Romans 8:18-30
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. – Romans 8:28
Click to read
Life is hard. Though we enjoy many comforts and thank God for moments of joy, the reality is that we live in a fallen world tainted by sin, where suffering is unavoidable. Sickness, oppression, pain, and even death surround us. Jesus Himself told us that “in this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33), and that the world would hate us because it hated Him first. Yet He also said, “Take heart! I have overcome the world.” We can face our troubles with hope, because we have Christ.
In today’s passage, the Apostle Paul describes this hope that sustains us in the midst of our suffering. He compares the present suffering we experience with the incomparable glory God has promised to reveal. Since the fall of humanity in Genesis 3, both creation and mankind have been subjected to the corrupting and decaying effects of sin. The brokenness of this world causes all creation, us included, to groan and long for something better. We long for complete deliverance from sin’s curse, and look forward to the day that God has promised, where “there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain” (Revelation 21:4).
When we received Christ, God saved us and adopted us as His children. This salvation and adoption are already real, because our identity has been changed, and we belong to Him. Yet our salvation and adoption will reach their full completion in the future, when we receive the “redemption of our bodies” (v.23). Our present bodies suffer the effects of sin and decay, but one day we will be clothed with glorified, imperishable bodies like Christ’s resurrected body, completely free from sin and death forever. Until that day, we wait patiently, trusting God who never fails to keep His promises.
In the meantime, Paul gives us three reasons we can hold fast to our hope with confidence:
1. The Spirit helps us in our weakness (v. 26-27). Even when we don’t know what to pray or how to pray in our struggles, the Holy Spirit sustains us and intercedes for us, praying in perfect harmony with God’s will.
2. God works all things together for our good (v. 28). Nothing in our lives is wasted. God is in control of every circumstance, even our suffering, which He can use to bring about our ultimate good in shaping us into the likeness of His Son and accomplish His redemptive purpose.
3. God’s saving purpose is unbreakable (v. 29-30). He chose us even before the foundation of the world and appointed us to be set on a course to be shaped into Christlikeness; He called us to come to faith and justified us, making us righteous in Christ, and He will certainly bring us into eternal perfection, completing His good work that He has begun in us.
Because of these truths, we can endure suffering with patience and confidence. Let us hold fast to our hope in God, who is in control and never fails.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father God, thank You that You are with us even in our suffering. We cry out to You in our afflictions and in our struggles in this fallen world. We look forward to the day You have promised, when there will be no more pain or suffering. Thank You that You have given us Your Holy Spirit that sustains us in this present age. Help us to trust You in all circumstances, knowing that You are in control and at work shaping us into perfection for life in eternity. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Click to read
Life is hard. Though we enjoy many comforts and thank God for moments of joy, the reality is that we live in a fallen world tainted by sin, where suffering is unavoidable. Sickness, oppression, pain, and even death surround us. Jesus Himself told us that “in this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33), and that the world would hate us because it hated Him first. Yet He also said, “Take heart! I have overcome the world.” We can face our troubles with hope, because we have Christ.
In today’s passage, the Apostle Paul describes this hope that sustains us in the midst of our suffering. He compares the present suffering we experience with the incomparable glory God has promised to reveal. Since the fall of humanity in Genesis 3, both creation and mankind have been subjected to the corrupting and decaying effects of sin. The brokenness of this world causes all creation, us included, to groan and long for something better. We long for complete deliverance from sin’s curse, and look forward to the day that God has promised, where “there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain” (Revelation 21:4).
When we received Christ, God saved us and adopted us as His children. This salvation and adoption are already real, because our identity has been changed, and we belong to Him. Yet our salvation and adoption will reach their full completion in the future, when we receive the “redemption of our bodies” (v.23). Our present bodies suffer the effects of sin and decay, but one day we will be clothed with glorified, imperishable bodies like Christ’s resurrected body, completely free from sin and death forever. Until that day, we wait patiently, trusting God who never fails to keep His promises.
In the meantime, Paul gives us three reasons we can hold fast to our hope with confidence:
1. The Spirit helps us in our weakness (v. 26-27). Even when we don’t know what to pray or how to pray in our struggles, the Holy Spirit sustains us and intercedes for us, praying in perfect harmony with God’s will.
2. God works all things together for our good (v. 28). Nothing in our lives is wasted. God is in control of every circumstance, even our suffering, which He can use to bring about our ultimate good in shaping us into the likeness of His Son and accomplish His redemptive purpose.
3. God’s saving purpose is unbreakable (v. 29-30). He chose us even before the foundation of the world and appointed us to be set on a course to be shaped into Christlikeness; He called us to come to faith and justified us, making us righteous in Christ, and He will certainly bring us into eternal perfection, completing His good work that He has begun in us.
Because of these truths, we can endure suffering with patience and confidence. Let us hold fast to our hope in God, who is in control and never fails.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father God, thank You that You are with us even in our suffering. We cry out to You in our afflictions and in our struggles in this fallen world. We look forward to the day You have promised, when there will be no more pain or suffering. Thank You that You have given us Your Holy Spirit that sustains us in this present age. Help us to trust You in all circumstances, knowing that You are in control and at work shaping us into perfection for life in eternity. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.