Intermission from Romans 8:18-25

Ro 8:18-25
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. 23 And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. 24 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one also hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

Last week we looked at some observations regarding the first part of this passage. This week, I want to divert our attention briefly to some thoughts brought about in studying the last four verses.

(From my notes on Romans)

1Co 13:13 - Now abide faith, hope, and love; of which the greatest is love.

Now then, consider. Calvin has pointed out that "patience is an inseparable companion of faith." What are the implications of this? We cannot know faith and not know patience. If faith is a gracious gift from a loving Father, then patience must also be a gracious gift from Him, mustn't it? What have light and dark to do with each other? If the one is good, its companion must also be good. If patience is a necessary ingredient of faith, and our salvation is by faith alone, who is there that will not gladly pray for patience? But let's look further.

Faith is not the only one of these three key values that is an associate of patience. Matthew Henry tells us that hope needs patience to bear up with the delays. When the object of hope remains far distant, hope requires encouragement and strength, else we will lose hope. Where is that strength, but in patience? Faith may encourage, but it takes patience to remain strong. Again I ask, who will not now gladly pray for patience? But there's more.

Scripture itself tells us that the third and greatest of the key Christian values also depends on patience.

1Co 13:4 - Love is patient.

We've all heart this one. It's an integral part of just about every marriage that's ever been performed in God's church. It is our love, above and beyond all other things, that will distinguish us in the eyes of men, that will declare us Christians. This is Jesus own declaration to us. What greater reason can be given to pray for patience?

Faith, hope and love. These three abide. These three survive the fires of purification. These three traits are the traits of sanctified life. And all three depend on patience. Is it any wonder that the JFB commentary speaks of patient waiting for His coming as being our 'fitting attitude?'

Pastor spoke to us recently about attitude. Attitude is a major issue for Christians today, because we've not been willing to shape our attitudes according to God's plans. How many times have we been warned not to pray for patience? "Oh, you won't like what you get from praying for that!" This is short-sighted and sad. Will such prayers bring some pain? Count on it. Patience doesn't come without proper exercise, any more than muscles do. And the exercise of patience is trial.

But, bear in mind, faith, hope and love are all pretty wonderful things to have, aren't they? If they cannot be had and kept except with patience, aren't the trials worth it? If patience is a mandatory ingredient of the redeemed life, if the hope of glory depends on present patience, will we not say with Paul that these present trials are nothing by comparison, that we can even count them as joy, since they prepare the way for us?

But what is this patience, or better, perseverance? I've been looking at this for a few weeks now, both here, in this study, and in Romans. The definitions that are collected here provide a strong commendation of this trait. It is:

Perseverance (hupomone [5281]):

• patience,
• endurance as to things or circumstances (as opposed to people),
• the quality that does not surrender to circumstances,
• the characteristic of one not swerved from the deliberate purpose of faith by the greatest trials and sufferings,
• cheerful or hopeful endurance

The Model of Christ

Here, we have the description of the Suffering Servant, one of many prophetic views of our Savior. In this passage, we have a reasonable description of the treatment He received when He came. In this, we also see His resolve. He was not disgraced by His humiliation at the hands of man. In spite of all that He suffered, He was not ashamed.

Listen to the assurance that is spoken out in that verse! And how was this so? Because He knew GOD helped Him. He knew it! In spite of the fact that His trials were due to God's hand, according to God's plan, yet He knew He could still trust God to help Him. When trials came, He didn't immediately assume all was lost. NO! He looked back on the record, and knew from it that when all was said and done, God helps, there will be no shame.

It is interesting to note that just as Israel treated its King, so it was treated in turn. The events that overtook Israel in general, and Jerusalem in particular in AD 70 were horrible. Having read of that time, it is clear that much of the horror of the period was due to the people themselves. They inflicted worse upon their own than Rome ever did. God is just. He will not be mocked. That we will reap what we sow remains a somber and sobering truth.

Therefore, on account of you, Zion will be plowed as a field,
Jerusalem will become a heap of ruins,
And the mountain of the temple will become high places of a forest.

Power in Praise

4 The LORD is righteous;
He has cut in two the cords of the wicked.

Yet, 'Israel's true standing is on the righteousness of faith.' (JFB) When we remember the faith that is our justification, God in His righteousness is faithful to deliver. Where once we were bound by the world, He cuts those bonds asunder, and binds the hostile enemy instead, with cords unbreakable. (Ps 2:3-4 - the kings of the earth seek to break free of those bonds, but God sits in heaven laughing at their attempts.)

He was righteous to allow the affliction

There is no injustice in God. He is righteous. He can not act unjustly, for to do so, He would have to cease being God. We are all too quick to shout "unfair!" when the results of our actions come back upon us. I labeled this section 'Power in Praise.' What makes praise most powerful is truth. Nehemiah didn't gloss over the facts. What would be the point? God knows the truth. It remains only for us to admit to it ourselves.

The simple truth is that in spite of our best efforts, there remains more than enough sin in our lives to justify any act He might choose to take. He is so merciful! He has paid the price, He has made the atonement that His law required for our actions. But He still calls us to be accountable for our actions. It is no different than the way we raise our children (for we are His children). When they blow it, we forgive, yet there is an accountability.

It was only when He was forgotten by His children, when they reached the stage where they no longer even acknowledged His part in their lives that such horrible consequences were sent. And even then, it was with sorrow in His heart. No parent enjoys punishing their children. They ache with the hope that that child will correct himself. But love demands that they act, when correction is not forthcoming. God's love demands that He do whatever is necessary to bring His children back onto the paths of righteousness.

He is also righteous to preserve His people

2 Th 1:6 For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you.

In effect, God has caused the plowshare of the enemy to run across the very cords with which they had us bound. Thus they become instruments in the deliverance of those they abused, and don't even realize it. Imagine! Over and over, God has turned the enemy against himself. Over and over, he has thrown all his efforts into the attack, only to wind up working his own defeat! We have not lifted a hand in this battle. Bound and shackled, we couldn't do so. But God…

Even now, when we have our deliverance in hand, the enemy continues to plow, for he doesn't realize that the blades no longer cut us. They have gone into futility. They continue to expend all their energies to bring pain upon God's people, but, having exceeded their proper role, their worst efforts are no longer of any effect.

Recall Ps 127. Unless the LORD is in the work, the work is in vain. While this is a call to us to include God in all aspects of our life, it is also a strong assurance when faced with adversity. Persevere! They work without God. They labor in vain. What can come of all their efforts but their own ruin?