From Groaning To Glory Series

A. Farmer Joe decided his injuries from the accident were serious enough to take the trucking company that was responsible for the accident to court.

1. In court, the trucking company’s fancy lawyer was questioning farmer Joe: “Didn’t you say, at the scene of the accident, ‘I’m fine?,” questioned the lawyer.

2. Farmer Joe responded, “Well I’ll tell you what happened. I had just loaded my favorite mule Bessie into the...”

3. The lawyer interrupted him, “Joe, I didn’t ask for any details. Just answer the question. Did you not say, at the scene of the accident, ‘I’m fine!’ ”

4. Farmer Joe said, “Well, I had just got Bessie into the trailer and I was driving down the road...”

5. The lawyer interrupted again and said, “Judge, I am trying to establish the fact that, at the scene of the accident, this man told the Highway Patrolman on the scene that he was just fine. Now several weeks after the accident he is trying to sue my client. I believe he is a fraud. Please tell him to simply answer the question.”

6. By this time the Judge was interested in Farmer Joe’s answer and said to the lawyer, “I’d like to hear what he has to say about his favorite mule Bessie.”

7. Joe thanked the Judge and proceeded, “Well as I was saying, I had just loaded Bessie, my favorite mule, into the trailer and was driving her down the highway when this huge semi-truck and trailer ran the stop sign and smacked my truck right in the side. I was thrown into one ditch and Bessie was thrown into the other. I was hurting real bad and didn’t want to move. However, I could hear ole Bessie moaning and groaning. I knew she was in terrible shape just by her groans.

Shortly after the accident a Highway Patrolman came on the scene. He could hear Bessie moaning and groaning so he went over to her. After he looked at her he took out his gun and shot her, putting her out of her misery.

Then the Patrolman came across the road with his gun in his hand and looked at me. He said, ‘Your mule was moaning and groaning and so I had to shoot her. How are you feeling?’ So, judge, don’t you think you would have said you were fine, under those circumstances?”

B. In the section of Romans that we will explore today, Paul addresses the very real problem of suffering and pain.

1. Perhaps the simplest way to outline this section is to note the three “groans” that are discussed.

2. Paul talks about creation groaning, and he talks about believers groaning, and then he finishes up talking about the Holy Spirit groaning.

3. That’s a lot of groaning! But the good news is that all that groaning can turn into glory!

C. Let’s briefly put this section into the context and flow of Paul’s letter to the Romans.

1. Paul began this great second section of Romans back in chapter 5 by assuring believers of their sure hope for salvation in the face of God’s judgment.

2. Now Paul returns to where he started, setting before us the wonderful fact and solid basis for our hope as Christians.

3. The immediate launching point is chapter 8, verse 17, where Paul reminded us that we need to share in Christ’s sufferings if we expect to share in His glory.

4. That takes Paul into this section, verses 18 through 30 where he discusses the believer’s future glory.

5. This section begins with the glory that will be revealed in us (vs. 18), and ends with the notion of glory – “those he justified, he also glorified” (vs. 30).

D. In between those two bookends of “glory,” Paul makes two basic points.

1. Paul’s first point is that that future glory is the climax of God’s plan for both His people and for His creation, but that since we have not reached that climax, we must eagerly and patiently wait for it (vs. 18-25).

2. Paul’s second point is that God provides what we need in order to wait eagerly and patiently.

a. Specifically, God provides the Spirit to help us pray (vs. 26-27), God promises to oversee everything for our good according to His providential plan for us (vs. 28-30).

E. But in the midst of all of this and in the meantime, there is going to be suffering.

1. Paul does not try to hide the fact that believers will suffer.

2. Paul addressed that fact back in chapter 5:3-4: And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, 4 endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope.

3. We, Christians will inevitably share in the rejection and trials that Jesus himself experienced.