The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

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.

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. 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.

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.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
-Romans 8:6-30

Starts with the State of Nature

"We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time" (vs 22)

It's not surprising that humans everywhere have tried to make sense of suffering. Christianity has a different view of suffering and what to do with the state of nature (e.g., death and decay).

A Decisive Act Against Nature

"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." (vs 17)

Paul himself suffered immensely for Christ (2 Corinthians 11), and on the cross, Jesus cried out "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Mark 15:34). It's okay to lament, to let out your grief and disappointment.

But Jesus rose from the dead-- what does this mean for a Christian view of suffering? We don't have these glorified resurrected bodies yet, so what do we do with suffering?

Our Current State

"The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 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." (vs 16-17)

Dying and rising is a pattern we share in with Christ. We already have salvation, but are not yet fully resurrected-- the "already, not yet" (vs 23-24).

When you become a Christian, you live in a state of expectancy, and this makes a difference in how we approach suffering. We still live in this world; but we live in it knowing what God already did and what God will do.

Dealing with Adversity

  • Remember the law that governs history, which is divine love (vs 23). We often think of this verse in terms of material things, but Paul is talking about God's plan for His people to be "conformed to the image of his Son." (vs 29)
  • Know that every moment is an opportunity to form character. "Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." (Romans 5:3-4). Suffering can produce personal character growth, but also communal character.
  • Pray with patience. "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." (vs 25-26) 
Questions for Small Groups
  1. What is one challenge or difficult situation you’ve faced recently, and how did you find strength or comfort during that time?
  2. In Romans 8:18, Paul states that “our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” He views suffering through the lens of what will happen to him through Jesus. What do you think is unique about the Christian view of suffering in relation to how other people and worldviews might view suffering?
  3. In Romans 8:23, Paul says that Christians already have the “firstfruits of the Spirit”—since they are already God’s children in Christ (v. 17)—and yet “wait eagerly” for our adoption at the final resurrection. How might this “already-not-yet” feature of Christian existence help people as they deal with sin, or with suffering? 
  4. Romans 8:28 is often quoted for comfort: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” How do you understand this verse? How might you apply this verse when facing personal or communal adversity?

Missed this Sunday's sermon? Watch it here!

 

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