SUFFERING FOR THE GLORY OF CHRIST
CHARLES E WHISNANT, MAY 20, 2012 ROMANS 8:18-23
SUFFERING FOR GOD OR SUFFERING FOR SIN 8:17-27
The Suffering Christ and His Suffering Christians
The Glory of God as Motive in Trials and Suffering
Free from Indwelling Sin: 8:1-11
Sonship Through the Spirit: 8:12-17
From Suffering to Glory: 8:18-30
God’s Everlasting Love 8:31-37
Sonship Through the Spirit
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live
according to the flesh. 13 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. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of
God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the
spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by
whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears
witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if
children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we
suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
From
Suffering to Glory
18 For I consider 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 creation eagerly waits 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 because
the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into
the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know
that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not
only that, but 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. 24 For we were saved in this hope, but
hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But
if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with
perseverance.
26 Likewise 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[a] with
groanings which cannot be uttered.
OKAY YOU SAY, WHAT ARE WE DO TO WITH THIS INFORMATION?
And
illustration:
This past week, I read the Tony
Award winning play, Red about
the life of the late painter Mark Rothko. Rothko was a brilliant artist
and contemporary of Jackson Pollock. Like Pollock, Rothko suffered but
not just for his art, he also suffered for the success of his art. He was
obsessed with his own relevance. He was constantly plagued by the anxiety
of remaining at the top and at the cutting edge. When the artistic
movement led by Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein threatened Rothko’s position,
he committed suicide.
On the one hand, anyone who
attempts to do anything of consequence suffers; the difference is whether it is
worth it.
Romanian pastor Richard
Wurmbrand spent 14 years in a communist prison for preaching the gospel.
Although his captors smashed four of his vertebrae and either cut or burned 18
holes in his body, they could not defeat him. He testified, “Alone in my cell,
cold, hungry, and in rags, I danced for joy every night.” During this time he turned
to a fellow prisoner, a man he had led to the Lord before they were arrested,
and asked, “Have you any resentment against me that I brought you to Christ?”
His response: “I have no words to express my thankfulness that you brought me
to the wonderful Savior. I would never have it another way.”
Wurmbrand truly suffered
but he did so with peace. Rothko suffered without any inner calm.
The difference lay in what they suffered for–the latter suffered for himself
the former for God and the promise of an inheritance of total access to God day
and night.
This is how life works–suffer
for yourself and live in anxiety and die in misery. Or, like our Lord,
suffer out of faithfulness for God and know peace and joy now and heaven later.
Which will you choose?[i]
WHEN
THE SCRIPTURES TALK ABOUT PROGRESSION TOWARD RESURRECTION, THEY EMPHASIZE
DEATH. WHEN SCRIPTURES TALK ABOUT
PROGRESSION TOWARD GLORIFICATION, THEY EMPHASIZE OUR SUFFERING AND WEAKNESS.
Introduction
In Romans 8:18-25 we find that the
Christian will likely face difficult life situations. Along with the freedom of
a new life also come the transition period into this life. Verse 21 and 23
carefully explain this:
"The creation itself also will be set
free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the
children of God" and
"But also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body."
In other words, there is a parallel
experience going on between creation and the children of God. There is the
ultimate plan of freedom alongside the distressful life experiences. Although
we are the Lord's, we still are affected by the sin-stained world. As
Christians we are caught in the frailty of our human bodies. They have not
experienced redemption even though our souls have. Our real potential is hidden
behind the weakness of our human bodies.
For this reason hope well characterizes
our lives. We inherently know and long for the full realization of all of God’s
promises.There is a pattern very clearly set in verses 17-18.
Romans 8:17 starts by connecting suffering with
glorification. "...If indeed we suffer with Him in order that we may also
be glorified with Him" (Romans 8:17).
Paul is addressing God's children living
on the edge of two worlds, one group of people are caught in the web of sin and
death and the other have stepped into life and light (see Romans 5).
Christians, however, like those bound in darkness are still suffering even
though they have escaped the curse of sin through justification. Perhaps Paul
sensed the impending persecution against Christians. In any case, the Roman
Christians greatly suffered and needed a theology to take them through.
Conclusion: We should not
therefore be surprised when God sometimes takes what is perfect and subjects it
to a humble status so that a greater good might be accomplished. Take hope!
This stage of suffering is merely a transitional period.
Theological perspective
We should remember that it is man that
sinned. Because of God's grace both the creation and Christ Jesus suffered. If
man did not sin, then both the creation and Christ would not have suffered at
all. But somehow through God's amazing grace in the face of man's awful sin, a
greater good results!
"For He has not despised nor abhorred
the affliction of the afflicted; Neither has He hidden His face from him; But
when he cried to Him for help, He heard" (Palms 22:24).
"The afflicted shall eat and be
satisfied; Those who seek Him will praise the LORD. Let your heart live
forever!" (Psalms 22:26).
"alled
according to His purpose."
Practical perspective
Romans 8:28, along with the former verses
on adoption and the latter ones on calling, all become our spiritual backbone.
The truth in this verse is incredible! God can and will work out all things for
a higher good. No matter what sickness, shortness of life, poverty,
persecution, difficulty in life, family rejection or even horrible physical features
we might have, we can fully trust God to bring about a greater good. In other
words, in His wise providence, the trials are designed to further His good
purpose.
Bottom Line
Trials are to be expected. Suffering is part of this life. We are to keep our faith and even strengthen our trust in Him during times of trials for God will create a greater good out of it.
Great to know that everything will work out for us in the end! [ii]
18 For
I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be
compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
As we have tried to establish over
these lessons in chapter eight that the purpose of the whole 8th
chapter of this book of Romans is to show Christian believers the way to a full
assurance of their salvation. They have
a new spirit within them working for righteousness, a spirit which will
guarantee their ultimate glorification, including even their bodies.
In addition to all this we are “sons
of God,’ and should have within them “the spirit of adoption whereby we cry,
Abba, Father.
And over all this and even above
this it is possible for each Christian believer to experience the Spirit
Himself bearing witness with their spirit that they are the ‘children of God,
and if children, the heirs, and heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ.” Amen
and Amen. Lloyd-Jones
And as we are going to see all that the world and throw
against us in trails and suffering, we are going to be strengthen in our faith,
which is going to further give us the assurance
of our salvation..
Paul is going to say, and is saying, that in their suffering
(the Christian believers in Rome) is a
proof that they are children of God, in that the sufferings are a proof that
they are being prepared for the glory to which they will be taken.
For as in Acts 14:22 that in much tribulation that we must
enter into the kingdom of God..
The point Paul, is that the ultimate end and object of
salvation is our glorification.
We must remember that all those who are saved, are “in
Christ” and as such are “united with Christ,” and therefore will be glorified
“together with Him.
We and those in Roman needed to remember that just been
forgiven is not the end. Even their
sanctification is not the end of the matter, but the end is glorification, and
this then is the theme to which Pau is now about to introduce us to..
NOW WE NEED TO ASK THE QUESTION:
WHAT DOES’GLORIFICATION’ MEAN?
COMMENTARY
ON EACH VERSE
1A FOR
Since “and if
children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we
suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together”
The threefold testimony to the
future transfiguration which awaits suffering believers.
8:19-22 The Testimony – the
sighing of creation
8:23-25 The yearning hope of
Christians themselves
[ii] http://www.foundationsforfreedom.net/References/NT/Pauline/Romans/Romans08/Romans08_18-25_Suffering.html
