Romans 8: 18-30Romans 8: 18-30

The Glory of the Christian in The Glory of the Christian in ChristChrist

Hong KongHong Kong

                       

               

I also saw, when I was in Hong I also saw, when I was in Hong Kong, THIS:Kong, THIS:

Is this World as it should be?Is this World as it should be?

• Makes you think sometimes that not Makes you think sometimes that not all is right with the World, that all is right with the World, that circumstances have a way of really circumstances have a way of really hitting some harder than othershitting some harder than others

Romans 8:18-30Romans 8:18-30• Future Glory Future Glory •   18I consider that our present sufferings are not worth 18I consider that our present sufferings are not worth

comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19The comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. 20For the creation was subjected to frustration, not revealed. 20For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21that[hope 21that[aa] the creation itself will be liberated from its ] the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.  22We know that the whole creation has been children of God.  22We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits time. 23Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in this hope we as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? 25But if we hope for what we do not for what he already has? 25But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. yet have, we wait for it patiently.

•   26In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do 26In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27And intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.God's will.

Romans 8:18-30Romans 8:18-30

• More Than Conquerors More Than Conquerors •   28And we know that in all things God works 28And we know that in all things God works

for the good of those who love him,[for the good of those who love him,[bb] who[] who[cc] have been called according to his ] have been called according to his purpose. 29For those God foreknew he also purpose. 29For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those he among many brothers. 30And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. glorified.

Paul the ApostlePaul the Apostle

• For the sake of fulfilling His Calling:For the sake of fulfilling His Calling:

• Was thrown into prison multiple timesWas thrown into prison multiple times

• Was beaten to near deathWas beaten to near death

• ShipwreckedShipwrecked

• Stoned to near deathStoned to near death

• Lost the respect of many of Jewish Lost the respect of many of Jewish ColleaguesColleagues

• Sent his Pharisee Career down the waste Sent his Pharisee Career down the waste basketbasket

• Now Paul was no stranger to Now Paul was no stranger to suffering, but at the beginning of vv. suffering, but at the beginning of vv. 18, we get this: 18, we get this:

• ““For I consider that the sufferings of For I consider that the sufferings of the present time are not worth the present time are not worth compared to the glory that is to be compared to the glory that is to be revealed in us.”revealed in us.”

What kind of Glory is Paul What kind of Glory is Paul writing about?writing about?

Glory to be Revealed in the Glory to be Revealed in the Sons and Daughters of God: Sons and Daughters of God: which Christians are the First which Christians are the First fruitsfruits• What is this Glory?What is this Glory?• It is the Glory of being made to It is the Glory of being made to

conform to Christ, in that we will grow conform to Christ, in that we will grow to be like Him in increasing likenessto be like Him in increasing likeness

• On the last Day, when Jesus returns, On the last Day, when Jesus returns, God’s work of making us like His Son God’s work of making us like His Son will be done in its completionwill be done in its completion

• Why is this Important?Why is this Important?

For the World is not as it For the World is not as it Should BeShould Be

• ““ For the Creation waits with eager For the Creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the Sons of longing for the revealing of the Sons of God. For the creation was subject to God. For the creation was subject to futility, not willingly, but because of him futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the Children of freedom of the glory of the Children of God.” God.”

In Christ, Christians have the In Christ, Christians have the Hope of GloryHope of Glory

• They also have the privilege of being They also have the privilege of being the “Firstfruits” of the Spiritthe “Firstfruits” of the Spirit

• This means that even though we are This means that even though we are imperfect, we are a “work in progress” imperfect, we are a “work in progress” not yet fully restored, we are still able, not yet fully restored, we are still able, with the help of the Spirit, to partake with the help of the Spirit, to partake in God’s work in redeeming the world in God’s work in redeeming the world to Himself through His Churchto Himself through His Church

InvitationInvitation

• To be a part of God’s redeeming To be a part of God’s redeeming work, however, means that we are to work, however, means that we are to partake in Christ’s sufferingpartake in Christ’s suffering

John PiperJohn Piper • ““ Christ is the glory of God. Christ is the glory of God. His blood soaked Cross is His blood soaked Cross is the blazing center of that the blazing center of that glory. By it he bought for us glory. By it he bought for us every blessing, temporal every blessing, temporal and eternal. And we don’t and eternal. And we don’t deserve any. He bought deserve any. He bought them all. Because of them all. Because of Christ’s cross, God’s elect Christ’s cross, God’s elect are destined to be Sons of are destined to be Sons of God. Because of His cross, God. Because of His cross, the wrath of God is taken the wrath of God is taken away. Because of his cross away. Because of his cross all guilt is removed, and sins all guilt is removed, and sins are forgiven, and perfect are forgiven, and perfect righteousness is imputed to righteousness is imputed to us, and the love of God is us, and the love of God is poured out in our hearts by poured out in our hearts by the Spirit, and we are being the Spirit, and we are being conformed to the image of conformed to the image of Christ.”Christ.”

John PiperJohn Piper

• We are to make much of God. “God created We are to make much of God. “God created us to live with a single passion to joyfully us to live with a single passion to joyfully display his supreme excellence in all the display his supreme excellence in all the spheres of life.”spheres of life.”

