Table of Contents
Romans 8:12-13 Manuscripted Sermon “Do or Die”
Proposition
Introduction
I.A. Requirement # 1 – Persistent Discipline
I.B. Requirement # 2 – Personal Commitment
I.C. Requirement # 3 – Proper Violence
Conclusion
II.A. Consideration #1 – Consider the Cost
II.B. Consideration #2 – Consider Him
Romans 8:14-16 Manuscripted Sermon “Who am I?”
Proposition
Introduction
I. The Holy Spirit is our Authority as we Surrender
II. The Holy Spirit gives us Awareness of our Status
III. The Holy Spirit gives us Access to our Sonship
IV. The Holy Spirit gives us Assurance of our Salvation
Conclusion
Romans 8:17-18 Manuscripted Sermon “No Pain … No Gain”
Proposition
Introduction
I. Our Inheritance “what we hath” “fellow heirs”
II. Our Irony “walk the path” “climbing stairs”
III. Our Incentive “do the math” “nothing compares”
Conclusion
Romans 8:12-13 By Donny Varney “Do or Die” How to Win the
Proposition: We must kill sin or sin will kill us.
Introduction:
Have you ever been in a “do or die” situation? As I prepared for this message, I tried to think of times where I have heard the phrase “do or die”. Being from
Just last summer, I found myself in a “do or die” situation. I had gone along with a group of friends to
This morning, I want to look at a “do or die” situation that we all have in common. It is the battle we face against the flesh. At the end of chapter 7 we find Paul in this “do or die” battle with the flesh. The story is found in Romans 7:14-25. Toward the very end of that passage, Paul poses a question that I want to ask all of us this morning. Who or what can deliver us from the body of this death? Before going to our text in Romans 8, I want us to look at I Timothy 4:7 which gives part of the answer to winning the battle over the flesh, but not the whole answer. Let’s look at three requirements and two considerations that together will help us win the battle over the flesh.
I. 3 requirements (we need these things in our lives in order to win the battle over the flesh)
A. Requirement #1 – Persistent Discipline (I Timothy 4:7)
We live in a fast-faced world that offers nearly everything to us instantly. The world offers us instant information through the internet, instant credit, supposed instant wealth, instant success, instant weight loss, instant food via the microwave, instant communication via cell phones and many other technological advances which only feeds our desire for things to happen instantly.
Because Christians are bombarded with this type of lifestyle, we sometimes fall prey to believing that winning the battle over the flesh can happen just as easily and instantly as everything else offered to us in this world. I Timothy 4:7 states otherwise. You can sum up the verse in four words – DISCIPLINE YOURSELF TOWARD GODLINESS. We would probably all agree with Paul as he stated in Romans 7 that it is our desire is to win the battle over the flesh, but I am reminded of what a famous coach said about the kind of players he looks for on his team. He said, “I’m not so much interested in a player’s will to win as I am with a player’s will to prepare.” Oh, there are Christians who have the will to win the battle over flesh, but much more importantly they must have the will to prepare … the will to discipline themselves.
The word “exercise” is a Greek work associated with gymnastics. It is an athletic term which could be translated “discipline”. It is the kind of discipline a professional or Olympic athlete would have in preparation for a specific athletic endeavor. Let’s take a professional marathon runner for example. I have actually finished five marathons up to this point in my life. Some of the marathons I have trained harder for than others. Nonetheless, there is an enormous difference in the training process between someone who is training to finish a marathon and someone who is training to win a marathon.
The average professional marathoner will train up to eighty hours a week in high altitudes. He/she will be under a strict diet. The marathoner’s sleep will be meticulously monitored. Most of us could not keep up with their pace for one mile, much less 26.2 miles. Their pace for all 26.2 miles will be somewhere between 4:45 minutes per mile and 4:55 minutes per mile, and they will keep that pace the whole way … unbelievable!
Paul is telling us to consider how an athlete like a marathoner disciplines himself as a good example of how we, as Christians, should discipline ourselves if we want to win the battle over the flesh and grow toward Godliness. It is not something that comes instantly, but only through persistent discipline.
B. Requirement # 2 – Personal Commitment (I Timothy 4:7)
Not only does Paul say we need to be disciplined, but he says “discipline yourself”. John Wooden, former basketball coach for UCLA, said it well when he said this: “Discipline yourself so that others don’t have to.” We cannot rely on others to win the battle over the flesh for us. It requires a personal commitment. There is no such thing as a personal trainer when it comes to winning the battle over the flesh. We must personally take initiative if we want to experience victory in this area.
