WEBVTT 00:00:18.559 --> 00:00:24.160 Today's reading is Romans chapter eight, verse fourteen to twenty-fifth. 00:00:31.839 --> 00:00:36.159 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 00:00:36.479 --> 00:00:46.640 For you didn't receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry. 00:00:46.880 --> 00:00:48.479 Abba, Father. 00:00:48.960 --> 00:01:10.000 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children's heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provide we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. 00:01:11.680 --> 00:01:19.920 For I consider that we suffering of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 00:01:20.159 --> 00:01:25.840 For the creations wait with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 00:01:26.480 --> 00:01:44.799 For the creations was subject to futility not willingly, but because of him who subjected it in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage, to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 00:01:45.359 --> 00:01:52.560 For we know that the whole creation has been growing together in the pains of childbirth until now. 00:01:53.120 --> 00:02:09.199 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the spirit grown bodily as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies, for this hope we were saved. 00:02:09.919 --> 00:02:12.240 Now hope that is seen is not hope. 00:02:12.479 --> 00:02:15.280 For who hopes for what he sees? 00:02:15.520 --> 00:02:21.919 But if we hope for what we don't see, we wait for it with patience. 00:02:22.479 --> 00:02:24.159 And so reads God's words. 00:02:29.840 --> 00:02:31.840 Turn to Romans chapter 8. 00:02:32.000 --> 00:02:36.560 If you don't have a Bible app, um just search for Romans 8 ESV. 00:02:36.719 --> 00:02:40.560 That's the English Standard Version, that's the version that we're in, and you'll be able to follow along. 00:02:40.639 --> 00:02:45.360 It's very important that you follow along, especially in a book like Romans, because it's quite densely packed. 00:02:45.439 --> 00:02:50.080 Uh, and it's good to see those connections uh for for yourself. 00:02:50.319 --> 00:03:00.479 If you're here this morning and uh you wouldn't describe yourself as a as a follower of Jesus, it's just something that you're kind of you're working out, then you're very welcome here. 00:03:00.639 --> 00:03:14.719 Now, I suspect that one of the questions that that maybe you have or kind of it boils down to as you explore Christianity is the question, well, is it is it worth it? 00:03:15.120 --> 00:03:20.560 Is Chris is becoming a Christian, is becoming a follower of Jesus uh worth it? 00:03:20.719 --> 00:03:37.599 All of the perceived changes, the things that that I might need to turn away from that I particularly like, or the hassle of being regarded differently by friends or family, uh, because Christians are weird, right? 00:03:37.840 --> 00:03:39.919 We believe in a homeless guy that came back from the dead. 00:03:40.000 --> 00:03:42.159 Uh, we're kind of inherently strange. 00:03:42.240 --> 00:03:45.280 Uh, and so you might think, well, is it is it worth it? 00:03:45.599 --> 00:03:50.319 Um, that might be something that you wrestle with. 00:03:51.039 --> 00:04:06.639 And even if you are a Christian here this morning, you might be in a season of life or faith where you're struggling so deeply with either questions of faith or uh the circumstances that you find yourself in that you yourself are asking, well, is it worth my continuing? 00:04:06.879 --> 00:04:11.759 Is persevering as a follower of Jesus worth it? 00:04:12.000 --> 00:04:15.280 Is it worth the the anguish that I feel? 00:04:15.360 --> 00:04:20.639 Is it worth the unhappiness, the sacrifice of being faithful to Jesus? 00:04:20.800 --> 00:04:23.279 Is is it is it worth it? 00:04:25.360 --> 00:04:37.759 Every Christian uh finds himself in that place uh at one time or another, because being a follower of Jesus has a cost to it. 00:04:37.920 --> 00:04:43.519 Jesus himself encourages us to to count the cost of what it is to to follow him. 00:04:44.240 --> 00:04:48.160 He says, you know, deny yourself, take up your cross and and follow me. 00:04:48.240 --> 00:04:57.120 And and uh and to walk that road does cause us all at various points to think, well, is it is it worth it? 00:04:57.360 --> 00:05:07.759 There are times even when we think that the that it's not, that the the temporal trade-off, it would be easier to walk away from Jesus, uh from what he says. 00:05:08.000 --> 00:05:14.480 It would be easier to walk away from this circumstance, from uh from this relationship, from this marriage. 00:05:14.639 --> 00:05:22.720 It'd be easier to walk away from your brothers and sisters here at City Church because it's just too hard. 00:05:22.959 --> 00:05:26.160 The fight is too hard, the road is is too long. 00:05:26.319 --> 00:05:29.199 It doesn't seem that it's worth it. 00:05:29.839 --> 00:05:36.480 And so for all of us who will at one point or are now asking, is it worth it? 00:05:36.800 --> 00:05:38.399 I want to encourage you this morning. 00:05:38.560 --> 00:05:40.399 Paul wants to encourage you this morning. 00:05:40.639 --> 00:05:44.240 Obviously, my answer is going to be yes, but don't switch off. 00:05:44.480 --> 00:05:50.639 I'm gonna give you reasons, two major reasons why it's worth it. 00:05:50.800 --> 00:06:16.800 And my hope, my prayer for you this week as I've been looking at this text is that is that settling these reasons at the base of your life, at the base of your soul, will give you a kind of stability that will enable you to endure the seasons of suffering and difficulty that you find yourself in. 00:06:17.600 --> 00:06:18.959 So is it worth it? 00:06:19.120 --> 00:06:20.639 Yes, two reasons. 00:06:20.800 --> 00:06:26.160 First reason, because you're a son, not a slave. 00:06:26.639 --> 00:06:36.319 Now, I know that as soon as I say that, I'm not using the word son as exclusionary of daughters. 00:06:36.480 --> 00:06:41.360 I'm using it because I like illustration or sorry, alliteration at the top of points. 00:06:41.439 --> 00:06:44.959 And uh I couldn't think of another word that rhymed with daughter. 00:06:45.040 --> 00:06:46.959 Uh no, that's not the only reason. 00:06:47.199 --> 00:06:54.639 It is because it's the primary word that Paul uses here, because he's not excluding uh the daughters of God. 00:06:55.040 --> 00:06:59.839 He's bringing out something very particular, that the son was an heir. 00:07:00.000 --> 00:07:06.639 And so I want to encourage you, uh daughters, that you are, in a sense, a son. 00:07:06.800 --> 00:07:11.439 That is, you are an heir of God's kingdom, both sons and daughters. 00:07:11.600 --> 00:07:15.360 He interchanges it with children, but he primarily uses the word son. 00:07:15.439 --> 00:07:18.879 But I just want you to know that I'm not excluding uh women. 00:07:19.040 --> 00:07:29.279 Men and women in Christ are together heirs of the kingdom of God, and in that sense, are together sons of the living God. 00:07:30.480 --> 00:07:34.959 We're sons, not slaves, we're children, not chattel. 00:07:35.279 --> 00:07:37.519 Yeah, it's doesn't really work quite as well. 00:07:38.079 --> 00:07:40.959 We're children, not slaves. 00:07:43.439 --> 00:07:49.920 Paul is giving us in laying out that contrast, he's giving us a new way to approach God. 00:07:50.160 --> 00:07:56.800 You see what he says, he didn't put God didn't give you a spirit of slavery, verse 15. 00:07:56.879 --> 00:07:57.360 Do you see it? 00:07:57.439 --> 00:08:08.879 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you've uh you've received a spirit of adoption as sons by whom we cry, Abba, Father. 00:08:09.120 --> 00:08:14.480 You haven't been given a spirit of slavery, you've been given a spirit of sonship. 00:08:15.279 --> 00:08:43.919 That is, there is a new relationship that exists between you and God because of your faith in Jesus, that you have been adopted, welcomed into the family of God, that you're not simply a servant, a hired man, a hired woman, you're not a slave, you're not a workman who God could bring in and then send away, somebody who just tries to earn God's favor. 00:08:44.000 --> 00:08:48.879 No, no, you are a you're a son, you're a child, and therefore you're an heir. 00:08:49.519 --> 00:08:52.559 Not because of any obedience that you might render to God. 00:08:52.639 --> 00:08:54.080 That's that's slave language. 00:08:54.240 --> 00:08:57.440 Slaves obey in order to earn. 00:08:57.600 --> 00:09:04.559 No, no, no, a a son is an heir, a child is an heir simply because of their relationship to the father. 00:09:05.039 --> 00:09:11.120 Slaves can be dismissed, but a son always has a place in his father's house. 00:09:15.840 --> 00:09:18.240 Do you want to know what shame does? 00:09:19.360 --> 00:09:27.679 We sin and we feel ashamed, we carry shame of things that have happened uh to us, things that we have that we've done. 00:09:27.919 --> 00:09:39.440 One of the effects, the ongoing effects that that has in our life is that that causes us to um to demote ourselves uh in uh in our relationship with God. 00:09:39.600 --> 00:09:53.200 We come to God and we say, I I can't forgive myself for what I've done, and you shouldn't either um treat me not as a child, uh, but treat me as a servant. 00:09:53.519 --> 00:09:57.600 That's exactly what the younger brother in the story of the prodigal son does. 00:09:57.919 --> 00:10:16.879 Because of the the sin and the shame that he's carrying of how he rejected his father and went off and lived his his own way, and he's been so humbled and brought so low that he thinks, well, maybe God, maybe God will welcome me back, but he should never welcome me back as a child. 00:10:17.039 --> 00:10:23.039 He should never welcome me back as a as a son because the things that I have done are too bad. 00:10:25.360 --> 00:10:26.240 Shame does that. 00:10:26.399 --> 00:10:29.279 Shame causes us to demote ourselves. 