Romans from groaning to glory

Transcription

1 Romans 8: Privileges of a Prince His Spirit lets us know that together with Christ we will be given what God has promised. We will also share in the glory of Christ, because we have suffered with him. 18 I am sure that what we are suffering now cannot compare with the glory that will be shown to us. 19 In fact, all creation is eagerly waiting for God to show who his children are. 20 Meanwhile, creation is confused, but not because it wants to be confused. God made it this way in the hope 21 that creation would be set free from decay and would share in the glorious freedom of his children. 22 We know that all creation is still groaning and is in pain, like a woman about to give birth. 23 The Spirit makes us sure about what we will be in the future. But now we groan silently, while we wait for God to show that we are his children.[a] This means that our bodies will also be set free. 24 And this hope is what saves us. But if we already have what we hope for, there is no need to keep on hoping. 25 However, we hope for something we have not yet seen, and we patiently wait for it. 26 In certain ways we are weak, but the Spirit is here to help us. For example, when we don t know what to pray for, the Spirit prays for us in ways that cannot be put into words. 27 All of our thoughts are known to God. He can understand what is in the mind of the Spirit, as the Spirit prays for God s people. 28 We know that God is always at work for the good of everyone who loves him.[b] They are the ones God has chosen for his purpose. [CEV] Romans from groaning to glory Good morning. If you re joining us fresh we ve been in the book of Romans for the last few weeks looking at chapters 6 to 8 and next week is going to be our final week finishing off chapter 8. Romans is an incredible book it contains simple truths about the Christian faith and yet has a depth that means you can learn something new over a lifetime of reading it. It s been interesting seeing what the different speakers across our different services have chosen to highlight each week sometimes drawing out different but equally wonderful points for us to chew on. So quick recap Romans was written by Paul to the church in Rome that contained both Jewish and Gentile members. Romans 1 and 2 shows us the state the world is in without God and God s righteous judgement, in Romans 3 we see that all those who are in Christ are saved from God s judgement because of Jesus death and resurrection, in chapter 4 these believers are like Abraham they re saved through their faith in Jesus, in chapter 5 we see that grace reigns in these believers and its like they re the true humanity. In chapter 6 these believers are a bit like the newly freed slaves coming out of Egypt they ve received God s great help. In chapter 7 we see that those who try to be good by following rules and regulations will not make it what is need is help from the Holy Spirit which is where we land in chapter 8. Chapter 8 is a glorious celebration of what God has done in his Son and by his Spirit. God s people are on their way home as it were to their promised inheritance. 1

2 This chapter truly is an amazing reading and we re focusing in on verses today. And we re going to talk about two things: groaning and glory. Groaning and glory. GROANING I m quite good at groaning if I m sick with a cold I want everyone close to me to feel my pain no stiff upper lip here just pure drama and sympathy seeking. So I was quite pleased to discover that the Holy Spirit is rather good a groaning except the Holy Spirit s groaning is actually rather different than quite a lot of my groaning. Looking closely at verses can you spot how many times the words: suffering, frustration or groaning come up it s quite a few times for a chapter that is focused on celebrating all that we have in Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Today verse 17 is like a little bit of small print at the end of a wonderful guarantee. We ve been told the incredible news that we have God as a father that we are children of God that the Holy Spirit affirms that to us and now we do need to just hear that all of that doesn t mean we re exempt from suffering. In fact, being a Christian will at times invite further suffering and a whole lot of groaning. Relax if you re in a season of groaning it s as always what we do with our groaning that is key. The bible never says become a Christian and your life will be carefree and you ll walk around all happy and smiley all the time. BUT do you know when I stop and think about the suffering Jesus experienced on this earth I m always struck that it really was so all encompassing he was a refugee, a bastard, an outcast, a pauper, and so on. And then of course there s the cross that absolutely agonising physical suffering. But above it all I wonder if whilst Jesus would have experience utter delirious delight as his relationship with the Father was perfect - there was also a constant homesick feeling. Even when things were fun, when he felt true and good friendship with his disciples, when he partied with them into the night and talked around the fire on the beach we also get those moments when he but there s hints of his longing for home when when he longs for people to be like the good Samaritan in his story, when he sees the death of his friend Lazarus and it deeply troubled. And sometimes I think we suffer like Christ when we get a taste of homesickness when we experience that loneliness or overwhelming feeling that can hit us out of the blew and can come even when we re surrounded by loving people because although all humanity left the garden all were meant to return and we re homesick for home with our Father. And being a child of God does not make us immune to the suffering there is the world nor to experiencing from time to time that heart-breaking homesick feeling that Jesus had. 2

