More Than Conquerors - Romans 8:18-39

Romans 8:18-39 Nothing can separate us Summer Hill Church 30 June 2019 1. Hope a. Powerlessness i. We love being in control. No matter who we are, the sense of complete chaos is difficult, disorientating and damaging. (1) in times of war, people look for routine (a) in the trenches people planted gardens and looked after them. (2) in the midst of the madness people look and long for that moment, that haven of centredness, of peace. Something they can control ii. and for the vast majority of us we find that most acutely when we suffer. (1) we may not be in the trenches and the mud, slime, rats and stench for month after month, but we can be in our own personal hell-hole (a) as we lose control of the things around us. (i) it’s a profound source of anxiety, and despair. (2) it’s the powerlessness of it all. Because we love power, we love control. (a) even though, even when things are at their best, we know it’s only a patina. A thin film overlaying imminent chaos. (i) we are all just a heartbeat away from disaster. iii. but when we are in it, when we are suffering, it is an awful time. (1) the sense of powerlessness is awful, which any of us feel when we suffer unjustly or unexpectedly b. Persistence i. and for so many of us, the way we cope is we try to gather a little control, and we just persist, we hang in there if we can, or, tragically, sometimes look for a more permanent end to our pain. (1) just putting one foot in front of the other, or just a hopeless resignation. (a) the number of times I have heard of late the phrase “well it is what it is” is just a little disturbing. A sense of just “giving up” ii. but the scriptures see in suffering something quite different (1) because God shows us a different way to look at it. In fact it tips it upside down and give you hope, rather than hopelessness. 2. Suffering is not the whole story a. Frustration i. and that can be so because suffering is not the whole story. (1) as Stephen King said pessimistically “Life Sucks and then you Die” ii. But it is real (1) the wonderful thing about the Bible is that, although it is fundamentally a book about God, it is so REAL about being human. iii. suffering is part of what is in our world, and Paul gives us a reason for this (1) For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, ….and that it is in bondage to decay. Romans 8:20-21 iv. our world is under the judgement of God because of sin, and so our world suffers, and decays, and every year we feel that more and more. (1) but that isn’t where it’s meant to be. Built deep into each of us, in fact into the whole of our world is that it’s meant to be better. So there is that sense of frustration deep within, (a) we keep searching for fulfilment, for satisfaction and not finding it. v. and that’s because of that frustration, that bondage to decay b. Glory i. because our world is not meant to be like that, and is indeed heading for something much greater. (1) I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope Romans 8:18–20 ii. the suffering now is nothing compared to what is in store. (1) the glory that is to be revealed in us, the people of God. (a) the whole of creation is straining forward in anticipation of the wonderful revelation of the children of God. (2) see suffering is given meaning, not by plodding persistence, but by hope!. (a) I’m sure that you’ve heard the saying “What doesn’t kill me makes me stronger”. (i) well that’s a cheap and paltry echo of the magnificent vision that Paul has here (3) suffering is Nothing compared to the wonder of the future God has in store for us as the children of God. And the whole of the created universe knows it and is straining in hope towards it. c. Waiting patiently i. the problem is that we are impatient, waiting is not something that we do well, we borrow rather than save, we east more and more fast food. We tweet, we don’t even blog anymore. (1) Homer Simpson says what we all think deep down ii. and yet this is what we are being encourage to do and to look for (1) We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. Romans 8:22–23 iii. and again, the sense that the whole of creation is groaning. Waiting. Waiting for a wonderful outcome like the birth of a child, but in pain (1) and Christians are caught up in that because we are in this world. We are part of the frustration, we are suffering, but we suffer eagerly waiting for that time when our sonship, our adoption will be revealed on the last day (a) and that will be when our bodies will be redeemed. (2) the Christian future is not as spirits in heaven when we die after judgement (a) the Christian hope is for a redeemed body Transformed and glorified. In a new heavens and a new earth. iv. But this is not yet, it’s something we have to wait for (1) For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. Romans 8:24–25 v. we are saved not for simply a spiritual future, but we are bodies as well, and so that is our future. BUT IT IS NOT YET. (1) Paul is very clear, we do not have it yet. We are still in this world where pain and suffering