YouTube video sermon
Romans 8:18-39
Let me invite you to take your copy of God’s Word and turn with me (again) to Romans 8. Some of you are thinking, “Gee, pastor, this is the third week that we’ve been in this chapter. Can’t we move on?” Listen, we will, I promise. But as I said three weeks ago when we came to this chapter, this is such a mighty chapter. I know a pastor that spent 30 weeks (that’s over half a year’s worth of Sundays) preaching from this one chapter alone. I also had the privilege of being taught by Dr. Derek Thomas, who took a group of pastors through this chapter in 12 weeks. So hang in there with me just a little longer.
John was raised in Antioch, a leading intellectual town of late antiquity, by his widowed mother, Anthusa. She was a pious Christian woman, and at her encouragement he entered into the monastery after his education. He quickly rose through the ranks of the early church (from lector to deacon to priest), and eventually found himself as the archbishop of Constantinople (modern day Istanbul, Turkey).
His eloquent and uncompromising preaching earned him the nickname “golden mouth.” That nickname, in the Greek, is the word chrysostoma, and it’s the name that has forever been tied to him. John Chrysostom preached against the excesses of his day. He railed against the abuse of authority by church leaders and political leaders alike. As you can imagine, that didn’t earn him any favor with the Roman emperor, who threatened him with banishment if he remained a Christian. Listen to how this went down, according to one historian of the time:
“You cannot banish me; for this world is my Father’s house,” replied John.
“Well, then, I will kill you,” said the emperor.
“No, you can’t; for my life is hidden with Christ in God.”
“Fine, then, I will take away your treasures.”
“You can’t do that either, for my treasure is in heaven and my heart is there too.”
“Then I guess the only thing left is to drive you away from man and you shall have no friends left.”
“No, you can’t; for I have a friend in heaven from whom you cannot separate me. I dare you; for there is nothing that you can do to hurt me.”
John Chrysostom was a bit of a booger, wouldn’t you say? In my house (to use nice words) we call that “being feisty.” Either way, John Chrysostom understood what the Apostle Paul wanted the believers in Rome (and you and me) to know: once you’re liberated from the condemnation of sin and death, you’re truly free. Nothing else matters – not geography, not possessions, not relations, not even life and death. When condemnation and judgment is lifted from your shoulders, you gain the mental, emotional, and spiritual freedom that you were created to live in.
It’s so counter-intuitive, I know. But when you know Jesus Christ, when you’ve confessed your sin, when you’ve repented of your rebellion against the King of kings and the Lord of lords, and you’ve freely accepted the gift of His amazing grace, then, by the power of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, you’re able to endure anything and everything because you have the most precious gift of all – a personal relationship with God through Christ.
As always, there are three things that I want us to see this morning. But because we’re covering so much ground today, we’re not going to read all of this scripture at once. I’m going to break this up into three segments and highlight what the new life in the Spirit is based on. Follow along with me (in your Bible or on the screens), as I read vss. 18-25
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
The first thing I want us to see is that our new life in Christ, our new life empowered by the indwelling Holy Spirit is based on the promises of God.
New Life in the Spirit: Based on the Promises of God
And the first promise mentioned in these verses is future glory. Look at verse 18, again. This is such a powerful promise. “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
Seeing beauty and greatness is one of the passionate desires and deep longings that was built into the human heart by our Creator. Think about it. We get pleasure from seeing beauty and greatness in movies and museums and world-class sporting events and art galleries and concerts and automobiles the Grand Canyon and the Rockies and the ocean and sunrises and night skies. Seeing beauty and greatness is a huge part of our joy in life.
Charles Allen, in his little book Home Fires: A Treasury of Wit and Wisdom writes, “A little girl was taking an evening walk with her father. Wonderingly, she looked up at the stars and exclaimed; ‘Oh, Daddy, if the wrong side of heaven is so beautiful, what must the right side be!’” Isn’t that right. All of these earthly things are images, and reflections, and pointers to a greater beauty and a greater greatness. They all point to the glory of God.
