Life According to the Spirit, Part 4

Let me see if I can put in perspective
and context where we are. We are in the midst of the study
of God’s word that is the only place to go for wisdom for the
child of God. But dialing in even closer we
are in the New Testament in our study of the New Testament and
dialing in even closer we are in the book of Romans specifically. And dialing in even closer, we
are in that great section in the book of Romans that pertains
to sanctification. And focusing even clearer and
closer, we are in that great section in chapter eight, that
subsection that deals with God’s divine enablement, God’s assistance
to us that is so profound and it is so complete. that it involves
every member of the Godhead doing everything on our behalf. And
in that greater section, we focus in even more clearly on to particularly
in verses 12 through 27, what the role of the Holy Spirit is.
What has the Holy Spirit done on the part of the believer?
The foundation was already laid in chapter eight. And we focus
in even clearer on one particular point that the Holy Spirit has
done as we have been studying this section now for several
weeks. If you would go all the way back to verse 12 as we focus
in once again, and we’ll read only this morning through verse
25. So then, brethren, we are under
obligation not to the flesh to live according to the flesh,
For if you are living according to the flesh, you must die. But
if by the spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body,
you will live. For all who are being led by
the spirit of God, these are the sons of God. For you have
not received the spirit of slavery leading again to fear, but you
have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out,
Abba, Father. The Spirit himself bears witness
with our spirit that we are children of God and if children heirs
also heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ if indeed we
suffer with him in order that we may be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings
of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the
glory that is to be revealed to us. The anxious longing of
creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.
For the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will,
but because of him who subjected it in hope that the creation
itself will be set free from its slavery to corruption into
the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know
that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth
together until now. And not only this, but also we
ourselves having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves
grown within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons,
the redemption of our body. For in hope, we have been saved,
but hope that is seen is not hope. For why does one also hope
for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do
not see, With perseverance we eagerly wait for it. Paul has begun to zero in on
what the Holy Spirit has done and we have considered some of
those already. The Holy Spirit is not limited
merely to the awakening of a sinner to salvation. that great process
of regeneration, which we find elsewhere in Scripture, but really
not in focus here in this particular passage. We certainly know, as
we’ve seen and studied, the Holy Spirit has other ministries,
not the least of which is gifting each and every believer for the
works of service. We know that the Holy Spirit
convicts us. We know that even from our recent moment of confession
and prayer. But the Holy Spirit has other
profound ministries in the life of every Christian. The Holy
Spirit is active. The Holy Spirit is active and
vibrantly so in the life of every believer on a day to day basis.
And that’s what Paul wants us to know. He wants us to know
the richness of the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
He doesn’t want us to be, as conservative Christians, afraid
to mention the mere name of the Holy Spirit. He wants us to know
the richness and the depth of the work of the Holy Spirit of
God in each one of us on a regular basis. Look again at the passage. What is it that the Holy Spirit
has done? Paul brings us back close, as it were, when he says,
Brethren, we are under obligation not to the flesh to live according
to the to the flesh and the implication there, as we’ve seen, but to
the spirit, we are obligated to the spirit. We are obligated
before God. To live according to the spirit. And we’ve seen that in and of
itself, that is a cruel statement. If Paul doesn’t add the rest,
that is more law, that is more obligation, that is more of what
we’ve already seen. We in and of ourselves don’t
have the power to live. We don’t have the power to not
live according to the flesh in and of ourselves, we don’t have
the power to live according to the spirit. Except. for the provision of God, except
for what God has enabled us to do, except what God equips us
to do. It is impossible in our own strength,
which is precisely the purpose of this entire section. God has
granted us divine assistance. God has divinely enabled us.
And God has literally, as we have seen, opened the floodgates
and given us everything that we need. Pertaining to life,
and salvation, everything that we need. And we know. We know that we have God’s word.
We know that we have the Holy Spirit. We know that from conviction.
We know that we have Christian friends with whom to walk through
this difficult life. We know that we have. Principles
driven from God’s word by which to live. But where is God in
all of this difficulty? And that’s what Paul wants us
to know, he wants us to know the ministry of the Holy Spirit
in an intimate way. That we might be encouraged,
what is the Holy Spirit done? Well, we’ve seen and we’re on
point four, but briefly, by way of review, the first thing that
we saw the Holy Spirit has divinely enabled us to do is to mortify
sin, to kill it, to actively put to death sin in our lives.
