2020 - Romans
Learning Hope
Romans 8:24-25 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.
We hope for unseen things…
--We hope, someday, that the family business will be take the glory of God to all the ethnos!
--We hope, someday, to understand that our present sufferings are not even on the scales of glory!
--We hope, someday, we will be revealed as the sons of God!
--We hope, creation will, someday, be renewed. The curse will be reversed!
--We hope, someday, to receive our new Jesus-like body.
--We hope, someday, to be fully adopted sons dwelling with God in the new creation!
--We hope, all will, someday, be made right!
Because of the hope of someday, we wait for it with patience! “Really?” That is what Paul says, “If we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” Perhaps, Paul could wait patiently… me? not so much. Tanya reminds be, frequently, that I am not the most patient person.
How do I learn to wait with patience? I’m glad I asked! In the next 6 verses of Romans 8, Paul tells us how to wait, for what we do not see… with patience!
Let me invite you to learn how… to wait… with patience… for the hope… that is not seen… but what we hope someday… to see… but we don’t see… now… so we have to wait… with patience… until someday… So, we need to learn… to wait… with patience!
In Romans 8:26-30 there are four techniques to learn hope… with patience.
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Technique for Learning Hope #1 - The Spirit Helps
Romans 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. (lack of patience) 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 is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
If you were paying really close attention over the last two sermons, you would have noticed a lot of groaning going on. Back in verse 22&23, Miss Creation is groaning together with us…
Romans 8:22-23 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 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.
And, now, the Spirit is groaning… The Holy Spirit of God, joins with creation and us as we all groan together in wanting the renewal of creation!
--Miss Creation groans, anxious to give birth to Baby New Creation.
--We groan wanting to have our new, redeemed bodies.
--God the Spirit groans wanting His glory to spread to all the ethnos.
We all want the same thing. We work toward the same goal! All three; Miss Creation, us and God the Spirit wants the glory to spread so that all creation will be brought to renewal!
The Spirit joins me in my longings for the Someday! “Oh, I get it.” If I know the Spirit knows my longings and those longings are communicated to God the Father… I can be a bit more patient. It is groaning alone that hurts so much. It is thinking that… God is not listening, God really doesn’t cares, God is not ignoring my sufferings… that makes hope hard. But if, I know God joins my groanings, that helps! Knowing God is with me in my groanings helps my hope.
I certainly, don’t know what to pray for. But I can count on the Spirit within me knowing my longings. God reads those longs from the Spirit. God acts on those longings to accomplish his will; the renewal of the earth. If I know we are all on the same page I can be more patient!
Technique #1 – God hears me… God wants the same thing I do! I have hope!
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Technique for Learning Hope #2 - All Things Work for His Glory
Romans 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
This verse is the third most popular poster verse in New Testament. #1 being… “For God so loved the world.” #2 is “I can do all things through Christ”. #3… All things work together for good!
But I’m afraid Romans 8:28 is often misunderstood.
I do not believe this verse is teaching…
--God causes all things. God does not cause evil. God did not create COVID-19. God does not cause all the suffering in the world. God is working to redeem, not harm his world. So, this verse does not teach God hammers us for good.
--All things happen for a reason. There is not a conspiracy from God to torture us. God reverses suffering to bring about glory. God does not cause evil for a reason.
--Fate. This is a pagan concept. Fate rules. You cannot escape your fate. God rules, not some destiny that cannot be avoided.
The actual thought of Romans 8:28 continues from the last several verses; the context continues. God is working together with us to accomplish his will of bringing the glory to the ethnos. God uses, not causes, but uses the “all things” of suffering to take the Gospel to the ethnos. God works together with us to transform suffering into glory. All things are used for the “good” of his glory. That is the purpose, to wit, we are called to.
This gives me hope. We are not alone in accomplishing His will. God is working with us in the family business. God hasn’t left His business to us and retired to the Bahamas. God is still very active in the family business of taking suffering and producing glory to the others.
