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Hear the Word of God: Charles R. Biggs- Sermon for Licensure- May 2000
11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. 12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors -- not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 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. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 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." 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs -- heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. 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. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 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. 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? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. Today, we want to consider the hope to which Paul calls us to focus our attention at the climax of his epistle to the Romans. The hope that is the result of the Person and Work of Christ on our behalf and the immediate reality in our lives by the power of Christ’s Spirit. Prior to our passage in Romans 8:15-25, Paul has taught us the great news of the gospel! God is just and the justifier of those who believe in Christ Jesus (Rom. 3:24-26); God has declared us righteous, that is holy, based on the righteousness Christ has given to us as our substitute (Rom. 5:12ff), and we have peace with God, have died to sin and sin no longer has dominion over us (Rom. 6:3ff), and although we truly struggle with our sins in this life, we know that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, just because they live by the Spirit and are not controlled by the evil and destructive power of the flesh (Rom. 8:1ff). If Paul were to stop here, this news would be grand enough, but he continues that we are led by the Spirit of God. Then he reaches the climax, the apex of redemptive truth when he teaches us that we have been accepted into the beloved because God has truly adopted us in Christ [pause]. In Rom. 8:15-25, the Apostle Paul desires that the Christian understand his adopted life from three different perspectives. First, he points us back to our union with Christ in his life, death, resurrection and ascension, and our new freedom as we have been set free from the bondage and dominion of sin. He then points us to our present circumstances as true adopted children, who have been adopted to suffer with Christ. Then he points us forward to the hope to be revealed when Christ returns. As we consider the hope in these verses, let us realize that our perspective must at all times be three-fold. We are truly free from the dominion of sin because we are united with Christ, we do presently suffer as his adopted children and yet we confidently and expectantly wait for the hope to be revealed in our full adoption- -the redemption of our bodies.
In verses 14-17, Paul has said that the righteous, justified man is one who is led by the Spirit of God because God is working in him and he has received the Spirit of Adoption. Because of our union with Christ our Savior, because we have looked to him by faith alone for our salvation, Paul expands the hope we have in Christ by saying we are not only legally declared righteous before a Holy God, but that this Holy God has also given us the Spirit of Adoption. It is one thing for a judge in a court to pronounce a person “not guilty”- -it is another thing altogether for the judge to come from around the bench, clothe the person in his own clothes, give to the person his own name and take him into his family in order to give all of his inheritance to him—but that is what our Heavenly Father has done for us in Christ! God has truly adopted us as sons—as his children-- so because we have the Spirit of Adoption, we cry “O, Father” or “Abba, Father” as vs. 15 teaches us. Paul says, “the Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,” in verse 16. Not only have we been declared righteous based on Christ’s work on our behalf, but God has given us the Spirit of Adoption when he has declared us his children...heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ in vs. 17. We also notice that the Spirit of Adoption replaces the Spirit of fear to bondage that we formerly experienced when we lived our lives according to this present sinful age. We have the Spirit of Adoption because God has redeemed us in Christ and adopted us to a new life in Christ. As Paul will says in 2 Cor. 5:17: “If anyone is in Christ he is a new Creation…all things have passed away…behold, all things are made new! Because God loved us before the foundation of the world, even while were yet sinners, Christ died on our behalf…he died for the ungodly (Rom. 5:8)! Christ’s work was accomplished in order that God might adopt us into his family by his grace—he makes us children and co-heirs with Christ when we repent and believe upon the only hope: the Lord Jesus Christ, crucified, dead and buried…resurrected to the right hand of the God the Father Almighty, the One who will judge the world. As Calvin says in his Institutes of the Christian Religion, the Spirit of Adoption is the primary title for the Holy Spirit, and he teaches us that adoption is the central summary term for the Christian life. This means that as we are led by the Spirit of Adoption in the Christian life, we have the hope of taking on more of the family resemblance as we are conformed to the image of Christ. Now notice how Paul, in verses 18-23 expands the horizon of what the work of Christ has accomplished in our adoption. Yes, we have been adopted, but our Heavenly Father is also redeeming the whole world because of the work of Christ. God is restoring in the Last Adam, Christ our Head, who was faithful to perform all the works of God and to live and fulfill his Law…God is restoring all of creation, because Christ is the head of a new creation. But for now, the full restoration of the new creation has not happened, and we await Christ to return when he will renew all things. Here we see the full consummation of adoption, even though for the present we truly suffer. Notice in verses 22-23 we see the “birth pangs” of the creation- -not the “death pangs”. For some, to think of the