You saw that in verse 13, if you if by the Spirit you are
putting to death the deeds of the body, and that’s the only
way that those deeds can be put to death. Don’t ever take credit
for it yourself. Don’t ever say that I reformed
myself, that I walked away, that I laid down these things, that
I stepped away from these sinful tendencies. It’s always and only
by the Holy Spirit that we ever conquer. Give God the glory. We are putting those things to
death. The Puritans, as I’ve said, refer to this as mortification. We are at war with sin in our
lives. And every time the Holy Spirit,
even in a brief time of confession in the church, in a public gathering,
even in those times, the Holy Spirit is bringing to mind and
bringing to conviction those things. And what he brings us
to conviction, he equips us by grace He equips us and readiness
readies us to go to battle and to put those things to death.
Mortification of the deeds of the body those fleshly sins those
ungodly attitudes those un biblical attitudes and and affections
that we all have. They creep in to become part
of our lives and the Holy Spirit. His role is to bring us to our
attention and then equip us for battle. Not only that, but secondly,
a guidance, a guidance of such a kind that reveals us as sons,
not everybody is led by the Holy Spirit. The ungodly are not led
by the Holy Spirit, even if they wanted to follow him. If they
are not in Christ, if they have not named the name of Christ
and come to faith in Him, they are not gods and they are not
led by the Spirit. Look, if you would, at verse
14. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are
the sons of God. If you are not convicted of sin,
if you are not actively engaged in mortifying the flesh, if you
are not hourly day by day being led by the Holy Spirit of God,
if you are not able to look into the scriptures and glean from
them truth. If you are not constantly being
warned of temptation, if you are not battling against your
own weaknesses by God’s grace. If you are not Feasting upon
God’s Word. Being convicted of your own sinfulness. If you’re able to bow in prayer
like we just did. If you’re able to bow in prayer
and not be convicted of a single thing. Those are all marks that the
Holy Spirit is leading you. The Holy Spirit is in the process
of sanctifying you and encouraging you in the way of righteousness
in following Christ and living as Christ would have you to live.
The Holy Spirit is the one that reveals those things, and if
the Holy Spirit is in the process of doing that in your life, even
if it is a rudimentary process, rudimentary step, Even if it’s
just the basics, you’re convicted and you’re trying and you keep
coming again week after week and you confess the same things.
It’s not a bad thing. The Holy Spirit is active. You
just haven’t yet been able to appropriate the grace of God
to mortify those things. But there’s hope. There’s hope
that you’re even convicted at all. It’s a good thing. The Holy Spirit isn’t done yet,
and Paul isn’t done expounding to us all of the profound ways
that the Holy Spirit daily ministers to us. Not only through mortification
of sin that leads to life, and by that we said life itself,
it’s the real life. Life with God, life eternal.
Secondly, though, a guidance that reveals us as sons. But
the third point that we spent no little time on was an acceptance
that engenders affection. Essentially, it is a longer version
of that simple statement in 1 John. We love God because he first
loves us. He loved us in such a way as
to have us love him in return. But it’s never we that love him
first or initially. Look at verse 15. You have not
received the spirit of slavery when the Holy Spirit came, when
the Holy Spirit called you to Christ. He didn’t call you, as
it were, to bondage and to slavery, leading to some kind of abject
fear. You have not received the spirit
of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit
of adoption as sons by which we cry out, Abba, Father. You
didn’t come into bondage. You didn’t come into some kind
of servitude that is devoid of any kind of relationship. You
come into a relationship by which you are adopted into a family. And you are enabled. To refer
to God in the most intimate of terms, you’re able to call up
to him and call out to him, Abba, Father. You’re not a second class citizen
in God’s kingdom. You’re not a nobody. You’re a
child of God, just as we saw in the case of David with Mephibosheth,
who drew him in, not just to his table. He drew him in, not
just to his palace. He drew him in, not just to his
privileges and to his authority. He drew him in to his very family. He said, you are as my son. And he treated him as such. And
that’s what God does for us. But the Holy Spirit, his ministry
is not yet fully expounded, Paul has much more to say, and he
says that there is a fourth element. That we need to consider. When
we consider the life of divine assistance that the spirit provides,
and this is where we were last week, and we begin to dial in
even closer into this passage. Not only mortification of sin
that leads to life, guidance that reveals us as sons, acceptance
that engenders affection, but forth affirmation that promises
inheritance. This is almost, it’s almost too
good to be true. It’s like getting the envelope
in the mail, right? You have already won $100,000.
