The Christ Church Wednesday Bible Study Group is studying salvation. Salvation is deliverance from danger or suffering. To save is to deliver or protect. The word carries the idea of victory, health, or preservation. Sometimes, the Bible uses the words saved or salvation to refer to temporal, physical deliverance more often, the word “salvation” concerns an eternal, spiritual deliverance.
Salvation can be and has been defined in many ways. Among them, four stand out as the most comprehensive and functional.
First, salvation can be defined as the deliverance from the power, penalty, and presence of sin. To receive salvation is to receive God’s mercy and His grace.
Second, salvation can be described as a finished work, an on-going work, and a work to come. It is a finished work because Christ died once to bear the sins of humanity. “It is finished,”
Third It is an on-going work because He is continuously conforming us to His image and working to maintain our relationship with Him.
Review
Living according to the flesh leads to death, but life in the Spirit leads to just that—life.
Romans 8:12-13 NIV Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.
Part of our motivation for pursuing a life led by the Spirit is understanding that we are not our own. And included in this understanding is the choice to submit to our great God. We have been bought with a price.
Romans 8:14-16 NIV For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
We are God’s children—no longer slaves, but heirs with Christ. And one day we will join in His reign.
Romans 8:17 NIV Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
So Paul says that we will join and share in Christ’s glory but at the same time it says that we will share in His glory IF we share in His sufferings. There is future glory but also suffering.
Future Glory
Romans 8:18-27 NIV I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and 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. 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. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. 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. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
There will be suffering as we wait for the day when we are with Jesus forever. That's just a given. God’s creation waits with groaning for all to be made right. We long to be away from this fallen world and these fallen, broken bodies. But we don’t wait in vain. We have a Hope, and our Hope won’t put us to shame. Our great Hope sympathizes with our weaknesses and sent a Helper to assist us in our need. We are weak, but Heis strong. We cry out, and He will answer in our day of trouble.
Incomparable Glory
Romans 8:18-19 NIV I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.
Everyone suffers differently. We don’t have to be cheerful in suffering. As a matter of fact, many of the psalms help us learn to lament with sorrow and weeping.
Psalms 130:1-2 NIV Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord; Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.
Psalms 6:1-3 NIV Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath. Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am faint; heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony. My soul is in deep anguish. How long, Lord, how long?
Then there’s Psalm 38, 10, 42, 43, and there are others.
Because we have the Holy Spirit and, as we said last week we can call on our Abba Father we can really take to heart the reality that no matter how we respond to our suffering, none of it compares to the joy wecan look forward to if we are in Christ.
There have been times when my own suffering has felt so overwhelming and crushing that I struggled to remember that this world is not the end of the story, and my suffering won't have the last word. Suffering has a way of fogging up our vision for the future.
But something in us knows that there’s something better, somewhere better. The whole creation—us included—longs for the future day when we will experience freedom from all our suffering.
So, if the Word tells us that our suffering doesn’t compare to the glory that will be revealed, why don’t you and I take a moment to compare some things.
Suffering | Glory
We suffer because of our sin. | We will be sinless.
We suffer because of the sins of others. | Evil will be banished, so there will be no more sin.
We suffer from worry and anxiety- There will be nothing to worry about, and our risen bodies and minds will not be subject to anxiety.
We suffer because of sickness. | There will be no more sickness.
We suffer from living in a fallen world where we are subject to natural disasters. | There will be a new heaven and a new earth.
We suffer because of sorrows. | There will be no more tears.
We suffer because of death. | Death will be vanquished.
That longing for something else, for something better, is built into you because you were made for glory—for heaven. And knowing that can inform the way we suffer today. Paul tells us clearly that our present suffering doesn't compare to the glory we will one day experience. Knowing this future glory allows us to suffer well—in other words, we suffer with hope.
Even nature is groaning as it waits for the Lord’s return.
1. How do you tend to respond to suffering in your life? Does the kind of suffering make a difference (physical, emotional; deserved, undeserved)?
2. Do you ever experience a longing for something better? When do you think that long can cross over into sinful discontentment?