Our job is to join in the suffering of the others. As we connect to others in easing their suffering, we share our hope with them. The “all things”; of heartache work for the good, for the glory.
We are not indifferent towards the suffering of the world. We could say that…
--Well, God is going to nuke everything someday so… nothing matters.
--It is all written in concreate. Whatever will be will be… nothing matters.
--Your suffering is probably your own fault… nothing matters.
That is not our attitude. Instead…
--Let me join you in your suffering
--God groans with us in your suffering.
--Let me share with you my hope
--God is going to make all this right
I can have hope. I can be patient. Because I know God is going to use “all things” for good! God is transforming the world by injecting hope into the suffering! I can have a bit more hope!
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Technique for Learning Hope #3 - Waiting Makes Us More Like Jesus
Romans 8:29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
There is a plan. God’s plan, which he foreknew, which he set into motion, His plan for me… is to be make me look like his Son!
This is an over-the-top concept.
--As we work in the family business of turning suffering to glory…
--As we are joined in groaning by the Spirit who hears us…
--As we use all things, together with God, to join in others’ suffering to bring them hope…
We begin to change. Our looks change. Like Harry Potter’s Polyjuice potion, we change appearances… We begin to look like Jesus! God, not only, is using us to redeem the world, in the process we, ourselves, are redeemed to be Jesus to the world!
I can think of no greater compliment. “You act like you’re Jesus. You have been Jesus, to me. When I look at you, I see Jesus!”
Jesus was sent to this world to make all things right!
Romans 5:18-19Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.
As we go into the world, sharing this message of hope, we are conformed to be little brothers, who look like our older brother!
Knowing I am becoming Jesus gives me hope, helps me cope.
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Technique for Learning Hope #4 - Being Made Right for Glory
Listen to N.T. Wright’s translation…
NTW Romans 8:28-30 We know, in fact, that God works all things together for good to those who love him, who are called according to his purpose. Those he foreknew, you see, he also marked out in advance to be shaped according to the model of the image of his son, so that he might be the firstborn of a large family. And those he marked out in advance, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
Now, listen carefully to David Bentley Hart’s translation…
DBH Romans 8:28-30 And we know that, for those loving God, he cooperates in all ways for good with those called toward a purpose. Because those he knew in advance he then marked out in advance as being in conformity to the image of his Son, so that he might be firstborn among many brothers; And those he marked out in advance, these he then called; those he called, these he then proved righteous; and those he proved righteous, these he then glorified.
God has a plan. God calls those who love him to be involved in the plan. Those who are involved in the plan are made right; right with God, right with each other, right for the world. Those who are made right… God gives glory.
It’s like OJT. On the Job Training. We step into the plan of God. We commit to being the hope of the world. We morph into Jesus. Then, God begins to make us right. God hones his tools. God gives us the skills. We are justified, made right for the job. When we do the job, God grants us glory. God gives us honor and praise…
That is an amazing thought. God glorifies us! “What God gives us glory? I thought we give God glory? As we work, in his purpose, he makes us right for the job, then, God gives us glory!
Picture…
--A dad in the stands cheering his kid, during a soccer game.
--A mom applauding her kid after he has sung the National Anthem.
--An older brother giving a high five to a sibling for Acing an exam!
--A grandma putting a coloring page on the fridge!
--A grandpa hollering “chicken dinner” for a kid winning.
That gives me hope. God cheering for me. God applauding me. God high fiving me. God sticking me on the fridge. God calling “chicken dinner” for me! That is hope; knowing God is pleased with my performance encourages me to have hope with patience!
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Romans 8:24-25 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.
Someday, we will dwell together with our LORD on the renewed earth. In the meanwhile, we wait patiently because…
--God listens… to us!
--God works… with us!
--God transforms… us into His Firstborn son!
--God “chicken dinner’s” us!
Therefore, I can hope… with patience!
Tim Stidham
November 22, 2020
Los Alamos Church of Christ
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