You know, life is good, but now it just got that much better.
Is it a hundred thousand? Is it a million? It’s even more
than that, isn’t it? It’s too good to be true. And such is
this verse. What do you mean we have on top
of salvation, I’ve already been forgiven of my sin. Not only
have I been forgiven of my sin and my sin was great in God’s
eyes, it literally sent Christ to the cross. Christ had to pay
for my sin. How much better can it get? Well,
you mean not only that, but in this life we have blessings,
we have encouragement, we have God’s guidance, we have other
Christians with whom to fellowship, and we still get to enjoy the
beauty of God’s creation. And it is beautiful. And then
you’re telling me that on top of that. When I die and go to
heaven for eternity, by the way. There is something waiting there
for me on top of all of this. How much better can it get? Look down, if you would, at verse
16. This is where we picked it up last week. The spirit himself
bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and
fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with him in
order that we may be also be glorified with him. The spirit
himself And initially, we saw in a process that we can’t really
even quite define, but we know it. Those of us who are in Christ
know this sentiment. We know this encouragement. The
spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children
of God. We want to follow Christ, we
want to do the right thing, we want to grow in grace, we want
what God wants for us. And the very fact that we have
the ability to cry out to God as our Heavenly Father, even
intimately so, to come into His very presence, into the very
throne room of God, and to call out to Him, that is an indication
that the Spirit is at work in us. The Spirit bears witness
with our spirit that we are sons of God. You’re in my family. You are part of God’s family
and don’t let anyone take it from you. I repeat what Robert
Haldane said regarding this interface between the Holy Spirit. We so
want to walk with Christ. The Holy Spirit and the Holy
Spirit alone says you are in Christ. You are in God’s family. Robert Haldane said the Holy
Spirit testifies. This is the language of a courtroom.
As if we’re all called in to witness and you say, yes, I follow
Christ and the devil says, no, you don’t. I want to follow Christ and the
devil says you don’t do a very good job at it. And so we have
a belligerent witness in the courtroom, one that keeps calling
out, one that wants to tell God everything that we’ve done, that
runs counter to our testimony, and sometimes he’s dead on accurate,
isn’t he? And yet there’s a third witness.
There’s another witness in the courtroom, and it’s the Holy
Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit testifies to our spirit in a
distinct and immediate testimony. This testimony, although it cannot
be explained, is nevertheless felt by the believer. A stranger
intermeddles not with the joy communicated by the secret testimony
to our spirit, the witnessing of the spirit to the believers
spirit. It is never his first work that
is consequent with his other work of renovation. He witnesses
with our spirit in all the blessedness of his gracious fruits. Diffusing
through the soul, love and joy and peace. No wonder Paul writing
in Galatians said that the fruit of the Spirit, that’s what to
look for. That’s what to look for in the life of the believer.
And if you have those things, those two are an echo of the
Holy Spirit testifying, interfacing with your own testimony. The
Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are sons
of God. Children of God. But Paul goes
on. He says that if children heirs
also, and this is the part where we stand back and we say, wait
a second. There’s more, there’s an additional blessing to the
fact that we follow God in this life and we looked at it briefly.
That’s exactly what it means. It means it talks about it’s
the language of inheritance. It’s the language of airship. And all of those. things speak
of that natural process that when one parent dies, he bequeaths
down to his ensuing generation his worldly goods. Well, in God’s
case, the illustration breaks down because God doesn’t have
to die in order to bring us in to bestow upon us the bounties
of his goodness and grace. And we saw that in a number of
passages. This is not a casual thought
that Paul just skirts across. This is part of the core of what
Paul holds to. Ephesians 111, in him we have
also obtained an inheritance. We have it in a sense already.
