All the More Hope

Romans 8:18-27

Many versions seem to dub this section of Scripture, Future Glory. Right in the wording, I believe Paul was also issuing an encouraging word for those who suffer. They do not suffer alone. All of creation bears the suffering inflicted by sin. All of creation seeks relief or restoration.

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. Romans 8:18 (NIV)

Like creation, we also suffer in various ways. Same may be suffering a more harsh existence than others due to their faith. Just take a look at the harsh conditions Christians face under the brutality of Communist China or of the Islamic nations. Many versus of Scripture discuss the suffering of the saints. The versus sound tough yet those who are suffering do so out of hope for the future. Why?

For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. Romans 8:24-25 (NIV)

First, people who suffer for the sake of their faith have hope. Simple as that sounds, without hope, life rots away from people. Those who are suffering firmly believe in their convictions. They view all suffering as temporary and look to a future with Christ in heaven as the long term goal of they current plight.

Next, these sufferers have been given the first of the promise, the Holy Spirit, as a mark of God's answer to all those who choose Him. The Spirit dwells within us and ushers in the hope revealed throughout Scripture.

Hope aides us in victory over sin. Sin created bondage to such an extent that decay set into all of creation. Creation groans for a more glorious day. Just as creation waits patiently for the future glory (the return of Christ) we also must wait patiently.

Paul's emphasis is in the now. We also suffer from the affects of sin's degradation of life. Even today, we seek relief from the oppression of sin. Through Christ, we can receive hope and freedom from this oppression. The presence of the Holy Spirit becomes a confirmation to those who will believe. We have hope for the future, but for right now, we have been given the Holy Spirit to guide us and to encourage us to keep going.

We have the first fruits of the Holy Spirit to direct our lives. He has given us power to spread the Gospel (or Good News) through His baptism. He has bestowed upon each of us a gifting to minister to the church body. He has strengthened us in a spiritual walk using the fruit as a standard (see Galatians 5:22, 23). These are the first fruits of the coming glory we shall share with Christ. A taste of heaven has been given to us on earth.

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:25 (NIV)

Endued with power and acting in our gifts, we journey now towards the future glory. So Paul emphasizes now and the future, but we have to get through now in order to reach the future.

In our weaknesses, the Holy Spirit's presence is all the difference we need. The weak frame of our physical body is decayed from sin's bondage, so the Holy Spirit intercedes for us. When we do not know what to pray, the Spirit intercedes in prayer with groans we could not utter yet groans understood in heaven as cries for the future offered us as adopted children who are redeemed.

Romans Verse by Vere puts it best:

"We know that Christ maketh intercession for us at the right hand of God, but here the Spirit is making intercession within us: The Spirit, who knows the vast abysmal need of every one of us, knows that need to the least possible particular."

The Spirit knows our deepest need and searches our hearts. God searches the depths of our hearts to help us see our true intentions so that the Holy Spirit can guide us into conforming to God's will.

And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will. Romans 8:27 (NIV)

Groaning in a sense is attached to suffering. We groan when we are hurt, sick, or in danger. The Spirit groans to show us where we fall short of God's glory. God the Father searches our hearts to reveal the Spirit's findings. When God searches my heart, he is revealing the changes that must be made from within. My response is to be glad for such change because it gives me all the more hope in joining in the shared glory of Christ.

• How do you view the baptism of the Holy Spirit as spoken of in Acts 1:5, 8?
• Are you acting in the gifts the spirit has given you to minister to the body of Christ? Look here to find one list - 1 Corinthians 12
  
• Thinking of Galatians 5:22 and 23 as a list of verbs, how are each of these characteristics of the Spirit's single fruit evident in your life?
• Are there things in your life that makes the Spirit groan for change? How do you need to change? Are you seeking God's assistance to help you change?