STUDIES IN ROMANS

LESSON 34

OUR SUFFERING AND OUR HOPE

Romans 8:17-23 (KJV)

¹⁷ And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. ¹⁸ For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. ¹⁹ For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. ²⁰ For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, ²¹ Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. ²² For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. ²³ And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

Romans 8:17-23 (CEB)

¹⁷ But if we are children, we are also heirs. We are God’s heirs and fellow heirs with Christ, if we really suffer with him so that we can also be glorified with him. ¹⁸ I believe that the present suffering is nothing compared to the coming glory that is going to be revealed to us. ¹⁹ The whole creation waits breathless with anticipation for the revelation of God’s sons and daughters. ²⁰ Creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice—it was the choice of the one who subjected it—but in the hope ²¹ that the creation itself will be set free from slavery to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of God’s children. ²² We know that the whole creation is groaning together and suffering labor pains up until now. ²³ And it’s not only the creation. We ourselves who have the Spirit as the first crop of the harvest also groan inside as we wait to be adopted and for our bodies to be set free.

1.    HEIRS OF GOD V.17a

Ø  Children of God = heirs of God = joint (fellow) heirs with Christ

2.    SUFFERING WITH CHRIST V.17b-18

Ø  Facing the rejection & possible persecution of following Christ’s principles

Ø  Nothing when compared with the glory coming to us through Christ

3.    ERNEST EXPECTATION OF THE CREATURE V.19-22

Ø  Adam’s sin subjected ALL creation to sin’s effects; the complete freedom for mankind AND all of creation will be realized when His kingdom comes

4.    FIRSTFRUITS V.23 – We are the firstfruits (tithe of all mankind) receiving full life

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