Lesson Twelve

ROMANS 8:17-39

Certainty

Putting to death the deeds of the flesh and setting the mind on the desires of the Spirit means nothing less than sharing in Christ's sufferings (see 8:17). On top of that, we have to face the normal afflictions of human life — health, money, work, people, and so on. What is Paul's perspective on our plight? Read 8:17-39.

1. Make a quick list of everything Paul says in 8:11-27 that the Spirit does or demonstrates.

8:2 _________________________________________________________________

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8:6 _________________________________________________________________

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8:11 ________________________________________________________________

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8:13 ________________________________________________________________

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8:14-16 _____________________________________________________________

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8:23 ________________________________________________________________

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8:26-27 _____________________________________________________________

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Future glory (8:17-25)

If indeed (8:17). This phrase does not imply that our suffering is a condition for attaining glory, since Christ's suffering assures us of glory. Instead, the phrase means that sharing Christ's suffering points toward, and is evidence of, sharing His glory. Present suffering does not contradict future glory.

2. Why is sharing Christ's sufferings worth the pain (see 8:17-18)?

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Frustration (8:20). "Vanity" or "futility." When Adam sinned, God announced the inevitable consequences: the ground that Adam would have to cultivate was cursed (see Genesis 3:17- 19). The creation was meant to glorify God, but it could not do this perfectly as long as mankind, to whom God gave dominion over the creation (see Genesis 1:28), was not perfectly glorifying God. Therefore, the creation is frustrated, unable to fulfill its purpose. However, God did not leave it without hope of redemption through a descendant of Eve (see Genesis 3:15).

3. The creation is waiting, frustrated but with hope, for something to happen. What is it waiting for (see 8:19-22)?

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4. In one sense, we have already been adopted as God's children and heirs (see 8:15-16), but in another sense, our adoption has not been fulfilled. The Spirit is the pledge, guarantee, and down payment of our adoption (see 8:15-16,23).

What will happen when our adoption is fully realized (see 8:11,23)? (Optional: See 1 Corinthians 15:35-44.)

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Intercession (8:26-27)

5. Hope of glory sustains us in the midst of suffering and frustration (see 8:17-25). Another support we have is the Holy Spirit. How is His aid in 8:26-27 an enormous help to us?

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6. Summarize what Paul says in 8:17-27.

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God's sovereignty (8:28-30)

Paul has been discussing how we become holy, how we acquire the righteous character that conforms to the status we received when we were justified. He has acknowledged that this process of sanctification (being made holy) will be a long struggle full of suffering (see 7:14-25; 8:5,10,12-13,17-27). However, he has encouraged us with the knowledge that hope of sharing Christ's glory lies at the end of our path, and the Spirit is in us praying and empowering us all along it.

Now Paul reaches the climax of his teaching on sanctification.

7. How does 8:28 encourage you as you face suffering and the struggle against sin?

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Called (8:28). Effectually called. The word assumes a positive response. God loved and called us not only before we became perfectly holy but even before we were declared righteous.

Foreknew (8:29). Many people think Paul intends the kind of knowing in Genesis 18:19, Jeremiah 1:5, and Amos 3:2 — a knowing that implies choosing by grace. Others note that in Genesis 4:1 and Hosea 13:5, "know" suggests the intimate knowledge of a marriage relationship. However, others feel that Paul means no more than "that in eternity past God knew those who by faith would become His people."

Predestined (8:29-30). To appoint beforehand (see Romans 9:1–11:36; Ephesians 1:4-12).

8. To what has God predestined us? What is God's purpose in choosing us (see Romans 8:29; Ephesians 1:11-12)?

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Glorified (8:30). Our future glory is so certain that Paul can speak of it as an accomplished fact in the past tense. Paul does not mention sanctification, partly because he has been speaking of glory (see 8:17-18,21,23,29) and possibly because "Sanctification is glory begun; glory is sanctification completed."

How is 8:29-30 an encouragement to you as you suffer and battle sin in this life?

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God's love (8:31-39)

10. Why can we be certain that God will give us everything necessary for our glorification (see 8:32)?

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11. How can we be sure that in...