Suffering as a Christian is Not Worthy to be Compared with the Resurrection
Romans 8:18-25
November 19, 2023
Pastor Craig Ledbetter
Bible Baptist Church, Ballincollig, Cork, Ireland
I. Introduction (Romans 8:18-25)
A. Let’s Read Romans 8:18-25 together …
1. Romans 8:18 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.
2. Romans 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
3. Romans 8:20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
4. Romans 8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
5. Romans 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
6. Romans 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
7. Romans 8:24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
8. Romans 8:25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
B. The spiritual Christian will suffer. I know living without God, and without prayer, and without Christian fellowship is hard, but the godly man and women will suffer too!
C. We Will experience persecution in this world for just following Jesus – just doing the right thing
1. The context of these Scriptures is the fact that when a Christian walks in the Spirit, and pursues after spiritual things, and God’s will they will experience pain and physical suffering, and loss
2. Job proves this to be true
3. The deaths of the apostles and early Christians prove this
D. Thankfully, God says, We can’t compare the sufferings of the Christian life with the glory that will be revealed - not worthy of being compared (like dry dirt can’t compare to a sirloin steak)
E. And that gives us great hope and confidence, and a way to endure whatever we may go through when we follow the Lord Jesus!
II. Message
A. The Sufferings of the Present (Romans 8:18)
1. Romans 8:18 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.
2. Paul “reckons” (adds up all the truth about walking after the Spirit) and concludes…
3. Christians will physically suffer for doing the right things – for being spiritually minded, for being active in soul-winning, for spending much time in prayer for people, for teaching and preaching what the Bible says
a. He's not talking just about troubles and problems in a Christian’s life
b. We think we suffer with bad weather, with problem kids, with bad politicians, with low wages
c. But Paul is referring to actual persecutions for just being a Christ-follower – a Christian!
d. Simply because we do not follow the world, or religions, or politics – we follow Jesus
4. Fact: The world is against God, and it hates Jesus
a. So much of history is filled with abuse of anyone who followed just Jesus Christ
b. 10 million were slaughtered by the Roman Empire during the first 200 years after the death of Christ
1) The Roman Colosseum was turned into a circus of horrors torturing Christians
2) The Romans did not mind you worshipping Jesus as Lord but not as the only Lord. As long as you still bowed before and worshipped Nero or any of the Caesars, and that you publicly worshipped Jupiter and Mars and mercury and Venus, it was OK
3) But to only worship Jesus and the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob bright severe penalty and death
c. 25-50 million Christians were slaughtered during the Dark Ages of the catholic church
1) William Tyndale was hunted, captured and publicly burned alive on a pole in 1536 simply because he had translated the New Testament into English
2) A man named John Huss was arrested and put in prison for preaching Ephesians 2:8,9, that a man is saved by faith in Christ, not good works. He was taken in front of a catholic church council and asked to recant his views. He refused to deny what the Bible plainly said. On 6 July 1415, he was burned at the stake for heresy against the teachings of the Catholic Church
3) The protestants were not much better
d. Even today, tens of thousands of Christians are hunted and imprisoned around the world (mainly in Muslim countries these days, but also in the western world)…
e. EXAMPLE: On Friday, a gospel preacher in Arizona WAS SHOT in the head for standing up on a street corner and holding up his Bible and preaching against sin. He's barely alive and on life support. For warning a wicked world of judgment to come!
f. The world will hate anyone like Jesus - it is very strange to me
1) Personally, I am so impressed an in awe of Jesus
2) But the world has a demonic hatred of him and what he stands for and what he calls for – repentance - not prosperity
3) John 15:19,20 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
5. So, How are we supposed to react and feel about such treatment?
a. Christian perspective matters
b. Expect it - We will be persecuted for doing right (2 Timothy 3:10-12) But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
c. Accept it - It is an honour to suffer for Jesus
1) Act 5:40-42 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
2) 2Timothy 1:8,9 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began
d. Rejoice in it - There is a blessing on us when we have troubles
1) Matthew 5:10-12 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
2) 1 Peter 4:15,16 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
3) In the end, the Christian needs to embrace persecution and suffering. We Westerners have had too good for too long.
e. Endure it - It is but a moment - it is not forever for us
1) When you compare it to suffering in Hellfire like the lost will
2) Life is short - and in some ways that is a good thing
3) Too many modern day Christians ignore our heritage of suffering for Christ
B. Some Thoughts…
1. We need to understand, When Paul talks about suffering as a Christian in Romans chapter 8, he is referring to not just suffering with a toothache or a hangnail or bad weather…
2. He is referring to suffering by NOT walking in the flesh.
a. By purposefully NOT doing what my flesh
b. By not seeking the worlds approval.
c. By doing the hard thing.