And yet, in a sense, we will receive it in time. By way of brief review. Scripture
testifies in a number of different ways that children of God, that
those who are in Christ will receive some thing. as part of
their heavenly arrival. Heirs, according to his promise,
just in a general fashion. Galatians 3.29, heirs of a promise. Hebrews 6.17, likely speaking
of the fact that salvation was promised. Salvation so simply
handed out that we have come to enjoy that very promise. Heirs
of salvation. Hebrews 1.4, heirs of the grace
of life. What a beautiful way to put it.
1 Peter 3.17, that we literally inherit the grace gift of God
that is life itself. Heirs according to the hope of
eternal life, heirs of righteousness. Hebrews 11.7, heirs of the kingdom
which God has promised. We inherit so much. And Paul’s
primary point in this, as we saw last week, and I close with
review. Paul’s primary point last week
was to remind us that as God adopts us in, we are not second
class citizens. We never were. We never had to
earn anything. We never had to prove anything.
God received us purely according to his mercy. And when he did
so, as we saw with the prodigal son, he put a ring on our finger
and he bestowed back to us full sonship. We’re not second class
citizens anymore. And that’s what Paul’s point
is. The question is, what do we inherit? And there is kind
of this crass. You find it in a lot of the tracts,
there’s this crass what’s in it for me mentality about the
gospel, isn’t there? Almost all of the tracts that
I reviewed years ago spoke of something, some bounty that God
would bestow, some blessing. Some let me tell you how good
it can be. And I agree, salvation is the
greatest blessing that anyone can ever enjoy, and yet there
is this uncomfortable. Fixation obsession with getting
something from God, something beyond salvation that’s taken
as a given, but something that’s something that’s in there for
me. And so you say, well, I’m a little
bit comfortable with this, but it is. God’s word and God’s word
does say that if we are children of God, then we’re heirs. And
if we’re heirs, what do we inherit? Paul couldn’t be any more simple.
Couldn’t be any more plain heirs of God. When the Christian dies, Whether
it’s through the process of direct resurrection to be with God in
the end days or whether he dies and one day is joined. Immediately. He receives God. He comes to know God face to
face. He begins to fellowship with
God on a daily regular basis. Heirs of God said one can involve
nothing less than that the sons of God are heirs of the inheritance
which God himself is laid up for them. God himself is the
inheritance of his children. What better blessing what better
good could there be to inherit the very God that created the
universe. You think of all the gold and
the trinkets and diamonds and things that are in this world.
Think of inheriting the one. That brought all of that into existence
with a mere word of his mouth. We inherit God. The inheritance of those who
are the children of God as God himself, God is the portion,
as the Old Testament put it, God is the portion of his people. Listen to Psalm 73, one of my
favorite psalms, one of the few that I’ve had the privilege to
preach. Psalm 73, verse 25 says, Whom have I in heaven but you? David looked up and he longed
to be with God. He longed to be with God in heaven. And besides you, I desire nothing
on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Not only that, but we are fellow
heirs with Christ. What does Christ inherit? Christ
likewise inherits God and inherits the glory of God. We don’t get
anything that Christ doesn’t already have. We walk into the
kingdom together with Christ as it were, and we inherit what
he inherits. He has his fellowship with God
restored in the most profound and intense manner. The children of God will jointly
with Christ enjoy the possession of the inheritance that was already
bestowed on Christ as God accepted his sacrifice and that reward
was given. That’s exactly what Jesus prayed
for in John chapter 17. Father, glorify me together with
yourself with the glory which I had with you before the world
was. We’ll come back to this. Subject
of glory in a moment. But when we. When we come to
God to receive our inheritance, we come with Christ. We come
in Christ, we come as one and we come to inherit the glory
of God, we come to inherit God himself and we enjoy him. For eternity, what an inheritance
is the Christians. And so. In Christ. The Holy Spirit provides this
assurance and confidence of our being part of God’s family, we
are adopted in fully part of God’s family with only one caveat. Suffering. Purposed suffering
with our Savior. Look back again, if you would,
at verse 17. Pick it up in 16 the spirit bears
witness with our spirit that we are children of God and children
heirs also heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ if. Indeed
we suffer with. You see the problem is this is
the breaking point. This is the break point with
many who say they want to follow Christ but don’t want to take
up their cross. They say they want to be servants
of God but they don’t want to accept the abuse that comes with
the territory. They say that they want. What
heaven offers. But they don’t want to go through
the difficulties as a Christian that it takes to get there. And
just as the parable of the soil says, when difficulties and trials
come up, it chokes out that plant. And how many professing Christians
do you know that the first sign of trouble was their moment of
departure. The first sign of difficulty
in this life, the first sign of trial, of suffering, was the
point of departure for them. God owed me. How could He do
this to me? How could God let me have this
trial and this difficulty? I’m a Christian. I wanted to
follow Christ. But He has Utterly let me down. Let’s consider it. First of all, don’t think for
a moment that when Paul says this, that it’s conditional in
the sense that we need to go looking for suffering. Boy, I’ve
got to go suffer for the sake of the kingdom so that I can
be saved. It’s basically just stating things as they are stating
the fact that when you are a Christian, you are called to a life of difficulty.
You’re called to a life of trouble. If you’re unwilling to do that,
then you’re really not a Christian in the first place. It doesn’t
cancel out your previously saved condition. But if you are. Purposed from
the very start to suffer with Christ so that you will be glorified
with him. That is that is a proof that
the Holy Spirit is at work within you and already equipping you
for sonship and heirship as part of God’s family. You say, well,
how how do we suffer? Well, we suffer in patience,
we persevere through difficulties, We bear up under pressure as
the scriptures talk about. Sometimes those things are conflicts
from without, as Paul talked about. Sometimes there are things
that are within that we struggle with. It isn’t like we go back literally
when he talks about suffering with Christ, it’s not that we
go back and die on the cross, there are many almost cultic
forms of Christianity that thought that somehow we had to literally
flog ourselves and abuse ourselves in order to somehow participate
in the sufferings of Christ. It’s impossible to do. And Christ
has already paid that penalty. We can’t add to it. But it is
the suffering. From being faithful to Christ
in a world that does not love. God does not want to serve God,
we are going to come up against that kind of challenge and suffering
every day if we are in Christ and walking with Christ. As one
pastor said, believers do not contribute to the accomplishment
of expiation, propitiation, reconciliation or redemption, but we don’t go
looking for suffering so that we can fill up Christ’s sufferings
in that regard. We don’t add to our salvation,
we don’t add to our payment of sin. In other words, the more
that we suffer, there are those that have believed this through
the centuries, the Gnostics and others. The boy, if I can only
make myself suffer. I can pay off my sin. It’s not
at all what’s transpiring. One said the sufferings of Christ
are to be regarded in two points of view. On the one hand, he
suffered as the propitiation for the sins of his people. On
the other hand, his sufferings are to be viewed as the road
conducting him to glory. In the first sense, his people
have no part. We can’t add to our atonement. He alone was the sacrifice offered
for their salvation. He alone made satisfaction to
the justice of God, and he alone merited the reward for them.
But the second point of view, He is the pattern of their condition.
It is this they must follow in his steps and be made conformable
to him. Suffering then is peculiarly
the earthly lot of all the heirs of heaven. They are called to
suffer with Christ, the man professing Christ’s religion, who meets
with no persecution or opposition from the world for Christ’s sake. may well doubt the sincerity
of his profession. It’s part and parcel of our Christian
walk. It’s part and parcel of our being
in the world. This is exactly what Jesus said
in Matthew 5. Remember the Sermon on the Mount.
Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and falsely
say all kinds of evil against you. Because of me. Not just that they don’t like
you. We are unlikable people. It’s when the world doesn’t like
us because of Christ that is the mark of our salvation. John 15, Jesus said it again
there, if the world hates you, know that it hated me before
you. If you were of the world, the
world would love its own. But because you are not of the
world, but I chose you out of the world because of this, The
world hates you. It’s not just because of you.
