romans 8:18 ESV

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

“CONSIDER”

PAUL KNOWS THAT GOD IS AT WORK IN ALL THINGS WHICH IS WHY HE SAYS HE CONSIDERS: OR CAN MAKE THE INTELLECTUAL DECISION TO UNDERSTAND SUFFERING AS OPPOSITE OF GLORY

YET, SUFFERING DOES THIS AS WELL; IT SHAPES THE MIND TO SEE THIS AND ENGAGES THE HEART TO FEEL THIS

“NOT WORTH COMPARING”: SPEAKS TO WHAT THE HEART FEELS.

A GREAT KEY TO ENDURING SUFFERING IS TO HAVE THE MIND AND THE HEART JOINED. WE ARE CALLED, AS CHRISTIANS:

- TO THINK THEOLOGICALLY ABOUT PAIN AND SUFFERING: GOD IS IN CONTROL

- TO FEEL SPIRITUALLY ABOUT PAIN AND SUFFERING: I LOVE CHRIST MORE

HEAD AND HEART: THIS IS THE WAY WE LIVE THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

PAUL’S MAJOR POINT IS THAT THIS WORLD IS NOT IT: IT ITSELF IS SUBJECT TO ITS OWN MEASURES OF WEAKNESSES THAT CAUSES IT - IN SOME MYSTERIOUS SENSE - TO LONG FOR A RETURN TO ITS CREATED GLORY

THIS IS THE TRICK OF THE ENEMY: MAKING EVE LONG FOR PLEASURE AND SATISFACTION IN WHAT GOD CREATED AND NOT GOD HIMSELF. THIS SIN CREATED SEPARATION OF MAN FROM GOD BUT SENT THE WORLD INTO A CATASTROPHIC SPIRAL

- The Earth Is ENSLAVED To CORRUPTIONAnd Seeks The Freedom Every Christian Has Experienced In Christ (v.21)

Romans 8:21 ESV

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.

- The Earth, Like Believers, Is GROANING For Liberation From The Contaminating INFLUENCE Of Sin (vv.22-23)

Romans 8:22 ESV

For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.

Romans 8:23 ESV

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.

WHEN WE KNOW THAT GOD IS IN CONTRIOL OF OUR SUFFERING AND THAT IT IS NOT MEANINGLESS, THIS, SPIRITUALLY, BUILDS PATIENCE (STEADFASTNESS: THE GRIT THAT KEEPS GOING DESPITE THE CIRCUMSTANCES BECAUSE THE END MAKES THE PAIN TO THE END WORTH IT

Romans 8:24–25 ESV

For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

WE ARE NOT IMPATIENT BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT GOD, THROUGH THE SUFFERING, IS WORKING HIS PLAN IN AND THROUGH US

James 1:2–3 ESV

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

James 1:4 ESV

And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

PAUL IS TEACHING US THAT LONGING FOR THIS EARTH TO SATISFY US AND TO BE GOOD TO US IS FOOLISH BECAUSE IT IS LONGING FOR SOMEONE ELSE FOR ITS SATISFACTION

Faith Principle: Pain And Suffering, For The Christian, Is Designed To Lift Our GAZE From This Life And Situates Our EYES Of Our Souls To A Steadied And SETTLEDFocus On Glory

TRANSITION: GOD IS IN CONTROL..

II. YOUR PRAYER PARTNER IS THE SPIRIT (26-27)

Romans 8:26 ESV

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.

Romans 8:27 ESV

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.

WEAKNESS : OUR INCAPACITY TO HOLD UP IN CIRCUMSTANCES THAT ARE DIFFICUTL AN HARD.....