3. Examples
a. When I refuse to take a drink that would probably be pleasant and easy to do, and it would stop people from laughing at me … when I walk away, that is suffering.
b. When I wait until marriage to have sex … that is suffering.
c. When a Christian puts up with a bad marriage… that is suffering
d. When a Christian puts up with a bad and even cruel boss… that is suffering
e. When a Christian answers God‘s call and quits their job and takes their family far away to preach the gospel to a people that did not invite them, and who refuse to listen to them, and they struggle for years without much fruits…
f. That is suffering for doing the right things!
4. Just know that WHATEVER suffering I may have to experience, or even endure while following Jesus, and living as He did, IS NOT WORTHY TO BE COMPARED with the glory that WILL be revealed in me when I get to heaven!
C. Suffering is NOT Worthy to be Compared with the Future (Romans 8:18)
1. Romans 8:18 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.
2. The future for the Christian is described as glorious, bright, wonderful, honourable
a. We can’t even imagine how glorious! 1Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
3. One day, that glory shall be revealed not just to us but IN us
4. What is this glory?
a. The manifestation (revealing) of our reality that currently is hidden by our flesh
b. We are the sons of God in a vessel of clay (1 Corinthians 5:1-4)
c. 2Peter 1:13-15 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.
d. We (our soul) dwell inside a body of FLESH now, but we will be in a NEW BODY in the future that is just like Jesus’ new body
e. Hey! Jesus says we are the light of the world, well, one day, we will actually shine!
5. No wonder Paul says in Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
a. This is why Jesus commands us to react differently than the world does to persecution and troubles…
1) Matthew 5:43,44 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you
2) 2 Corinthians 12:9,10 And he [JESUS] said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
6. You may think nothing of such honour now, but neglecting and mocking this honour will one day cost you (Mark 8:38) Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
D. Our Earnest Expectation (Romans 8:18,19)
1. Romans 8:18,19 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. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
2. An earnest expectation is a yearning for something more - Not as if we're depressed with what we have, but knowing what we have and wanting it to be active now
3. This is the reaction to the Holy Spirit inside you into the news about the glory and the wonder and the awe of the future
a. 1 John 3:2,3 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
b. It is the heavenly prize that a Christian is striving for
c. Philippians 3:13,14 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. THAT IS JUST AHEAD FOR EVERY CHRISTIAN!
E. What We Are Inside (Romans 8:19)
1. Romans 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
2. A Christian is a Son of God on the inside – what a thought!
a. No one is born this way – we are boprn sinful. We must be born again!
1) We are made sons of God by being born again! (John 1:11,12) He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name
2) On the outside I kind of look like my parents – have THEIR characteristics
3) But on this INSIDE, I am a son of God!
b. Sons like the angels are – called Sons of God
c. Like Jesus is THE Son of God. Remember the mount of transfiguration…
1) Matthew 17:1,2 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
2) By-the-way, Jesus didn't become glorious on that mountain - He already was glorious, and showed on that day just how glorious He is!
3. If God is glorious, so are his children
a. His nature has been passed on to us
b. 2Peter 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
4. This is why we want to be filled with the Holy Spirit, and live and walk in that new nature! Because we have discovered just how wonderful the new nature is compared to the old nature of the flesh
F. All of Humanity is Subject to Vanity – an empty life (Romans 8:20)
1. Romans 8:20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
2. Subject to vanity
a. That we are enslaved to the problems of this world
1) By our own choices - not that we want ruin, but that we don't want God
2) By the curse of God on those who live by their own rules
b. Everything we do and live for is vain – worthless
1) Until the rapture or the resurrection, we are all subject to / bound to what Solomon concluded throughout the book of Ecclesiastes...
2) That EVERYTHING is vain and vanity and worthless in this life under the sun
3) That we all at our best we are worthless... A bit of animated dust (physically speaking) headed to a grave!
