Scripture reading: SLIDE 1   SLIDE 2     SLIDE 3 – Title slide

Brief Review: Romans 8:1-17

  • The Spirit of life (vv.1-13):
  • The Spirit of adoption (vv.14-17): Abba, reassurance: ends with suffering
  • Now, the Spirit of glory (vv. 18-30): need go back to beginning creation/re-creation
  • Today, walk through; common ways of understanding salvation; biblical… PRAY

Exegesis: Romans 8:18-25

SLIDE 4 18 For I consider that the sufferings (páthema) of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory (doxa) (SLIDE 5) that is to be revealed in (eis-into) us. // SLIDE 6  19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. // SLIDE 7  20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 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. (SLIDE 8) // SLIDE 9 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 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.// SLIDE 10  24 For in this hope  (elpís, expectation, assurance, certitude) we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.//

The typical (deficient) understanding of salvation

Most Christians SLIDE 11-four laws reduce the biblical account of salvation in at least four ways:

  1. SLIDE 12 Individualistic vs. cosmic
  2. SLIDE 13 A past tense event vs. an ongoing relationship (past, present and future)
  3. SLIDE 14 Christomonistic vs. trinitarian
  4. SLIDE 15 Escapist vs. restorative

The biblical teaching of salvation: the renewal of all creation

  • “In the beginning…” SLIDE 16 God made the world “very good” and assigned its care to humans (Gen 1:1-28). His intent was that He would live together with humans and non-human spiritual beings in a paradise (eden=delight, pleasure) forever. This has been God’s plan from Day One: fast forward to Rev 22: garden of delight.
  • SLIDE 17 Human and angelic sin (selfishness, autonomy) temporarily threw a wrench in the works: Genesis 3:1-19; 6:1-7; 11:1-9. But God SLIDE 18 never deviated from his original plan to dwell together with humans on a paradisial earth (cf. Gen 12:3-Abram).
  • “In the fullness of time” God sent his Son Jesus to cancel our sins and make us legally righteous (justified: Rom 3:23-25). After his resurrection, Jesus and the Father sent the Holy Spirit to make us actually righteous (sanctified: Rom 8:3-4). At some future date, the Father will send his Son to make us entirely righteous (glorified: Phil 3:20-21).
  • On this coming “Day of the Lord,” Jesus will return with great glory, accompanied by “the armies of heaven:” his mighty angels and the “dead in Christ,” now reunited with their bodies (Mt 25:31; 1 Cor 15:22-23; 1 Thess 3:13; 4:14-16; 2 Thess 1:7; Rev 19:14).
  • Jesus’ arrival will trigger a sequence of events:
    • The unrighteous dead will be raised from sheol to “the resurrection of judgment.” (John 5:29; 2 Cor 11:14-15; Eph 5:3-7; 1 Ptr 4:5; 2 Ptr 3:7).
    • Christians will stand before Christ’s judgment seat and be proportionately rewarded for faithfulness and good works (Lk 19:11-28; 1 Cor 4:5; 2 Cor 5:10).
    • All rebellious spiritual beings will be judged (1 Cor 6:3; Jude 6; Rev 20:10).
    • Every creature will pay homage to Jesus’ regal authority (Phil 2:10-11).
    • The present “heavens and earth” will be cleansed by fire, and every vestige of evil will be eradicated forever (1 Cor 15:25; 2 Peter 3:7-10; Rev 21:1,27; 22:3).
    • SLIDE 19 The Lord will create a “new heaven and new earth” out of the old ones “in which righteousness dwells” (2 Ptr 3:13).
  • This is known in the New Testament as the “renewal “or “re-creation” or the “rebirth,” palingenisia, (Mt 19:28; Titus 3:5; cf. Rom 8:18-25; Acts 3:21; Eph1:10). Easter and Pentecost are proof it will happen: Jesus’ resurrected body (Easter) is the “firstfruits” of the coming “new creation” (Acts 26:23; 1 Cor 15:20-23), and the Holy Spirit in us (Pentecost) is the “firstfruits” of our final glorification (Rom 8:23). God is victorious! His original plan will be fulfilled: as in Eden, heaven and earth will again be merged and the “dwelling place of God” and angels will be with humans in paradise forever (Rev 21:1-4)!

Takeaway

  • So, whatever happens here on earth… fix eyes on what is unseen
  • Doesn’t mean we don’t work to bring about good on earth… we do (Gen 1:26-28): life, truth, justice, righteousness… persecuted. Jesus, Jn 7:7 – world hates me because I testify against it that its deeds are evil

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Holy Communion