Seeing the glory of heaven, and more importantly, the glory of the Father and the Son will bring an end to our quest for beauty and greatness. This is why Jesus prayed for us the way he did in John 17:24, “Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, may be with Me where I am, to see My glory that You have given Me because You loved Me before the foundation of the world.”
This was the greatest thing Jesus could’ve prayed for on our behalf. It was the climax of His prayer. Seeing the glory of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was the best gift Jesus could pray that we would receive after suffering in this life. And this suffering isn’t just suffering for being a Christian. This is suffering of any and all kinds. Why do I believe that?
Just look at the next several verses. The entire creation (vs. 19) waits with eager anticipation, the creation itself (vs. 21) will be set free from its bondage to corruption, and the whole creation (vs. 22) has been groaning. No more destructive tornadoes or hurricanes or floods or droughts or plagues or diseases or accidents or harmful animals or insects or viruses.
The prophecy of Isaiah 65:17 will come to pass: “Behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.” And the prophecy of Revelation 21:1-5 will come to pass as well, “I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more… He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. And He who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’”
If you’re suffering this morning (and I know there are many who are), let me encourage you to hang on. Because that leads to the second promise mentioned in these verses – the redemption of our bodies (vs. 23). I ought to get a hearty AMEN out of this crowd, Amen? Every church, but especially this one, is acquainted with broken down bodies – bodies that just don’t work right any more. Whether you’re battling the effects of MS or ALS or cancer or Alzheimer’s or impaired vision or just plain old sanity, one day, we’re all going to look back and wonder how we could’ve every felt so ‘at home’ in a world so full of groaning. Listen to how Paul describes this in another one of his letters:
Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” (1 Corinthians 15:51-55)
One day, all the walkers and crutches and wheelchairs will be put to pasture. All the medications and ointments and therapies will be stopped. For we “[know] that He who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with [Him]” (2 Corinthians 4:14).
Ok, let’s give our attention to verses 26-30.
26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And He who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified.
Our new life in the spirit isn’t only based on promises, but on the purposes of God.
New Life in the Spirit: Based on the Purposes of God
In his book, Future Grace, retired pastor and theologian John Piper (who, by the way, grew up in Greenville, SC and graduated from my wife and mother-in-law’s alma mater, Wade Hampton High School) described Romans 8:28 this way:
If you live inside this massive promise, your life is more solid and stable than Mount Everest.
Nothing can blow you over when you are inside the walls of Romans 8:28. Outside Romans 8:28, all is confusion and anxiety and fear and uncertainty. Outside this promise of God’s all-encompassing future grace, there are straw houses of drugs and pornography and dozens of futile diversions. There are slat walls and tin roofs of fragile investment strategies and fleeting insurance coverage and trivial retirement plans. There are cardboard fortifications of deadbolt locks and alarm systems and antiballistic missiles. Outside are a thousand substitutes for Romans 8:28.
Once you walk through the door of love into the massive, unshakable structure of Romans 8:28, everything changes. There come into your life stability and depth and freedom. You simply can’t be blown over anymore. The confidence that a sovereign God governs for your good all the pain and all the pleasure that you will ever experience is an incomparable refuge and security and hope and power in your life.
When God’s people really live by the future grace of Romans 8:28 – from measles to the mortuary – they are the freest and strongest and most generous people in the world.
Our new life in the Spirit is based on God’s good purposes for our lives, and that includes suffering. The suffering of verse 17 and groaning of verse 23. When we find ourselves in trying circumstances in life, we can know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. And verses 29-30 explain what God’s purpose is in His calling to salvation, and how it’s accomplished.
First, the purpose: that there might be many who would be conformed to the likeness of His Son. God wasn’t satisfied to have a family with an “only child.” Rather, since the “fall” of mankind, it’s been His purpose to redeem a family for Himself. Second, His method: from our perspective, God adopted us as spiritual orphans into His family, so that His Son . . . might be the firstborn among many brothers. That’s the metaphor for what God did behind the scenes to accomplish His purpose.