means we hope, and wait, because we do not yet have it. vi. we should not, and cannot expect our physical bodies to be redeemed. yet. We will still have aches, and pains. Still suffer from disease. (1) and so we wait - with both eagerness and patience. Because we trust the promise of God for the renewal of all things. d. God speaks for us i. But God does not leave us simply to wait (1) he is with us as we wait and as we suffer ii. I was speaking to someone just yesterday who was going through real troubles. And he said to me - I just don’t know what to pray (1) and to be frank in many ways neither did I iii. but the wonderful news is that the Spirit, that dwells in all of God’s people is there for that exact moment (1) 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 through wordless groans. Romans 8:26 iv. we don’t need to know what to pray about, because when we cry out to our father, the Spirit prays for us, and he will pray exactly the right thing (1) And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. Romans 8:27 v. so even in our darkest times, when not only may we not know what to pray, but may even be mistaken in our prayers (1) the wonderful news is that the Spirit does pray, and because he knows us perfectly and the Father perfectly, he always prays the right things. (a) which should give us great encouragement to pray, even if we are lost, alone, confused, even mute within our suffering. Because we can know that God hears, but the Spirit will always pray for us in the right way (2) suffering is not the whole story, and God will reveal our glory, but even more, he will reveal his glory, because 3. God is the whole story a. God works for our good i. Our life now is not only waiting (1) it’s not that the only purpose of life now is to get to life then. ii. I see it all the time in the hospital workplaces where I work part-time. most of the people know they’re basically doing a good thing. Helping people and all that (1) but almost universally what they are really living for is their next holiday., their next trip, their next experience. iii. and there is some truth to that of course. (1) but God is doing something now as well iv. 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. Romans 8:28 (1) God is working in us now. He isn’t just leaving us alone to see if we make it through v. he is actively working for our good. Doing things in and for us because he is calling us to himself for his purpose. b. for his purpose i. and this is where we come unstuck again, because we don’t know and understand and trust God. (1) it’s become pretty trendy of late to quote Jer 29:11 (a) For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 (2) and it’s used to say, that God wants you to do well in business, or study, or investment, or in sport, or in relationships. (3) but this is yet again showing how we want to take the place of God, and decide what we think is best for us (a) what God sees as our good is quite a bit different here. (i) he works for our good because (b) For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. Romans 8:29 (4) so, the good God is working for is to make us like Jesus! Not a successful businessman, but someone who loves self-sacrificially, who loves the sinner, who speaks the truth clearly, but in love. (a) God is making us into a people who are just like Christ. c. for glory i. and that is because God has destined us for glory in Christ (1) And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. Romans 8:30 ii. we could spend a week unpacking this verse alone. (1) we see the clear teaching of Paul of God predestining people, of choosing them and bring them to glory. There’s no way around this idea, and although many of us respond negatively to the idea. It’s very clear in the Scripture that this is what God does. (a) just as it is equally clear that we are responsible for our choices and our actions. (2) but we will unpack this a lot more when we come back to Romans in a couple of months and we look at Romans 9-11. iii. but what we really need to see today is this. (1) look at v30. Read it. Again. What is your role in this? What is God’s? (a) yes - it is ALL God’s action. From the predestining before the beginning of time, to the calling at the beginning of your Christian life, to the justification we live in, and the glorification to come. Which is so certain, that God speaks of it as something that has happened! (i) God is acting doing all this, in us, sinful unworthy human beings. For our good. That is our good. That is what he wants for us. Not merely to be members of Fortune 500. (2) And I wanted to emphasise that because that is the foundation for the next thing he says. 4. What shall we say? a. God is for us i. What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Romans 8:31–32 (1) if all this is true - what can we work out? What can we know? ii. well we can know that God is for us, he’s on our side and completely for our good and our glorification (1) whatever happens in life, however we suffer, no matter how hopeless we may feel, we can know, we can be certain, that God is