Home Page Contact Us Service Times Sermons Are You Going To Heaven?
NOTICE: THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!
VICTORY IN JESUS! - PART 2
ROMANS 8:18-27
Introduction
Verse 18 of our text reminds us of one of the most fundamental truths of the Christian life. That truth is this–We are not home yet!
There is a past aspect to our salvation. When we were born again we were delivered immediately from the penalty of our sins.
There is a present aspect to our salvation. Since the time we were born again by the Spirit of God, we have been able to experience the deliverance from the power of sin in our lives.
But there is a future aspect to our salvation. One of these days, we are going to be delivered from the very presence of sin!
Nevertheless, while we wait to be delivered from this world, we need to remember that we are living in a world that is under a curse. As a result of that curse, there is a lot of groaning and turmoil that takes place here. And if we are not careful, it is easy for us to become discouraged and it is easy to want to give up.
However, if there is one thing this passage teaches us, it is that our life in the Spirit is to be a life of diligence. The word diligence means, "to be characterized by steady, earnest and energetic activity." It is the opposite of giving up!
In fact, the Spirit of God is able to give us hope during the troubled times of our lives!
This passage concerns the struggle that is going on in all of us and around all of us!
I. THE CREATION GROANS. (Vs. 19-22)
The word "groaneth" in verse 22 means "to sigh". It has the idea of one groaning under a burden. That is the image used to describe all of creation.
A. Creation's Experience. (Vs 20)
Creation came under the curse, not by its own doing, but because of the sin of Adam. (Genesis 3:17-19)
Because Adam chose to walk in rebellion to the clear command of God, all of creation was thrown under a curse.
B. Creation's Expression. (Vs 22)
This verse depicts creation as sighing and writhing like a woman in the throes of childbirth. The results of sin’s curse are plain to see!
e.g. Earthquakes, floods, tornados, thorns, pain, violence and death, rot and decay are all a result of the fall!
However, even in the midst of creation's pain, it still lifts it voice to God in praise for His majesty and glory.
(Psalm 148)
C. Creation's Expectation. (Vs 19, 21)
These verses tell us that creation itself expects to be delivered from the curse that has been placed upon it.
The word "expectation" in verse 19 brings to mind the image of a person standing on their tiptoes in order to see something.
So creation yearns for that time when it will in fact be "delivered" (v. 22) from the ravages of the curse of sin.
While the world and all of creation resides under a curse this evening, there is still great beauty in this world.
Try to imagine the most beautiful natural sight you have ever seen.
With that image in mind, remember that what you saw was a sight marred by sin. Now, try to imagine how glorious that same sight will be when the curse of sin is forever removed!
Creation longs to be free and God longs to free it! He will free it some day! Because when Jesus died on the cross for the redemption of sinners, He also redeemed this sin cursed world! One day, the shackles will fall off and all creation will rejoice!
THE CREATION GROANS.
II. THE CHRISTIAN GROANS. (Vs 23-25)
A. The Christian's Agony. (Vs 23)
Along with creation, the child of God groans this evening.
Primarily, Paul is speaking of our desire to be free from these mortal, broken, sinful bodies.
He mentions the "first fruits of the Spirit." This refers to the indwelling ministry of the Spirit of God in the believer's life. When we got saved, the Spirit of God moved into our spirit.
1 Corinthians. 12:13–“For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”
Romans 8:9
When the Spirit came, He worked in us in such a way that we began the process of seeing sin like God sees sin.
In simple terms, the Spirit of God "sensitized" us to sin. We became sensitive to sin around us and in us.
As a result, we are afflicted by the sins we commit and that we see others commit. Now listen to me very closely.
If sin doesn't bother you, you have a serious spiritual problem! If you can witness sin and it not affect you, something is very wrong in your heart!
All of this serves to produce within the believer a sense of longing. We want to be delivered from these sinful, mortal bodies.
Regardless of what anybody tells you, our flesh did not get saved when we trusted the Lord! It is just as depraved and as wicked as it has ever been. (Remember what Paul said in Romans 7:18-25.)
Aren't there times when you would do just about anything just to be free from your flesh? Wouldn't it be a blessing if you never again had a wicked thought. . .never did wicked deed. . .never had a sinful attraction or lust?
