More Than Conquerors

Title: Happy Forever!

Text: Romans 8:18-31

Subject: How do we face the (Chaotic) future with hope?

Complement: by focussing on God’s promises – and our standing in Christ.

Big idea: We are more than conquerors through Christ.

Introduction/attention…

This first week of 2025 lost its joy and optimism very quickly when someone drove a truck into a crowd in New Orleans killing 15 people and injuring many more.

… 2025 is off to a not so great start… so much for "happy new year" instead its more of the same - more grief - more loss - more tragedy - more groans

Read text here… Romans 8:18ff

transition - introduce chapter 8 by referring to verses 1ff - "there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ..."

I. The foundation of our faith and our future - We are “in Christ Jesus…” – and therefore free of guilt/shame: Romans 8:1ff

• “set you free from sin & death…

• The law could not

• But God did in Jesus (3-4)

• “the mind controlled by the Spirit if life and peace.”

• Children of God..

• Led by the indwelling Spirit!

II. We Live In A World Of Suffering & Groaning: Romans 8:18-27

“present sufferings result from a “bondage to decay”

Suffering is a reminder that the world is not right – and not as God intended it. (this includes people…systems of govt and economics…the environment…philosophy and even misguided theology)… which produce war…corruption…greed…poverty…disease… broken families.

“religion” offers a solution – but falls into legalism, guilt and fear.

Science offers many solutions to our problems – health care (anesthetics!) … but has come to overstep its place in the world and has come too often to dismiss faith and creator. – read – atheistic evolution …

Triple groanings – creation groans(22)…we ourselves groan (23)…Holy Spirit groans.(26,27)

18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for **the children of God to be revealed.** 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that[h] the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

What is creation waiting for? (What is God waiting for?)

“the sons of God to be revealed” = God’s family to be formed and gathered in.

this means, The delay of his coming is an expression of his mercy toward the lost.

Meanwhile - We already have the firstfruits – that is, the Holy Spirit abiding within!

Which means - we have a downpayment now of what we will have in fulness at his coming.

Think of the fruit of the Spirit…

• Love

• Joy

• Peace

the Holy Spirit is growing this fruit in us.

Start with that… do you realize that’s what everyone wants – and yet find so elusive!

As a believer – the Spirit abides – and grows these character traits in us!

**Somebody shout halleujah!!!

III. God Works Through It All - And In Spite Of It All: Rom 8:28-30.

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

God works!! – for our good!

We are called!

** we will be conformed to Christ-likeness

We join God’s family (of many)

We are also justified!

We are also “glorified”! (note the present tense)

Conformed = The Greek word here is morpha, from which we get the word metamorphosis.