00:10:30.799 --> 00:10:32.799 But God won't hear any of it. 00:10:32.879 --> 00:10:33.279 Do you see? 00:10:33.360 --> 00:10:38.960 He hasn't given us a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, he's given us a spirit of what? 00:10:39.759 --> 00:10:41.519 Adoption is sons. 00:10:42.960 --> 00:10:46.080 Do you know what the antidote is to the shame that you feel? 00:10:47.279 --> 00:10:54.960 It's not working it off as a hired hand in God's family, in God's kingdom. 00:10:55.600 --> 00:11:01.360 The antidote to the shame that you feel is the grace of sonship. 00:11:02.639 --> 00:11:09.679 The gift of being welcomed home as a child, embraced by the Father. 00:11:09.840 --> 00:11:16.080 That's the only thing that will ultimately deal with the shame that you feel. 00:11:16.559 --> 00:11:28.799 Of accepting that welcome back, allowing him to treat you as a child again, loved, restored, blessed, forgiven by your heavenly father who loves you. 00:11:31.759 --> 00:11:39.279 And so today, really, it's worth kind of wrestling in your own mind through this question of well, am I a slave or am I a son? 00:11:39.440 --> 00:11:45.200 Am I relating to God like a hired man, a servant? 00:11:46.879 --> 00:11:48.240 Or is a child? 00:11:51.279 --> 00:11:58.639 If you're not a follower of God at all, um, there is something else in your life that that you're pursuing. 00:11:58.879 --> 00:12:06.720 And maybe it's the maybe it's the acceptance of others, maybe it's uh career, maybe it's a particular relationship, maybe it's power. 00:12:06.799 --> 00:12:12.799 Uh, and and those those false gods, uh what the Bible calls idols, let me tell you about them. 00:12:12.960 --> 00:12:16.159 Um they only ever have slaves. 00:12:16.720 --> 00:12:18.320 They never have sons. 00:12:19.600 --> 00:12:22.320 They only ever have slaves. 00:12:22.480 --> 00:12:33.360 You're never a son to money, you're never a child to your career, uh, you're never a daughter to sex, no, you're a slave to those things. 00:12:33.840 --> 00:12:34.480 Why? 00:12:35.279 --> 00:12:45.600 Because they demand your obedience, they demand your time, they demand that you sacrifice yourself and relationships on their altar. 00:12:45.840 --> 00:12:47.360 And well, you know what else? 00:12:47.519 --> 00:12:48.320 They trap you. 00:12:48.480 --> 00:12:49.759 How do they trap you? 00:12:49.919 --> 00:12:51.679 They trap you with shame. 00:12:55.840 --> 00:12:57.519 Not so with our God. 00:12:58.559 --> 00:13:01.759 He wants to set you free and give you the spirit of sonship. 00:13:01.840 --> 00:13:03.840 So are you a slave or are you a son? 00:13:04.000 --> 00:13:06.480 Are you a servant or are you a child? 00:13:06.799 --> 00:13:10.639 Let me briefly contrast them out in different ways. 00:13:13.200 --> 00:13:19.200 The servant and the child have a different relationship with the father. 00:13:19.759 --> 00:13:23.840 A slave is a hired hand, a son is adopted. 00:13:24.159 --> 00:13:33.679 Slaves obey out of fear or out of duty or out of a desire to earn, but not a child. 00:13:33.919 --> 00:13:34.559 No, no, no. 00:13:35.039 --> 00:13:47.840 A child lives in his father's house and listens to her father's voice out of the security that comes from a relationship of love. 00:13:49.919 --> 00:13:56.159 And so you listen to your father not out of fear, but because you know that he loves you. 00:13:56.399 --> 00:13:57.840 How are you relating to God? 00:13:58.000 --> 00:14:00.879 Are you relating to him as a slave or as a son? 00:14:02.799 --> 00:14:08.399 Slaves and sons have, secondly, a different security, therefore. 00:14:09.679 --> 00:14:14.159 Paul says that a slave would fall back into fear. 00:14:15.679 --> 00:14:20.960 Fear based on, well, what if I've failed him? 00:14:21.200 --> 00:14:23.440 How will he think of me? 00:14:25.200 --> 00:14:32.240 Or we obey because we are afraid of the rejection or the punishment that we might face. 00:14:32.480 --> 00:14:37.360 We obey because we are afraid of being sent away. 00:14:38.399 --> 00:14:55.919 Some of you have been in fear-based relationships, maybe with other Christians, maybe with Christian parents, where actually the relationship is one of if I don't obey, then I will be punished, I'll be sent away, I'll be rejected. 00:14:56.080 --> 00:14:58.399 That's a fear-based dynamic. 00:14:58.559 --> 00:15:01.600 That's the spirit of slavery. 00:15:01.840 --> 00:15:05.440 That is not the spirit of sonship. 00:15:14.720 --> 00:15:16.720 Even when they fail. 00:15:18.399 --> 00:15:21.840 At that point, they are assured of their father's forgiveness. 