Romans 8:18-30 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs!
Today’s passage is Romans 8:18-30. Let’s go!
Romans 8:18 (NIV)
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
On verse 18: In the verse right before this one, Paul says that we are heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ “if we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory” (v17). Now here Paul says that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. So what sufferings is Paul referring to? Even though Jesus already suffered on the cross for us and paid the price in full so we could be forgiven, Jesus also says that in this world we will have trouble (John 16:33). So whenever you go through trials and hardships while living for Jesus, just remember that the suffering you’re going through is nothing compared to the glory that will be revealed in you in the end. Let the hope of future glory keep you in the fight and help you persevere through present hardship. As Paul says 2 Corinthians 4:17, “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” Trouble today is preparation for glory tomorrow.
Romans 8:19-25 (NIV)
19 The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.
20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope
21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.
23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has?
25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
On verses 19-25: Ever since God cursed the ground after Adam sinned (Genesis 3:17-18), all of creation has been in a state of “frustration” (v20) (i.e. not being able to function exactly the way it is supposed to) and “decay” (v21) (slowly dying). Paul says that all of creation waits expectantly for the day (v19) when God will establish His kingdom once and for all, reveal who God’s children in all their glory, and restore all of creation to a fully glorious state (or, in the words of Revelation 21, create a new heaven and a new earth). While waiting for the day when God establishes His kingdom and ushers in this new heaven and earth, Paul says that, like a woman in childbirth, there is a groaning inside all of God’s children (v23) and all of creation (v22) as we yearn for that day to come. When you realize that there is nothing in this world that can fully satisfy you, that’s an example of the groaning Paul is talking about, where we must patiently wait for that glorious day to come.
Romans 8:26-27 (NIV)
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.
27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.
On verses 26-27: Here Paul speaks about one important way that the Holy Spirit works in our lives: whenever we have this longing for God that cannot be satisfied fully in this lifetime, the Holy Spirit intercedes (i.e. prays) for us. It is comforting to know that when I myself can’t find the words to pray to God, the Holy Spirit speaks perfectly on my behalf with groans that words cannot express.
Romans 8:28 (NIV)
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
On verse 28: One of the most important promises in the Bible, verse 28 tells us that in ALL things God is working for our good. So when we go through difficult, disappointing trials that don’t seem to make sense to us, we can rely on God’s promise that in ALL things (good, bad, joyful, painful, expected, surprising) God is working for our good. There is not a single thing that happens in this world that God will not somehow incorporate into the greater story that He is writing – both for our good and for His glory.
Romans 8:29-30 (NIV)
29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
On verses 29-30: In the book of Genesis, when God created people, He said, “Let us make man in our own image”. Similarly, when God created you, His plan was to make you into the image of His Son Jesus Christ. This is what Romans 8:29 means when it says “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.”
In other words, a big part of God’s plan for your life is to make you more like His Son Jesus Christ. God wants you to make you more like Christ in your character, your attitude, your values, your convictions, the way you speak, think and act, such that you are a reflection of your “older brother” Jesus.
Verse 30 tells us 4 ways that God has made us more like His Son Jesus:
1. You are “pre-destined”. In other words, before you were even born, you had a destiny. Your parents may not have planned you, but God planned you. You are God’s idea, His work of art. Just as Jesus had a destiny for his life on earth, so you have a destiny from God.
2. You are “called”. Just as Jesus had a calling on his life, God has a calling on your life. A calling is an invitation to live life for a purpose bigger than yourself. At Thrive we describe that calling with 5 letters: AEIOU. A is for Alive, which means we’re here to worship Jesus. E is for Expectant, which means we’re here to grow into Christ-like disciples. I is for Involved, which means we’re here to serve God with our talents. O is for Out Loud, which means we’re here to lead others to Jesus. U is for United, which means we’re here to love our spiritual family, God’s church. God is calling. Will you answer that call?
3. You are “justified”. To be justified means that God declares you innocent of all wrongdoing and righteous in His sight. How is that possible considering how much wrong we have done in our lives? It’s because God loved us and sent Jesus Christ to die on the cross for our sins. When we place our faith in what Christ God’s Son has done, we are forgiven of our sins and justified before God. Praise God! In Christ, we are blameless in God’s sight. Like Jesus and because of Jesus, we are now able to live in His holy presence with joy!
4. You are “glorified”. How weird is it to think that it is we who ought to glorify God, and yet God glorified us, showering us with esteem and honour! That’s how amazing God’s love is. Before we ever thought about glorifying God, and even when we insulted and rebelled against Him by sinning against Him, God crowned us with glory and honour by sacrificing His only Son Jesus for us. All the glory, the rights, the honour, the privileges, the righteousness, the blamelessness, the riches to which Jesus was entitled, He gave to us in exchange for our sin. That’s why Psalm 8:5 says “[y]ou made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.”
These 4 ways that you have been made like Christ — to be predestined, called, justified and glorified — are 4 things we could never achieve by ourselves. These are things only God can do for us. God did it to conform us into the image of His Son.
Father, thank You that in all things You work for the good of those who love You, who are called according to Your purpose. Thank You that You are using everything that happens in our lives to mould us into the image of Your Son Jesus. Thank You that trouble today is preparation for glory tomorrow. May we rely on Your love, Your strength and Your promise to accomplish Your destiny for our lives. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
