ROMANS 8:18-23

Sunday Morning:  May 21, 2006

Text:  Romans 8:18-23  For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.  19  For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.  20  For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,  21  Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.  22  For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.  23  And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

NO COMPARISON

Romans 8:18  For I reckon [present middle, count] that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

SUFFERING,  MANIFEST TOKEN OF GOD

2 Thessalonians 1:4-5  So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:  5  Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:

JOY IN TRIALS

James 1:2-4  My brethren, count [esteem] it all joy when ye fall into divers [various] temptations [trials, examinations];  3  Knowing [present active, (being reminded)] this, that the trying of your faith worketh [present middle, accomplishes] patience [endurance].  4  But let (submission to) patience [endurance] have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect [of full age] and entire [whole], wanting [destitute] nothing.

KNOWING THERE IS A CROWN

James 1:12  Blessed is the man that endureth temptation [trials, examinations]: for when he is tried [approved], he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

THE APPROVED ARE HEIRS

James 2:5  . . . brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

TRIALS ARE NEEDED

1 Peter 1:6-7  Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations [trials]:  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:

TRIALS MAY BE FIERY

1 Peter 4:12-14  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial [burning (a refining)] which is to try [putting to proof] you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:  13  But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.  14  If ye be reproached for the name (the word of God, Rev 19:13) of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory (our hope) and of God (judgment of God, 1 Co 7.40) resteth upon you: on their part he (God) is evil spoken of, but on your part he (God) is glorified.

THE OUTWARD MAN MAY PERISH

2 Corinthians 4:16  For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

LIGHT AFFLICTION

2 Corinthians 4:17  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal [age-lasting] weight of glory;

WAITING FOR THE SONS OF GOD

Romans 8:19  For the earnest expectation of the creature [creation] waiteth [present tense] for the manifestation of the sons of God.

WHEN?

Romans 8:23  . . . waiting for the adoption [to placing as a son], to wit, (when?) the redemption of our body.

THE HOPE OF CREATION

Romans 8:20  For the creature [creation] was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same (creation) in [eiv leading to] hope,

SUBJECTION OF CREATION

Genesis 3:17-18  And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast . . . eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;  18  Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;

CREATION WILL BE DELIVERED

Romans 8:21-21  Because the creature [creation] itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into [eiv leading to] the glorious liberty of the children [teknon, not sons] of God.  21. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

NEW HEAVEN AND EARTH

Revelation 21:1  And I saw a new heaven (singular) and a new earth: (singular)for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

TRAVAIL WILL END

2 Peter 3:13  Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

A DAY IS 1,000 YEARS

2 Peter 3:10-11  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.  11  Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

WAITING FOR THE ADOPTION

Romans 8:23  And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits [from + reign] of the [Abba] Spirit, even we ourselves (along with creation) groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption [the placing as a son], to wit, (when?) the redemption of our body.

LED BY THE ABBA SPIRIT

Romans 8:14  For as many as are led [present tense, (can be stopped)] by the (Abba) spirit of God, they are the sons of God. (having the spirit of adoption)

LIVING LIKE SONS

Galatians 4:6  And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the (same) spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying [present tense, (can be stopped)], Abba, Father. (the will of the Father)

OVERCOME, BECOME A SON

Revelation 21:7  He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

SONS OF GOD WILL REIGN

Revelation 3:21-22  To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.  22  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.