00:15:22.000 --> 00:15:27.600 It's one of the reasons why, on a weekly basis, when we gather, we confess our sins. 00:15:28.399 --> 00:15:34.559 We confess our sins in the confident knowledge that God stands ready to abundantly forgive us. 00:15:34.799 --> 00:15:51.440 And so when we come together and we are either led as we were this morning by Jared in acknowledging our sins, or we we read the words of a confession together, we do so not with any sort of sense of maybe he will, maybe he won't, not sure. 00:15:51.600 --> 00:15:55.600 Let's let's roll the dice, let's toss the coin and see if God's going to forgive me this week. 00:15:55.679 --> 00:15:56.240 No, no, no. 00:15:56.320 --> 00:16:11.600 If you're a son, if you're a daughter, if you're a child of the living God, we come into the light, we acknowledge our sin, and God our Father readily, abundantly, lavishly covers our sin and welcomes us back. 00:16:13.840 --> 00:16:16.639 We have a different level of security. 00:16:19.360 --> 00:16:22.480 Thirdly, slaves and sons have different levels of intimacy. 00:16:24.639 --> 00:16:39.519 A slave addresses the head of the house as master, but here Paul tells us that the child of God addresses his father, her father, as Abba. 00:16:41.039 --> 00:16:42.080 Abba father. 00:16:42.240 --> 00:16:43.039 Do you see that? 00:16:43.919 --> 00:16:48.879 The spirit of adoption of sons by whom we cry, Abba Father. 00:16:49.039 --> 00:16:50.559 You know what the word Abba is? 00:16:50.720 --> 00:16:54.240 It's not a 70 70s band from Sweden. 00:16:56.159 --> 00:17:02.879 It's the word that a small child uses for their dad in the ancient world. 00:17:03.360 --> 00:17:09.279 It's not quite as familiar as daddy, but it's going in that direction. 00:17:09.359 --> 00:17:11.440 It has that sort of sense. 00:17:12.960 --> 00:17:19.839 It's that sort of level of affection, of intimacy, of proximity to. 00:17:22.319 --> 00:17:32.640 A slave in an ancient household cannot wake up the master of the house in the middle of the night and say, Can I have a glass of water? 00:17:33.599 --> 00:17:35.039 But the child can. 00:17:35.759 --> 00:17:40.000 The child can walk into the father's room at all hours of the day and night. 00:17:40.079 --> 00:17:42.000 I I can attest to this. 00:17:44.079 --> 00:17:46.400 And say, How do you get on kids YouTube? 00:17:46.720 --> 00:17:47.039 No. 00:17:47.279 --> 00:17:49.920 And say, Can I have a glass of water? 00:17:52.559 --> 00:17:54.559 How are you relating to God? 00:17:55.039 --> 00:18:10.640 Do you see him as that as beardy sky master, thunderbolts in hand, ready to smite you for your failure, ready to wash you with shame and more guilt and rejection? 00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:17.119 Or do you run to him and say, Abba, I've messed up again. 00:18:17.599 --> 00:18:19.200 Please forgive me. 00:18:21.680 --> 00:18:27.599 Paul goes on to say that the Holy Spirit in verse 16 attests that we are children of God. 00:18:27.680 --> 00:18:33.759 Do you see the Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God? 00:18:34.720 --> 00:18:49.519 That there's something that the Holy Spirit welds up within our hearts that enables us and causes us to cry Abba in those moments of struggle, in those moments when actually we're questioning whether or not following Jesus is worth it. 00:18:51.200 --> 00:18:53.039 Different levels of intimacy. 00:18:54.559 --> 00:19:00.240 Fourth contrast is that the slave and the son have different futures. 00:19:00.319 --> 00:19:02.640 They anticipate different things. 00:19:03.440 --> 00:19:07.519 You see, the slave can only hope for what his wages are, what he earns. 00:19:09.279 --> 00:19:16.400 The son, the daughter, the child is an heir to all that his father, her father has. 00:19:18.400 --> 00:19:21.759 He willingly gives it to his children. 00:19:23.359 --> 00:19:27.920 What are you anticipating in the in the future? 00:19:29.279 --> 00:19:36.240 Are you hoping just to kind of earn enough of God's favor so that you just kind of slip in under the radar of the kingdom? 00:19:36.319 --> 00:19:39.279 You know, like Indiana Jones is the great stone doors coming down. 00:19:39.359 --> 00:19:43.599 I'll just I'll just obey just enough just to kind of slide in before it gets slammed shutter. 00:19:43.759 --> 00:19:47.440 You're like, no, I'm a I'm a child of a living God. 00:19:47.599 --> 00:19:50.960 I am an I am an heir of God's kingdom. 00:19:51.039 --> 00:19:52.319 And that's not anything to do with me. 00:19:52.400 --> 00:19:54.240 That's not a that's not a prideful boast. 00:19:54.400 --> 00:19:56.720 It's I can barely believe it. 00:19:57.119 --> 00:20:06.160 That God would welcome me and that he would so lavishly and abundantly have set in store this future for me and say that I'm a co-heir with Christ. 00:20:07.200 --> 00:20:10.559 I haven't checked recently, but he's kind of better than I am. 00:20:11.440 --> 00:20:21.680 And yet, just as much as he is an heir, by grace he makes me, you, an heir with him. 00:20:26.240 --> 00:20:28.319 So which way do you relate to God? 00:20:28.400 --> 00:20:32.799 Are you still relating to God as a as a slave, as a hired hand? 00:20:34.720 --> 00:20:37.680 Or are you running into his arms as a child? 