“Dad, I saw on the news a bad flood that killed a lot of people. Why are there floods and earthquakes and hurricanes and tornadoes? Why are there famines where people starve to death?”
“Mom, why did my friend at school get cancer and die? Why did Grandma get sick and die?”
“Granddaddy, why do people set off bombs to blow up other people? Why do people do bad things to hurt each other?”
Maybe your children or grandchildren have asked you questions like these. Probably you’ve wrestled with them yourself.
Some become agnostics or even atheists because they cannot come up with satisfactory answers to the question of how a loving, all-powerful God can allow the terrible suffering that is in the world.
Since none of us are exempt from suffering and death, it’s important that we understand what the Bible teaches on this difficult topic. (Will spend some time on this subject in an extended way beginning next week in our Sunday am class…using C.S. Lewis’ title The Problem of Pain).
Job, one of the oldest book on the Bible, is devoted to this problem. And in our text, Paul gives part of the biblical perspective that we need to persevere through the suffering that we surely will encounter.
At the outset, make no mistake: there is a price to be paid for being identified with Jesus. Along with the great treasures, Paul mentions the suffering that Christians must face.
What kinds of suffering are we to endure? For first-century believers, there was economic, social, and physical persecution; some even faced death.
In many parts of the world today, believers face pressures just as severe as those faced by Christ’s first followers.
Even in countries where Christianity is tolerated or encouraged, Christians must not become complacent.
To live as Jesus did—serving others, giving up one’s own rights, resisting pressures to conform to the world—always exacts a price. Nothing we suffer, however, can compare to the great price that Jesus paid to save us.
What does it mean to be a Christian—to think like a Christian—to act like a Christian?
Paul’s words recorded in Romans 8:18-27 strip away the artificial and superficial views of the Christian life, leaving us with the core of what it means to live in this present world as a Christian.
Romans 8:17 (ESV) 17 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.
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.
The present suffering is temporary, while the future glory is eternal. Paul had written to the Corinthians, “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Corinthians 4:17 niv).
Suffering is part of the process of sharing in Christ’s death; it will culminate in sharing His glory. If glory is the majesty of God, his character seen for all that it truly is, then his glory . . . revealed in us will occur when we suddenly become exactly what God has intended us to be.
19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.
8:19 The creation. Human beings and the rest of creation presently face suffering, and both will be glorified in the future. When Adam sinned, God sentenced all of creation: “Cursed is the ground because of you” (Genesis 3:17 nrsv). Since then, the world has suffered decay and pollution, largely because people have forgotten or ignored their responsibilities as stewards of the earth.
Waits with eager longing.NRSV This form of the Greek verb for this phrase is used seven times in the New Testament. Each time it is used in connection with the believers’ anticipation of Christ’s return (Romans 8:19, 23, 25; 1 Corinthians 1:7; Galatians 5:5; Philippians 3:20; Hebrews 9:28).
Here it is used in connection with creation awaiting that day. In the meantime, the created order functions in spite of its flaws. But diseases, deformities, and suffering constantly remind us that all is not right with us or with the world.
For the revealing of the sons of God.NKJV This will occur at the second coming of Christ when he returns for his people. We will share in his glory (8:18) and receive our complete redemption (8:23). The entire universe is looking forward to the conclusion of God’s plan.
People are the largest group of holdouts in anticipating that time. It is humbling to realize that as creatures developing an eager expectation for Christ’s return, we humans are the last to respond.
| 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 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.
When Adam sinned, God decreed that all of creation would be subjected to frustration; that is, to futility, change, and decay. Creation is frustrated because it is unable to attain the purposes for which it was made. The original sense of perfect order in the world was marred by sin; therefore, fallen people had to live in a fallen world. This was not by its own choice because it was God’s doing and part of his plan of salvation. |
In hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage.NIV The word for hope indicates anticipating a future event. Eventually this frustration will end and creation will be brought into the glorious freedom of the children of GodNIV—freedom from sin, evil, decay, and death.
Adam and Eve’s act of rebellion affected the entire world. It has taken many centuries to realize the inter-relatedness of this global village, but the Bible begins with that assumption. Having the same Creator links us with the rest of the created order.
Making creation a god is only worshiping a power that is finite and destructible. We have been charged to care for the world, and to worship her Creator.
22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.
Paul pictures the fallen earth in pain. Consider earthquakes, floods, fire, drought, famine—these are surely not what creation was meant to be, but sin and evil now rule.
Just as the pains of childbirth end at the birth of the child, so the groaning and pain of the creation will end at the birth of the new earth. This groaning is not impatient, but “eager” (8:23).
It is not the groaning of hopelessness, but the sound of total concentration on a painful, but hopeful conclusion. It is not the despairing cry of the hopeless, but the eager longing of the hopeful. Before the glory is revealed there is a time of groaning.
