The Glory that is Revealed

[0:00] Seeking the Lord's blessing, let's turn to Romans chapter 8, passage we read, Romans chapter 8, and let's read again verses 18 and 19. Romans 8, reading verses 18 and 19.

[0:22] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is revealed to us.

[0:33] For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. By special verse 18, I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is revealed to us.

[0:53] These, I suppose, are well-known words and a very powerful chapter of Scripture for us in Romans chapter 8.

[1:05] And as Paul brings these words to us, he brings in verse 18 this great comparison where he is considering or reckoning between two different things.

[1:19] And he brings the tension that belongs to the believer before us. He presents it as the tension between the present difficulty and the future blessing.

[1:33] And how the Christian lives in that situation and in the tension of that situation. Through the hardship and difficulties of the day in which they live and the promise of what is to be given to them.

[1:49] And so there is this great tension that Paul compares. And he does so as a word of encouragement. To encourage the believer.

[2:00] To encourage the church. To encourage the Christians. To endure patiently with their present situation. With whatever difficulty and tribulation that belongs to them in their current setting.

[2:15] That whatever their circumstance currently is. That they would be able to employ the eyes of faith. To be able to see beyond what is present, hard, painful and difficult.

[2:31] And hold on to that eternal perspective. To see the wonder of the glory that is to belong to the people of God. Here we have a very real and practical lesson from the apostle.

[2:45] In how to live the gospel out. To realize that the gospel is to be affirmed in its fullness. Not just in the moment that we come to faith.

[2:56] But that we would continue to persevere. Holding on to the reality of the promise of what God is going to do for us and give us. The great affirmations of what will be ours by faith.

[3:12] To hold on. To keep on going. To persevere in the way. What Paul says here in verse 18. I consider the suffering of this present time are not worth comparing.

[3:27] He says there is this real incomparison. This lack of balance between these two things. That they don't really fit together.

[3:39] That it is beyond compare. Two different levels. Two entirely different things. And so when Paul is speaking in this way.

[3:50] What he is teaching the Christian to do is not just to persevere. But he is teaching them how to suffer. He is teaching them how to suffer.

[4:02] And he knows how to do this himself. And he realizes here in affirmation. That this is part of our entering into the kingdom of God.

[4:13] In the book of Acts we were reminded. That it is through great tribulation. We will enter into the kingdom of God. But what Paul is actually saying. Is that this suffering is worth it.

[4:26] It isn't at all in comparison to what will be. What is going to be ours. And so Paul is directing us how to suffer.

[4:37] How to enter rightly into the kingdom of God. And I want to just look at a couple of things here. With respect to what has been taught us in these verses.

[4:48] And first of all. I want us just to reflect on what Paul says at the beginning. He speaks of the suffering of this present time. Paul speaks of our suffering.

[4:59] And our suffering is multifaceted. It isn't a simple thing. Suffering just doesn't belong to one thing. One situation. One hardship that we presently have in life.

[5:12] That we take the whole of our life. And the whole of what we are. And that we see that there are different levels to our suffering. And the first level is the consequence of sin in the world.

[5:24] And that's not something that is particular to the believer. The consequence of sin in the world. And the pain. And the hardship that is endured because of it.

[5:35] Is common to all humanity. It's common to every man and woman. Every boy and girl. It's common with ourselves. And with our neighbor. We all suffer because of the consequence of sin.

[5:49] Sin has come into our world. Come into our lives. And it has permeated everything. Every environment. Every relationship.

[6:00] Every situation. There is this tint of sin. And we know it. And we feel it. Just like other people do. We know what it's like to be sick.

[6:11] We know what it's like to be ill. We know what it's like to have fear. We know what it's like to be anxious or discouraged. We know what it's like to have weakness.

[6:22] To suffer in our health. We know what it's like too. When we come face to face with the reality of death. These things are all common. They're not particular to the children of God.

[6:35] Everyone suffers because of this. And it is all because of the source that is sin. Sin has done this. It's destroyed everything.

[6:46] It's broken lives. It's broken relationships. It's broken people. It's left in its wake this devastating cull. And ultimately costs us our lives.

[6:59] The wages of sin is death. But even in these situations. There is an opportunity. That God doesn't want us to waste our suffering.

[7:11] To waste these opportunities. To find in him a relief to our pain. And this is our message to our broken world.