00:20:38.240 --> 00:20:45.440 You see, if you're a slave, when you come to that moment where you ask, is it worth it? 00:20:45.839 --> 00:20:47.119 you'll walk away. 00:20:47.440 --> 00:20:48.720 Do you know why? 00:20:49.119 --> 00:20:54.720 Because you'll think, well, I don't have the relationship with him that's necessary to keep me here. 00:20:54.880 --> 00:20:58.799 I only obey out of fear of rejection or to earn something. 00:20:58.880 --> 00:21:06.000 And and now I'm suffering and I don't have the assurance of this future inheritance, so so why stay? 00:21:06.160 --> 00:21:08.160 No, it's not worth it. 00:21:11.119 --> 00:21:20.640 But if you are a son, if you are a child, you say, yes, it's worth it because my father loves me. 00:21:21.039 --> 00:21:23.440 He sees me in what I'm experiencing right now. 00:21:23.680 --> 00:21:24.880 He will not abandon me. 00:21:25.039 --> 00:21:28.559 He welcomes me home and he is preparing a future for me. 00:21:28.640 --> 00:21:29.440 Is it worth it? 00:21:29.519 --> 00:21:31.279 Yes, because I'm a child. 00:21:33.279 --> 00:21:38.720 If you're still relating to God like a like a slave, that spirit of slavery. 00:21:39.759 --> 00:21:48.160 Can I encourage you that there is such abundant grace waiting for you? 00:21:48.960 --> 00:21:56.160 That just in the story of the prodigal, the father is looking for his children to come home to him. 00:21:56.960 --> 00:21:59.759 And you don't need to come back and negotiate to. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:00.640 Terms with them. 00:22:00.720 --> 00:22:08.319 You don't need to come back and go, well, look, the stuff that I did that's it's really bad, so I'll work this stuff off. 00:22:08.480 --> 00:22:11.200 I'll be a really good Christian. 00:22:11.359 --> 00:22:12.480 I'll try really hard. 00:22:12.720 --> 00:22:14.960 The father's not going to hear any of that. 00:22:15.279 --> 00:22:18.799 He's going to wrap his arms around you because he's a good father. 00:22:19.200 --> 00:22:21.359 He's going to clothe you in the best robe. 00:22:21.440 --> 00:22:28.880 He's going to put a ring on your finger, and there is going to be much rejoicing in heaven because you have come home to him and you are his child. 00:22:30.559 --> 00:22:33.039 He doesn't want more hired hands. 00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:37.599 He sent Jesus to adopt more children. 00:22:40.799 --> 00:22:42.720 Don't slip back into fear, therefore. 00:22:42.880 --> 00:22:44.240 Come back to him. 00:22:44.480 --> 00:22:45.680 Acknowledge your need of him. 00:22:45.920 --> 00:22:51.920 Run into his arms and let him bless you with all of the blessings of forgiveness and grace. 00:22:56.240 --> 00:23:01.279 Paul then goes on to deal with something very important. 00:23:02.319 --> 00:23:10.160 All this talk of the Spirit of God drawing us into intimacy with the Father that's beautiful and life-giving. 00:23:10.319 --> 00:23:14.799 Then the question really is: well, what about the fact that I suffer? 00:23:15.039 --> 00:23:16.720 What about the fact that this world is broken? 00:23:16.799 --> 00:23:21.119 What about the fact that this has happened to me and I bear this pain? 00:23:24.960 --> 00:23:32.799 We live in a world as Christians of what we call both the now and the not yet. 00:23:33.839 --> 00:23:36.640 Now Christ has forgiven our sins. 00:23:37.119 --> 00:23:40.160 Not yet are we freed from the presence of sin. 00:23:40.319 --> 00:23:41.920 That's Romans 6. 00:23:42.400 --> 00:23:51.599 Now Christ has been raised from the dead and promised a world without suffering and pain. 00:23:51.759 --> 00:23:54.400 Not yet has it been fully realized. 00:23:54.480 --> 00:24:06.720 And we kind of live in this overlap of these two ages where Christ has come and has promised his kingdom, and we experience glimpses of that now, but it hasn't fully come in power yet. 00:24:07.680 --> 00:24:12.319 People still die, we still grieve, we still sin, we still suffer. 00:24:14.480 --> 00:24:17.519 If anything in your life is going to cause you to ask, is it worth it? 00:24:17.599 --> 00:24:19.279 It's going to be the suffering that you face. 00:24:19.599 --> 00:24:21.359 The pain that you face internally? 00:24:22.640 --> 00:24:26.160 Perhaps because of the cost of following Jesus? 00:24:27.039 --> 00:24:30.000 Or simply of enduring in a world that's broken. 00:24:31.920 --> 00:24:38.559 And so Paul goes on in the rest of this section that we're looking at this week to address the question of suffering in particular. 00:24:38.799 --> 00:24:41.680 So again, we ask, is it worth it? 00:24:42.079 --> 00:24:42.720 Yes. 00:24:43.440 --> 00:24:47.119 First, because you're a son, not a slave. 00:24:47.440 --> 00:24:57.599 And the second reason today, there's only two, the second reason today is because suffering will inevitably give way to glory. 00:24:57.920 --> 00:24:59.680 Second reason why it's worth it? 00:25:00.079 --> 00:25:03.759 Because suffering gives way to glory. 