Title: The suffering and glory of the Christian
Commentary on Romans 64
Christian suffering and glory
Romans 8:18 - 23
Introduction: The fact that we are God's heirs is a very moving and glorious thing for us. But because this glorious work was accomplished through Jesus Christ, we became joint heirs with Christ.
The word ‘co-heirs’ does not mean that we did something together for the cause, but rather that we became partakers of Christ in the work accomplished because of him. This is the wondrous and mysterious mystery of God, made possible through union with Christ.
And for this purpose, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of adoption, is with us and said, “He Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God.” However, in verses 18 to 23, the sufferings and groanings of Christians appear, but it is said that these sufferings are not worthy to be compared with the glory that will be revealed in us.
1. Present Suffering and Future Glory
Verse 18 says, “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed in us.” For all Christians living in this world, there are present hardships.
(1) The first world God created was a world without suffering. There, all creation was said to be “very good” in the sight of God, and there was no decay, decay, death, or groaning. Suffering came because of human sin.
God said to Adam, who sinned, “Cursed is the earth because of you, and you will toil all the days of your life to eat of its fruit, and the earth will bring you thorns and thistles” (Genesis 3:17, 18). This curse of creation will continue until a new world is created.
(2) It tells us that this world is a world in which even the children of God must live with groaning within themselves. The words recorded in verse 23 say, “Not only this, but also we, who have the firstfruits of the Holy Spirit, groan within ourselves.” I am telling you. Therefore, among us who have become children of God, none of us can live a life without groaning.
Because everyone is living in a cursed world. The ultimate salvation of Christians is one. It is the complete salvation of spirit and body. Spiritual salvation has already been accomplished through the Holy Spirit when you receive Christ. But the salvation of the flesh is in the hope that will be revealed in the future. That day will be the day of the resurrection. Until then, there is no way for us to escape from the curse of man's sin, since it extends to all creatures living in this world.
(3) However, there is a world of infinite glory that will appear to us in the future. This world is a world completely free from all the curses of this world. This world is a world where eternal life, eternal joy, and eternal rest continue.
Revelation 21 tells us about this glory. “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and God dwells with them, and they become God's people, and God Himself is with them and wipes away every tear, and there is no more death, nor mourning, crying, or pain. there will be no more, for the first things have passed away” (Revelation 21:3,4).
This kingdom of glory is promised to us Christ. To inherit this kingdom is to be the heir of God, and the hope of this glory is nothing compared to all the lamentations and sufferings we are experiencing on this earth. Therefore, anyone who has this hope can live a life that overcomes the world.
(4) The present and future worlds are closely connected. If our world ended only with this world, our life would be the most miserable. Paul says, “If our hope in Christ is only in this life, we are of all men the most pitiful” (1 Corinthians 15:19).
All human beings, whether Christ or not, should know that they are living a life that cannot be completely separated from this life and the life to come. In Matthew 25, the words of God's final judgment on mankind are recorded. But then God said to the Christians, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” God's people have an eternal kingdom prepared for them. To inherit this country is to become an heir of God.
And there is a message given to another group of people. Those people are those who have disobeyed God and have not accepted Christ. He said to them, “And he said to the one on the left, “Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” Therefore, Christians should live in hope, thinking about the kingdom of glory that will be revealed in the future with this hope.
2. Creatures' Lament and Waiting
(1) He said that he wanted the creation to be freed from the enslavement of corruption. They said that it was not their will for them to yield to vain. It was because of human sin that God caused them to suffer and groan like this. Therefore, it means that they too are eagerly waiting for the time when they can enjoy the glory of God's heirs.
Because the restoration of man will soon follow the restoration of all things, and on that day all creation will be set free from the bondage to corruption and attain the glorious freedom of the children of God. When Paul says in verse 22, “We know that the whole creation has been groaning and suffering together until now”, it is an expression that we too are able to understand the groaning of other creatures as we also groan with them.
(2) Christians said they were waiting for adoption. Regarding the groaning of creation, Paul included Christians in it and said: “Not only this, but also we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan within ourselves, waiting for adoption, the redemption of our body.”
We are told in verse 15 that we have received the Spirit of adoption. However, they have not yet fully possessed their adoptive status. It will be so when you rise to the status of heir. And when we say that we are adopted in this way, we mean the redemption of the body. The redemption of the body means the complete salvation of our physical body, which is now groaning and suffering on this earth, that is, the resurrection of Christians. In other words, it means that we earnestly long for the day of glory as the heir of God.
Conclusion: Because Christians have such a hope of glory, they are able to overcome with perseverance even in the midst of indescribable groanings and hardships. Because our present suffering, whatever it may be, is not worthy to be compared with the glory that will be revealed in us. This hope makes it possible to live a life of gratitude in everything. You can live a life that will always make you happy. You can enjoy the true peace that Christ has given you in any circumstance.