3. How might knowing our future affect how we suffer?
4. The biblical concept of glory might be hard for us to comprehend if we only look at the English dictionary. For example, the English word glory might mean to take pride or pleasure in something. But the Greek word translated glory in the context of Romans 8 means the bliss of heaven. In other places in Scripture, it means the fullness of God. How does the biblical definition of glory help us read Romans 8:18–19 differently? Rewrite these two verses, substituting the definition of the word glory.
5. List areas in your life that bring you suffering now but that will be healed by this future grace. Be as specific as you can—not just “broken relationships” (for example),but “my relationship with Mom;” not just “sickness,” but “my arthritis;” not just “injustice,” but “being passed over at work.” Rejoice in knowing that these things will one day be healed or restored. If you read through your list several times during the week
Suffering and God’s Creation
Romans 8:20-22 NIV For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and 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.
Genesis 3:16 NIV To the woman he said, “I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”
God wasn't playing around when he said that women would have pain in bringing forth children. According to Paul, this is exactly the type of pain that all of creation is experiencing as it waits to be freed of the fall. Nothing is right on this earth. Everything is broken and affected by the fall. Even the mountains are crying out for freedom from corruption.
This doesn’t mean we don’t experience joy here. Oh, we do! Even with childbirth, the pain and struggle involved in growing a human in the womb and then bringing him or her into the world doesn’t compare to the moment you hold that little human. Even for those who adopt, there’s a longing and waiting and often painful experience until the moment they hold their child.
Jesus used this same analogy of childbirth to instruct His disciples and help them understand both the waiting they’d endure after His death and the reward that would follow:
John 16:20-21 NIV Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world.
Jesus was saying that our earthly sorrows are temporary. Our groaning and pain havean expiration date. One day it will all be over. But meanwhile the pain and the groaning are real.
Right now, in fact, you are likely experiencing the kind of groaning that the earth endures too. One day, just like creation, we will be free of this painful waiting. So let’s wait with hope.
1. The pain of childbirth is a vivid and powerful example of pain that produces something meaningful or wonderful, but it’s not the only possible one. Can you think of other painful or difficult experiences that produce similar results?
2. What are some signs we can see right now that creation is groaning, waiting to be free of corruption?
3. What aspects of life on earth could seem futile or meaningless from a human perspective? (Hint: see Ecclesiastes 1.) How do God’s promises to us change that?
Hope for What We Do Not See
Romans 8:23-25 NIV 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. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
How often do you use the word hope in a single day? Probably a lot. And even if you don’t say it, how often do you think it?
Hope we experience daily can be negative or positive. That is, we can hope that something good will happen or that something bad won’t happen.
The hope we find in Scripture is one of anticipation and the expectation of something good. And it’s a hope we can count on, unlike a lot of our earthly hopes and dreams. Placing our hope in anything on this earth—love, wealth, knowledge—will always leave us longing.
So what is worth our full hope?
Jesus is our only hope, and it is through Jesus that we have the promise of eternal life. Our hope is not something we can see or touch or experience or hold— except perhaps in brief glimpses and the promises of Scripture. We must wait patiently on this revelation. We wait with a trustworthy hope. And we know that our everlasting, true, and pure Hope will never let us down or put us to shame.
Romans 5:5 NIV And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
1. What are earthly things or people you are tempted (or have been tempted) to put your hope in? Why will these things ultimately let you down?
2. Does the fact that everything on earth will ultimately let us down mean that we should never trust anyone or invest in relationships? How can we live our lives deeply andfully while putting our ultimate hope in Jesus?
3. What are some reasons we might find it difficult to wait for and hope in the Lord? 4. In what ways have you seen the Lord be faithful even in the waiting?
5. What does “we know the end of the story” mean? What is the end of the story?
6. What aspects of Jesus’ character secure our understanding that He will never let us down and we can hope in Him?
Our Help in Weakness
Romans 8:26 NIV 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.
Sometimes, maybe even often, our pain or confusion is so deep, we can’t even come up with the words to express it, either to others or to God Himself. And God has a word for us in these times of mute groaning. According to His holy Word, we don't have to have the right words to say. When we are unable to find the words or even the coherent thoughts to pray to our Father, we can come to Him as we are, and theHoly Spirit will intercede on our behalf.
We don’t need to try to be stronger than we are to come to the Lord. He invites us to come to Him in our weakness. And we don’t have to come up with lofty words—or any words at all. Weary, weak, deeply affected by the wounds of this world—those are our qualifications for coming to God. He invites you and me to draw close, and then we can simply let the Spirit tell the Lord what He already knows we feel and what we truly need.