00:25:07.119 --> 00:25:12.319 The slave and the son see suffering in different ways. 00:25:13.440 --> 00:25:22.960 The slave sees suffering as punishment, as evidence of God's displeasure. 00:25:24.880 --> 00:25:26.880 That he has a bad master. 00:25:28.240 --> 00:25:30.799 Child doesn't see suffering that way. 00:25:31.279 --> 00:26:05.039 A child, while for sure they do not like the pain inflicted upon them, at time or in time they they look back and see that that suffering was purposeful, that it was disciplining, that it was an evidence in and of itself of a father that loves enough to provide boundaries to help them grow into the person who reflects the Lord Jesus to the world. 00:26:06.240 --> 00:26:08.960 Paul pushes this idea further in verse 17. 00:26:09.039 --> 00:26:10.240 Have a look at it. 00:26:11.200 --> 00:26:12.559 And he says something odd. 00:26:12.720 --> 00:26:27.599 In verse 17, he says, and if children then heirs, that is, we inherit, heirs of God, fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him, that we may be glorified with him. 00:26:28.319 --> 00:26:31.279 Provided that we suffer with him. 00:26:31.920 --> 00:26:34.480 Why does he use the word provided? 00:26:35.359 --> 00:26:42.799 Does he mean that our sufferings earn God's glory? 00:26:44.079 --> 00:26:47.680 Do our sufferings earn our glorification? 00:26:48.160 --> 00:26:49.279 Well, no, of course not. 00:26:49.680 --> 00:26:53.200 That would fly in the face of everything that we've read in Romans up until now. 00:26:53.279 --> 00:26:56.000 So what is what is Paul saying? 00:26:56.559 --> 00:26:57.920 Think of it this way. 00:26:59.599 --> 00:27:09.839 Paul is saying that to suffer as a Christian is how the Christian bears the family resemblance. 00:27:10.880 --> 00:27:13.599 It's how you look like a follower of Jesus. 00:27:13.839 --> 00:27:17.839 It's how you look like Jesus. 00:27:18.799 --> 00:27:23.119 Jesus, our brother, the one with whom we are co-heirs. 00:27:23.200 --> 00:27:24.720 How amazing is that? 00:27:25.680 --> 00:27:31.200 He suffered first, before entering into his glory. 00:27:32.000 --> 00:27:45.839 He suffered the shame and indignity of the cross before the glory of the resurrection and ascension, before his return to the right hand of the Father. 00:27:46.720 --> 00:27:59.279 And so when we suffer now in anticipation of future glory, we look like we resemble Jesus. 00:28:01.519 --> 00:28:14.799 We resemble him when we endure suffering now, secure in the knowledge that those who suffer, God will bring through to glory. 00:28:15.680 --> 00:28:16.960 Suffering now. 00:28:17.759 --> 00:28:19.200 Glory later. 00:28:20.240 --> 00:28:24.960 So friends, brothers, sisters, can I can I give you a word of caution? 00:28:27.279 --> 00:28:29.920 Just a quick flag just to raise. 00:28:30.160 --> 00:28:36.480 That given what Paul is saying here, provided we suffer, suffering now, glory later, it's all the way through the New Testament. 00:28:36.640 --> 00:28:43.039 Jesus says that in this world you will have trouble, but take heart, for I've overcome the world. 00:28:46.640 --> 00:28:54.880 Paul in Corinthians talks about it, talks about this light and momentary affliction will give way to a weight of glory. 00:28:56.000 --> 00:28:58.559 Suffering now, glory later. 00:28:58.640 --> 00:29:04.240 And so, friends, brothers, sisters, please beware. 00:29:05.039 --> 00:29:11.920 Beware of teachings and teachers that promise only victory now. 00:29:13.039 --> 00:29:17.839 Yes, there is a foretaste of the coming kingdom in our life. 00:29:18.000 --> 00:29:36.799 There is ways in which we make progress with sin and achieve those little victories on the field of battle, but to live a life that is only marked by victory and no suffering, that's foreign to the pages of the New Testament. 00:29:36.960 --> 00:29:39.359 That's not what the Bible teaches. 00:29:40.000 --> 00:29:43.440 Suffering now, glory later. 00:29:44.319 --> 00:29:52.160 Your life is not defined simply by victory in every aspect of your life now. 00:29:52.240 --> 00:29:52.880 No, no, no. 00:29:52.960 --> 00:29:55.599 It's defined by the cross of the Lord Jesus. 00:29:56.960 --> 00:30:04.079 There were teachings and teachers that would steer you away from wanting to embrace suffering for the name of Jesus. 00:30:04.319 --> 00:30:11.680 Because in doing so, what they are doing is they are steering you away from the family resemblance. 00:30:12.720 --> 00:30:14.079 Suffering now. 00:30:15.599 --> 00:30:16.960 Glory later. 00:30:21.279 --> 00:30:37.039 But having told us that suffering is an inevitable part of the Christian experience, Paul immediately gives us, I think, one of the most glorious assurances in all of the New Testament. 00:30:38.480 --> 00:30:39.599 In verse 18. 00:30:39.680 --> 00:30:41.200 And you must see them as connected. 00:30:41.839 --> 00:30:43.599 They're broken up in many of our Bibles. 00:30:44.000 --> 00:30:48.000 Verse 18 seems to start a new section, but you have to see them as connected. 