end of the world is to think of the death of the world, but for Paul the hope to which we are looking is the rebirth of the world—the whole creation. This is the new Age to Come that is already dawning upon us because we have the firstfruits of the Spirit. The truth of our redemption is that we are already adopted, but we await our full adoption: that is the full redemption of our bodies. For this we must persevere and eagerly await the return of Christ and the renewal of all things- -particularly in the midst of our sufferings NOW. What is interesting to note about the hope to which Paul calls us, is to consider that this epistle was written to the Romans who were undergoing various kinds of persecution and sufferings for their faith. The “groanings” are truly felt by anyone who suffers now in this present age, because we await our full adoption- -but we must do it with patience and perseverance. So, how do we understand the fact that we are redeemed by Christ, we are children of God, we have the Spirit of Adoption- -yet we suffer? The great news of what God has bestowed upon us and the fact of the real suffering in the believer’s life seem at first glance contradictory?! Christians many times stumble upon the reality of suffering in the Christian life. Unfortunately, for some who begin the Christian life in joy, find it difficult and strange when they undergo various kinds of suffering, and they quickly fall away as our Lord taught in the parable of the sower. As ministers we need to understand that suffering is the true pattern of the Christian life and we must understand as shepherds of Christ’s flock that we will suffer as well! Have you ever undergone various kinds of suffering not only from those outside the church, but also from those to whom you are serving? Have you ever pastored and nurtured someone in the Christian life as a tender father to a baby, only to have the baby Christian slap your face in defiance and anger? Suffering within the church, brought on by our own people can cause us to question our service and ministry, and it can startle us into questioning God’s presence and favor in our lives. Various kinds of suffering can cause us to misunderstand God’s providential working in our lives. It is for this reason that Paul teaches the Romans then, and us now that the very fact of our suffering is evidence of not only our hope in Christ, but the reality that we have been redeemed NOW. Let us consider now our suffering in Adoption. Paul says in verses 17-18 (“and if children, then heirs -- heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. 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”). Paul teaches us that now between the time Christ has ascended to the throne of God and we await his return… for now, we must suffer along with him. Suffering is painful, and not just man suffers because of the effects of sin, but all of creation, as Paul teaches us in verses 21-22. Suffering within and without the church is difficult and I am not going toto have experienced the pain that some of you have gone through. However, the same apostle who gives us these words of encouragement fromGod in our pain in suffering in Romans, is the same apostle Paul who spoke of sufferings both in and outside of the church in 2 Cor. 11:24ff: “24 Five times I have received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I have been beaten with rods; once I was stoned. Three times I have been shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brethren; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure upon me of my anxiety for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant? 30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.” So we do have someone who has suffered to the limit as an example of the hope we have in Christ- -the perspective we must share with him in order to endure in our pain! This should give us a true perspective of suffering in the church. God in his mysterious providence works through his church to bring suffering even to God’s ministers. As with the Apostle Paul, sometimes these sufferings and trials come from those to whom we are appointed to serve in Christ’s Church. Paul himself would later counsel Timothy concerning his ministry in the church: “…Keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.” One of these “duties” is our duty to suffer with Christ because anyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. You will remember Christ’s words in Mark 8:31ff, 9:31ff, and 10:28ff. Christ here prophecies of the trial and death he will undergo in Jerusalem. He then goes on to tell his disciples what it means to serve the church of Christ - they will suffer as well! He teaches them that they are not greater than their Master and if he suffers, they will suffer as well. He goes on to explain that the true Christian servant of the Church must pass through very similar struggles and suffering that he himself was to undergo. If the Great Shepherd suffered, how much more will his undershepherds?! We also think of Mark’s “little apocalyptic” as it has been called, or the ‘Olivet Discourse’ in Chap. 13. Often we get bogged down by the details of this chapter and we fail to see what is clearly revealed for us. Christ tells his disciples that in the last days what will be true for him, will also be true for them. That is, being handed over to be judged…to be persecuted for their faith…to be flogged in the synagogues…but he says watch, take heed- - keep your eyes on me, the Author and Finisher of your faith as you run the race of suffering in order to persevere! Remember, it was Christ who came to his own and his own received him not. Some of those who Christ served, who were closest to him were also the ones who betrayed him…and so we may undergo sufferings such as betrayal and desertion because of our stand for the truth. Those who the Lord Christ has chosen to serve his church must also “deny himself and take up his cross and follow Jesus daily.” Now Back to our passage in Romans. Paul teaches us that our hope presently in Christ, although we truly suffer and are in real pain in this world—even as we serve in Christ’s church, this does not remove the love of God toward us…why? Because we are adopted as his children and he