It’s because of Christ. It’s because of the fact that
you’re in Christ and you want to follow Christ. You want to
glorify and honor him in all that you do. That’s why the world
hates you. A lot of times, frankly, it’s
just because people are just plain obnoxious, right? It’s
because they’re just plain obnoxious, pushing the envelope at everything
they do, ramming things down people’s throat, bringing things
up that really have no business being discussed. Second Corinthians. Paul offers
an interesting perspective here on the whole issue of suffering
for Christ. Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus,
by the will of God to Timothy, our brother, to the Church of
God, which is at Corinth with all the saints who are throughout
Achaia, Grace to you and peace from God, our father and the
Lord Jesus Christ, blessed be all how very happy. Blessed be
the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the father of mercies
and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that
we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with
the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just
as the sufferings of Christ Our hours in abundance, so also our
comfort is abundant through Christ. We can plan on it. We can expect
it in this world. They are part of Christ’s sufferings. The fact that we live and walk
with Christ and we suffer because of it. That’s what’s in view. That’s what’s in view. Let me underscore this. One pastor
affirmed, we can add nothing to Christ’s redemptive suffering
for us, but by means of our own willingness to suffer for his
sake, we are drawn closer to the Savior’s heart. A believer
may lose his job because he says no when he’s being tempted to
participate in a crooked business deal. Or he insists on honoring
the word of God in the classroom. How many have been expelled from
their positions in school, church, government because of their stand
for the truth? I’ll give you one that you can
evaluate. I don’t know. I don’t know what category to
put this one in. Was this individual pushing the envelope and therefore
deserved the grief that he got? Or was he really standing on
biblical principle? Well, I think there’s a case
to be made for each side. Student was graduating this past
week. They said no public displays. They wanted a crisp, clean graduation,
right? Walk across the stage, pick up
your diploma, and go home. That’s what they wanted. And
the college made it very clear. Well, one student took it upon
himself to kneel down in T-bone, is what they called it. Now,
my only question is, did he really pray? As he bowed to Thiebaud,
did he really pray? Did he really give glory to God?
I think there’s a case to be made that that’s the kind of
thing that we do sometimes that is just provocative. Did the
school say, thou shalt not pray? Then we must pray. Did the school
say, look, we don’t want any shenanigans. And to bring this,
to bring prayer to God to this low level. And to provoke the
very people that we’re trying to testify to? I don’t know. We are to suffer as Christ suffered.
That’s the goal. Not just when we come across
sinners. We find ourselves in a conflict
with them. But in the regular difficulties
of life. The regular challenges. Remember, Jesus was called the
man of sorrows. And we can’t expect to fare any
more. Any better than Christ fared.
As one Puritan said, God causes his children to suffer in different
ways and in different reasons for their good. As for the trial
of their faith, the exercise of their patience, the mortification
of sin, and in order to wean them from this world and prepare
them for heaven, their sufferings are effects of his fatherly love.
And the great object of them is that they may be conformed
to Christ. God has his own plan for your
suffering. But I’ll tell you the one great
purpose for it, if it’s true suffering, if it’s the sufferings
that are conformable to Christ, that is, if it is suffering with
Christ, it is purposed suffering. Look back at the passage, if
you would. Verse 17 says, If we suffer with him in order that
we may be glorified with him. That’s what keeps us going through
this difficult life is that we look to glory. We look to heaven.
We look to walk through these difficulties and endure these
difficulties and be sustained by God through them because we
know that one day this is all over. All of the difficulties
all of the catcalls all of the brow beating that we take from
the world all of the challenges that we face just as believers. The idea of glory here is literally
the manifestation of God, the manifestation of God’s character
is going to be poured out in and on the lives not only of
Christ, but of all of his followers. This is a profound thing. This is the character of God
being poured out on us. Philippians 321 says that one
day he will transform the body of our humble state into conformity
with the body of his glory. I don’t even know what that looks
like. Commentators were stymied, they didn’t know how to describe
it. The most interesting thing about
both of these words, suffering and glory, is that they’re both
compound words. It’s a fascinating deal. Both
of them begin with the word that best translates With. With Christ, we suffer and with
Christ, we are glorified and you can’t have one without the
other. You can’t expect glory, we can’t expect to be glorified
with Christ unless we are first taken through this difficult
world, and if we are taken through this difficult, challenging,
heartbreaking world, we will be glorified with Christ. John 17 24 Father, I desire that
they also whom you have given me be with me where I am so that
they may see my glory which you have given me for you loved me
before the foundation of the world. Jesus wants for us what
God has already given to him. Colossians 3 4 When Christ, who
is our life, is he your life? When Christ, who is our life,
is revealed, then you will be revealed with him in glory. The scriptures are replete on
the subject that when we suffer with Christ. We prepare ourselves
for glorification with him as well. As one said, the design of God.
