The DOOR to LASTING LIBERTY—Romans 8:18-25
Attention:
Reason for the Pilgrim’s coming to America—Religious Liberty(autonomous faith)—Freedom to practice biblical faith. Freedom from State-supported & sponsored religion, which is a perversion of truth.
Reason for the Revolutionary War—Political Liberty(self-governance)—Freedom to govern themselves in a manner honorable to Christian religious freedom. Freedom from governance by England as an occupying country & dishonoring to autonomous faith.
Need:
The status of Christians as children & joint heirs with Christ(:16-17) is fact. And as such, what follows in these verses is likewise true for our behavior as blood-bought children & heirs.
Paul explained to the church at Rome that the the door to liberty is opened thru Christian perseverance.
Christian perseverance opens the door to true liberty.
Why does perseverance open the door to liberty?
Liberty—1) The state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one’s way of life, behavior, or political views. 2)The power or scope to act as one pleases.
1—Your perseverance opens the door to lasting liberty because...
GLORY Calls/Waits(:18)
Explanation:(:18)
:18—“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
Our current status is life-changing certainty without full fruition. Much as a young man can live a majority of his life in preparation for his kingly appointment, without actually having an acting reign until his father passes.
We suffer in “this present time.” However, these “sufferings” we experience are not even on a scale with the “glory” which will one day be “revealed in us.” Our glory is future. It is not fully revealed presently.
“Consider/Reckon”—logizomai—1) To reckon, count, compute, calculate, count over; 2) To reckon inward, count up or weigh the reasons, to deliberate; 3) By reckoning up all the reasons, to gather or infer. This word refers to facts & reality not suppositions.
“Sufferings”—payhma—1) That which one suffers or has suffered; 2) An enduring, undergoing, suffering. Strong—something undergone, i.e. hardship or pain; subjectively, an emotion or influence:-- affection, affliction, motion, suffering.
“Worthy”—axiov—1) Weighing, having weight, having the weight of another thing of like value, worth as much; 2) Befitting, congruous, corresponding to a thing; 3) Of one who has merited anything worthy.
“Glory”(See :21)—doxa—Strong—Glory (as very apparent), in a wide application (literal or figurative, objective or subjective):-- Dignity, glory(-ious), honor, praise, worship.
“Revealed”—apokaluptw—V.—1) To uncover, lay open what has been veiled or covered up—1a) Disclose, make bare; 2) To make known, make manifest, disclose what before was unknown.
Argumentation:
2Cor. 4:16-18—“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding & eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
1Pet. 4:7—“But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious & watchful in your prayers.”
1Pet. 5:8-11—“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, & settle you. To Him be the glory & the dominion forever & ever. Amen.”
1Jn. 3:2—“Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”
Illustration:
Andrew Carnegie/Scottish-born & immigrated to America @13 yrs./1st job was as a Bobbin Boy in 1848 for $1.20-week for a 6-day 12-14hr. shift/Father was a cotton mill worker & his mother bound shoes for pay/Later...He is credited with being the innovator of a large-scale process which produced steel cheaply/He with his Carnegie Steel Co. set in motion the industrial revolution/Andrew saw the potential of mass-producing steel/GLORY Calls
A seed(corn kernel) is vastly different from the plant itself/Farmers plant it because....GLORY Calls
Application:
?Has the Call of GLORY given you Liberty?
?Your Perseverance opened the door to Lasting Liberty?
?Is Your Liberty Guaranteed?
2—Your perseverance opens the door to lasting liberty because...
CREATION Calls/Waits(:19-22)
Explanation/Argumentation:(:19-22)
:19—“For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.”
These present sufferings of ours includes the suffering of the entirety of creation as a whole. In fact it is in the intense expectation of God’s creation that the full God-designed glory of mankind will soon be “revealed” in them. Man’s glory is the key to the release of all creation. from the “futility”(:20) of the fall.
What man considers “dumb creation”, in actuality, has real ties to man’s lack of obedience as well as to his obedience in Christ.
Man has effectively imprisoned his own world & thus ‘made his bed’ thru his own negligence regarding God.
“Earnest expectation/Anxious longing/Eager expectation”—apokaradokia—Anxious & persistent expectation. Used 2X. Strong—From a comparative of apo—(as a prefix) it usually denotes separation, departure, cessation, completion, reversal, etc.—& a compound of kara (the head) & dokew—Think, judge, opinion, judge—(in the sense of watching); Intense anticipation:
“Creation”—ktisiv—Original formation (properly, the act; by implication, the thing, literally or figuratively):-- Building, creation, creature, ordinance.
“Eagerly waits”(See :23, 25)—apekdecomai—Assiduously & patiently waiting for. Strong—To expect fully:-- Look (wait) for.
“Revealing”—apokaluqiv—N.f.—1) Laying bear, making naked; 2) A disclosure of truth, instruction—2a) Concerning things before unknown, 2b) Used of events by which things or states or persons hitherto withdrawn from view are made visible to all; 3) Manifestation, appearance.
:20—“For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope;”
The creation “waits” in “futility” for the “revealing” of those who belong to God. Thus there is much more tied to saving trust in Christ than can be observed in this present time. This is because the entirety of creation was undesirously subsumed within or encompassed by “futility.”
The good news: Every aspect of creation is thus, for a time, limited in scope.
The bad news: The foundational limiting factor in creation’s futility hinges upon “the revealing of the sons of God” of the previous verse.
Creation was subjected thusly by another—that One being God Himself.
God subjected creation with a purpose in mind. He did it “in hope.” He had to punish mankind for the eternal weight of original sin.
God’s plan to redeem creation is thus tied inextricably to man’s redemption. God subjected all of creation, knowing that(in hope”—know-so hope) man & thus everything would eventually be “delivered”(:21).
Gen. 3:14-19—Consequences of The Fall—
Woman—Gen. 3:16—“To the woman He said: “I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, And he shall rule over you.””
Adam—Gen. 3:17-19—“Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’: “Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, And you shall eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return.””
We cannot have a fallen mankind living in an un-fallen or perfect world. Or vice-versa. Fallen demands fallen as redeemed demands redeemed!
:21—“because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.”
The “hope”(:20), within which creation was subjected, is the fact of creation’s eventual “deliverance.” It will occur.
The deliverance takes place from the “bondage of corruption” or the “futility” of its true design, purpose & function.
Since creation will be delivered from... it must of necessity be delivered to something as well. That ‘something’ being a particular brand of “liberty”, which is a “glorious” liberty.
This “glorious liberty” is a liberty which we do not presently have. But one day we will switch/shift from our present “bondage” to “glorious liberty.”
The liberty is that which is wrought or brought about solely thru the revealing of the “children of God.” Without the liberty of the children of God there is no freedom—from corruption or futility—for anyone or anything.
Such a sad state of dependence upon another’s desire to help. It is up to man to decide for Christ. Creation is totally helpless & dependent upon man’s recognition of his own plight. Man’s state is vital to the redemption of creation, but it does not come by the ability of mankind.
The liberty from corruption & futility only arrives for the world upon man’s accepting responsibility for trusting God, his personal Savior.
There is “liberty” to be had by all. However this liberty is desired by & limited to the one who trusts in the true everlasting & creator God implicitly—being a true child of God.
Lk. 20:34-36—“And Jesus answered & said to them, “The sons of this age marry & are given in marriage. But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, & the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; “nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels & are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.”
1Cor. 15:42-50—regarding “....the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, & there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, & afterward the spiritual. The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; & as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh & blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.”
Isa. 11:6-9—“And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, And the leopard will lie down with the kid, And the calf & the young lion & the fatling together; And a little boy will lead them. Also the cow & the bear will graze; Their young will lie down together; And the lion will eat straw like the ox. And the nursing child will play by the hole of the cobra, And the weaned child will put his hand on the viper’s den. They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD As the waters cover the sea.”
“Delivered/Set free/Liberated”—eleuyerow—1) To make free; 2) Set at liberty: from the dominion of sin. Strong—To liberate, i.e. (figuratively) to exempt (from moral, ceremonial or mortal liability):-- Deliver, make free.
“Bondage/Slavery/Decay”—douleia—N. f.—Slavery, bondage, the condition of a slave.
“Corruption”—fyora—1) Corruption, destruction, perishing; 2) In the NT, in an ethical sense, corruption i.e. moral decay
“Glorious/Glory”(See :18)—doxa—Strong—Glory (as very apparent), in a wide application (literal or figurative, objective or subjective):-- Dignity, glory(-ious), honor, praise, worship.
“Liberty/Freedom”—eleuyeria—1) Liberty to do or to omit things having no relationship to salvation; 2) Fancied liberty—2a) License, the liberty to do as one pleases; 3) True liberty is living as we should not as we please.
:22—“For we know that the whole creation groans & labors with birth pangs together until now.”
The creation itself is presently in corruption though its deliverance is anticipated. This is because we know certainly that all creation both “groans” & labors” together as a woman in the midst of birth pangs.
The groaning cannot be stopped though we try to ease its intensity...And this by human means—
Various attempts at....
a)Government:
ECONOMY DETERMINED BY: Capitalism, Socialism, Communism—POLITICALLY RUN BY: Dictatorship, Totalitarianism, Theocracy, Monarchy, Parliamentary, Republic(representative limited), Anarchy—CHOSEN BY: Revolutionary means, Totalitarian(single party), Oligarchy/Plutocracy(eliteists), Democratic means(election by populace)
b)Personal control:
i)Addictions of various kinds; ii)Works—Deeds, Philosophies, Religions, Moralities; iii)Relationships—Single, Monogamous, Homosexual, Bi-sexual, etc.
The suffering brought by futility that belongs to God’s creation is not His original intent but is the present reality.
Jn. 16:21—““A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.”
“Whole”—pav—1)Individually—1a)Each, every, any, all, the whole, everyone, all things, everything; 2)Collectively—2a) Some of all types.
“Groans...together”—sustenazw—To groan together. Used 1X. Strong—To moan jointly, i.e. (figuratively) experience a common calamity:-- groan together.
“Labors with birth pangs/Travaileth in pain/Suffers the pains of childbirth/”—sunwdinw—1) To feel the pains of travail with, be in travail together; 2) metaph. To undergo agony (like a woman in childbirth) along with.
Illustration:
Lambourghini Murciélago SuperVeloce/Mid-engine 4-wheel drive/Slick, sharp, low & very fast/Roof is just under 4 ft. off the ground/Reaches 60mph in 3.2 sec. with top speed of 342mph/2009 listed over $450,000...
Suppose Murciélago SuperVeloce in New York City/Driven to work every day thru crowded streets/Incapable of fulfilling its potential/Call of CREATION
Likewise, Now...Creation is incapable of fulfilling its destiny.
Monarch butterfly kept in an arboretum/Beautiful yes!/But very limited....
In the wild usually in Sept-Oct, 10s of millions of Monarchs travel from the US & Canada, south over 2000mi. to El Rosario Sanctuary, Michoacan, Mexico to overwinter/Overwhelmingly beautiful & very little understood migration/CREATION Calls
Application:
?Has the Call of CREATION given you Liberty?
?Your Perseverance opened the door to Lasting Liberty?
?Is Your Liberty Guaranteed?
3—Your perseverance opens the door to lasting liberty because...
ADOPTION Calls/Waits(:23-25)
Explanation:(:23-25)
:23—“Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.”
It is one thing to desire adoption & to be promised adoption but the thrill of being chosen, fully loved & adopted is of an entirely different frame of reference & experience.
Creation apart from man is not the only aspect which personally experiences this groaning in suffering.
Even redeemed man, in possession of “the firstfruits of the Spirit” undergoes an inward groaning. This groaning arises from a lack of fullness of the adoption because, having only been promised it, we anticipate it.
The “adoption” will occur when these suffering futile “bodies” experience or take part in the fullness of what is entailed in “redemption.”
“Firstfruits”—aparch—1) To offer firstlings or firstfruits; 2) To take away the firstfruits of the productions of the earth which was offered to God. The first portion of the dough, from which sacred loaves were to be prepared. Hence term used of persons consecrated to God for all time.; 3) Persons superior in excellence to others of the same class.
“Groan”—stenazw—A sigh, to groan. To express grief by inarticulate or semi-articulate sounds.
“Eagerly waits”(See :19, 25)—apekdecomai—Assiduously & patiently waiting for. Strong—To expect fully:-- Look (wait) for.
“Adoption”—uioyesia—Adoption, adoption as sons. Strong—The placing as a son, i.e. adoption (figuratively, Christian sonship in respect to God):-- Adoption (of children, of sons).
“Redemption”—apolutrwsiv— A releasing effected by payment of ransom. Strong—(the act) Ransom in full, i.e. (figuratively) riddance, or (specially) Christian salvation:-- Deliverance, redemption.
:24—“For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees?”
The redemption of these futile, mortal bodies of ours is the very hope to which “we were saved.” Our “hope” remains while the redemption is incomplete for the very reason that fulfilled hope is no longer hope but is sight or experience, thus precluding hope altogether.
“For we were saved in this hope,”
What brought you to saving faith?
“Saved”—swzw—To save, i.e. deliver or protect (literally or figuratively):-- Heal, preserve, save (self), do well, be (make) whole.
“Hope”(See :20)—elpiv—Strong—From a primary elpw (To anticipate, usually with pleasure); Expectation (abstractly or concretely) or confidence:-- Faith, hope.
“....But hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees?”
“Seen”—blepw—Strong—To look at (literally or figuratively):-- behold, beware, lie, look (on, to), perceive, regard, see, sight, take heed.
Like the military family/Wife & Husband who long for one another, clinging to a picture—When they meet face-to-face they leave the photos.
:25—“But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.”
However, since our hope is still hope & not experience, we thus are pained within ourselves waiting eagerly for its arrival. And this we do not only excitedly in anticipation but also with a patient endurance amid our unredeemed bodily sufferings.
Christian faith cannot be accepted one day & laid aside the next at our convenience. That is false faith determined by emotional attachments!
“Eagerly waits”(See :19, 23)—apekdecomai—Assiduously & patiently waiting for. Strong—To expect fully:-- Look (wait) for.
“Perseverance”—upomonh—1) Steadfastness, constancy, endurance; 2) A patient, steadfast waiting for; 3) A patient enduring, sustaining, perseverance. The temper which does not easily succumb under suffering, as opposed to cowardice or despondency.
Argumentation:
HOPE:
Php. 1:21—“For to me, to live is Christ, & to die is gain.”
ADOPTION:
Rom. 8:12-17—“Therefore, brethren, we are debtors--not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, & if children, then heirs--heirs of God & joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”
2Cor. 5:1-4—“For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. “For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life.”
2Cor. 5:5-9—“Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.”
Illustration:
Like the little7 yr old boy named Carson who anticipating the arrival of Christmas(Santa Claus, presents etc.) said, “I’m so excited about Christmas Eve, it makes my legs wiggle.”
*Imagine waiting to be adopted/Knowing you had prospective parents who had chosen you out of many hundreds even thousands/Knowing their promise to you/Knowing the time, the waiting/Knowing you would be part of a family with all the rights & privileges as any member of that family/“So excited it makes my legs wiggle.”/ADOPTION Calls
Application:
?Has the Call of ADOPTION given you Liberty?
?Your Perseverance opened the door to Lasting Liberty?
?Is Your Liberty Guaranteed?
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
July 4th / Independence Day—To guarantee a Political Liberty maintaining a political atmosphere in which to express our Christian religious liberty.
Action:
Your perseverance opens the door to lasting liberty because...
1. GLORY Calls/Waits(:18)
2. CREATION Calls/Waits(:19-22)
3. ADOPTION Calls/Waits(:23-25)
?Is Your Liberty Guaranteed?
Presented Independence Day 07/04/2010am to:
Needmore Baptist Church
1620 Mt. Vernon Rd.
woodleaf, NC 27054
