FAITH BIBLE FELLOWSHIP of Fairfield Glade Pastor Dave Evangelista ~ January 30, 2011 ~ Romans 8:12-25 Obligations

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1 FAITH BIBLE FELLOWSHIP of Fairfield Glade Pastor Dave Evangelista ~ January 30, 2011 ~ Romans 8:12-25 Obligations So far in this chapter Paul has shown us: We have been delivered by the power of the Holy Spirit from: 1. Condemnation, Romans 8:1, 2 2. The power of the flesh, Romans 8: The power of death, Romans 8:9, 11 He gives life to our mortal bodies so we shall be raised! These are indeed priceless privileges but privileges carry responsibilities and obligations. We are indebted to the Spirit. Romans 8: 12. We are under obligation to live according to the leading of the Holy Spirit. The flesh is still with us but we are not to live according to its dictates. As we have derived no advantage from the flesh, we are under no obligation to it. Verse 14 speaks of the guidance by the Holy Spirit, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. The normal sensitive Christian is conscious of His guide and deliverer. Following the Spirit s leading proves our Sonship. The unsaved people do not know Him! Anything that involves a believer in fear or bondage is either of self or of Satan. Romans 8:15. Then Paul alludes to the witness of the Spirit. Romans 8:16. The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God s children. The Spirit Himself bears witness with our new life. I John 3:1-3. The aspect of the Christian s life is independent of his feelings; it is a fact with Him. And since we are His children, we shall share his treasures for all God gives to His Son Jesus is now ours too. But if we are to share His glory, we must also share His suffering. Verse 17 speaks to the blessings of the Spirit. Three aspects of relationship are mentioned here. Three aspects of relationship are mentioned here: The spirit of sonship (children); The spirit of fellowship (sons); The spirit of heirship. (heirs) What blessings we enjoy! Romans 8:17. Now if we are children, then we are heirs... Inheritance comes from relationship. To do something in order to inherit is a contradiction in itself. When we ponder what we have in Christ, it makes this world fade into insignificance....heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ... This would be difficult to believe if we did not have it in the Word of God. To be an heir with Christ the eternal creator, the well beloved, the righteous one, the Prince of Life? Only the God of all Grace could prepare such a destiny for such a creature as I! Verse 17 continued: if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory. Two schools of interpretation are found in relation to this portion of God s Word: Interpretation number one: All saints are designated to suffer at one level or another. Many saints of all ages have suffered and still do in many foreign lands! Interpretation number two: Reigning with Christ depends upon a voluntary choosing of a path of suffering with Him, sometimes physical, sometimes emotional. The Greek translation supports both interpretations. Romans 8:18: I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. Let us take note that the Apostle Paul suffered shipwrecks, beatings, hunger, insufficient clothing, deprivation, exposure to the cold, stoning, etc. Despite the days of Nero (1 st Century), Diocletian (3 rd Century) and the rest, plus the nameless terrors of the Spanish inquisition (13 th Century),...the glory that will be revealed will swallow up these earthly troubles. Romans 8:19, The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be (over)

2 revealed. The world knows nothing of this verse but we should keep it in mind always. It is like comparing us to fireworks wrapped in brown paper unattractive then, but when sent into the air, beautiful colors are revealed. At HIS coming we shall be glorified with Him in beauty! Romans 8:20, For the creation was subjected to frustration... This takes us back to Eden where God said:...cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. Genesis 3:17b. And verse 20 continued:...not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope... God had a vast plan, reaching on into eternity and hope lies ahead for creation the Millennium is coming, and after that, a new heaven and a new earth. Romans 8:21...that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. Every decaying carcass of poor earthcreatures speaks of the bondage of corruption. What ruin man s sin has effected throughout the creation, as well upon himself! Look at this part of verse 21 again,...the glorious freedom of the children of God. The Liberty of the Glory of the children of God awaits the second coming and all creation will be brought with us. Let s contrast the state of the creation now with the millennial order described in Isaiah 11:6-9. Romans 8:22, We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Ever since Adam s sin, the curse lies on all the earth the earth and the creatures are away from God. All is estranged; consequently groaning and travailing is everywhere. See Romans 8:23. The Spirit does not take us out of sympathy with groaning creation, but rather supports us in such sympathy! We are to sympathize with the creatures around us. We are more tender toward suffering creation than anyone because we are Christians. The instructed Christian knowing his body belongs to the Lord, longs for and groans for the day when he shall be liberated from the prison house of his flesh. Romans 8:24, For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? There is always a longing for and expectation of something better, no matter what spiritual blessing comes to the Believer. This is the liberty that belongs to God s children and creation will share in this liberty. So, we have a dichotomized feeling toward creation: sympathy with its suffering as well as joy in its prospect of sharing the liberty into which we shall shortly come. Romans 8:25, But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. Keep in mind: Faith is believing and trusting in what God has already revealed about Himself regarding sin and salvation. Hope looks forward and anticipates the future with great expectation of what God will do both in us and through us as He fulfills His promises to the creation and the created beings! Personal Inventory: In what / who do you place your hope? I hope it is on Jesus love and righteousness (as the song says: My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness.)

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