Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Epistle Lesson just read, from Romans 8. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- Most of us would agree that it is easier to put up with difficult circumstances if we know that things are getting better. It is utterly dismaying and depressing when we are suffering and we know that things are only getting worse and worse, and that there is no hope.
- We all know that there are problems with the world that we live in. Life is often a struggle – in that God has decreed that we will eat our bread by the sweat of our brows, and that the earth will yield not only food but also thorns and thistles, and that only “in pain shall you eat of it all the days of your life until you return to the ground that you came out of.” [Gen. 3:17-19]
- Thus we see and experience in the midst of the wonders and beauty of creation, also storms and natural disasters. We wonder why it should be so – a little more violence and nothing could survive, a little less violence and the world could be so wonderful! But these things are present to remind us that sin is in the world, that God’s curse remains upon human sin, and that this creation has also been “subjected to futility,” that it is passing away.”
- And of course, human sin is the chief bane of our existence. It produces all diseases, injuries, accidents, and death. It is the source of all human conflict and interpersonal misery – from simple arguments to all out warfare.
- So back to the question: are things getting worse here on earth, or are things getting better? Should we be plunged into merely bearing with our problems – in that things are only going to get worse, or is there hope that things are moving toward something better?
- The answer to both questions is “yes.” It all depends upon the “scope” we are using! Things are getting worse, and according to God’s Word this will continue until the final conflagration of this world. [2 Pet. 3:10] However, God has decreed better things to come – the creation is subjected to futility “in hope.” We are awaiting “new heavens and a new earth.” [2 Pet. 3:13]
- So it is as if we are living in a curve that goes slowly downward, but that will suddenly go up higher than where creation and human existence began – in the new age. This is our hope as Christians – and “CREATION’S HOPE” as well. According to Scripture:
I. The Devil Has Sown The Dissension And Conflict Of Sin In The World
A. In Consequence To Human Sin, The Creation Itself Is Cursed With Futility
Text: “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.”
Gen. 3:17,18 “And to Adam God said, ‘Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, “You shall not eat of it,” cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field.’”
B. We Also Suffer From The Consequence Of Sin In This Present Time
Text: “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.”
Gen. 3:19 “By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
Statement: This is the “downward” slope of the curve, and there is no escape from this experience. The Scripture indicates this. Jesus stated: “For in the latter days there will be much tribulation as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, and never will be. And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom He chose, He shortened the days.” So also the Apostle Paul wrote: “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.”
Application: So for those who hope for this life only, who think that perhaps somehow we can overcome the “curse” of God and the futility of nature on our own, the news is bad. Of course, we’ve been trying to do this for centuries, and continue expending vast amounts of money and resources – not only trying to contain nature but also trying to “reprogram” human beings with education and “penitential incarceration.” But the results are rather dismal – with increasing crime and recidivism and also violence and warfare. Likewise, disease continues to ravage humanity in spite of our great efforts at medicine. Natural disasters continue to occur. And people still die – thousands upon thousands every day.
Transition: All of this informs us – as Christians. We should not join the futility of “hoping” in mankind’s best efforts. Of course we should do all that we can to “contain” the ravages of human sin and human suffering. But we dare not put our hope in these efforts – which are opposed to what God has decreed. But this does not mean that we should give up hope. Rather, God has provided us with another hope – one that is based in Him and His gracious work for us. For:
II. Christ Jesus Has Sown Redemption And Hope In The World
A. The Hope Of Glory Is To Be Revealed In Us
Text: “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
B. God Has Given Us Hope Of A New Creation
Text: “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.”
Statement: The peace that is given to us now is that we have been “redeemed” in Christ Jesus, our sins have been forgiven. We have peace with God! But we are still awaiting “the redemption of our bodies,” which are still subject to dying and death – until the Last Day when we are raised with immortal and glorious bodies. This is the hope that God has given us – not just to survive this world, not just to die and “be with the Lord,” but to have glorious new bodies that are immortal, and a glorious “new heavens and a new earth.”
Application: Even in this time of the downward turn of the curve, there is “the freedom of the glory of the children of God.” In Christians, in us, a beginning of the “new creation” has already begun. Not in our mortal bodies so much, but in our soul and spirit – the knowledge of God’s gracious love, His merciful forgiveness, and His joy in having us as His dear children of faith. This does affect how we use our bodies – aiming our behaviors not at sin but at works of love and kindness toward others. It is difficult to adequately state just how glorious and wondrous this truly is. Creation itself longs for this freedom that you already have inwardly in Christ Jesus!
Transition: So we do have hope – while still in the downward curve of this present world – that things are going to get better, much better. And so:
III. The Children Of The Kingdom Still Groan In This Life
Text: “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.”
A. But We Do Have Hope, And We Live Patiently In This Hope
Text: “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.”
B. And God Gives Us The Holy Spirit To Help Us Keep This Hope
Text: “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 is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”
C. And So We Eagerly Long For The New Age
Text: “We groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved.”
Statement: God knows that it is difficult for us to keep hope in the midst of the depressing downward spiral of this fallen world of sin. He knows the frustrations of our futile efforts to “correct” and “heal” the woes and problems of the world, our dealing with nature and also with the evils of mankind, our own included. So He gives us His Spirit to help us maintain sure and certain hope, hope in God. We may become so frustrated that we don’t know how to pray as we ought, but the Holy Spirit – Who knows all things – is interceding, praying for us, in accord with the gracious and loving will of God!
Application: So we maintain our proper and godly hope, eagerly awaiting the blessings to come. We are certainly not dormant or inert in this life – we have much opportunity to do good in the midst of the evils and futility of this world. Our goal is not to “win,” to somehow re-create nature and human society. This would be futile! And this is God’s job, something He has promised to do in the near future. In the meantime, let us live in hope, and in “the freedom of the glory of the children of God.”
Conclusion: It can be depressing, living in the context of what is passing away. But we need not live as those who have no hope, and we need not adopt false and foolish hopes. We know the redemption and hope that Jesus has provided for us. This is enough for us, and for the creation itself! Thanks and praise be to God, Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.