Is Hope in Sight? Romans 8:18-25

“For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them.” Romans 1:21,24

“For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23 “Being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed.” Romans 3:24; 25b

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:1

“For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.” Romans 6:20,22

“Wretched man that I am! Who will set me from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other with my flesh the law of sin.” Romans 7:24-25

If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may be glorified with Him. Rom. 8:10, 16-17

“You will suffer in this life, but with eternal life with Christ as the hope we have in the future…the suffering is worth it. The Bible says so, so we should live so.”

I. All Creation Suffers & Waits (v )

Subjected to futility (20)

Then the earth shook and quaked; and the foundations of the mountains were trembling and were shaken, because He was angry. Psalm 18:7

I. All Creation Suffers & Waits (v ) Subjected to futility (20) Subjected in hope (21)

I. All Creation Suffers & Waits (v ) Subjected to futility (20) Subjected in hope (21) Waits Eagerly for the revealing(19)

‘Apokalupto’-Greek root word for “revealing” -to reveal that which has been hidden.

I. All Creation Suffers & Waits (v ) Subjected to futility (20) Subjected in hope (21) Waits Eagerly (19) Endures birth pains (22)

I.All Creation Suffers & Waits (v ) II.All Believers in Christ Suffer (v. 23)

“For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven, inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked. For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life. Now he who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the Spirit as a pledge.” 2 Cor. 5:2-5

I.All Creation Suffers & Waits (v ) II.All Believers in Christ Suffer (v. 23) III.How to wait and suffer well (v ) I.Remember that hope is in things we can’t see II.Hoping motivates perseverance III.With perseverance and hope, we wait

Application 1.Ask the Lord to search your heart and reveal where you are placing your hope. 2.Look for ways to give of your material possessions 3.Hope, Wait, and Persevere in community. Find accountability with a fellow brother or sister in Christ.

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”Rom. 8:18 “You will suffer in this life, but with eternal life with Christ as the hope we have in the future…the suffering is worth it. The Bible says so, so we should live so.”