B. The Christian's Anticipation. (Vs 24-25)
Paul tells us that we are saved by "hope". What does he mean?
As I’ve said before, “hope” in the Bible has a vastly different meaning than it does in our world today. When people use the word "hope" now, they are saying, "I wish", or "I want".
When the Bible uses the word "hope" it means "an assurance or sure expectation based on a conviction."
Instead of “hope” being a fond wish or desire, Biblical hope is a deep settled knowledge grounded in the promises of God!
We are saved by faith in the promise of God that tells us "that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
It is a conviction that salvation comes through faith in the shed blood and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ!
It is the sure knowledge that one day our Lord will come for us and will take us to Heaven!
It is the sure knowledge that we will be changed from these vile creatures that we are and that we will be made like Him! (1 Corinthians 15:49-57; 1 John 3:1-3)
We who are saved, groan to be free from these bodies! (Romans 7:24)
We long to be remade into the image of the Lord Jesus!
I am glad that I can report to you this evening that that day is coming! One day, whether it be by the undertaker or by the Uppertaker, this sinful flesh will breath its last and I will be remade in the image of my Savior!
This was the heart of David in Psalm 17:15–“As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.”
And it is the heart of every born again saint of God!
THE CREATION GROANS.
THE CHRISTIAN GROANS.
III. THE COMFORTER GROANS. (Vs 26-27)
These verses tell us that it isn't just the creation and the Christian who are groaning in this present world.
Our heavenly Comforter, the blessed Holy Ghost, also groans with us. I am glad this evening that we have One with us Who is able to experience our infirmities and help us!
Hebrews 4:15–“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”
A. The Comforter Sustains Us. (Vs 26a)
This verse teaches us that the Holy Spirit comes alongside of us as we travel through this harsh world and literally "takes hold of our burden."
The word “helpeth” here is the same word "help" used in Luke 10:40!
The believer needs the same down to earth, basic help every day to help with the burdens of this life.
I’m talking about the burden of living in these weak, sinful and morally deficient bodies!
The Holy Spirit knows our tendency toward evil and He helps us!
He knows that we are prone to wander and He helps us!
He knows that we often grow weary in well doing and He helps us!
So, it is only through the ministry of the Spirit of God working in us to help us that we are even able to do anything that could be called good.
We are weak and we are sinners, but He strengthens us so that we are able, by His help, to carry on for the glory of God.
The Comforter Sustains Us.
B. The Comforter Speaks For Us. ( Vs 26b-27)
To illustrate his point, Paul appeals to the arena of prayer. Because of our sins and our propensity for evil, we are not able to pray in a manner that is absolutely consistent with the perfect will of God.
However, the Holy Spirit, Who is God, knows the will of God, and He knows what is in our redeemed spirit. He takes our prayers, which are often flawed and misguided and He straightens them out and tells the Father what is really in our hearts.
That is a bigger blessing than we can ever know! After all, Who among us knows the perfect will of God in every matter?
Who among us knows how to pray about everything we hear about?
Who knows the mind of God better than God?
The Holy Spirit knows the mind of God, because He is God. Therefore, He is able to translate our prayers out of the flawed, selfish language we use, into the perfect will of God. That is what genuine, Biblical praying in the Spirit!
While creation groans to be free from the curse and while Christians groan to be free from these bodies, the Spirit of God groans to see the will of the Father done in the world and in our lives.
That is why He takes such an active role in everything we do. It isn't just prayer. Prayer is merely the one illustration that Paul uses.
The Holy Ghost is actively involved in the process of aiding us as we travel through this world. He is just Who Jesus said He would be. He is a Comforter - John 14:16!
Therefore, we shouldn’t grow weary as we walk through this world! There will be times when it is hard to worship, hard to pray and hard to do the work of God, but we have a Helper! We have One within us Who always rises up to meet the challenge and He will enable us to walk in victory!
Conclusion:
Whoever tries to tell you that the walk of faith is an easy walk is lying!
However, I will say that even though it isn't always easy, it is never impossible!
Will we suffer? Yes!
Will we groan while we are here? Yes!
Will there be times when we will fail and feel like quitting? Yes!
In those times, we need to remember that we have the Spirit of God within us and He enables us to remain diligent and committed as we travel toward a better country!