Romans (The Three Groanings)

That weakness consists, at least in part, in this, that “we do not know what we ought to pray.” We are not sure about the prayer content that is in harmony with God’s will (see verse 27). By saying “we” the apostle is including himself

THIS PASSAGE TEACHES US THAT THE STRENGTH OF GOD IN PAIN AND SUFFERING COME THROUGH THE INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH HAVE WITH HIM IN PRAYER

A. THE SPIRIT HELPS US IN THIS WAY

1. He INTERCEDES For Us

THIS WORD MEANS:

a. To PLEAD or to BEG

IN AS MUCH AS WE SEEK PARTNERS TO PRAY WITH US, PAUL TEACHES US THAT WE HAVE a SOVEREIGN PRAYER PARTNER

Romans (E. A New Life: Based on the Purposes of God (8:26–30))

THIS IS “ONE OF THE MOST INTIMATE GLIMPSES WE HAVE IN ALL OF SCRIPTURE OF THE INNER WORKINGS OF THE GODHEAD. WHEN WE ARE WEAK AND TREMBLING, CONFUSED ABOUT THE PURPOSES OF GOD IN OUR SUFFERINGS OR OUR CONFUSION, THE SPIRIT HIMSELF INTERCEDES FOR US WITH GROANS THAT WORDS CANNOT EXPRESS.”

In language we cannot understand, the Father searches the human heart, the abode of the Spirit, to hear the Spirit’s prayer.

WHEN THE FATHER HEARS HIS WILL BEING PRAYED BY THE SPIRIT , THEN THE FATHER AND SPIRIT ARE IN PERFECT HARMONY FOR THE PURPOSES OF GOD TO BE ACCOMPLISHED IN THE BELIEVER THROUGH THE INSTRUMENT OF PRAYER. (Romans E. A New Life: Based on the Purposes of God (8:26–30)

III. YOUR FEELINGS ARE BEING CONFORMED TO CHRIST

v 28 seems to SUGGEST, WITH THE WORD “AND” THAT SUCH KNOWLEGDE THAT IS ESPOUSED IN VERSE 28 CAN ONLY COME WHEN WE ARE SURRENDERING OUR CIRCUMSTANCES TO THE LORD, THE SPIRIT, IN PRAYER

THUS, VERSE 28 IS NOT A VERSE HE WANTS US TO KNOWLEDGE AND KEEP TELLING OURSELVES. INSTEAD, VERSE 28 IS INTIMATE; IT IS EXPERIENTIAL. IT IS WHAT THE LORD WANTS US TO ACTUALLY FEEL, WITHIN THE DEPTH OF WHO WE ARE SUCH THAT WE KNOW THAT IT IS TRUE

NOTE THE WORD “CALLED” AND THE PHRASE: ACC TO HIS PURPOSE

GOD IS SHAPING OUR HEARTS TO BE ALIGNED WITH HIS PURPOSES WHICH INSLUCED THE FOLLOWING IN 29-FF

SO VERSE 28 (THAT WHICH PAUL WANTS US TO EXPERIENTIALLY KNOW (FEEL) FORMS THE BASIS FOR WHAT HE IS ABOUT TO SAY NEXT

A. HE IS MAKING US LIKE CHRIST

Romans 8:29 ESV

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.

FOREKNEW… PREDESTINED TO BE CONFORMED: IT HAS TO HAPPEN BUT THIS INCLUDES

HE HAD DETERMINED BEFORE YOU WERE CREATED TO CONFORM YOU TO THE IMAGE OF HIS SON

1. OUR PART IN BEING CONFORMED:

a. Killing Sin (v13)

Romans 8:13 ESV

For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

Colossians 3:5 ESV

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

OUR PART IN CONFORMITY

b. EMBRACING and ENDURING gospel SUFFERING

Romans 8:17 ESV

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.

Acts 14:22 (ESV)

... through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.

Philippians 1:29 ESV

For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,

“IS” REPRESENTS THE MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL CERTAINTY THAT PAUL WANTS CHRISTIANS TO KNOW AND FEEL AS ABSOLUTE TRUTH

B. HE HAS AN INTERCONNECTED SOVEREIGN PROCESS

Romans 8:30 ESV

And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

- Predestined

- Called

- Justified

- Glorified