00:30:48.079 --> 00:30:54.240 Let me read them together so you get the connection, you see what Paul is saying there. 00:30:54.480 --> 00:30:55.519 Verse 17. 00:30:55.759 --> 00:31:05.440 Children, then heirs, heirs of God, fellow heirs with Christ, provided that we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. 00:31:06.079 --> 00:31:13.519 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 00:31:13.680 --> 00:31:15.279 Do you see what he's saying? 00:31:15.599 --> 00:31:25.200 Suffering now, and it pales into insignificance when set aside with the glory that awaits us. 00:31:25.519 --> 00:31:36.160 Suffering in this present age does not compare with the glory that God is preparing, storing up for us. 00:31:38.559 --> 00:31:55.440 I cannot, I cannot impress upon you more firmly how important this idea is for your maturing as a follower of Jesus. 00:31:56.160 --> 00:32:02.480 If you want to grow as a follower of Jesus, this is a catalytic verse. 00:32:03.440 --> 00:32:13.200 This is pre-workout, high caffeinated, souped up spiritual juice for becoming a follower of Jesus. 00:32:14.880 --> 00:32:18.079 I've taken pre-workout once, I did not enjoy it. 00:32:19.440 --> 00:32:24.720 The workout was very normal, but about two hours later, I'm sitting in my study clicking. 00:32:26.559 --> 00:32:31.759 But this supercharges our growth in godliness. 00:32:32.640 --> 00:32:58.160 It is saying that it is imperative that we set our life, our experiences, all pain, every tear, every loss, all grief, to set it in the context of the vastness of the eternal glory that awaits us. 00:32:58.559 --> 00:33:18.799 To set your suffering on one side of the scales, and to set the glory that God is going to reveal to you on the other side and experience and see the width of glory outweigh all of the sufferings that you experienced. 00:33:19.599 --> 00:33:39.839 If you can do that, man, if you can do that, if you can set what you're going through right now in this 70 years in the context of 70 trillion years, brother or sister, you have a permanent foothold through every experience of your life. 00:33:40.240 --> 00:33:53.759 If you can make that truth your meditation, then you have a motivation to put one foot in front of the other. 00:33:55.680 --> 00:34:15.119 Whatever you're going through, when everything around you seems to crumble, when you spend your nights crying yourself to sleep, set those tears in the context of the glory that your Father, who loves you, is storing up for you. 00:34:16.159 --> 00:34:39.280 If you settle that truth in your heart, then you become that house built on the rock that others, that loved ones, run to for shelter when the storms come and the waves of grief batter the sides of your little house. 00:34:40.159 --> 00:34:45.599 And you provide shelter and refuge and encouragement for all those around you. 00:34:47.599 --> 00:35:05.760 Because you know that one day the glory of the sun will shine again, and its brilliance will dazzle you like nothing ever before, and the storms will be a distant memory. 00:35:06.480 --> 00:35:09.599 You settle that truth in your heart. 00:35:11.039 --> 00:35:18.400 And every moment when you ask, is it worth it to come again to verse 18? 00:35:18.480 --> 00:35:26.800 And go, I don't, for I consider that the sufferings of this present age are not worth comparing with the glory that awaits us. 00:35:27.760 --> 00:35:30.880 So yes, yes, it is worth it. 00:35:31.119 --> 00:35:32.559 I'm gonna keep going. 00:35:32.880 --> 00:35:34.400 Folks, we need this. 00:35:35.599 --> 00:35:49.679 We need this, we need a clear vision for the future that God has set aside for us, that He is inviting us into idols. 00:35:49.760 --> 00:35:51.519 Cannot give you a future. 00:35:52.000 --> 00:35:52.639 Why? 00:35:52.960 --> 00:35:54.800 Because they're all about the here and now. 00:35:56.000 --> 00:35:59.840 Money's about the here and now, career's about the here and nigh. 00:36:00.000 --> 00:36:03.039 Sex is about the most immediate here and now. 00:36:05.280 --> 00:36:10.639 But when they're gone, to what will you flee? 00:36:12.960 --> 00:36:24.800 When the money runs out, when the job's gone, when no one loves or desires you anymore, when the waves of grief threaten to capsize the little boat of your life. 00:36:31.360 --> 00:36:37.360 Paul bookends this whole section with the promise of future glory. 00:36:37.599 --> 00:36:45.760 He starts it in verse 17 that we suffer in order that we may be also glorified with him. 00:36:47.280 --> 00:36:52.400 And he ends the section, verse 30, that those whom he predestined he also called. 00:36:52.639 --> 00:36:59.039 Those whom he called, he also justified, and those whom he justified, he also glorified. 00:37:06.320 --> 00:37:08.559 Suffering lasts for a while. 00:37:09.840 --> 00:37:12.239 Glory lasts forever. 