[7:23] To those who are around us. Who are suffering and discouraged and hurting. Those who are facing the consequence of sin. In relationships and in life.

[7:33] We tell them that there is good news in the gospel. There is comfort. There is relief. There is grace to be found in God. There is peace and joy.

[7:47] And so the suffering that we're called to endure. In all its different ways and methods. We ought not to waste. But to find God in it.

[8:00] We believe of course. That God is foreordained. Whatsoever shall come to pass. And the reality is. We find it easy to say that. When life is working out. For us in a happy sense.

[8:13] But God is in our pain too. Grace is there. When life is difficult. God has had a reason.

[8:24] For our anguish. And our agony. And God is there. Inviting us. To himself. Even in the most trying. Circumstance.

[8:35] Of life. Not to waste our opportunity. But to come to him. To find relief. And grace. To find help.

[8:48] We have suffering. As a consequence of sin. We have suffering too. As a result of our faith. Suffering as a result.

[8:59] Of faith. And this comes back. To the great principle. Of the hostility. Of the world. To our faith.

[9:11] To the Christian gospel. Jesus speaks of it himself. He promises it. A number of times. That the world will hate us. Because it hated him.

[9:22] It speaks of. Being very much. Part of our identity. In discipleship. That we are. Called to suffer. To be persecuted.

[9:33] To face tribulation. That this is the great promise. Of salvation. Very much expected. As part of the Christian life. And the Christian. Who sees this.

[9:44] In this proper context. Realises. That this is a badge. Of honour. Because this is a part. Of the result. Of our Christian witness. If this.

[9:55] If they persecuted. Our Lord. They will persecute. Us. I spoke to somebody. Recently. Who told me. About his own. Work situation. Before he retired.

[10:05] And. How he was being mocked. And derided. For his faith. A group of his colleagues. Were around him. Mocking him. Asking him. Did he really believe.

[10:16] These things. And he turned around. And said to the man. Who was leading. This. And he said to him. Thank you. Thank you.

[10:29] For so they persecuted. My Lord. For him. It was a badge. Of honour. Because the world. Stands at enmity. To the gospel. It doesn't find.

[10:41] A place. For the gospel. It wants to. Push it out. And for us. We realise. That the hostility. Is growing. And those. Who are opposed.

[10:51] The gospel. Are becoming more vehement. And yet. The situation. Around the world. Is far worse. Than earth. People are dying. For their faith. They are being beheaded.

[11:03] We see it. On our TV screens. People. Who are being beheaded. Because they are Christians. Thrown out of their homes. Where generations of Christians. Have been. Cast out of these towns.

[11:16] Being hunted. By the enemy. And yet. We may face. Our own discomfort. Maybe at work. Maybe at home.

[11:28] But we have to realise. The great wonder of this. As a badge of honour. For those so they hated.

[11:39] Our Lord. And there is also part of suffering. That becomes part of. The Christian life. And the process of holiness. In the work of sanctification.

[11:51] And in the painful. Process of growth. In our own Christian life. Jesus tells us. That if we are to follow him. We need to deny ourselves.

[12:02] We need to take up our cross. We need to do this daily. And follow Christ. We are told that we need to. Put to death. The deeds of the body. We have to deal with sin.

[12:14] We have to realise. That if we are walking. The Christian road. It is a narrowing way. Not just a narrow way. But a narrowing way. Put into death. Everything that hinders us.

[12:26] From holiness. Seeking to live. The life of faith. Battling. With everything that prohibits us. Of being more like Christ. This is the painful process.

[12:39] Of sanctification. Another aspect. Of our suffering. Of this present time. But when Paul is speaking. Of this suffering. He underlines for us here.

[12:51] What nature this suffering is. He says it is of this present time. It all belongs to here. And now. And this day. It all belongs to this present time.

[13:05] And this present time doesn't last. No one needs to tell you this. No one needs to stand here. And tell you that this is passing. The psalm that we sung.

[13:16] Speaks of the brevity of life. Seventy. Maybe even eighty years. It's just brief. It's like the flower. On the field. In a moment. It's gone. It cannot last.

[13:26] It is temporary. All this will pass. All this will be gone. All this will crumble. And be over.

[13:38] And it will all be gone. When our Savior returns. And brings us all. Before the great judgment seat. And the great wonder of this. Is that this is what the church.