for out good. (a) not necessarily agreeing with what we think, but what he wants for us us for our good. Unquestionably. (2) and we can know this not simply because he says so. (a) It’s not just because he says “I’m good”, “I’ll do the best for you” (i) we all know the Senator Palpatines of the world who claim to be good (ii) but are actually evil. (b) but God does more than say it. Even when we look at what God does in the world, sometimes we can wonder if he is good. (3) but we can be assured that God loves us, not simply because he says so, but because he does so (a) He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? (4) he gave his only Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us. Because of his love for us. That is what assures us that God wants the best for us. Because he did not withhold that which was most precious. The life of his only son. iii. and it is this truth that grasps us and comforts us and reminds us despite all the accusations and doubts that may come (1) Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Romans 8:33–34 iv. There is nothing that stands against us, because Christ stands at God’s right hand, his hand of power and status, and stands there for us. b. who will separate us? i. So if all this is true then the answer to to v35 - who shall separate us from the love of Christ - can anything in all creation do that (1) Those that know God face all the sufferings of this world just as the rest of the world does. Sometimes more - which is why Ps 44 is quoted. It’s for God’s sake we face death, it’s for God’s sake we are slaughtered. ii. a couple of years ago, there was a concerted effort by a group called FIRIS (Fairness in religion in schools). They were (and still are) running a campaign to have SRE removed from state schools. (1) One of the billboards they had put up when the big campaign was on was this (a) “God says you are stuck in your sin and need to be rescued from his judgement” Did you sign your child up for this. (i) Now I want to put aside just for the moment, whether you think it is a good or a bad thing that religion is taught in school (ii) but what FIRIS is attacking here is orthodox Christian doctrine 1) it is exactly what the Bible teaches about all people, every individual, even children. (b) without faith we are all destined for God’s judgement. Every single one of us. Without God’s call, we are all facing hell. That’s the way we are, not a things we do. (2) But we will be reviled and we will be called haters when we say that. We will be accused of not showing love in any form. But not to warn, not to speak truth, not to care enough to speak, that is truly not loving. iii. but it’s for God’s sake we are facing these accusations and oppositions, at whatever level we face them (1) so we should expect them, we should continue to respond in truth and in love, and not let them discourage us that we are on the wrong track. (a) not let the thoughts creep in that it may be better just to let it all slide. God has not forgotten us in the midst of this. c. More than conquerors i. because God will vindicate us, and he will show the truth to the world, and he will never let us go. (1) No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37–39 ii. these things can never defeat us, because they can never defeat God. (1) we will always be victorious over suffering if we keep faith because as Paul says in Philippians (a) For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21 5. Living with hope i. There is always the upside in God’s world that whatever suffering we have, it is for our good, to make us more like Christ (1) even as we sometimes shake our fist at God in frustration or even anger ii. he is working for our good. (1) and what we do, in the midst of the pain, in the midst of the anger, in the overwhelmedness of life at times is remember (a) remember the cross, and just what that means (2) remember that God is for us SO much that his son died for us (a) as we sit and feel crushed, remember that God is for us, and so no-one can really be against us. (3) and that God is really there, Really enfolding us in his arms of love (a) whispering in our ears that he cares and died for us as the world and life shouts that it’s all a fiction (4) This life has meaning. Not because of what we can achieve, not because of what we can do in our jobs, or even in our ministries (a) but this life has meaning because God is with us every step of the way, loving and caring and changing and in the end glorifying us. iii. this changes the way we live and view life. And as Christians this is something God has graciously given to us. (1) and perhaps this is something you don’t know yet. Something you haven’t felt. You haven’t felt the sureness of God’s love for you because of J esus. You don’t have confidence that you are right with God because Jesus died for you (a) well, you can. And you can today if you want. Because God is calling you. He is saying, just trust me, Will you do that? And come into the confidence and meaning and amazing freedom of being one of God’s children. CC etc - Let’s pray