• But to live a cross centered life also requires But to live a cross centered life also requires that we share in Christ’s Sufferingthat we share in Christ’s Suffering

• It means that we show a very real concern for It means that we show a very real concern for the things that Christ is concerned about, and the things that Christ is concerned about, and to begin exploring the ways God has gifted to begin exploring the ways God has gifted you to make a difference for Him in your Life you to make a difference for Him in your Life and in the Worldand in the World

Final PromiseFinal Promise

• For we know that in all things, God works for the good of For we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His those who love Him, who have been called according to His purposepurpose

The Life of Discipleship is not always easy. And the hardships The Life of Discipleship is not always easy. And the hardships of life, both for the Christian and the non-Christian, can of life, both for the Christian and the non-Christian, can seem difficult and heavy to bear. Even for the Christian, seem difficult and heavy to bear. Even for the Christian, much persecution and hardship can come merely because much persecution and hardship can come merely because one wishes to follow the Lord. You can be sure that if you one wishes to follow the Lord. You can be sure that if you are His Follower, then the suffering of Jesus will also find are His Follower, then the suffering of Jesus will also find itself in your life, as will His joy. itself in your life, as will His joy.

But we are reminded, in light of it all, that God still works for But we are reminded, in light of it all, that God still works for the good of those who love Him, and have been called the good of those who love Him, and have been called according to His purpose..according to His purpose..

I) Christians will Share in the I) Christians will Share in the Glory of ChristGlory of Christ

• Christians are called to bear the Christians are called to bear the cross. In Romans 8:17, just cross. In Romans 8:17, just preceding this verse, it reads: Now if preceding this verse, it reads: Now if we are children, then we are heirs- we are children, then we are heirs- heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his order that we may also share in his glory. glory.

II) II)

• Christians, however, are also in the Christians, however, are also in the process of Sanctification: the process process of Sanctification: the process of continual renewal so that we are of continual renewal so that we are more and more like Christ: in more and more like Christ: in character and in lifecharacter and in life

• This begins in this life, and is This begins in this life, and is perfected when we dieperfected when we die

Glory of the Children of GodGlory of the Children of God

• Vv. 18-25.Vv. 18-25.• The World is not as it should be, in The World is not as it should be, in

fact it is described as being in fact it is described as being in bondage to corruption and decay bondage to corruption and decay

• In this kind of World, because of Sin In this kind of World, because of Sin and Death, people suffer, and all is not and Death, people suffer, and all is not as it should beas it should be

• But we are assured that this is But we are assured that this is temporarytemporary

All of which are good things, All of which are good things, and which we should aspire and which we should aspire for.for.

But let us not forget… But let us not forget…

• But perhaps there is a glory that But perhaps there is a glory that trumps all of these. A Glory to which trumps all of these. A Glory to which all of these ultimately point to. all of these ultimately point to. Because if all excellence, all talent, Because if all excellence, all talent, all gifts, all ability, in fact our very all gifts, all ability, in fact our very lives, come from the hand of God…lives, come from the hand of God…

• Then All these ultimately point to Then All these ultimately point to Him.Him.

John PiperJohn Piper

Life through the CrossLife through the Cross

• Life does not always make senseLife does not always make sense

• But we are assured of God’s good But we are assured of God’s good purposes: not just for the final purposes: not just for the final restoration of the world, but for restoration of the world, but for bringing His Sons and Daughters to bringing His Sons and Daughters to share the Image of His Sonshare the Image of His Son

• Because the blessings of Discipleship Because the blessings of Discipleship will come with a pricewill come with a price

Cross Bearing DiscipleshipCross Bearing Discipleship

• Realization that our blessings are Realization that our blessings are meant to be enjoyed, in thanksgiving meant to be enjoyed, in thanksgiving and SHARED for the good of othersand SHARED for the good of others

• Realization that everything we have Realization that everything we have is bought by Christ’s sacrifice, and is is bought by Christ’s sacrifice, and is actually His to begin withactually His to begin with

Hong KongHong Kong

                       

               

In Hong Kong… you’ll also see In Hong Kong… you’ll also see THIS:THIS:

• But that’s not what Paul is talking But that’s not what Paul is talking about here. So what is this glory? about here. So what is this glory? “19 – 21”“19 – 21”

• He’s talking here of when a New He’s talking here of when a New Kingdom arrives in fullKingdom arrives in full

• And that Christians are the first fruits And that Christians are the first fruits of the Spiritof the Spirit

• Wow, all this sounds like a bunch of Wow, all this sounds like a bunch of mumbo jumbo. What does it mean?mumbo jumbo. What does it mean?

• 1) It means that part of being a 1) It means that part of being a follower of Christ means that I am on follower of Christ means that I am on my way to becoming more like Himmy way to becoming more like Him

• In Ephesians, it says that we are In Ephesians, it says that we are “God’s Masterpiece”, designed to do “God’s Masterpiece”, designed to do good worksgood works

• So when you think about “being So when you think about “being saved”, you’re not just being saved saved”, you’re not just being saved in the sense that now I go to Heavenin the sense that now I go to Heaven

• You’re being saved so that you can You’re being saved so that you can live a life that’s characterized by the live a life that’s characterized by the Life of The SonLife of The Son

• Its character and LifeIts character and Life