00:37:16.159 --> 00:37:29.519 The English Standard Version of the Bible in verse 18 says that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 00:37:31.039 --> 00:37:40.239 It's not completely clear whether that should be read as to us or in us. 00:37:41.519 --> 00:37:45.199 The NIV, the New International Version, puts it as in us. 00:37:46.400 --> 00:37:48.639 And I really like the idea of in us. 00:37:48.719 --> 00:37:49.760 Do you know why? 00:37:50.079 --> 00:37:57.760 Just think back to all the things that Paul's been saying about human beings, especially in the opening chapters of the book of Romans. 00:37:58.960 --> 00:38:00.800 We're glory stealers. 00:38:01.039 --> 00:38:03.039 We're glory rejectors. 00:38:03.280 --> 00:38:05.519 We're glory exchangers. 00:38:06.639 --> 00:38:09.360 We hate the glory of God by nature. 00:38:09.519 --> 00:38:11.440 We shy away from it. 00:38:13.199 --> 00:38:14.559 See what he's saying? 00:38:15.519 --> 00:38:18.880 God's going to reveal his glory in you. 00:38:20.159 --> 00:38:21.280 Through you. 00:38:22.639 --> 00:38:27.119 Despite all that you have done, despite all that you are and have. 00:38:34.159 --> 00:38:34.800 In us. 00:38:38.960 --> 00:38:40.320 Just notice the time. 00:38:44.559 --> 00:38:46.880 Let me very quickly try and end. 00:38:50.320 --> 00:39:00.000 In the rest of this section, Paul gives two brief reasons to why this glory will be worth it. 00:39:00.159 --> 00:39:03.679 The first is because, well, the creation longs for it. 00:39:03.840 --> 00:39:05.039 It groans for it. 00:39:05.199 --> 00:39:14.800 The cosmos is waiting for the day, Paul tells us, uh, when the children of God will step forth from the shadows into the light and step into their glory. 00:39:14.960 --> 00:39:15.760 Did you realize that? 00:39:15.840 --> 00:39:29.360 That they that the the pillars of creation that the Hubble telescope have seen, the crab nebula, every every molecule in the ocean, every speck of dust and sand, it's all waiting. 00:39:29.599 --> 00:39:30.639 Waiting for what? 00:39:30.880 --> 00:39:40.159 Waiting for you, child of God, to be seen in all of your glory. 00:39:42.480 --> 00:39:45.840 That was what was in God's mind even back in the garden. 00:39:46.079 --> 00:39:49.440 Let me deal with a uh with a little curiosity. 00:39:49.679 --> 00:40:02.000 Verse 20 the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself would be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 00:40:02.719 --> 00:40:05.519 Who subjected the creation to futility? 00:40:06.639 --> 00:40:08.000 It wasn't Adam. 00:40:09.119 --> 00:40:12.239 Adam had no idea beyond himself. 00:40:12.480 --> 00:40:14.800 He had no vision for the future, but God did. 00:40:15.119 --> 00:40:17.519 Why did God curse the cosmos? 00:40:18.559 --> 00:40:19.599 Paul tells us. 00:40:20.960 --> 00:40:24.239 Because of him who subjected it in hope. 00:40:25.440 --> 00:40:26.159 In hope. 00:40:26.400 --> 00:40:27.360 Hope for what? 00:40:27.679 --> 00:40:28.960 Hope for one day. 00:40:29.679 --> 00:40:34.480 The children of God would be revealed and the cosmos set free. 00:40:38.320 --> 00:40:40.719 Let me deal with one other thing. 00:40:40.960 --> 00:40:44.000 It's not just the creation that groans, we groan. 00:40:44.159 --> 00:40:46.559 That's what he says, verse 23. 00:40:46.719 --> 00:40:57.280 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, they're the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we eagerly await our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 00:40:58.400 --> 00:41:18.000 The Holy Spirit, when he comes into our life, creates in us a yearning, a longing that points us beyond this world, a longing for things to be better, for ourselves to be whole again, for the world to be to be right again. 00:41:18.559 --> 00:41:20.159 But Paul says something odd here. 00:41:20.320 --> 00:41:24.320 He says that we eagerly await for our adoption as sons. 00:41:24.719 --> 00:41:33.440 But hasn't he just said that in verse 15 that we have already received the spirit of adoption by whom we cry Abba Father? 00:41:33.599 --> 00:41:35.920 How are we to hold these two things in intention? 00:41:36.719 --> 00:41:38.079 What do they mean together? 00:41:38.239 --> 00:41:39.360 I think the idea is this. 00:41:39.440 --> 00:41:41.199 The idea is beautiful, I think. 00:41:42.719 --> 00:41:44.800 The legal papers are signed. 00:41:45.039 --> 00:41:48.000 The legal papers were signed at the cross of the Lord Jesus. 00:41:48.159 --> 00:41:54.159 When your debt was paid, your sin cleansed, and you were brought into the family of God. 00:41:54.960 --> 00:41:58.960 The judge has given those papers his seal of approval. 00:41:59.039 --> 00:42:04.239 Nothing can change your legal standing before God, who is your father. 00:42:04.800 --> 00:42:07.280 We have been adopted by him. 00:42:09.280 --> 00:42:11.039 The papers have been signed. 00:42:12.800 --> 00:42:14.639 And Daddy's on his way. 00:42:16.239 --> 00:42:18.800 That's what I think Paul's saying in verse 23. 00:42:18.960 --> 00:42:23.199 The papers were signed at the courthouse, and Daddy's on his way. 00:42:23.920 --> 00:42:25.280