We long for the full redemption of our bodies in the resurrection. In this process we are not alone, for the Holy Spirit groans with us, expressing our unutterable longing to God. But until the time of our release and redemption, we must groan, wait and hope.
Two observations before we move on: First, this text assumes that God is the creator of all that is. It did not evolve by chance or random mutations over billions of years.
Second, even though the creation is fallen, it still bears witness to the majesty and glory of the Creator. David marveled (Ps. 19:1), “The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.”
23 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.
This verse returns to the train of thought Paul began in verse 18, the present sufferings of believers. We know that God will fulfill his promises of future glory because of the witness of the Holy Spirit within us.
The Holy Spirit is like the first fruits of a farmer’s harvest—a guarantee of more to come. Paul described the Holy Spirit as “a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession” (Ephesians 1:14 niv).
To creation’s groaning is now added ours. Like creation, we have the promises but lack the final realization of glory. Our sufferings cause us to groan inwardly; God’s promises cause us to wait eagerly.
Although we have already received adoption into God’s family (8:15), we are still awaiting our completed adoption, identified here as redemption (see also 8:19, 21).
This will occur when Christ returns, when our bodies will be transformed, and we will live with him forever (see 1 Corinthians 15:42-54; 2 Corinthians 5:1-5; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
When we put our faith in Christ as Savior, we receive this hope: that we will be redeemed. Paul wrote of this assurance in other letters: “By faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope” (Galatians 5:5 niv); and “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). We already have the presence of the Holy Spirit, who is unseen, but we must eagerly wait for our new bodies, that are also unseen.
Hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has?NIV Our full redemption has not yet happened; it will happen when Christ returns. That is why it is still a hope for believers.
| CAN’T WAIT! |
| We keep looking in confidence for what we cannot see. Our eager anticipation is like that of the person who drives all night and eagerly looks forward to the sunrise, when the mist and darkness will be driven away. He knows it will happen and can’t wait. His assurance of it carries him on. We look forward to: |
| · Our new bodies. |
| · The new heaven and the new earth. Rest and the rewards of service. |
| · Our eternal family and home. |
| · The absence of sin and suffering. |
| · Being face to face with Jesus Christ. |
It’s important to think biblically about suffering because when it clobbers you or those you love, you will be engulfed by a wave of powerful emotions.
I’m not suggesting that you should suppress or deny your emotions, but I am saying that you need to process them through the grid of biblical truth, so that you are not devastated by your trials.
Paul wants us to think about four things: First, our present sufferings are relatively short compared to our eternal sharing in the glory of God.
Second, the weight of our present trials is like a feather on the scale, which can’t compare with the tons of gold of the glory that will be revealed to us.
He expresses the same thought in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
A third thing to think about to endure present, temporary suffering for future glory is that our future glory with God is absolutely certain.
God has promised it and He cannot lie. Christ promised to return in power and glory to bring final redemption to His people and to judge His enemies. Either He was mistaken or it is our certain future.
And in the rest of the chapter Paul unfolds a fourth reason that we need to think biblically about suffering, namely, that God is using it to conform us to the image of Christ. Not even torture or martyrdom can separate us from His great love (8:35-39).
Often people observe the terrible suffering in the world and doubt God’s love or His power. The argument is especially emotional when we consider little children suffering physical or sexual abuse or the horrible effects of war or natural disasters.
If you say, “That’s not fair,” you’re on dangerous ground, to accuse the Sovereign God of being unfair! And you’re arrogantly implying that you would have done better than Adam did, so you don’t deserve to be penalized for his sin.
So you’d best not accuse God of being unfair for imposing suffering on the human race because of sin.
But the fact of terrible suffering does not undermine the fact that God has a plan and that He will accomplish His plan.
The future glory is not totally revealed to us yet, but it includes the revealing of all that God has promised for us.
- B. Phillips 8:19, “The whole creation is on tiptoe to see the wonderful sight of the sons of God coming into their own.”
The future glory includes the full renewal of creation to its original perfection and purpose.
The future glory is guaranteed by our present possession of the Holy Spirit, the first fruits of our redemption.
The indwelling Holy Spirit gives us a taste of what it will be like to be holy, as Jesus is holy.
The Holy Spirit is the promise that God will not abandon us to our sin. He’s the down payment that signals that God will complete the purchase.
Keep your eyes on the future promised glory and you will persevere in present sufferings with hope.
Paul anticipates us thinking, “But, I can’t see this future glory.” His reply is, “Yes, that’s the very nature of hope.” If you can see it all, then it’s not hope.
Our salvation includes hope because we don’t receive it all in this life.
But we hope for it because we have not yet received all that has been promised. So Paul concludes (8:25), “But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.”
Proud to be TJ's man 