While these passages have generated much heated discussion and split churches over the years, there’s one key element which, if overlooked, gives rise to confusion, but if observed, gives focus. That key element is God Himself: God has a purpose (v. 28), God foreknew (v. 29), God predestined (v. 29), God called (v. 30), God justified (v. 30), and God glorifies (v. 30). This is all about God, not man! God is the adopter, humans are the adopted. God is the designer, engineer and One who accomplishes His salvation purposes in the earth, quite apart from the interference and influence of men and women.
How should that make us feel? Well, the answer is in our final section of scripture (vss. 31-39).
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died – more than that, who was raised – who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Our new life in the Spirit is based on the PROMISES of God, the PURPOSES of God, and finally, the PROTECTION of God.
New Life in the Spirit: Based on the Protection of God
As we saw last week, the point of this whole passage is your security. God wants His people to experience deep, unshakeable confidence that they are secure in His love. And the reason that Paul stresses it is because in real life we appear and often feel so insecure. At some point in your life – things will happen that make you feel like you’re separated from the love of God. That’s why this text is here.
Neither death nor life can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. When Christ died He secured us in death and in life. Nothing in life and nothing in death will undo the triumph He achieved in the cross and the resurrection.
Neither angels nor rulers can separate us from the love of God. Martin Luther’s famous hymn, A Mighty Fortress Is Our God says it best: The Prince of Darkness grim – we tremble not for him; His rage we can endure, For lo! His doom is sure – One little word shall fell him.
The present-future pair covers our fear that though the present might be tolerable now, the future is going to be horrible, and we wonder if we will be able to stand it. The future is absolutely God’s and He knows it and runs it. If He says it won’t separate us, it won’t.
Paul’s use of height and depth is akin to David’s words in Psalm 137, “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there.”
Then, at the end of verse 39, Paul adds one all-inclusive encouragement to make sure he hasn’t missed anything: “. . . [no] other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” That covers everything that is not God. No thing and no person in all the universe can separate us from the love of God.
Let me conclude, if I may, with a brief story about Lisa Beamer. You know Lisa. She’s the widow of Todd Beamer, who was one of the 40 people murdered aboard United Flight 93 on September 11, 2001. As you may know, she wrote a book titled Let’s Roll: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Courage, to help her in the grieving process.
In 2002 (just before her book was released), WORLD Magazine – which is a Christian news publication – interviewed Lisa. I want you to hear what new life in the Spirit sounds like.
“My family and I mourned the loss of Todd deeply that day . . . and we still do. But because we have a hope in the Lord, we know beyond a doubt that one day we will see Todd again. I hurt for the people who don’t have that same hope, and I pray that they will see something in our family that will encourage them to trust in the Lord.”
Lisa’s way of encouraging people to trust in the Lord is sometimes so straightforward that Newsweek magazine called it “stern and even a little grim.” She wrote in her memoir, “You think you deserve a happy life and get angry when it doesn’t always happen like that. In fact, you’re a sinner and deserve only death. The fact that God has offered you hope of eternal life is amazing! You should be overwhelmed with joy and gratitude.”
With hundreds of others, she attended the memorial service in Shanksville, Pennsylvania at the crash site where her husband died. The Christ-exalting memorial service for Todd had been on Sunday, the day before, and had strengthened her. “On Monday,” she said, “as I listened to the well-intentioned speakers, who were doing their best to comfort, but with little, if any, direct reference to the power of God to sustain us, I felt I was sliding helplessly down a high mountain into a deep crevasse. As much as I appreciated the kindness of the wonderful people who tried to encourage us, that afternoon was actually one of the lowest points in my grieving. It wasn’t the people, or event, or the place. Instead, it struck me how hopeless the world is when God is factored out of the equation.”
So, with Lisa Beamer, the apostle Paul, and Jesus Christ Himself, I plead with you: don’t factor God out of your life or Jesus Christ who died and rose and reigns and intercedes for all who trust Him that we might have eternal joy with Him in the presence of God.