Environment Series

Romans. 8:18-25 Environment & Future Glory

By Rev. Andrew B Natarajan

World Environment Day (WED) is observed every year on JUNE 5 to raise global awareness to take positive environmental action to protect nature and the planet Earth. It is run by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Introduction: Rm.8 is one of the greatest Chapters in the Bible. It begins with “no condemnation” and ends with “no separation”, in between there is “no defeat”.

In this surpassing chapter the several streams of the preceding argument meet and flow in one "river of the water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb," until it seems to lose itself in the ocean of a blissful eternity.

Read Rm.8 If you struggle with guilt, If you struggle with sin, If you’re going through trials, If you don’t know how to pray, If you’re struggling with assurance of your salvation. It has exhortation and no command.

The German Pietist Philip Spencer said that “if the Bible were a ring and Romans its precious stone, Rm.8 would be “the sparkling point of the jewel” . Rm. 7 dominated by “I”, law, and sin. But 8 by Holy Spirit, God’s grace, persevering love, and victory over sin.

1. Justification and sanctification: God’s

salvation through Christ and His indwelling Spirit give us life to overcome judgment and sin (8:1-13).

2. Adoption: God’s Spirit assures us of our

adoption as His children and heirs (8:14-17).

3. Glorification: Although we (and all creation) now suffer, God will bring us to final glory (8:18-30).

A. Our present sufferings do not compare to our future glory (8:18-25).

B. In our weakness, the Spirit intercedes for us (8:26-27).

C. God will work all things together for our good, because His sovereign purpose for His elect will bring us to glory (8:28-30).

4. Assurance: No attack or hardship can separate God’s elect from His great love (8:31-39).

The immediate context: The words of flesh and spirit are keep occurring. Difference between the spirit filled Christian life and living in flesh are pictured. In past we lived in flesh(7:5) now we live according to Spirit(8:4-5).

The past life lead you from bad to worse; whereas the present life leads you from worse to best. The life in flesh means controlled by passion, Pride, Lust, and ambition but the Spiritual life is controlled by Christ, and focused in God. Therefore, walk by Spirit(No Condemnation-v.4); think in Spirit(No death-v.6); live by spirit(No division-v.13).

v.18. Future Glory is greater than the present sufferings. Romans says that God counts us as righteous because of what Christ has done.

We have an obligation to fight sin — not in order to be saved, but to our glorious future. Fighting sin is not easy. Enduring persecution is not easy. Coping with day-to-day life in a fallen world, with corruptible bodies, has its difficulties. Nevertheless, “our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us”.

v.19-22. Creation waits eagerly for revealing of children of God, now its subjected in bondage, decay, hence it groans in labor pain for redemption. For man's sake earth was cursed, shares his miseries; hence, should share in his recovery. cosmic significance to God’s plan being worked out in us.

Is 11:6-9 describes this redemption of creation with an illustration of wolf and lamb; leopard and young goat; the calf and young lion; cow and the bear; lion and ox; nursing child and cobra's; weaned child and viper's den.

A perfect harmony, love and care, no enmity and no hatred. The entire universe has been redeemed by the work of Jesus Christ (Col 1:19-20). The physical world is not junk that must be tossed aside — God made it good, and he will make it good again.

v.23. Adoption is the greatest blessing given to the unworthy person. They can never dream of it – now we see the adoptions in the world vision projects, Orphanages, Compassion projects, one child. What a blessings they have in life.

Augustus, the first emperor of the Roman Empire, born under the name "Gaius Octavius," he was adopted into the Julii Caesars by his maternal great-uncle, the Roman dictator Julius Caesar, enjoyed the kingdom.

We are waiting for our adoption; though there is definitely a sense in which we are already adopted (Rm. 8:15), there is also a sense in which we wait for the consummation of that adoption - the redemption of our body, resurrection( I Cor.15:53), it’s a temple of God(I Cor.6:19-20).

v.24-25 In hope and patience: The Spirit helps us in our weakness. God knows our limitations and frustrations. He knows that our flesh is weak even when our spirit is willing, so his Spirit intercedes for us, even for needs that cannot be put into words.