Looking To Our Blessed Hope

9-30- ‘01 Looking To Our Blessed Hope

A. Armstrong

Today, we will be looking at Romans 8:16-25

16-17

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God;

And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

It is noteworthy that to suffer with him is a condition of being glorified together with him….

John 15:20

The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you….

Troubles and afflictions are also part of the Christian walk…

1 Pet 1:7

7 That the trial of your faith…

1 Pet 4:12

12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

1 Pet 5:9

….knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world

And we are still walking in a world with imperfect bodies that are also subject to afflictions. We can still get sick and suffer in that way.

But Paul gives encouragement for those that suffer in any manner in this life. He said…

ROMAN 8:18

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Yes, there are going to be sufferings in THIS PRESENT WORLD.

We can rejoice though in that …

2 Cor 4:17

17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

The Bible tells us that…

Prov 13:15

…but the way of transgressors is hard.

Their way is hard and their end is worse.

And though sometimes our way may seem hard, yet the yoke we are under is light compared to the yoke the world labors under.

2 Cor. 4:17-18

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

In that verse, notice the difference between the suffering and the glory. The suffering is called ‘light’- it’s existence in time is ‘but for a moment.’ But the glory is has a ‘far more exceeding weight’- and it’s existence in time is ‘eternal.’

NOTE: It is odd how that many people seem to despise the preaching of ‘taking up our cross’ to follow Christ.

Don’t they know that even though our yoke is ‘a cross’-the world is also under a yoke. And theirs is too hard to bear.

We will bear one yoke or another, for we will have a master.

The command of Jesus Christ is to ‘take his yoke upon you.’

But the joy of it is, that his yoke …

Matt 11:30

30 For my yoke IS EASY, and my burden IS LIGHT.

Yes, I say again - there are sufferings and afflictions in this present world, but it is just for a season…

Ps 30:5

weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

Sufferings are something undergone; hardship or pain

So whatever is suffered here; whether persecutions, sickness, grief, hunger- whatever - it cannot even compare with the glory that shall be revealed in us.

However, the endured suffering that actually results in blessing is that suffering endured for Christ; with Christ

Rom 8:17

...if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Acts 14:22

we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

Phil 1:29

29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

2 Tim 2:12

12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him

2 Cor 1:7

7 And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.

THE BLESSED HOPE IS GLORY REVEALED IN US.

I think that if we somehow could really get a handle on what that glory entails, that we would lift up our heads - lift up the hands which hang down - strengthen the feeble knees - make straight paths for our feet - humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God - resist the devil…

We would - rejoice in hope - be patient in tribulation - bless our persecutors - provide all things honest - not be weary in well doing…

We would - lay aside every weight - forget the things which are behind - press toward the mark - be steadfast - be immovable - always abounding in the work of the Lord - be grounded - be settled - hold our confidence steadfast unto the end.