Here we go with part 3 of this teaching that just destroys religion, legalism, works, and performance based christianity. Not to mention the false teachings regarding sin such as we are "just old sinners saved by grace". That’s false and cannot be justified by scripture. We are forgiven, righteous, holy, saints of God. So, lets start where we left off. With verse 17 of Romans 8.
17 And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.
18 Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.
19 For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are.
20 Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope,
21 the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay.
Now isn’t this curious. All creation is eagerly looking forward to the day when it will join with us in freedom from death and decay. The trees are going to be hilariously happy that they never rot or crack or decay. The animals will be set free from heading for the happy hunting grounds to die. The birds of the air will be ecstatic that they will never lose the ability of flight. They are excited and waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God.
22 For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.
All creation is groaning, waiting, wanting, expecting, and looking for that day of release from the bondage of death and decay.
23 And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us.
We wait eagerly also, but we have the Holy Spirit to comfort us and teach us. He also guides us and directs us.
24 We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it.
25 But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.)
It is difficult, in this society of the microwave attitude, to wait for things patiently. We say God give me patience and give it to me right now. You drive down the interstate and see a sign that says “Antiques made while you wait”. You stand in front of the microwave and yell “hurry up”.
26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.
Yep. He’s the paraclete, the one who comes along side of us, the Helper. Jesus said in Acts 1 that they should wait for the promise. What was the promise? That when He went away, He would send “another” comforter. Why did He say that? Because He knew we would need to be comforted. Also, the Holy Spirit is the one who would lead us into all Truth. Come on someone. SHOUT!!
27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.
28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
29 For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
30 And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.
31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?
If God is for you, then you are in the majority. A Word from God puts you in control. You and God are a majority.
32 Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?
YES. OF COURSE!!
33 Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself.
The only one who has the right to condemn or accuse you didn’t. As a matter of fact, He gave you right standing with Him. So, you see I cannot be condemned, because I'm already chosen and accepted.
34 Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.
Verse 34 confirms what I wrote in the paragraph above. It also brings to memory the woman caught in the very act of adultery. Jesus did not condemn her, but gave her the gift of grace.
Now Paul goes on to write the most powerful truths about God’s love for us, but we'll stop here and pick that up in part 4. Just a little tickler for you. The vastness of God's love is impossible to calculate or understand, but the Apostle Paul gives us some deep truths to study to help us. Don't miss the last part of this teaching which will continue to set you free from the doom and gloom of religion and legalism. Grace and Peace.the end.
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