[13:49] Is called to pray for. Thy kingdom come. Or as we have it in Revelation. In the last chapter of the Bible.

[14:00] Come Lord Jesus. There is the church. In the book of Revelation. Picture. In the growing hostility. And persecution of the world. Crying out ultimately.

[14:10] How long Lord. How long till you come again. And this will be the prayer of the church. As the end comes. With the discomfort. Of the persecution.

[14:21] And the pain. And the church crying. For Jesus to come. In his judgment. This is all temporary. This is the present.

[14:33] Passing age. In a moment. It will be gone. The sound of the trumpet. Will hear the return. Of our Savior. And Paul comes.

[14:46] With this. Spiritual. Realism. That the Christian life. Is not trouble free. It's not an easy.

[14:56] It's not an easy. It's not an easy. It's not an easy existence. It's cause for the hard miles. Of discipleship. It calls us to truly. Follow Jesus. To be truly.

[15:06] His disciples. And Paul knows. The suffering. Of the present time. Paul knows. He's counted the cost. And he's reflected.

[15:18] And he considers. That it's worth it. It's worth. Every aspect. Of suffering. And so Paul moves on.

[15:30] And he says. In verse 18. That it's not worth. Comparing. With the glory. That is to be revealed. And so what Paul is saying is. Regardless of how hard.

[15:41] These things are. It will be over. And something. Greater. And better. Will come. Something that is. Beyond. Compare. The Christians.

[15:53] Glory. He speaks of this. Very much. In verses 28. To 30. We know. That for those who love God. All things work together. For good. For those who are called. According to his purpose.

[16:04] And then he speaks there. And he says. Those whom he justified. He glorifies. And Paul speaks. Very much. In a similar way. In 2nd Corinthians. Chapter 4.

[16:15] And in verse 17. This light. Momentary. Affliction. Is preparing for us. An eternal weight of glory. Beyond all comparison.

[16:26] That God is at work in you. In your pain. And suffering. And he's bringing something. Far greater. Something far better.

[16:37] The one who has given his son for you. He's working everything together. For your good. And when you see Jesus. You will be like him.

[16:49] This is beyond comparison. Paul says that here. It's not worth comparing. The word reckon is used here. I cannot even begin to reckon.

[17:00] Evaluate. It's not the same thing. It's of no similar value. It's nothing like it. It's absolutely beyond compare. It's so glorious.

[17:13] And when we think of these things. We think in here. Of what Paul is saying to us. In Romans. We're thinking of the glory. That is to be in heaven. No more pain.

[17:24] No more tears. No more suffering. The former things will have passed away. No more death. Paul is saying.

[17:35] That's what belongs to us. That's the promise of the gospel. That's what it means to be saved. To enter into the paradise of God.

[17:45] The place that he has prepared. This great, wondrous, glorious place. He says it's going to be revealed to us. A more accurate rendering would be revealed in us.

[18:00] It's not just that we're going to see this. We're going to be this. He's going to beautify his bride. Gathering all the peoples from all over the world.

[18:14] Everyone who loves him. Everyone who knows him. Everyone who is saved. They're going to come together as one people. And they're going to be free from sin forever.

[18:26] And they're going to be like Christ. Christ. And so it isn't just the environment. But the believer too. That is beautified.

[18:40] Glorified. In this great wonder. Paul tells us. That the suffering of this present time. Is not worth comparing to the glory that is revealed to us.

[18:53] And then he gives us evidence. And Paul is stacking up his case here. And he is affirming everything he is saying. He gives us a testimony of the same.

[19:05] He says I'm going to show you the evidence of these things. Verse 22. He says creation evidences these things. We know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.

[19:17] We spoke earlier today about the God who thunders. But there is a world that quakes. And this is speaking to us too.

[19:31] A quaking world. And Paul says here. The whole creation is groaning. These pains are being expressed by the environment in which you live.

[19:45] Here is Paul 2,000 years ago telling us our world is sick. And we are only now catching up with Paul. We are seeing there is an ecological crisis.

[20:00] We are seeing the world quaking and shaking. The greatest mountain in the whole world shaking twice in the last two weeks. Speaking to us all around us in our environment.

[20:14] A world that is sick and dying. Our scientists going into the universe. Wandering and looking in space. Is it a different environment that man can be on?

[20:26] Because this world is sick. It's corrupt. And we know where this has come from. How the ground has been cursed. Because of the sin of the man.