Don’t hesitate to call on His name, even if all you can say is Jesus.
1. Have you ever had a difficult experience that left you speechless? Or have you ever tried to comfort a friend but didn’t have the words to say? What did you do? Would you do or say anything differently now?
2. Do you ever feel as if you must have certain words to come to God? Why or why not?
3. Some Christians who find their words failing when approaching God use the words of others—the psalms, a book of prayers, or the like—to help them pray. Some find it helps to write out their prayers in a journal instead of simply speaking them. How do you feel about these approaches to prayer? What has helped you?
Interceding According to His Will
Romans 8:27 NIV And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
Romans 8:27 is an interesting text. It causes to reflect on theSpirit’s ability to intercede perfectly on our behalf. What power; what grace!
When we just don’t know what to say or ask, the Spirit intercedes on our behalf with the exact request that the Lord will answer in the affirmative because it is “according to the will of God.”11 When our groaning is too deep for words, we can trust that God knows and hears and understands exactly what we need. When we are confused and don’t know what to ask, we can trust that He knows our need and is listening to the Spirit.
1. Have you ever seen your unanswered prayers work out for your good? What happened?
2. Have you ever experienced answers to prayers you never actually prayed (a circumstance changed, growth in an area, or so on)? What happened?
3. Why do you think the Spirit is able to intercede with the exact prayer needed and according to God’s will?
Next week we are going to look at our assurance. Today we talked about our Future Glory and we wait for our future hope with the promise that all things work together for good.
God is good, and we rest in the assurance that He knew us before the foundation of the world. How encouraging to know that the God who knew and called us is also transforming from one degree of glory to the next and that it’s all a free gift of His grace.
He called us from out of the pit—He saved us. Jesus paid it all, and you and I are justified (declared righteous) because of this payment. In the astonishing mystery and precious gift of God’s grace, He views us just as if we’ve always obeyed Him.
We are going to study just three verses Romans 8:28-30.
Handout for Session 5
Romans 8:18-27
1. This section of Scripture seems to take a bit of a leap from the previous one. Why do you think Paul reminds us of suffering right after sharing about our adoption and telling us that we are heirs with Christ … and before getting into the subject of glory?
2. Read 1 Corinthians 4:17 and compare it to what Paul says in Romans 8:18 about suffering. What do both of these verses say about the suffering we go through here on earth? How can that view transform our view of both suffering and the Christian life?
3. What might be the glory that will be revealed? (Hint: you may find the answer in the verses following this one.)
The earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits: Paul considers that creation itself is eagerly awaiting the revealing of the sons of God. This is because the creation was subjected to futility on account of man’s sin, and will benefit from the ultimate redemption of men.
Isaiah 11:6-9 describes this redemption of creation in that day: The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole, and the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper’s den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.
4. How is or how can creation be subject to futility? And who is Paul referring to when he writes, “because of him who subjected it” (v. 20, emphasis mine)?
For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope
Romans 8:20 ESV
5. How do the concepts of restoration, newness, rebirth, and renewal describe what creation will experience?
Isaiah 11:6-9 describes this redemption of creation in that day: The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole, and the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper’s den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.
6. What does it mean to have the “firstfruits” of the Spirit (v. 23)?
And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
Romans 8:23 ESV
This means we have a taste of the glory to come. Can we be faulted if we long for the fulfillment of what we have received in the firstfruits?
7. Paul writes that we are eagerly waiting for adoption as sons (v. 23). How do you reconcile having already been adopted but still waiting for adoption?
And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
Romans 8:23 ESV
We are waiting for our adoption. Although there is a sense in which we are already adopted,
For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
Romans 8:15 ESV
there is also a sense in which we wait for the consummation of our adoption which will happen at the redemption of our body.
8. How does waiting for the hope we haven’t seen build patience
But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Romans 8:25 ESV
The fulfillment of our redemption is something still distant, yet we hope for it in faith and perseverance, trusting that God is faithful to His word and the promised glory will be a reality.
It is the attitude of the soldier who in the thick of battle is not dismayed but fights on stoutly whatever the difficulties.”
