1/4/18

Suffering in Christ, with Holy Spirit brings unfathomable hope (Romans 8:17-30)

Romans 8:17-30

AIM: The Gospel promise is available to everyone who believes

One of the most treasured scriptures is Romans 8:28 "God works all things for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose." This is consistently seen throughout the Bible. God sees our affliction (2 Samuel 16:12,22), belief is a sign of being called (Acts 13:48, Eph 2:8-10), God calls us through his love demonstrated in Christ (John 3:16, Romans 1:7) yet not all accept the gift of God and suffer condemnation instead of justification (John 3:17-21, Romans 8:30). Notice the tension between "those who love him" and "have been called".

God's call is good for everyone (John 3:16) and irrevocable (Romans 11:29) the only sin left that is unforgivable (eternal) is to not accept the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:32, Mark 3:29). Accepting the Holy Spirit is to trust God with your life, receiving His work in you. Accepting God's call to receive Jesus (John 1:12) is not about saying the right thing (Matthew 7:21) it's about being transformed by the Spirit inside out (John 3:3, Romans 12:1-3).

Being transformed by the Holy Spirit will be evident to you (Romans 8:16, Galatians 5:22-23) and others because of your persevering faith and hope (1 Cor 13:13), peace (Matthew 5:9, 1 Peter 4:7-11) and love like Christ (John 13:34-35) from a pure heart (1 Peter 1:22), that you demonstrate to children (Mark 9:36-37) and people in need in our everyday life (Matthew 25:39-40).

People are called by God through us (Matthew 10:40, Luke 10:16) through Christ, through the Father (John 13:20). Even so, in this world, we still suffer but our hope is in the resurrection, eternal life, the promise of God through Jesus Christ and that's the essence of Romans 8:17-30, let's have a deeper look.

A) Family of God and the world suffer together with hope of restoration by God
17) children, heirs of God with Christ, share Christ sufferings then also in glory
Application: God precedes all who follow his way
18) present suffering not comparable to future glory
Application: seek first the kingdom of heaven
19) creation waits for God's children to be revealed
20) creation subjected to frustration by God, Adam's consequence (Gen 3:17-19, Gen 5:29) in hope
21) creation would be liberated from the bondage of decay, into freedom and glory of children of God

B) We groan, eagerly waiting for redemption of our bodies
22) whole creation groaning pains of childbirth
23) we (with Spirit) groan inwardly, eagerly wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies
24) For this hope, saved hope that is seen is no hope at all
25) but hope for what we don't have, wait patiently
Application: Hope is the architect, has the blueprint. Faith is the worker, Love is the executive (joyful toons 1 Cor 13:13)

C) The Holy Spirit helps us in ways we can't understand (unfathomable hope)
26) Same way, Spirit helps in our weakness, we don't know what to pray, He intercedes wordless groans
 - Application: His yoke is easy and his burden is light - see, feel, trust
27) He who searches our hearts knows mind of Spirit who intercedes accordance with God's will
 - Psalm 139:23-24, search me God and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts. see if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Application: When we give ourselves fully to God, he guides us in the way of everlasting.
28) WE KNOW that in all things Gods works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose
29) God foreknew, predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son
30) predestined, called, justified and glorified
Application: The Gospel promise

Prayer: Lord help me to live today according to your will to love others as you have first loved me.

Geysers, planters and pruners: How people are born into and matured in the Faith