[20:39] And it's speaking to us. And testifying to us. And the reality is we've got nowhere else to go. We can't look to the stars in the sky.

[20:51] For a new world. But to the God who is in heaven. And we come and we see the wonder of God's word. Telling us for 2,000 years that the world is sick.

[21:04] And only now we're catching up. We're just catching up. We're just scratching the surface. In all our discoveries. We're re-evaluating everything that we assumed.

[21:14] Time and again catching up with what God says in his word. God speaking to us. And we're reminded here of the shaking of the word.

[21:28] The great pain. You remember how Jesus spoke of this. His disciples came to him in Matthew chapter 24. And they said to him, What's the sign of the end? And Jesus says, I'll tell you the sign of the end.

[21:43] Many are going to say that I'm Christ. And they're not. Leading many astray. That's false religion. Then there's going to be wars and rumors of wars. And he says, Don't be alarmed.

[21:54] He says, Nation will rise against nation. Kingdom against kingdoms. Famines. Earthquakes. All of these things are to be. And they're all speaking to you. Testifying to you.

[22:05] And telling you. That the world is coming to an end. That Jesus is coming. And he says then in verse 8 of Matthew 24.

[22:20] This is just the beginning of the birth pains. The beginning of the end. Is here. And he says, They're going to deliver you up. The Christian.

[22:31] Put you to death. You're going to be hated of all nations. He speaks also. Of the. Gospel being proclaimed. Throughout the whole world.

[22:42] Telling us. And convincing us. Again and again. That this pain. And evidence of creation. Groaning. Is a testimony.

[22:54] To be ready. That Jesus is coming. That everything.

[23:04] Scripture has promised. And prophesied. Has been fulfilled. And even the abandon. Of God. Paul has dealt with already.

[23:15] In Romans 1. Societies. Turning away from God. And doing unnatural. Acts. Paul is reminding us. That is a testimony.

[23:26] That is. The end is coming. More than this. In verse 21. Of chapter. Romans 8. The creation. He's speaking there of it.

[23:37] Longing for this to happen. Longing for this. To happen. And when Paul sees this. And. The scientists.

[23:48] Look at. Everything that's going wrong. In the world. And all of these. Manifestations. Of the. Creation. Testifying to its sickness. And they think. That the world is dying.

[24:00] And Paul says. It's not. The pain of death. In verse 22. It's the pain of childbirth. Something new. Is happening. Something different.

[24:11] Is going to happen. The turmoil. Is the beginning. Of this. And the promise. Of Jesus. Is coming. But the work. Is the beginning. Of a new order.

[24:22] That things. Are going to change. The ground. That was cursed. Because of man. Is going to be redeemed. Just like man. Is to be redeemed. So that man.

[24:34] Who is redeemed. Has. A fitting. Environment. Provided for him. A place to be. And then the wonder. Of the resurrection. That he is going to come.

[24:45] And inhabit this place. To fulfill. The great creation. The great creation. Mandates. To stand there. In this environment. In fellowship.

[24:57] With God. This is what Paul. Speaks of here. In verse 23. Not only the creation. But we ourselves. We have the first fruits.

[25:07] Of the spirit. Grown inwardly. As we wait eagerly. For adoption of sons. The redemption. Of our bodies. This is what we long for. For. The fulfillment.

[25:18] Of redemption. In our resurrection. And we see it all. Our redemption. And the redemption. Of our environment. As the product.

[25:29] Of the saving work. Of Jesus Christ. Christ. The creation. Is testifying to you. That these things. Are to be. And Paul says.

[25:40] We groan too. In verse 23. We groan. Inwardly. The great weight. Upon us. Causing us to groan.

[25:55] Testifying to us. Speaking to us. Because we. Often even get discouraged. With ourselves. In Romans 7. Paul speaks famously. In this way. Verse 15.

[26:06] I do. For I do not do. What I want. But I do the very thing. I hate. He gets discouraged. With this. In verses 19 to 23.

[26:17] He says the same thing. He wants to do good. But he's doing what is wrong. And he's groaning. The great weight. And burden. Of corruption. Upon him. And he groans.

[26:27] And he sighs. And he longs. For this better. And this language. Really reminds us. Of Egypt. And the bondage. Of slavery.

[26:38] And the children of Israel. There crying out. Groaning. And sighing. Longing to be free. Longing to be redeemed. And the reality.

