Lesson 105

Romans Chapter Eight         

Freedom in Christ through the Holy Spirit

The Dynamic for living the Christian Life

 

Review:

Heirship is also defined as a partnership  Rom. 8:17

-  In fact vs:17 says there are 3 partnerships         

1 - fellow heirs   sugklhrono,moj          

2 - suffer with   sumpa,scw                                                     

3 - glorified with   sundoxa,zw    this will be covered in 8:18-25

 

What about this suffering here?

-  Suffering is not a condition of heirship but what is being said here is that suffering will be a part of the relationship as heirs!

 

-  Jesus predicted this suffering before the Cross.  John 15:18-21; 16:1-3

 

 

-  He also gave them great hope  16:33;  17:14;  1 Ths. 3:3-4;  2 Tim 3:12

 

 

-  This present suffering is a God-given privilege.  Phil. 1:29;     Acts 5:41

 

 

- How you deal with it has an impact on your reward when He returns!  1 Pet 4:13

 

 

3.   The believer's glorification  8:18-25

 

-  How has the light of what is coming, your glorification, impacted your life?

 

 

 

*  Definition:  Glorification is the future act of God towards every believer; it makes the final application of the cross work of Jesus Christ making us like Him in Body, Soul, and Spirit!

 

 

Justification  à our standing before God,

Sanctification à our spiritual progress in the Christian life;

Glorification  à future act of God; His work on our behalf;

 

When?? 

 

All those called,  justified are the same ones glorified, [8:29-30]

 

 

- This is how we ought to think, that is, having a perspective based on the absolute security package provided for us by grace, as sons, as heirs!

 

     - Those who take the present                          Those with a Rom 8 VPT!      

view;  [maladjusted bel's]

       Won't we be comfy then!                                   Aren't we comfy now!

       Isn't it going to be great then!                            [making max use of the resources;      

        [remote - removed]                                               spiritual blessings provided]

       Doesn't matter what I do, I'm           

       Saved and that's all that counts!

 

 

 

In  8:18-25  notice carefully that there is a recurring idea through out!

That of anticipation of glorification.

 

 

   A look ahead!   

   - Focus of the next section: v.26-30 preparation for glory;

     1. v.26-27  help of intercession by the H/S

     2. v.28-30  we know all thing work together for good, because of the activity the Father. [have a handle on reality in any situation]

     3. v.31  begins to stress the concept of assurance/security

 

- One thing we will learn here is that glorification is broader, goes beyond just us, mankind, that Creation is also involved!

 

 

Who gets straightened out first? 

 

Why is creation dependant on man getting straightened out?

 

Man, by his sin, polluted creation, therefore must be restored 1st and creation as personified here is seen as knowing that, is aware of that reality.

 

Ø      8:18  The Future of the Believer 

"For I consider" 

 

What is it that Paul has been thinking through very carefully?

-  the sufferings of this present time

-  His conclusion:  are not worthy to be compared with the glory to be revealed to us.

 

 

-  We can characterize the sufferings of this age in three ways.

#1 [same as vs.17b]  Suffering that arises directly from our profession of faith in a world that rejects Christ.  [persecution]

#2  Suffering that is the direct result of sin in the life.

#3  Suffering that arises from living in a world that is under the  curse of the fall.  sickness-disease

 

 

 

What Paul is saying here is that when weighed in the balance against true and lasting value the glory that is to be ours, the suffering endured in this life pales to insignificance.

 

 

-  What we do know is that we are to be glorified with Christ; to share His glory [v.17c]; we will appear with Him in glory!        Col. 3:4;   2 Ths. 1:10

 

What is glory?

- do,xa  used to translate the Heb.  DAbk'   heavy, weighty

 

 

-  What Paul has a reference to here with "the glory to be unveiled or revealed"  is even greater; and its still future!

 

 

-  The question now becomes, what has to happen for us to get there, to realize this glory?

 

 

 

-  Our view of death has a very powerful influence on how we live!