Last time we got up to Romans chapter 8 verse 17.
Today I'll finish speaking on Romans chapter 8. The rest of this
chapter is about the hope of redemption - the anticipation of
eternal glory - the eager expectation of the children of God,
even despite the sufferings we face in this life. Paul starts
off in verse 18 saying, "I consider that
the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be
compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." Rom
8:18
This era of creation subject to the corruption
which we all experience is temporary. He writes, "The creation was subjected to futility, not
willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope;
because the creation itself also will be delivered from the
bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the
children of God." Rom 8:19,20 And speaking of
our physical resurrection from the dead Paul writes, "We also who have the firstfruits of the
Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly
waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body."
Rom 8::23 The angel Gabriel told the prophet Daniel of
the resurrection saying, "Everyone whose
name is found written in the book— will be delivered.
Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some
to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.
Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the
heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the
stars for ever and ever." Dan 12:1b-3 But for
now we persevere in faith, in the anticipation that our fate
will be just as God promised.
And the Spirit also helps in
our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as
we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for
us as we intend. And He who searches the hearts knows what the
mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the
saints according to the will of God.
Paul writes, "We know that
all things work together for good to those who love God, to
those who are the called according to His purpose."
Rom 8:28
That can be challenging to accept when it comes to difficulties in life, whether those difficulties come as a matter of chance in which we are victims of circumstance, or due to mistakes or consequences of sin which were are own fault. Even these things work together for the good of those who love God and are among the called. For where does maturity come from and where do make the most positive and lasting impact on others but in the responding to difficult circumstances. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." And as I said, responding properly to trials impacts not only ourselves but others.
God foreknew you who have come to faith in Christ.
In Galatians Paul writes of himself says that God set him apart
from birth and called him by grace. And here in Romans 8 he
says, "Those God foreknew he also
predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that
he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he
called, he also justified; those he justified, he also
glorified." Having responded to the gospel call we
enter the elevator of salvation. The door closes and our destiny
is secure. We are justified, which means our sins are forgiven
having been atoned for by Christ's death and as such sin no
longer has an impact on our destiny. And the glory to follow is
inevitable. And what is our fate but that we he speaks of in
verse 29 that he also predestined to be
conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the
firstborn among many brothers. Jesus not only set the
precedent which we follow, but we are actually being made into
his likeness. As such those born of God develop a natural sense
of unity, a natural identification with one another insomuch as
we are conformed to His image. Though that itself is a function
of our spiritual maturity.
Paul goes on to say, "What,
then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who
can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave
him up for us all— how will he not also, along with him,
graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge
against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.
Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died— more than
that, who was raised to life— is at the right hand of God and
is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the
love of Christ?"
Back in Rom 5:10 we wrote, "For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were
reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more,
having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life."
Much as we're not perfect, we don't have to defend
ourselves. Jesus is our defense attorney. It's written in 1John
2 that "if anybody sins, we have one who
speaks to the Father in our defense— Jesus Christ, the
Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins."