The View from Here
Romans 8:18-39
Big Idea: I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
Lectionary Readings:
• Old Testament: Genesis 29:15-28
• Psalms: Psalm 128
• Gospel: Matthew 13:31-33; 44-52
• Epistle: Romans 8:18-39
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons 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 the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom 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 as sons, 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 he already has? 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 with groans that words cannot express. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.
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 likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. 31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died--more than that, who was raised to life--is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Sermon:
It is really worth the effort but you might think otherwise half way up.
The Adirondack Mountains have 46 high peaks and those who climb all of them are part of the “46er Club.” Now I never had such aspirations but Vickie and I did climb a couple … including this one near Speculator, NY.
But as I said, making the ascent up the mountain gave you time and reason to doubt the wisdom of your choice. This was a difficult trek.
• Some of it was extremely steep.
• Other portions were simply dangerous.
• All of it required your attention and effort … and even some help.
I must admit there were times we considered turning back but we soldiered on. In the end … as we stepped out on a massive bald face rock overhang … my oh my what a view!
You could look down at Pleasant Lake and see a few canoers soaking in the sunshine. You could see the community of Speculator. And the colors … making this trek in the Fall was absolutely majestic!
It is really worth the effort but you might think otherwise half way up.
I would suggest that your spiritual hike may have some striking similarities to our ascent up the high peaks.
• There are times when nothing short of faith-full commitment will see you through.
• There are times when turning back would be easier than going forward.
• There are times when you are out of breath and must rest.
• There are times when the trail is treacherous and you need a helping hand from a fellow traveler.
But something deep within keeps telling you it’s worth it – take the next step! And once the journey reaches its peak … well … Romans 8 calls it “glory” doesn’t it?
But did you notice that glory was linked with suffering? Sometimes we don’t equate the two; we don’t count the cost. We assume the two are conflicting – juxtaposed to each other – but truth be told, they are inseparably linked.
We have had a couple of babies born in our parish this month. Now my 52 years on this planet have taught me that those little miracles of life came at a price. They came with risk and … “suffering.”
Four times Paul talks about suffering in this passage – three of those times he uses the graphic word “groan.”
• 18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
• 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 as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
• 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 with groans that words cannot express.
Paul was not one to paint rosy, futuristic pictures void of present reality. He is sometimes brutally honest about the cost of “glory.” In no uncertain terms he shares the consequences of humanity’s sin. Sin brings brokenness, pain, death, and decay; not only to ourselves but to our world. In the picturesque, poetic language of Romans 8 he envisions all of creation longing for redemption’s completion.
Human longing is graphically conveyed isn’t it? The longing is so deep and visceral that we do not even know how to tell God about it. We just don’t have the words.
But even though Paul paints realistic pictures. He is no pessimist. He does not envision a hopeless scenario so many other do. H.G. Wells once said, “Man, who began in a cave behind a windbreak will end in the disease-soaked ruins of a slum.” Not so Paul; He saw human sin and the state of the world, he saw suffering; but he also saw God’s redeeming power … hope would materialize into reality.
Suffering? Yes.
A damaged world? Yes.
Groaning so deep we do not have the words? Yes.
But not despair. No … there was an “eager expectation” of a re-creation.
Verse 19 speaks of this “eager expectation.” The word used is descriptive of the stance someone takes as they scan the horizon with head thrust forward, eagerly searching for the first signs of dawn’s break … the daybreak of glory.
It is akin to standing atop a mountain, straining to take in all the majesty that lies below.
And it is made real by nothing less than the power of God. That is why we pray. Even though it is often inarticulate. Even though it is often limited in its scope, we pray knowing God all-sufficient and can overcome our weaknesses.
William Barclay says, “To Paul, life was not a weary, defeated waiting; it was a throbbing, vivid expectation.”
Christians do not escape the human situation. Within, we must battle with our own evil human nature; without, we must live in a world of death and decay.”
None-the-less, Christians do not live only in the world … we also live in Christ!
• We look beyond the world to its creator.
• We look beyond the suffering for mercy.
• We look beyond the consequences of human sin to grace.
So, like the trek up the mountain, our walk here and now is not without effort and suffering. We may even ask at times … “Is it worth the effort?”
Paul answers this question with an emphatic and victorious YES!
In the latter part of today’s reading (31-39) you notice that he asks a series of rhetorical questions. Each is designed to remind us that victory has been secured. However, it is not secured through sheer willpower or clever maneuvering on our part … victory (“glory” if you please) is secured through the work of Jesus Christ. In fact, the Gospel is given in “nutshell” form here. It is encapsulated in verse 34 by telling us four important things about Jesus:
(i) He died
(ii) He rose again
(iii) He is at the right hand of God
(iv) He makes intercession (prays) for us.
As I have said before, our victorious and glorious salvation is secured through the faithful and completed work of Jesus not of our own merit or faithfulness.
No wonder he asks these rhetorical questions:
• 31 If God is for us, who can be against us?
• 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen?
• 34 Who is he that condemns?
• 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
These questions remind us that the present day suffering and groaning does not create distance between us and God. On the contrary, because Jesus has entered our world and defeated the enemy, it actually brings us closer.
He proceeds to give us a list of potential threats to our well-being. All the terrible things you can think of are summarized in Paul’s list. He is declaring that God is stronger than anything this world can throw at us. He is Lord of the terror and Master of every world.
Of what then shall we be afraid?
Why should we not draw near?
So I end where I started. It is really worth the effort but you might think otherwise half way up.
So, we can gather and declare, along with Paul, the victory we have in Jesus Christ. …
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This sermon is provided by Dr. Kenneth Pell
First Church of the Nazarene
Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
www.banazarene.org
** Special thanks to the works on Romans by N.T. Wright and William Barclay for the sermon idea.