9. What does “likewise” refer to in verse 26?
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
Romans 8:26 ESV
Paul is acknowledging here that, even as Christians, we remain weak in and of ourselves. Physically, we remain creatures in fragile bodies with sometimes baffling emotions. Spiritually, we can become weak in our faith and/or in our resistance to sinful desires. As Paul will begin to make clear, however, God's Spirit with us makes all the difference. He continually helps us in and even through our weakness. He steps in. He helps with the burden.
10. What does intercede mean? (Look it up.) In what ways does the Spirit do this for us
Intercede - intervene on behalf of another.
Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
Romans 8:26-27 ESV
More specifically, Paul writes that we are so weak that at times we do not know what to pray for! We have been given access, in prayer, to our Father God. We feel the need, the longing, for Him, but what do we ask for? The Spirit steps in and carries those unsaid "groanings"—those thoughts and feelings we simply cannot express in human words—to God. He both creates the connection from ourselves to God and provides the content of our communication.
The idea is simply of communication beyond our ability to express. The deep groanings within us cannot be articulated apart from the interceding work of the Holy Spirit.
11. Where is Jesus in these verses? Where do you see the gospel?
12. What do you learn about God and His character in these verses?
13. How might you apply these verses to your life?
For personal reflection
Romans 8:18-19 ESV For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.
1. How do you tend to respond to suffering in your life? Does the kind of suffering make a difference (physical, emotional; deserved, undeserved)?
2. Do you ever experience a longing for something better? When do you think that long can cross over into sinful discontentment?
3. How might knowing our future affect how we suffer?
4. The biblical concept of glory might be hard for us to comprehend if we only look at the English dictionary. For example, the English word glory might mean to take pride or pleasure in something. But the Greek word translated glory in the context of Romans 8 means the bliss of heaven. In other places in Scripture it means the fullness of God. How does the biblical definition of glory help us read Romans 8:18–19 differently? Rewrite these two verses, substituting the definition of the word glory.
5. List areas in your life that bring you suffering now but that will be healed by this future grace. Be as specific as you can—not just “broken relationships” (for example),but “my relationship with Mom;” not just “sickness,” but “my arthritis;” not just “injustice,” but “being passed over at work.” Rejoice in knowing that these things will one day be healed or restored. If you read through your list several times during the week.
Romans 8:20-22 ESV For the creation was subjected 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. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.
REFLECT
1. The pain of childbirth is a vivid and powerful example of pain that produces something meaningful or wonderful, but it’s not the only possible one. Can you think of other painful or difficult experiences that produce similar results?
2. What are some signs we can see right now that creation is groaning, waiting to be free of corruption?
3. What aspects of life on earth could seem futile or meaningless from a human perspective? (Hint: see Ecclesiastes 1.) How do God’s promises to us change that?
Romans 8:23-25 ESV And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
REFLECT
1. What are earthly things or people you are tempted (or have been tempted) to put your hope in? Why will these things ultimately let you down?
2. Does the fact that everything on earth will ultimately let us down mean that we should never trust anyone or invest in relationships? How can we live our lives deeply andfully while putting our ultimate hope in Jesus?
3. What are some reasons we might find it difficult to wait for and hope in the Lord? 4. In what ways have you seen the Lord be faithful even in the waiting?
5. What does “we know the end of the story” mean? What is the end of the story?
6. What aspects of Jesus’ character secure our understanding that He will never let us down and we can hope in Him?
Romans 8:26 ESV Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
REFLECT
1. Have you ever had a difficult experience that left you speechless? Or have you ever tried to comfort a friend but didn’t have the words to say? What did you do? Would you do or say anything differently now?
2. Do you ever feel as if you must have certain words to come to God? Why or why not?
3. Some Christians who find their words failing when approaching God use the words of others—the psalms, a book of prayers, or the like—to help them pray. Some find it helps to write out their prayers in a journal instead of simply speaking them. How do you feel about these approaches to prayer? What has helped you?
Romans 8:27 ESV And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
REFLECT
1. Have you ever seen your unanswered prayers work out for your good? What happened?
2. Have you ever experienced answers to prayers you never actually prayed (a circumstance changed, growth in an area, or so on)? What happened?
3. Why do you think the Spirit is able to intercede with the exact prayer needed and according to God’s will?
Bible Study Audio
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