is using this suffering now not against us, but for us…because as he reminds us in vs. 28 that all things work out for the good of those who are called according to his purpose…and these are not to be moved, because if God has predestined them to adoption as sons, he has also called them, he has justified them, he has and will glorify them (vss. 28-30). Look at vs. 17. Paul says that one of the attributes of adoption is suffering; although we are heirs with him and are looking forward to our inheritance, we suffer for now. Paul says at the end of vs. 17 that we not only suffer with Christ, but will be gloried with him as well. What we must understand in the midst of our pains and sufferings it that there is no sharing in Christ’s glory unless there is sharing in his sufferings. Sufferings- - then glory was the order appointed for Christ himself…Believers partake of the sufferings which Christ endured and they are regarded as filling up the total quota of sufferings requisite to the consummation of redemption and the glorification of the whole body of Christ as Paul teaches in Col. 1:27. In v. 18, Paul says that he reckons that the sufferings of this present time are not worth even comparing with the glory to come…the glory “that shall be revealed in us.” We may not feel like children of God now; we do not taste all of the wonders of this privilege in our present state because we are tried and tempted by sin, we are surrounded by an imperfect creation (even it “groans” to be renewed to its glorious and eschatological pristine beauty)! We are beset by difficulties, pains, discomforts in our bodies, our own imperfections, and we even experience frustration and hardship from those who are within the church- - brothers and sisters in Christ! Because of these sufferings, we do not often feel or even at times look like God’s adopted children, but as with everything we do we live by faith, definitely not by sight nor our feelings. Our trust is in the Sovereign God who has called us, declared us righteous by faith when we look to Christ alone for righteousness. Our hope is in the God of all comfort who has adopted us…ungodly sinners that we are, and has given to us a firstfruits of his Spirit, a seal unto the Day of Redemption…a part of the new creation NOW! We do not always understand this, because our present state is so incomparable with the perfect that is to come in the new heavens and new earth wherein righteousness reigns! Listen to how Paul explains this in 2 Cor. 4:16ff: Therefore, we faint not; but though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is for the moment, works for us more and more exceedingly an 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.” The Apostle Paul has taught us in this passage of Romans to look back to our hope in the death and resurrection of Christ, the present reality of our suffering and adoption, and now we will point our attention forward to consider our hope to come in Christ, or those things Paul describes as “the things which are not seen.” Because we truly will suffer in Christ, our present perspective often becomes clouded. We are in the midst of a particular struggle and Paul knows this to be a reality of the adopted life in Christ. However, he points our gaze off ourselves and our problems to the future. You could say, that Paul wants us to “meditate upon the future life” by having a true “prospective perspective.” In v. 23 Paul teaches us that because we have the firstfruits of God’s Spirit, we may groan within ourselves, because although we have been adopted NOW (v.16-17, because the Spirit bears witness with our spirit we are children of God NOW), we await the full adoption. And what is the hope of this full adoption? Look back a few verses at Romans 8:11. It says, “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he that raised up Christ Jesus from the dead shall quicken also your mortal bodies through his Spirit that dwells in you.” What we must understand is that as Jesus’ mangled, bloody body was taken from the cross, filthy with his own sweat and sinful man’s spittle, laid in a tomb which was not his own…in a body where he bore the wrath of Almighty God and truly became sin for us…God glorified him and raised him from the dead by the power of His Spirit! Seated him at the right hand of God and placed all things below his feet…gave him a name that is above every other name…so that every knee will bow, every tongue confess…not at this lowly suffering servant, but at the glorified Messiah…the glorified Ascended Almighty Christ of God…the Alpha and the Omega. What hope does this teach us? For all of us who have trusted in Christ by faith alone, have died with him as Paul teaches us in Romans 6…we have been buried with him and raised with him, and he has given us his Holy Spirit. In other words, because God has united us with Christ, he will change these mortal bodies into eternal, glorified bodies just like his. In vs. 23, Paul says our ultimate adoption will be experienced in the redemption of our bodies! In vs. 24, Paul teaches us the grand and consummate truth for us because of the Person and Work of Christ: the hope that is hidden or veiled for this moment of our suffering as we await Jesus our Savior to return. This is the thrust and hope of Romans 8:15-25! Romans 8:24-25 says: “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? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.” The hope of vs. 24 that we see, is no hope at all. It is like the creation as it is now in all its fallen foulness…it is fleeting. It is as our lives which have glimpses of hope, but no lasting hope…like a mist that vanishes before our eyes…so this hope of the world without Christ is fleeting…impossible to truly attain because by definition it does not point to our only hope found in Christ alone. By contrast to this worldly hope, Paul says in vs. 25 that by faith and patience through Christ’s Spirit,we hope for that which we see not…and we await Christ’s return. Our hope is real because we are truly in Christ, and as Christ died and was raised from the dead to a new resurrection life…we that are found in him will also be raised! Calvin says concerning our real hope: “Hope then ever draws patience with it. Thus it is a most apt conclusion- -that whatever the gospel promises respecting the glory of the resurrection, vanishes away except we spend our present life in patiently bearing the cross and tribulations.” Our only hope is found in the Person and Work of Christ ascended and his Spirit he has given us when we believe upon him for our righteous standing before a supremely holy God! This hope is found today, in the midst of our pains, struggles and the uncertainties of life, we know that the Spirit has been given to us as the firstfruits of our final and consummate redemption…when these sinful bodies will be fully renewed because of Christ. All of creation, all the creatures in this world know that this world is not all that there is and if you only have death as a sort of comfort for your pains…then you have no hope. You will be cast away from the presence of God eternally, where you will suffer in your body in such a way that you cannot imagine. However, for those who look to Christ alone by faith, God will declare you righteous based on Christ’s work for you…he will make you and conform you to his image…he will eternally adopt you and use the realities of this life of suffering to conform you to Christ…he will raise you like Christ in the last day and renew your whole body. For the Christian, the true hope of the Spirit is indeed just a mere taste, a firstfruits of our redemption. Because although we experience the joy poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, and realize the hope of being a new creation, recreated in the image of Christ…so we know, that if Christ tarries, we shall experience death only to be raised in renewed bodies…never to experience the torments and pains and sufferings of this present age or the eternal suffering in the Age to Come. As the Book of Revelation teaches us, we will not only be in the presence of God forever, but he will wipe every tear from the eyes of his sons and daughters in Christ…BUT we are not in the New Creation yet, the full hope has not been revealed to us yet…and for now we suffer. So since we still have a race to run in the wilderness of suffering, as adopted children how then should we live? Sometimes in seminary, I have struggled with other friends not to merely “study the Bible” but to be reading and meditating upon the words of God for our own spiritual growth. I am not trying to create a tension between “studying” and “reading” or “meditating” but in the words of Martin Lloyd-Jones, I want to remember that when my soul cries out because of being downcast because of suffering…I also as a servant of the LORD and teacher of his Bible, want to be able to say with confidence: “O soul, put your trust in God.” Our desire as Christ’s servants, especially as adopted sons being identified with Christ’s suffering, want to be prepared for conflict and to “not be surprised” as Peter says when trials come upon us. We also want to be able to stand, so that when those in our congregation suffer, we may confidently say: “Stand firm; let nothing move you, always give yourself to the work of the LORD for you know that your labor in the LORD, is not in vain! (1 Cor. 15:58). That is to say, we want to first understand the Scriptural teaching ourselves, before we teach the Scriptural truth to others! Remember that in our weakness, that is our sufferings in the present age, the Spirit helps us in prayer and even intercedes for us as Paul says in Rom. 8:26. It is not merely that “prayer changes things” but that things…that is, sufferings brought into our lives can change prayer…the way we focus and depend upon our loving and sovereign God! Prayer is not merely to take away our sufferings, but it is to sustain us in our sufferings. It may be evident on the surface of things, but prayer is only appreciated when circumstances come into our lives that we have no power whatsoever to change. This is the wonderful gift we have as Christ’s adopted brothers. “….there was given to me a thorn in the flesh a messenger of Satan to buffet me, that I should not be exalted overmuch. Concerning this thing I besought the Lord three times, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you: for my power is made perfect in weakness’. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Wherefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12:7b-10). In conclusion, meditate upon these words from Revelation 21:6-7, the LORD promises his people concerning the New Heaven and New Earth: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End…He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my Son. This great hope for God’s people is why Paul ends chapter 8 of Romans with the hope that nothing in heaven and earth can ever separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus…absolutely nothing! Let’s Pray: O God of our Exodus. As Moses taught the Israelites in the wilderness, before they inherited the promised land, to remember the Exodus and the graciousness of God in their redemption, grant that we shall also remember even in our wilderness of suffering that we be comforted by the reality of our union with Christ. Knowing that in our union with him- -even as ministers of the gospel- -we suffer with him in order to be glorified with him! Grant, that we might remember Moses, Elijah, Jeremiah, the Lord Jesus and the Apostle Paul, when we suffer in the Church…and may you sustain us, just as you were faithful to sustain them in their ministry. You are faithful. Although our present circumstances look bleak at times, perhaps too difficult to overcome, may you grant the strength and grace to continue in our race. May we be able to say “when we are weak we are truly strong in Christ.” Thank you Almighty Father that we can be called true Sons- - your adopted children- -and that through your divine wisdom and mysterious providence, you are conforming us to our elder brother- - the image of our Lord Jesus, who gave himself on behalf of our sins, to propitiate your wrath, expiate our sin and guilt, and reconcile us to you! We pray that we do not look to false hope- - hope that is no hope at all- -but the hope that is being revealed in us even now! In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
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