In the affliction of his people, it’s not just for affliction
sake, it’s not just to bring us down, it’s not just to give
us a bad day, it’s not just to challenge our faith. It’s not
certainly not to cause us to stumble and to curse God and
die. The design of these tests, these
trials of suffering. Isn’t to satisfy any kind of
justice. But it’s in order to prepare
us. And if you want to turn back
to the passage. Here’s what I think takes place.
And it’s a classic example of Paul’s style. Paul has made these
astounding statements. Profound as he’s unfolding to
us the ministry of the Holy Spirit. I want you to see what happens.
It’s as if Paul enters into a would be discussion. And he answers
every challenge. Look at verse 16, the spirit
bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs
with Christ, if indeed we suffer with him in order that we may
be glorified with him. But Paul, our suffering is prolonged
I’ve been living this way for so long, I’ve been poor, I’ve
been sick, I’ve been persecuted mercilessly and it’s profound. How can you say this? How can
you throw up this idea of suffering and somehow provoke us to look
to heaven? For I consider that the sufferings
of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the
glory that is to be revealed to us. That’s an amazing statement,
Paul. Why or better, how can you possibly
say that? How can you say that as difficult
as this life is, that somehow it’s going to be better in heaven? For the anxious longing of creation
waits eagerly. Verse 19, for the revealing of
the sons of God. Aha! You mean this is all God’s
doing? So that God might somehow reveal
in time who those are that are truly his. It’s exactly right. For the creation was subjected
to futility, not of its own will, but because of him who subjected
it in hope. That the creation itself will
also be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom
of the glory of the children of God. Subjected to futility? That God did this? God gave us the sweat of the
brow? God gave us frustration in our
works? Where’s the proof in all that?
Verse 22, For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers
the pains of childbirth until now. Yes, we sense that. We do see the frustration of
life, and it’s good to know that it has a purpose. But where is
the proof? Verse 23. And not only this,
but also we ourselves having the first fruits of the spirit,
even we ourselves grown within ourselves, he says, look, Christians,
even Christians struggle with these frustrations. Even Christians
long for heaven. Even Christians look to be past
the sufferings of this life as they long for the glory in heaven. You say, but Paul, looking back
to verse 17, our suffering is prolonged and profound. You have
no idea, Paul, what I’ve gone through. Or does he? Paul, I’ve been poor almost all
of my life, I’ve done without as I’ve watched people lavish
themselves with good things. Paul, you have no idea I have
been sick, I have been in pain almost every day, and the pain
just seems to get worse. And just when I think that it
couldn’t get any worse, it multiplies itself times 10. Paul, you have
no idea what it’s like to walk through this world and to suddenly
be at enmity with people that you formerly were friends with
simply because of a biblical principle. You have no idea,
Paul. Or does he? Does Paul have any idea what
he’s talking about when he says, I consider that the sufferings
of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the
glory that is to be revealed to us. We’ll take it up there
next Lord’s Day. Let’s pray. O merciful God, like those
saints of old written of in the book of Acts, who went out rejoicing
because they were considered worthy to suffer. Lord, we have
our thoughts arrested as it were. We know that we are your children,
that Holy Spirit has testified to that, as well as all the other
works that He’s done in our life. We know that He has called us
out of death into life. We know that He has convicted
us. We know that He has graced us. We know that He has gifted
us in this life to serve you. We have His testimony in our
hearts, and yet we suffer. And Lord,
we look forward to your word enlightening, encouraging and
challenging us. To the very truth that the sufferings
of this life are not worthy to be compared with the glory that
is to be revealed to us. We rejoice before you in Jesus
name.