1. Christians’ Present Suffering & Future Glory
Romans 8:17-39

2. Present Suffering & Future Glory
Introduction:
1. Introduction – Suffering comes before Glory [17-18]
What should we expect when we become Christians?
Romans 8:17 (NIV)
17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs…
if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

3. Present Suffering & Future Glory
Introduction:
Introduction – Suffering comes before Glory [vv.17-18]
“We will kill those who preach Christianity one by one…”

4. Present Suffering & Future Glory
Introduction:
Introduction – Suffering comes before Glory [vv.17-18]
“They [people led by a local government officer] started beating our church members… Their women attacked our sisters in faith and their men attacked our brothers…”

5. Present Suffering & Future Glory
Introduction:
Introduction – Suffering comes before Glory [vv.17-18]

6. Present Suffering & Future Glory
Introduction:
Introduction – Suffering comes before Glory [vv.17-18]
Romans 8:18. Paul says:
18 [For] I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

7. Present Suffering & Future Glory
Introduction:
1. The Groaning for our Future Glory [vv.19-27]
- Creation’s groaning because of future glory
Romans 8:20
For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it…
Genesis 3:17-18, God said to Adam
17 …“Cursed is the ground because of you…
18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you…

8. Present Suffering & Future Glory
Introduction:
1. The Groaning for our Future Glory [vv.19-27]
- Creation’s groaning because of future glory
Vv.19-22:
For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.
For the creation was subjected to frustration… in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and [of] glory of the children of God.
We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.

9. Present Suffering & Future Glory
Introduction:
1. The Groaning for our Future Glory [vv.19-27]
- Christian’s groaning because of future glory [vv.23-26]
Romans 8:23 (NIV)
23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.

10. Present Suffering & Future Glory
Introduction:
2. The Spirit’s and God’s work in bringing us into Glory [vv.27-30] Romans 8:26 (NIV) 26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.

11. Present Suffering & Future Glory
Introduction:
2. The Spirit’s and God’s work in bringing us into Glory [vv.27-30]
Romans 8:26–27 (NIV)
26 … the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans… the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

12. Present Suffering & Future Glory
Introduction:
2. The Spirit’s and God’s work in bringing us into Glory [vv.27-30]
Foreknew
Predestined
Called
Justified
Glorified us

13. Present Suffering & Future Glory
Introduction:
3. Our Sure Hope for Glory (vv.31-39) Romans 8:31–32 (NIV) 31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

14. Present Suffering & Future Glory
Introduction:
3. Our Sure Hope for Glory (vv.31-39) Psalm 44:22–23 (NIV) 22 Yet for your [Lord’s] sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered. 23 Awake, Lord! Why do you sleep? Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever.

15. Present Suffering & Future Glory
Introduction:
3. Our Sure Hope for Glory (vv.31-39) Matthew 27:45–50 45 From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. 46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”)… 50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.