2. 15. Becoming the New Creation
Romans 8:18-30 p

3. Conformed to an Image Becoming David Beckham
Plastic surgeons to remould my face
Learn the skills of soccer – 10,000 hour rule
Talk the same , think the same, ...
A lifelong commitment
“To be conformed to the image of his Son” (v 29)
Want to be like Jesus.
Hard work, commitment, sacrifice to be like Jesus
“share in his sufferings” (v 17)

4. 1. Suffering & Glory Paul says two things about suffering:
It is part of being children and heirs of God
It doesn’t compare to the glory to be revealed in us
The suffering Jesus endured
Abandon the absurd fairytale image of Jesus
He spoke harshly and offensively to all kinds of people
His message was radical (Matt 10:34-39)
It put him in conflict with many people
We share the “faith of Jesus” (3:26)
Our suffering not compare to the glory we receive

5. 2. Groaning & Hope Why all this groaning? The creation groans (v 22)
We groan (v 23)
The Spirit groans (v 26)
Why all this groaning?
Birthing a new creation out of the old.
Sin of Adam brought curse to the whole creation (Gen 3:17)
Jesus’ work will result in restoration of everything
Creation eagerly awaits that day.
We will receive the full inheritance of sonship.

6. 2. Groaning & Hope . . . The Spirit – We are not alone
groans with us (v 26)
Intercedes for us according to God’s will (v 27)
We are not alone
Our loving Father knows our struggles
He pours out his love into our hearts (5:5)
There is a purpose in our sufferings (5:3-4)
Perseverance Character Hope

7. 3. Working for Good Rom 8: 28 – a Well known and well loved verse
Definition of “Good”
Happy, comfortable, safe, positive, successful, . . .
NOT hard, unsettling, alienating, painful, sacrificial, . . .
Except Jesus he was different
“Predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son” (v 29)
God’s idea of Good – be conformed to image of Jesus

8. God works all thing for good to conform us to the image of his Son
3. Working for Good
Live in the “Obedience of faith” (1:5)
Not always easy or comfortable
Get our priorities straight
Putting God first
God works all thing for good to conform us to the image of his Son

9. Called, Justified, Glorified
Becoming David Beckham has no real value
Becoming like Jesus is to be all that I was intended to be
The rewards are beyond imagining.
God has already done all the essential work (v 30).

10. Questions
What jumps out at you from the passage or the sermon? Discuss.
How have you seen suffering and faithfulness play out in your own life?
Talk about having the “faith of Jesus” and the “obedience of faith” in terms of being conformed to Jesus’ image.
How do you hold on to patient hopefulness in daily life?
How does your idea of “good” square up against God’s purposes? Discuss a working definition of “good”?
Talk about being “called”, justified” and “glorified”. How does this idea compare to ideas you have encountered about what it means to be “saved”?