3. But we have been made this way (subject to vanity) so that we would look to God for hope, for something far better
a. We didn’t seek this life – we didn’t decide to be born
b. But God placed us here and now, placing us under HOPE in the sure promise of God for the resurrection of believers
G. We Have a Better Hope (Romans 8:21,22)
1. Romans 8:21,22 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
2. THIS is not our home!
3. We will be delivered from the bondage of corruption one day
4. What are we enslaved to?
a. To a rebellious spirit in us that is in our flesh – sin
b. to health problems, diseases, growing old
c. To physical death
d. Everything that's in brought into this world in genesis chapter 3
5. We shall be delivered into the glorious liberty of Sons of God! What a phrase!
a. I am a child of God because of being born again, believing on Jesus Christ
b. But that is only on the inside
c. I am NOT FREE yet, on the outside...
1) Even though I'm saved, My flesh is tired
2) My body and my nature is still tempted to sin
3) I am still growing old
4) I cannot do what I want to do – I am constantly limited
5) And I physically suffer when I try to live godly
d. But one day I will be gloriously free on the outside! I will be set at liberty!
1) I will no longer be tired
2) I will no longer be tempted to sin
3) I will never grow old
4) And I will be able to do whatever I want to do, knowing it never displeases God
5) and I'll be able to do it forever
6. The whole creation groans together for that hope (Romans 8:22)
a. Romans 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
b. We all groan (emotionally collapse in deep pain) almost in harmony, in unison together for a better world and a better life and a better future
c. Do you know who constantly sighs in sorrows and hurts and groans for a better life?
1) Atheist do, Buddhists do, Mormons do, the aborigines, the Germans, the Americans, the Irish! The drunkard, the prostitute, the scientist, and politician.
2) And… every Christian alive!
H. While we are Suffering… (Romans 8:23)
1. Romans 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
2. What Do Christians Have?
3. We have the first fruits of the Spirit
a. Even though we have the same groanings, and pains, and problems, troubles, and sorrows as the rest of the world...
b. We, right now, have the first fruits of the Spirit of God in us!
1) First fruits means only the beginning… a small taste of what is to come
2) It is a farming term that refers to the very first fruits that are collected out of a vast harvest
4. And we have a sure hope! Assurance! We cannot lose!
5. Jesus will restore everything sin destroyed
a. One day, our BODY will be brought into the adoption – brought into the kingdom of God
b. We have the PROMISE of the redemption of our body that one day soon will take place by either the resurrection or the rapture
c. This is referring to the time when God will change our vile body into something glorious
d. Philippians 3:21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
e. When Jesus saved you, He intended to adopt all of you – including your flesh…
f. But He has to wait for it to die or be raptured so he can CHANGE it and make it ready for eternity!
I. We Just Need to Wait Patiently for it to Happen (Romans 8:24,25)
1. Romans 8:24,25 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
2. People may look at us and see few in number, a lot of suffering, and may mock and laugh…
3. But we believe in some things we haven’t seen yet
a. That is how faith works – by believing without seeing yet
b. You got to believe first – you have to have hope first
c. And only Jesus Christ offers such perfect assurance for every believer
4. We are saved by believing in things we have not seen
a. Everything we go through, the good, the bad, and the ugly, will actually be worth it all, when we see Jesus!
b. I haven’t seen Jesus - I haven’t seen heaven – but I know I am going there!
c. We are saved by believing in such a future
d. And, I have the Holy Spirit in me now crying out “THINGS ARE GOING TO BE JUST FINE!”
e. We not only have been saved FROM the punishment of our sins
f. But saved TO eternal LIFE!
g. This is why Paul wrote Romans 8:28 so confidently… And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
h. THAT is what we will learn next week!
5. So, We need to be patient
a. NOT just sitting here waiting
b. But pressing on
c. Enduring - never quitting
d. Praising and rejoicing even in pain and sorrow
e. And earnestly expecting it to happen at any moment!
III. Conclusion
A. The Sufferings of the Present…
1. The spiritual Christian will suffer
2. But our sufferings are but a moment - it is not forever for us
3. Are an honour to suffer for Jesus
B. Are NOT worthy to be compared with our future
C. While we are Waiting
1. God gives us a sure hope – a confidence, and a way to endure whatever we may go through when we follow the Lord Jesus!
2. We have the first fruits of the Spirit
3. And we have an Earnest Expectation, that it is only going to get better
D. We Just Need to be patient – because He will come
E. Are YOU ready?