Focus on the Future
18 August 2013 AM – Romans 8:18-25 – Romans – Scott Childs
Introduction: Spring is garden planting time. Sometimes digging the soil, adding compost and manure, buying seeds, waiting for them to grow, daily watering, pulling weeds, and killing bugs gets discouraging. Gardeners must keep their focus on the future. Their encouragement is expecting the harvest. The same is true in our spiritual lives. We must not focus on the daily difficulties caused by sin but on our bright future in heaven.
Transition: To prevent discouragement caused by the frustrations of sin, Romans 8:18-25 describes three exciting future events that ought to help us to focus on the future.
I. Future Glory Will Outweigh Present Suffering
A. Suffering is part of the Christian life (18)
1. Our daily struggling with sin is one form of suffering. Sin makes life miserable. You will recall that Paul described his struggle with sin back in Romans 6.
2. As we struggle to overcome sin and live to please God, this causes more suffering. The world dislikes it when we live godly lives, so they persecute us. The Lord did not hide this from us either.
Luke 9:23 And he [Jesus] said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Philippians 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
2 Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
B. Future glory will be better than we can imagine
1. The phrase “not worthy” (18), literally means “not as weighty.”
2. God promises that our future glory will be MUCH weightier than our present suffering. No one will ever get to heaven and say “is this all I get for the trouble I had living for Christ.” Remember, we will share Christ’s glory (17). Other Scriptures confirm this.
2 Corinthians 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
1 Peter 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
3. Even Moses knew God richly rewards His sufferers.
Hebrews 11:25-26 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
II. Future Deliverance Will Remove Sin’s Curse
A. Sin’s curse presently burdens all creation
1. The word “creature” (19-21) refers to all of God’s creation.
2. When Adam and Eve sinned, God subjected all creation to sin’s curse (20). Plants, animals, and the entire universe suffer because of sin. Sickness and death began when our first parents sinned. We can trace all the sorrow and heartache of this world back to the fall of man.
3. When sceptics say, “If there is a God, why is there sickness, handicaps, death, war, and natural disasters in the world?”, here is the answer. Sin ruined God’s perfect creation.
4. Right now, all creation groans together and suffers childbirth pains together waiting to be set free from sin’s curse (22). Christians also groan (23).
B. All creation is awaiting that glorious day
1. The entire creation is eagerly waiting for God to reveal the sons of God (19).
a) The word translated “earnest expectation” literally means “waiting with an outstretched head” or “straining forward in anticipation.” Creation is eagerly looking for that day.
b) Though Christians are already the sons of God, they will be openly revealed as God’s sons when God redeems their bodies at the Rapture.
2. God will one day deliver all creation from sin’s bondage and recreate a world like Eden (21).
a) During the 1000 year earthly Millennium, creation will be free from the bondage of sin.
b) In eternity, Christians will be forever free from the bondage and burden of sin.
Revelation 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
3. Christians, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, are also waiting to be set free from sin’s curse (23).
a) The Holy Spirit who indwells every true Christian is the firstfruit – the first taste of what is to come for the Christian.
Ephesians 1:14 [The Holy Spirit] is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
b) We are still awaiting the adoption, that is, we are awaiting the redemption of our body (23). Our spiritual adoption has already begun, but it will be complete when we get our new bodies. That will happen at the Rapture.
1 Corinthians 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
III. Future Redemption Will Fulfil Our Hope
A. We hope in God’s unseen promises
1. The Bible word “hope” does not mean “wish.” It refers to a confident expectation (24).
a) For example, we read in Galatians 5:5 “For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.” Paul was not saying, “We have wishful desires of righteousness.” He was saying, “We have confident expectation of righteousness by faith.”
b) Bible hope is confidence that the invisible will become visible based on God’s promises.
c) If we could already see the fulfilled promises, we would not need hope.
2. Hope is a necessary part of our salvation. We confidently expect that by placing our faith in Christ’s payment for sin, we will be forgiven, rescued from hell, and given eternal life just as God promised.
3. We also confidently expect that God will redeem our bodies as he promised. The book of Ephesians explains our redemption.
a) Christ redeemed us at the moment of salvation.
Ephesians 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
b) But our redemption will not be complete until Christ comes to pickup what He has paid for and take us to heaven. That is our hope!
Ephesians 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
B. Hope enables us to wait patiently (25)
1. By believing God’s promises, we confidently expect that He will redeem our bodies as He promised.
2. We are able to patiently wait for God to fulfil His promise.
Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Conclusion: Our text describes three exciting future events that ought to help us to keep our eyes off problems and to focus on the future. God promises us future glory, future deliverance, and future redemption. If the frustrations of sin have been discouraging you, look up and focus on the wonderful future God is preparing for you.
If you are not 100% sure you are going to heaven, make sure today. Then you too can focus on the future.
Song: Surely Goodness and Mercy 292