It is good and important, I believe, for Christians to be in church on Sunday and Wednesday and any other opportunity that is offered to learn from God’s Word, but that should just be the beginning when it comes to our commitment to Christ-likeness and killing sin. We must be personally committed during our own free time and at all other times to win this battle. Winning the battle over the flesh requires a personal commitment.
C. Requirement #3 – Proper Violence (Romans 8:12-13)
Let’s take a look now at our main text in Romans 8:12 and 13. “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die; but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” After reading verse 13, there may be a few questions that come to your mind. I will seek to ask the questions that are coming to your mind and then answer them according to God’s Word.
The first question I want to answer is “What are the ‘deeds of the body’”? There are many passages we could look at that would be helpful in answering this question, but probably the best parallel passage that helps give us the answer is Colossians 3:5-10. Verse 5 of Colossians 3 tells us to mortify the members of our body. In essence, the deeds of the body are the members of our body. Our hands, our feet, our mouth, our mind, our actions, our decisions, our motives, our senses, our sexual organs and any other part of our natural body that can think, feel, smell, taste, hear, touch or experience in a sinful way… these are the deeds of the body.
The second question I want to answer is “What does it mean to ‘mortify’ the deeds of the body”? In short, the simple answer is “to kill”. A great resource on this topic comes from John Owen, a well-known puritan theologian who wrote an entire book entitled The Mortification of Sin, which is basically a commentary on Romans 8:13.
There are two quotes from John Owen, among many others, that are very helpful as we probe into the seriousness of sin. The first quote goes like this: “Sin is never less quiet than when it seems to be most quiet, and it’s waters are for the most part deep when they are still”. In other words, just as soon as you feel like you have come to a place of complete and total victory over a particular sin is when you are in the most danger of committing that very sin!
The second quote goes like this: “You must be killing sin or sin be killing you”. In other words, “kill or be killed”, or as my title for this messages states “do or die”! It is the same concept as a phrase that has been written on the front page of hundreds of thousands of Bibles (perhaps it is found inside the cover of a Bible you own). The phrase is this: “Sin will keep you from this Book, or this Book will keep you from sin”. All of this brings me back to my do or die situation as
As I was swimming in the open waters with no where to turn to, I noticed in the corner of my eye a set of pontoons with people in them. It was a long ways off and it was completely out of the way of the large rock, but it was a shorter distance than the large rock where the group was swimming to. I knew if I began swimming that direction the entire group would wonder what in the world I was doing and I would have to explain my lack of swimming ability to them, not to mention the embarrassment I would face if I made it to the pontoons as I would have to explain to complete strangers why I decided to swim over and join them in their pontoon. At that moment of crisis, it is amazing what you are willing to do in order to survive. So that is exactly what I did, and had I not swallowed my pride and made a huge detour I may not be alive to tell you about it.
The fact is that in the moment of such a crisis, you are willing to do whatever it takes to survive. Jesus said it this way in Matthew 18:8-9, “Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.” In other words, do whatever it takes so that you don’t let sin destroy you. Hebrews 12:1 says it this way. “… let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us.” Sin is a heavy weight that must be removed or else it will debilitate us from “running the race that is set before us with endurance”.
The third question I want to answer is “How do we mortify the deeds of the body?” Is it just by sheer will power, discipline and determination? Do we simply tell ourselves that this is something we have to do if we want to be a good Christian? Do we force ourselves to make a commitment to remove sin from our lives and then hope for the best? The answer to these questions is a resounding “no”. Even though persistent discipline and personal commitment are necessary, they are not enough to win the battle over the flesh. 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 says “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war against the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds.” Verse 4 is making it very clear that we cannot win the war against our flesh by simply relying on our flesh (even a very disciplined flesh). We need the Holy Spirit!
Let’s look again at what our text says in verse 13 of Romans 8. It says “…but if ye through the Spirit …”. That is our answer. Winning the battle over the flesh can only come through the power of the Holy Spirit. Zachariah 4:6 tells us “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts”. As Christ was ascending to Heaven, he told those that were with Him that they will receive power after the Holy Ghost had come upon them. So what does the Holy Spirit use to help us attack our flesh? The answer is the sword of the Spirit (God’s Word). Psalm 119:11 says “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” I would like us to close this message by making two considerations.
Conclusion:
II. 2 Considerations (we need to consider these two areas if we want to win the battle over the flesh)
A. Consideration #1 – Consider the Cost
Luke 14:28-33 is great passage to turn to when dealing with the concept of “counting the cost”. Jesus makes the point very clear in the passages that whoever does not forsake everything that he has cannot be His disciple. Likewise, there is a cost involved if you are serious about killing sin in your life. It will not be easy. It will take discipline. It will take a personal commitment. There will be a cost, because sin does offer pleasure and satisfaction (for a little time) here on this earth. It will not be easy to continually kill sin in your life, but our second consideration makes all of this worth it.
B. Consideration #2 – Consider Him
This second consideration comes directly from Hebrews 12:3, which states “For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.” This battle over the flesh is not an easy one and it will take endurance. So when you feel discouraged or weary, look no further than to Jesus and consider Him who for the joy set before Him endured the cross for our sins.
Romans 8:14-16 By Donny Varney “Who am I?” How the Holy Spirit is at work in our lives giving us
the answer to this all-important question
Proposition: Knowing who we are should affect how we live.
Introduction:
Most sermons we hear deal mainly with what we ought to do as Christians, while few deal with who we are as Christians. This message happens to be directed at the latter. This morning, I would like to answer a few questions that perhaps you have asked before. The first question is “Who am I?”. The second question is “How do I know that I am who I am?”. The third question is “Should knowing who I am affect how I live, and if so, how should it affect how I live?”.
Someone has said this, “Often times we are not who we should be, we are not even who we think we should be, but in fact, we are (or at least we act like) what we think others think that we are”. I read an amazing story recently that comes from a Native American Indian Lore that describes what I am talking about.
An Indian brave found an egg that had been laid by an eagle. Not being able to return the egg to an eagle’s nest, the next best thing to do was to put it in the nest of a prairie chicken. The result was predictable. The hen sat on the eagle’s egg, along with her own eggs, being completely unaware of the addition.
By and by the little eaglet was hatched alongside the prairie chicken. All his life, the changeling eagle, thinking he was a prairie chicken, did what the prairie chickens did. He scratched in the dirt for sees and insects to eat. He clucked and cackled, and he flew in a brief thrashing of wings and flurry of feathers no more than a few feet off the ground. After all, that’s how prairie chickens were supposed to fly.
Years passed and the changeling eagle grew very old. One day, he saw a magnificent bird far above him in the cloudless sky. Hanging with graceful majesty on the powerful wind currents, it soared with scarcely a beat of its strong golden wings. “What a beautiful bird!” said the changeling eagle to his neighbor. “What is it?” “That’s an eagle, the chief of the birds,” the neighbor clucked. “But don’t give it a second thought. You could never be like him.” So the changeling eagle never gave it another thought, and it died thinking it was a prairie chicken.
Even though this is a fictitious story, it makes a great point. I believe it is possible to believe you are something that you are not simply because that is what you have been told you are. What a tragedy that is!
To further prove my point, I recently had a funny conversation with a friend of mine talking about his elementary school days. He talked about how he had one teacher in particular who would assign seats for her class based upon those who she felt to be trouble-makers and those she felt were well-behaved students. She never came out and said that in fact that was how she sat them. It was just an assumption the class made. Well, my friend got put in the “trouble-making” group and he recounted to me how that entire year he acted like a trouble-maker simply because he felt that is how the teacher viewed him. He really wasn’t a trouble maker before that year and wasn’t one after, but that year in particular he acted out how he felt others perceived him to be.
I believe these kinds of stories could be repeated over and over again. I am sure all of us could share a story about how we acted and behaved and lived in such a way based upon how others expected us to live and act.
If only we could be like the bumblebee (one of the most interesting insects in our animal kingdom) when it comes to living out our lives NOT based on other’s expectations. You see, as one looks at the bumblebee’s body, you will note that he has a wide body, but short wings, and by all of the laws of physics and aerodynamics, the bumblebee CANNOT fly! But you see, the bumblebee never took physics class. He never read the conclusive evidence that states he cannot fly. So with no regard to man’s opinions or theories or expectations, he goes ahead and flies about all over the place.
Today, I want to look at who we are … who we really are! Not what other people think we are… not what other people perceive us to be… not even perhaps what we wish we were. I want to tell us who God says we are according to His Word, and how the Holy Spirit plays the most important role in revealing and confirming that to us all the time (if we allow Him). This message is directed at Christians, because that is who Paul had in mind as he wrote these verses, but my prayer is that if there is anyone who does not know Christ, that as you hear this most beautiful illustration that Paul gives us of God’s relationship to His children, you may be moved in your heart to join in on this most amazing relationship.
Let’s look at our text in Romans 8:14-16. “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are children of God:”
This text reveals at least four ways the Holy Spirit is at work in our lives revealing and confirming who we are in Christ. The Holy Spirit is our authority as we surrender. The Holy Spirit gives us awareness of our status. The Holy Spirit gives us access to our sonship. Finally, the Holy Spirit gives us assurance of our salvation.
I. The Holy Spirit is our authority as we surrender (v.14)
The first main point to be made here is that the Holy Spirit is the One who is in charge here, not us in charge of the Holy Sprit. He is not an instrument in our hands. We are an instrument in His hands. We are not leading Him in any action. He is the One leading us. He is not a mere responder to us. We are being moved and responding and being led by Him.
The second main point that should be made is that even though He is in charge of our lives, He is of no help to us unless we surrender to Him. It is only when we are willing to give up …willing to give in… willing to yield… willing to submit… willing to lay aside our will that the Holy Spirit can work in our lives.
Bruce Larson, a well-known Christian counselor, gives a great illustration of what this “surrendering” looks like for the Christian.
“For many years I worked in
'Now that's one way to live,' I would point out to my companion, 'trying to carry the world on your shoulders. But now come across the street with me.' On the other side of Fifth Avenue is Saint Patrick's Cathedral, and there behind the high altar is a little shrine of the boy Jesus, perhaps eight or nine years old, and with no effort he is holding the world in one hand. My point was illustrated graphically.” We have a choice. We can carry the world on our shoulders, or we can say, 'I give up, Lord; here's my life. I give you my world, the whole world.'"
The third main point that should be made is that when we are surrendered to the Holy Spirit and are allowing Him to lead and guide us as our authority in life that is a major confirmation that we are indeed sons of God. See how the verse reads, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God … these are the sons of God.” So now let’s move to another way the Holy Spirit works in our lives telling us who we are.
II. The Holy Spirit gives us awareness of our status (v.15)
First, let’s look at what we don’t have as Christians. The verse reads “ye have not received the spirit of bondage again (leading to fear). No matter how cleverly we may try to mask or cover up the reality of this … sinful men are continually subject to fear. Slavery to sin brings slavery to fear! John Donne, 17th century English Poet who later became pastor and dean of
by John Donne.
Wilt thou forgive that sin where I begun,
Which was my sin, though it were done before?
Wilt thou forgive that sin, through which I run,
And do run still, though still I do deplore?
When thou hast done, thou hast not done,
For I have more.
Wilt thou forgive that sin which I have won
Others to sin, and made my sin their door?
Wilt thou forgive that sin which I did shun
A year or two, but wallow'd in, a score?
When thou hast done, thou hast not done,
For I have more.
I have a sin of fear, that when I have spun
My last thread, I shall perish on the shore;
But swear by thyself, that at my death thy Son
Shall shine as he shines now, and heretofore;
And, having done that, thou hast done;
I fear no more.
2 Timothy 1:7 makes it very clear that God has not given us a spirit of fear. I John 4:18 tells us “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” Both of these verses make it clear that fear is not something that comes from God. We know from James that every good and perfect gift comes from our Father, but fear is not included in that which is good and perfect. Fear comes from our sinful flesh and Satan himself.
Now let’s look at what he do have as Christians. The verse reads “but ye have received the Spirit of adoption”. I am calling this Spirit of adoption “an awareness of our status”. Through the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit, we not only are truly and permanently adopted as children of God, but we are given a spirit of adoption, that is, God makes certain His children know they are His children. Because of His Spirit dwelling in our hearts, our Spirit recognizes that we are always privileged to come before God the Father.
The term “adoption” is filled with ideas of love, grace, compassion and intimate relationship. It is the action in which a husband and wife decide to take a boy or girl who is not their own physical offspring into their family as their own child. When that action is taken by the proper legal means, the adopted child receives all the rights and privileges of any other member of the family.
There are three notable adoptions mentioned in the Old Testament. We find Moses being adopted by Pharaoh’s daughter in Exodus 2:1-10. We then find Esther being adopted by an older cousin named Mordecai in Esther 2:5-11. But perhaps the most touching adoption recorded in Scripture was that of Mephibosheth, the crippled son of Jonathon and the sole remaining descendant of Saul who was adopted by King David. That adoption is found in 2 Samuel 9:1-13. John MacArthur made this observation about Mephibosheth’s adoption:
“Pharaoh’s daughter adopted Moses out of pity and sympathy. And although Mordecai dearly loved Esther, his adoption of her was also prompted by family duty. But David’s adoption of Mephibosheth was motivated purely by gracious love. In many ways, David’s adoption of Mephibosheth pictures God’s adoption of believers. David took the initiative in seeking out Mephibosheth and bringing him to the palace. And although Mephibosheth was the son of David’s closest friend, he was also the grandson and sole heir of Saul, who had sought repeatedly to kill David. Being crippled in both feet, Mephibosheth was helpless to render David any significant service; he could only accept his sovereign’s bounty. The very name Mephibosheth means “a shameful thing,” and he had lived for a number of years in Lo-debar, which means “the barren land” (lit., “no pasture”), David brought this outcast to dine at his table as his own son and graciously granted him a magnificent inheritance to which he was no longer legally entitled.”
MacArthur continues,“That is a beautiful picture of the spiritual adoption whereby God graciously and lovingly seeks out unworthy men and women on His own initiative and makes them His children, solely on the basis of their trust in His true Son, Jesus Christ. Because of their adoption, believers will share the full inheritance of the Son. To all Christians God declares, “‘ I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me,’ says the Lord Almighty” (2 Corinthians 6:17-18). Paul gives us the unspeakably marvelous assurance that God has “predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will” (Ephesians 1:5).”
So not only does the Holy Spirit give us authority as we surrender, and awareness or our status, but he also gives us access to our sonship.
III. The Holy Spirit gives us access to our sonship (v.15)
Just hearing Paul’s choice of words helps us understand the kind of relationship we have access to. Here is how he puts it: “whereby, we cry, Abba, Father”. “Abba” is an informal Aramaic term for Father connoting intimacy, tenderness, dependence and complete lack of fear or anxiety. “Abba” points to a deep, affectionate, personal, authentic expression of God’s Fatherly love for His children. The English equivalents to “Abba” would be “Daddy” or “Papa”.
It’s worth noting that Paul uses the word “cry”, emphasizing even more the concept that we are God’s children who are joyfully dependant on our Father to meet our needs and to be all that we need!
I have been able to see first hand the concept of a child crying in need. Our first (and at this point only) baby is now four months old. I don’t think there has been a day that has gone by where I have not seen Jaden cry in absolute dependence realizing there is nothing she can do in and of herself to meet the physical needs she has. And, of course, Becky and I respond to those cries and those needs and seek to meet each and every need she has. That is the kind of relationship we have with our daughter, and on a much bigger scale… that is the relationship our Heavenly Father has with us.
Luke 11:9-13 says it like this, “And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?”
As much as Becky and I desire to give Jaden everything possible to meet her needs, how much more God desires to give us the Holy Spirit who gives us access to our Sonship. Let’s look at one final way the Holy Spirit is at our work in our lives.
IV. The Holy Spirit gives us assurance of our salvation (v.16)
Let’s look at how this verse reads. “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” So how does the Holy Spirit give us this assurance?
First, as noted earlier in verse 14, those who are led by the Spirit, they are sons of God. One commentator had this to say about assurance based on the Holy Spirit’s leading: “when someone confides in me that he has doubts about His salvation, I often respond by asking if he has ever sensed God’s leading in His life in some shape way or form… if he answers yes, I remind him of Paul’s assurance in this verse : All who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God!”
Second, no doubt, Paul had in mind the fruits of the Spirit, which, when the Holy Spirit produces this in our lives, gives us assurance that we are His children.
Third, in context with this passage, it is very clear that when we are “killing sin” (mortifying the deeds of the body – Romans 8:13) by the power of the Holy Spirit that gives us assurance of salvation. If we hate sin and want to kill it (mortify it) that is a clear sign that we are a child of God.
Conclusion:
So hopefully we have answered those questions that I proposed at the beginning of this message. The first question I asked was this: Who are we? The answer is that we are children of God.
The second question that I asked was this: How do we know that we are who we are? The answer to that question is this: through the Holy Spirit at work in our lives.
The final question I asked was this: Should knowing who we are affect how we live and if so … how should it effect how we live? The answer is found so clearly in Galatians 5:25 “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit”. That verse, in essence, tells us that since we know who we are through the Holy Spirit as we are living with Him inside us, we ought to walk (live out) in step with the Spirit, completely surrendered to His leading in our lives.
And perhaps more clearly now than ever before, I Corinthians 6:19-20 comes into the picture as Paul says “What, don’t you know that your body is the home where the Holy Spirit lives, which you have from God, and you are not your own. For you have been bought with a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s!” There is no other conclusion that can be made except to say: “yes, indeed, knowing who I am should affect how I live”.
Romans 8:17-18 By Donny Varney “No Pain … No Gain” Comparing the sufferings in this lifetime to the future glory in Heaven
Proposition: All Christians should have a mindset and furthermore, a lifestyle that joyfully, willingly and sometimes purposely accepts suffering for Christ’s sake because of the knowledge and hope of eternal glory which far outweighs and outlasts any amount of pain on earth.
Introduction:
Probably just about all of us have heard this phase, read this phrase, seen this phrase, or perhaps said this phrase. The phrase is “no pain … no gain”. But I wonder how many of us have ever given much thought to the phrase. Is it accurate? Is it Biblical? Let’s take a look at Romans 8:17-18 to see what God’s Word has to say about “no pain … no gain”.
This year I chose this phrase as the theme for our soccer team. So what exactly does this popular phrase mean? In essence, it is the sowing and reaping principle. Whatever a man sows is what he will reap. If you don’t put in the effort, the sacrifice, the time and the pain then you will not get back the results (the gain) you could have had you put in the extra effort.
Recently, I ran in the Chicago Marathon. As I was training for the marathon I had to daily remind myself that if I wanted to cross the finish line on October 7, 2007 I was going to have to go through pain beforehand.
Lance Armstrong, seven-time Tour de France champion, said this about pain: “Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever.” Roger Bannister, the first man to ever run a sub-four minute mile, said this: "The man who can drive himself further once the effort gets painful is the man who will win." Someone else had this to say on the topic of pain: “All athletes must suffer one of two pains… either the pain of disciplining themselves or the pain of regret for not disciplining themselves”.
But how does this phrase apply to everyday life? What about our spiritual life? Is the phrase “no pain … no gain” only for those in athletics? The answer is clearly “no”.
Tonight, I want to talk to us about pain… about suffering… about sacrificing… about denying ourselves… about surrendering… about hardships… about letting go of the things of this world and reaching forward to things to come and reaching up to things above… about what our view of pain should be according to the Bible.
The purpose of this message is to call us to a mindset and furthermore a lifestyle that joyfully and willingly and sometimes purposely accepts suffering for Christ’s sake because of the knowledge and hope of eternal glory which far outweighs and far outlasts any amount of pain on earth.
I would like us to take a look at three important aspects mentioned in Romans 8:17-18. I want us to look at our inheritance, our irony, and our incentive. Let’s first look at our inheritance.
I. Our Inheritance (v.17a)
In other words … “what we hath”
To say it another way … “fellow heirs”
Romans 8:17-18 makes it clear that we are not just heirs, but heirs of God, and not just heirs of God, but fellow heirs with Christ. Here is how our text reads: “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that ye suffer with him, that we may be also glorified with Him. 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.
Hebrews 1:1-2 tells us that God’s son, Jesus Christ, has been appointed heir of all things, and since we are fellow heirs with Christ we also are heirs of all things with Christ. Titus 3:7 says “That being justified by His grace, we should be made heir according to the hope of eternal life.” James 2:5 says “Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? Psalms 73:25-26 tells us what will be the most valuable part of our inheritance … God Himself. “Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
Ephesians 1:11 tells us “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will. Colossians 3:24 says “Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. Hebrews 9:15 tells us “And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
Probably the best passage that describes our inheritance is found in I Peter 1:3-5 which says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Our inheritance has at least four different aspects to it. First, it is incorruptible. This carries the idea of something being “imperishable”. Mathew 6 tells us that treasures on earth will someday corrupt and perish, but according to I Peter we know that our inheritance is incorruptible and imperishable.
Second, our inheritance is undefiled. This carries the same idea as words like unstained, unpolluted, spotless, flawless, unblemished and perfect. Our inheritance in heaven will be free from flaws and imperfections!
Third, our inheritance doesn’t fade. This means it is timeless. There is no wear to it. It doesn’t decrease in magnificence. It is the same today as it was yesterday and it will be the same a million years from now, which is completely different from our earthly possessions (including ourselves) which are not timeless and continue to wear and tear as the days go by.
Finally, our inheritance is reserved. Our inheritance is reserved just for us. It has our name on it and it is waiting for us. We have all been at events where there are seats that are reserved. Perhaps, we have had seats reserved for us and someone sat in them who wasn’t supposed to. In heaven there will be no need to worry about our inheritance being taken from us. It is reserved for us and it will be waiting for all Christians.
So we know many characteristics of our inheritance. We know that it is incorruptible, undefiled, doesn’t fade and it is reserved for us. But what is our inheritance? It is eternal life. It is eternal, glorified, sinless, immortal, magnificent, redeemed bodies. It is eternal fellowship with God Himself. It is our eternal home, our eternal joy. It is being fellow heirs with Christ glorifying God for all eternity!
Now, let’s move to the second key aspect of our passage in Romans 8:17-18. I am calling this second aspect “our irony”.
II. Our Irony (v.17b)
In other words … “walk the path”
To say it another way … “climbing stairs”
So why do I say “irony”? Why do I say “climbing stairs”? Why do I say “walk the path”? I think the answers to those questions will be answered as we look closely at the word “suffer” which is mentioned twice in these two short verses. The concept of suffering for Christ is not isolated to just this passage.
Philippians 1:29 tells us “For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake. 2 Timothy 3:12 says “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. Jesus Christ made it very clear that there is a price to pay for those who desire to follow Him. This is what Jesus said in Luke 9:23-24. “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
Jesus said it a different way in John 15:18-21. “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.
Just a few verses later in our text in Romans 8:17-18 we find Paul talking about how all of creation (including ourselves) is in a state of suffering simply because we are living in a sin-cursed world. Here is how Paul put it: “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.
There is probably no one besides Jesus Christ Himself that knew more about suffering and pain than the Apostle Paul. In Acts 14:19-22, Luke gives us an account of Paul when he was literally left for dead because of his stand for Christ. Paul’s concluding words to the disciples at the end of the passage fits right in with the conclusion that I am proposing all Christians should have. Here is the passage. “And there came thither certain Jews from
So why do I say ironic? Who do I say our path is like “climbing stairs”? Because the Bible says that pain = gain, that bad (from our perspective) is good (from God’s perspective). Because not only are we called to suffer pain on this earth, but we are to accept it joyfully. That is ironic!
Because we are to rejoice when we suffer.
Because we are to leap for joy when persecuted.
Because we only save our life if we lose it.
Because the path to Godliness is a road marked with suffering.
Because entering the
Because following Christ means leaving everything else behind.
Because the first will be last and the last will be first.
Because the one who humbles himself is the one who God exalts. Because the path to Christ-likeness is an uphill path marked one stair at a time as God places events and circumstances in our lives that are not always pleasant, and often times painful, but He uses them to refine us and shape us and mold us to be more like Him.
These are all ironic statements.
So what kind of suffering does Paul have in mind in Romans 8? For sure he is talking about physical suffering, persecution, mockery, ridicule and mistreatment when one takes a stand for Christ’s sake. I also believe it goes further than just those scenarios. I believe Paul has in mind any pain or hardship that comes our way for no reason except to say that God has divinely placed it in our lives for a period of time. I also believe he had in mind any suffering we face due to the fact that we have sin-cursed bodies and live in a sin-cursed world filled with sin-cursed things and we live with sin-cursed people with sin-cursed possessions and therefore, pain and suffering is inevitable. (Romans 8:22-23). I also believe Paul is talking about any sacrifices we make for the cause of Christ that brings about to one degree or another some amount of pain or sorrow or suffering because of the sacrifice we willingly made for the sake of the Gospel (for Christ’s sake).
Through all of this God wants us to do it joyfully. He wants us to rejoice and be glad. He wants us to leap for joy. He wants us to do the ironic … to joyfully, willingly and sometimes purposely suffer for Christ. So how is this possible? Our third point will give us the answer. It is only when we compare the pain of this life with the gain of eternal glory.
III. Our Incentive (v.18)
In other words … “do the math”
To say it another way … “nothing compares”
Let’s look again at what verse 18 says, “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.” So why do I say “do the math”? The reason is because of the word “reckon” found in verse 18. The Greek word for it is “Logizomai”, which refers literally to a numerical calculation. Figuratively, it refers to reaching a settled conclusion based on careful study and reasoning.
Paul is not suggesting, but rather is strongly affirming that any suffering for Christ’s sake is a small price to pay for the gracious benefits we will receive someday in eternity.
So why do I say “incentive”? Is it wrong to have an incentive (motivation)?
No, not when the incentive is eternal. God commands us to lay up treasures in heaven, and as we will see, there are many verses that speak about us looking forward to rewards in heaven! Let’s look at several verses that have to do with comparing earth and it’s troubles to heaven and its glory.
Paul says in Ephesians 2:19 that we are therefore “no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God.”
Philippians 3:21 tells us that our earthly body will be replaced with a far better one. “Who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.”
Hebrews 10:34 says “For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. That verse in Hebrews makes the comparison pretty obvious. Those believers that the writer of Hebrews is referring to knew that the possessions they had on earth were of no comparison to what they had to look forward to in heaven.
Hebrews 11:13,14,16 says this: “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
Hebrews 11:25-26 (referring to Moses) says this: “Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in
2 Peter 3:12-13 tells us that this earth will pass away and we should be looking forward to a new heaven and earth. “Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13. Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
In Philippians 1:21 Paul gives us one of the greatest comparing statements made in all of Scripture when he said, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” And later in that same book he makes another comparison when he said, “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,”
Peter tells us in I Peter 4:12-13 that we should rejoice in the midst of suffering knowing that there is a greater glory that awaits us. “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.”
In Luke 6:22-23 Jesus tells us to rejoice when persecuted because of our reward in heaven. “Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.
Matthew 6:19-21 commands us to live our life on earth for eternal rewards as opposed to earthly possessions which will corrupt and be destroyed. “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Solomon gives us a unique perspective on pain and hard times on earth in Ecclesiastes 7:2,3,5,14. “It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart. Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools. In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.” The message Solomon is giving us is that hard times are better than good times because of the lessons that can be learned through the hard times. This perspective is helpful for Christians in the immediate outlook on pain and suffering as we realize that hard times have a tendency to help us rely on God for the answers in life and look to Him for strength, which is the place where we need to be every moment of our lives.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 is an almost parallel passage to our text in Romans 8 filled with one comparison after another. “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen [are] temporal; but the things which are not seen [are] eternal.
That passage in 2 Corinthians brings me to a quote from John MacArthur found in his commentary on the book of Romans chapters 1-8. Here is what he had to say about how “our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”
“The more a believer suffers in this life for the sake of his Lord, the greater will be his capacity for glory in heaven. Jesus made this relationship clear in Matthew 20:21-23, when He told James, John, and their mother that elevation to prominence in the future kingdom will be related to experiencing the depths of the cup of suffering through humiliation here and now. As with the relationship with works and rewards (see I Corinthians 3:12-15), the spiritual quality of our earthly life will, in some divinely determined way, affect the quality of our heavenly life. It should be added that since the ultimate destiny of believers is to glorify God, it seems certain that our heavenly rewards and glory in essence will be capacities for glorifying Him.
Conclusion:
Truly, our suffering on earth should be viewed as light and temporary in view of our eternal weight of glory that is waiting to be revealed to us in heaven. As Paul said, it is far beyond all comparison! It should be noted as we conclude that in context of our passage, it is the Holy Spirit that resides inside every Believer that is our assurance (our guarantee) of our glory to come in heaven.
I would like to leave us with one poem and one quote which should help summarize the main thrust of this message, which is this: There is no sacrifice on earth too costly in comparison to the gain of glory in heaven.
Treasures
By Martha Snell Nicholson
One by one He took them from me,
All the things I valued most,
Until I was empty-handed;
Every glittering toy was lost.
And I walked earth's highways, grieving.
In my rags and poverty.
Till I heard His voice inviting,
"Lift your empty hands to Me!"
So I held my hands toward heaven,
And He filled them with a store
Of His own transcendent riches,
Till they could contain no more.
And at last I comprehended
With my stupid mind and dull,
That God COULD not pour His riches
Into hands already full!
We must always carry the mindset and furthermore, the lifestyle that joyfully, willingly and sometimes purposely accepts suffering for Christ’s sake because of the knowledge and hope of eternal glory which far outweighs and outlasts any amount of pain on earth.
In closing, I leave us with a familiar quote which hopefully carries a little more meaning in light of our text.
“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to GAIN what he cannot lose!”