I. Present Suffering
A. Christians Suffer
1. Remember that the passage addresses Christians
2. We live in a fallen world
3. Suffering is Biblical
a. Some teach Christians should never suffer
b. “Suffering comes from lack of faith or secret sin”
c. Ungodly, unbiblical, unloving view
d. Suffering is sometimes the discipline of the Lord, but not always
e. Most often, suffering is simply the result of living in a fallen world.
4. Emotional, mental, and physical suffering
B. Creation Suffers Vs. 19-22
1. “Creature” or “creation”- building, creation, creature
a. Same word in the Greek
b. The context speaks of both the creature and the creation
2. Adam’s sin produced…
a. Physical and spiritual death for mankind
b. Spiritual death in the animal kingdom
c. A cursed earth: Entropy, 2nd Law of thermodynamics, the process of degradation, running down or a trend to disorder
d. V. 20- Futility– what is devoid of truth and appropriateness. Something that does not measure up to which it was intended
e. V. 19- Earnest expectation- the head erect and outstretched, waiting in suspense, attention turned from other objects.
II. Future Glory
A. Creation To Be Restored V. 21
1. Animal Kingdom To Be Restored
Isaiah 11:6-10 6 “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, The calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little child shall lead them.7 The cow and the bear shall graze; their young ones shall lie down together; And the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8 The nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole, And the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper’s den. 9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD As the waters cover the sea. 10 “And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, Who shall stand as a banner to the people; For the Gentiles shall seek Him, And His resting place shall be glorious.”
2. Earth To Be Made New- Read Revelation 21:1-4
B. The Christian Will Be Glorified V. 18, 23
1. Glory will be revealed not just to us, but in us.
2. It doesn’t need to be created, it already exists, and it shall be revealed.
3. 1 John 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
4. 1 Corinthians 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
III. How To Suffer
A. The Wrong Way To Suffer
1. Defeated resignation
2. Being surprised
3. Focusing on present suffering
4. Neglecting to remember future glory
B. The Right Way To Suffer
1. Expect and accept suffering
2. Recognize victory over suffering
3. We don’t lose heart.
4. Inner man is renewed.
5. Accept but don’t focus on present suffering
a. We do not look at the things which are seen
6. Remember and meditate on future glory, it’s not yet been revealed what we shall be
7. All creation groans; you are not alone in your groaning
8. We have the guarantee that we shall one day see glory; the H.S.
9. V. 24- We hope in what we do not yet see.
a. If you could see what you hoped for, you would already have it all.
b. Don’t you want more than you can see?
c. Don’t you want to look forward to more than what you can presently see?
d. We want suffering to be changed to good, and we want to see it now.
e. What God has for us is greater than what we can bear to see.
10. V. 25 Eagerly wait w/ perseverance. Wuest- “Through patience we expectantly wait”.
11. Suffering not worthy to be compared to the glory
12. Suffering is working for us.
a. to perform, accomplish, achieve
b. of things: bring about, result in
c. to fashion i.e. render one fit for a thing
13. Don’t adopt an escapism attitude.
a. Glory isn’t just an escape from your suffering.
b. Glory is what you were saved for. It is the goal, and the final reward.
14. Seek to live holy lives
1 John 3:3 3And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
15. V. 26– The Holy Spirit “lends us a helping hand” in knowing how to pray during times of suffering, to frame prayer in the truth and promise of future glory.
16. We don’t even know how to pray, but with the Holy Spirit’s aid, even our spirit inspired groanings are on target. God searches our hearts and brings forth prayers.
17. Temporary vs. eternal. It won’t last forever.
18. Light and momentary vs. weighty and eternal.
19. Suffering- not the pangs of death. They are the birth pains of life.
20. G. Campbell Morgan- “Affliction is not something to be endured in order to reach glory.
It is the very process which creates the glory. Through travail comes birth.”
21. Morris- “Creation is not undergoing death pangs . . . but birth pangs.”
22. V. 28- Guarantee that it all works for good, but it is according to God’s plan, not ours. We confidently submit to God’s plan, knowing it is and will be good.