3 But be patient for the love of God is so strong and even when we re far from home there s a God who sees right where we are. There s a God whose love is stronger. There s a God who sees it all. There s a God who is with us in it and a God who sighs with us through it. I invite you to talk to me, to yourself and to other close Christian friends and encourage me, yourself and others to have a good old groan as a prayer take your groan and ask the the Holy Spirit to intercede for you through your groan. Oh Lord you may cry I feel so lonely today (or insert your groan I m so sick of seeing abuse/ I m so heart broken by the meaninglessness of life right now/ I m hurting that there is war etc) Lord this is not of you I declare that this is not the way of things in your kingdom in your kingdom loneliness, sickness, war, boredom, abuse etc do not exist Lord please help me to hold onto hope in this pain and to keep seeking your kingdom. Show me what to do with this groan inside me this week. Verses 26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according with God s will. GLORY Now to glory. Just as groaning appears in our verses today note how the words expectation, hope and glory are very present. You see a Christian can be utterly confident that this suffering, sighing, or groaning is not the last word. It is not where the story finishes. Like every good story - things often appear hopeless before a breakthrough moment comes and sun arises and light is cast upon darkness. Verse 21 says that we ve been bought into glorious freedom we re God s children and eagerly await all God is going to do. For God s love is strong and it won t let go. The glory of God is where things are headed every knee will bow before God and everything in creation and in the heart of a Christian is verse 19 eagerly awaiting this. A famous missionary David Livingstone said this: Anxiety, sickness, suffering, or danger, now and then with a foregoing of the common conveniences and charities of this life, may make us pause, and cause the spirit to waver, and the soul to sink; but let this be for only a moment. All these are nothing compared with the glory which shall hereafter be revealed in, and for us. This is what Paul says he tells us verse 17 that we ll share in Christ s suffering but in verse 18 that any present suffering cannot be compared with the glory that is coming. NT Wright in a sermon helpfully showed how in verse 30 of our passage those God justified he also glorified. He points to the story of Jesus re-commissioning Peter on the beach. Peter has denied Jesus three times and now Jesus stands and asks him three times if he loves him. Peter tentatively says yes he does. And at this point we might expect Jesus to put an arm around his shoulder and say I forgive you Peter. But instead of a word of direct forgiveness Jesus gives Peter a word of commission. He says to Peter feed my sheep. And then warns him: follow me Peter all the way 3

4 to the cross. For to those Jesus forgives he calls to come and be like him he calls them to a costly work, to go where he calls and do what he tells. We re not forgiven because of any good works of ours and we re not forgiven to sit back and do nothing we re forgiven in order to do great things in order to be glorified. Right now today this week that doesn t mean we re to put pressure on ourselves to be workaholic mini-messiahs. Rather we re to be available to allow the Holy Spirit to work in us and through us. We re to seek God s strength to serve like Jesus did. And so to be transformed into his likeness. We share in Christ s rule in the present by sharing in suffering and prayer. These things are themselves the means of glory. As NT Wright says: In all these things, says Paul, we are more than conquerors; yes, in all these things, not despite them or pretending they don t really exist. They are the means of the victory, as the cross was for Jesus himself. Jesus promised this kingdom, this rule, to the poor in spirit, to the meek. Yes, and not least to the mourners. Don t be ashamed of being mourners. Jesus promised that they, too, are among those whom he uses in his kingdom-work. Those whom he justified, he also glorified, and the glory is that of the crucified Son. We re being made into Jesus likeness. So now this week to be glorified looks like verses it looks like groaning alongside the Holy Spirit and in the future it looks like Revelation 3.21 sitting alongside Jesus on his throne. We go from groaning s to glory and our hope will not disappoint us. 4

5 Study Guide: Opening Question: What are you most likely to groan about? Read Romans 8: What does Nicola describe v.17 as the small print!? What is the relationship between groaning and glory in these verses? Read Romans 8: What else is groaning? Why? When will it be liberated? How does this explain the world around us? Read Romans 8: What do we learn about hope? What do we learn about prayer? What is the role of the Holy Spirit in our groaning and waiting? Pray: For the Holy Spirit to be with you and help you to pray Pray for those in the group needing some hope today 5