[26:49] Of this picture. Is here. The wonderful salvation. And redemption. Of God's people. That we groan. Within ourselves. Testifying. That we long.

[27:00] For what is better. We long. For what is to be. We are longing. Earnestly. For the glory. To be revealed. In us. And so.

[27:10] We are in harmony. With a creation. That is in pain. Looking. For what is far greater. And so too.

[27:21] The presence of the spirit. We read of this. Of course. Throughout chapter 8. And we see here. How. The spirit. Is a gift.

[27:31] That we receive. By faith. And. The spirit. Is. The gift. Of the promise. That God.

[27:42] Is at work. In us. And he is going to. Fulfill that work. And it is going to. Culminate. When we rise again. And when we will be.

[27:52] Free from our sin. And when we will see. Jesus. And be like him. The spirit.

[28:03] Is that great. Deposit. Gift. Promise. And so we come here. And we come. With this great word.

[28:15] Of hope. For Paul. Is considering this. Great. Tension. And he says. There's no comparison. To what you're currently.

[28:27] Going through. And what is still to be. The great wonder. Of the fulfillment. Of the promises. Of God. In the gospel. And so what we're called to.

[28:41] Is endurance. To stay faithful. To stay committed. And it's becoming.

[28:51] Harder and harder. To be so. But. We're reminded. Of Paul's words. In 2nd Corinthians. Chapter 4. And verse 16. We do not lose heart.

[29:03] Though our outer self. Is wasting away. Our inner self. Is being renewed. Day by day. What Paul.

[29:14] Is calling us to. In the midst of the difficulties. Of this present age. And the suffering. And the pain. That you go through. Day by day. Is to be patient.

[29:27] Is to maintain. Your faith. And your hope. Not to lose heart. But keep looking.

[29:39] Towards the promise. Keep looking. Towards the glory. That is to be. And so I think really.

[29:50] What Paul is. Reminding us. Of here is. That whatever causes us. Suffering. In this life. Whatever. Causes our spirit. To sigh.

[30:01] Paul says. Keep on going. He says. Press on. We have to. Press on. This is a light. Momentary.

[30:12] Affliction. And when we get there. It will seem like nothing. We are called. To endure. To fix our focus.

[30:25] On that greater reward. And that greater promise. To have the correct. Perspective. To live out. Our faith. In this life. In this world.

[30:36] And in this age. And in the midst of it all. That we have a remedy. For the pain. And brokenness of life. And it is the promise.

[30:49] Of the reality of heaven. It's ours. If we don't lose heart. If we keep on. Pressing on.

[31:00] If we walk. And live by faith. To take hope. With us. So that we will be able. To say. In our own extremity. I consider.

[31:11] That the sufferings. Of this present time. Are not worth comparing. With the glory. That is to be revealed. To us. Let's pray together.

[31:22] God. Our father in heaven. We give thanks to you. For your word. And its great blessings. And encouragements.

[31:33] To us. We pray Lord. That you would grant to us. To live. By faith. To live out. Our hope. To demonstrate. And manifest. What we believe. And trust.

[31:44] With regards. To the gospel. That we would commit. Ourselves. Lord. To whatever. Your will is. For us. That we would know. And understand. That your reward is.

[31:55] Far greater. Bless us. And we pray. Forgive us. Our sins. In Jesus name. Amen. Let's sing then.

[32:10] To God's praise. In Psalm 65. On page 82. Psalm 65. On page 82. Psalm 65.

[32:37] At verse 6. By strength and power. You formed the hills. You hushed the ocean's voice. You calmed the tumult of their waves. And stilled the people's noise. Those who inhabit distant lands.

[32:48] With all regard your ways. When morning dawns. And evening fades. You call forth songs of praise. You tend the land and water it. You make it rich and good. As you ordained.

[33:00] Your streams are full. To give the people food. Psalm 65. Verses 6 to 9. The praise of God. I set the power.

[33:16] You bore the hills. You hushed the ocean's voice.

[33:28] You hushed the ocean's voice.

[33:43] You hushed the ocean's voice. Those who inhabitą His heart. They dissenive land.

[33:55] When glory hour you raise. Where mornings on an evening face You call for songs of praise You tender love, the water is You make it rich and good As you are in your dreams Are full to give a peaceful good

[34:55] Now may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ The love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit Be with you all Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen