HOPE BECAME OUR WATCHWORD
Rom 8:18:25
Hope became our watchword because our faith is the sure hope of our eternal sonship with God. As the Hebrew writer wrote, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Heb 11:1. All who live by this faith are called to be “Imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” Heb 6:12. What is that promise? That no matter what we endure in this life, we have a hope that far outweighs everything we go through, or have to endure in this life. If you don’t believe that! Look at what Paul previously said. “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” Rom 8:16-18
This is our hope!
What I find amazing is that this is the mantra of creation; (impersonal forces of nature) are brought into the picture celebrating God’s redemption. (v19-v22). An example of this is when Isaiah wrote about the Israelites rejoicing in her deliverance and the celebration creation will have over her. “For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.” Isaiah 55:12. All nature is called on to rejoice, or where inanimate objects are represented express their empathy with the joy of the people of God. The psalmist wrote, “Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.” Psalm 98:8-9
The beauty of creation
rejoices as God
crowning them with beauty.
Clothing them with brilliance and splendor, creation rejoices in God, as “their” God. Let all nature join in praise; and it’s this hope that creation has over you and me. Remember what Jesus said when the religious leaders told Him to quiet His disciples? “And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples." He answered, "I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out." Luke 19:39-40. Creation rejoiced for this day, because all of creation waits in futility for the redemption of God’s sons and daughters. Understand! These verses are “proverbial,” and are not to be taken literally. Proverbs are designed to express the truth “strongly,” but are not to be taken to signify as much as if they were to be interpreted literally. Jesus’ coming in Luke’s account was an event of so much importance that it “ought” to be celebrated in some way, and “would” be celebrated by God’s divine power. Whether mankind rejoiced or not! The Messiah is here to save sinners from themselves. According to Paul all creation rejoices in the expectation of what is to come in the future.
But they wait in “Futility” which according to R C Sproul is “one of the ugliest words in the English language.” Why? R C Sproul went on to say, “Nothing can drive the human being to despair more quickly or deeply than the idea that our pain and labor are mere exercises in futility and utterly meaningless.” “Futility” carries the idea of being without success or unable to achieve a goal. Because of the curse, creation is subject to the curse; and this curse was executed by its Creator, God Himself! (v20). For creation, they wait in futility and cannot do anything to change things, or hurry up that glorious end. But for you me, as we go through our sufferings in this life…. they are not meaningless, but it’s producing something in us…….. hope. This is the churches motto in a darkened world system of sin. As Paul said to the Corinthian church, “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” 1 Cor 15:57-58
Paul says that creation is “groaning”. This gives the idea that creation is anxiously longing for the day of redemption to be completed. This groaning refers to the utterances of a person who is caught in a dreadful situation and has no immediate prospect of deliverance. This use of the word is the same when Stephen spoke of the account of Moses at the Burning Bush, “When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the sight, and as he drew near to look, there came the voice of the Lord: 'I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob.' And Moses trembled and did not dare to look. Then the Lord said to him, 'Take off the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their groaning, and I have come down to deliver them.” Acts 7:31-34. It’s the idea that creation is standing on their tippy-toes, with eyes wide open….. with intent expectation. Creations… all non-rational parts: animals, plants; and all inanimate things such as mountains, rivers, plains, seas and heavenly bodies are eagerly waiting.
The groaning is like birth pains as Paul expresses here in his letter. (v22) The groaning and suffering of creation will cease one day because God will deliver it from its corruption and futility. Like the curse in the garden; Eve’s sin brought the curse of painful childbirth, nature endures its own kind of labor pains. Martin Lloyd Jones shared his thoughts on these birth pains that creation goes through. “I wonder whether the phenomenon of the Spring supplies us with a part answer. Nature every year, as it were, makes an effort to renew itself, to produce something permanent; it has come out of the death and darkness of all that is so true of the winter. In the Spring it seems to be trying to produce a perfect creation, to be going through some kind of birth-pangs year by year. But unfortunately it does not succeed, for Spring leads to Summer, whereas Summer leads to Autumn, and Autumn to Winter. Poor old nature tries every year to defeat the “vanity”, the principle fails every time. It still goes on trying, as if it feels things should be different and better; but it never succeeds. So it goes on “groaning” and travailing in pain together until now.”
And creation will continue to
repeat
this cycle annually.
Creation became a sufferer and permeated with futility, decay, and death. Since the beginning of creation when all was “good” is now decaying at a high rate, due to the curse in the garden. What Paul is trying to convey to you and me is that the creation is waiting and God’s redemption encompasses the entire universe. “But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.”
2 Peter 3:13-14.
Creation is “Eagerly waiting” refers to waiting in great anticipation but doing it with great patience. (v19) This is the believer’s heart as well as we wait that glorious day. (v23-v25). We ourselves groan within ourselves over the dreadful curse of sin that still manifested by our remaining humanness. David acknowledged/groaned about his own sinfulness. “For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me….. O Lord, all my longing is before you; my sighing is not hidden from you. My heart throbs; my strength fails me, and the light of my eyes—it also has gone from me.” Psalm 38:4, 9-10. The Apostle Paul new the daily burden of our remaining humanness. “For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.” 2 Cor 5:4. As long as we are in these bodies we will never fully escape sins corruption until we arrive in Kingdom.
You and me, go through on a
daily basis
similar birth pains.
The church, since her inception has faced tremendous opposition and suffering for the sake of the gospel of Christ. The Christian has joys to which the world does not know; but we also have sorrows; he sighs over his corruption; he is in the midst of calamity. The hope for the Christian as they go to the grave; the believer looks forward to that complete deliverance of this fallen and broken body. Understand! The gospel renews us in the inner person, but on the outside is still mortal humanness.
This is why it was important for Paul to say what he said in Romans 6:5-6.. For the believer our… war with sin, and the sin of this world, produces in us a deep groaning for these bodies to be redeemed. Paul uses the word redemption in same way he uses resurrection of the believer. We groan in hope of this final deliverance.
“We sigh for deliverance.”
(v23) denotes a strong internal desire; the deep anguish of spirit when the heart is oppressed with anguish, and earnestly wishes for relief. This groaning produces in you me a deep seated hope for our deliverance. The hope we have in the promises of God, it’s those promises that calm the heart to continue when the rest are retreating into the dark. My hope is not that my suffering ceases, but as I suffer for the precious gospel that it’s always looking Heavenward. Remember what the Hebrew writer wrote in his letter? “So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.” Heb 13:12-14. Remember Jesus’s rebuke to Peter about suffering? “And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, "Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you." But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man." Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” Matt 16:22-26
This hope that Paul speaks about is what gets us up in the morning to go on our daily routine despite what the culture is saying or doing. We may be kicked down and tank feel empty; but under His grace we may be draw low, but never dry. Our hope is what Paul says “eagerly waiting the redemption of our broken tents.” (v23c) Scripture teaches that believer’s salvation is secured by God the Father, by the Son, and by the Holy Spirit. “For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.” 2 Cor 1:20-22
This is our hope; this is our redemption seal; as we press on towards His kingdom, as His adopted sons and daughters. This is the groaning of our hope, not in what is seen (which can really bring you down fast and easy), but we hope what is to come (that strengthens and renews my heart to continue each day for His glory). What is before us/revealed, isn’t hope at all, our hope is what will be revealed in the future. (Eternity)
What does hope produce in the
adopted son or daughter
as they endure for His glorious name?
Well we already know the answer to that question. According to Paul our suffering and what we go through in this life as we await Heaven produces a deep seated hope in God’s promises. “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” Romans 5:1-5. This is the hope that doesn’t put us to shame. “This hope will not disappoint, or deceive.”
1. Our Hope That Isn’t Seen Is In The Unlimited Supply Of God’s Sustaining Mercy Over Our Lives.
Psalm 33:18 says, “Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you.” This Psalm describes the true state of a virtuous heart; it in fact characterizes the whole of Christian faith. We, the church “hope in the mercy of God in everything.”
2. Our Hope That Isn’t Seen Is A Hope That Doesn’t Disappoint.
Phil 1:20-26 we read,
“as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but
that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether
by life or by death. For to me to live is
Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means
fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard
pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is
far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.
Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for
your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to
glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.”
Our
Hope That Isn’t Seen Is A Hope That Grieves In Hope Through The Gospel Of
Christ.
Paul reminded the church this truth when he said, “But we do not want you to
be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose
again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have
fallen asleep.” 1 Thess 4:13-14
3. Our Hope That Isn’t Seen Is A Hope That Keeps Our Eyes Directed And Focused On Eternity.
In Titus 2:11-14 Paul says, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing
salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly
passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present
age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God
and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all
lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are
zealous for good works.”
This hope was exemplified in…… David… "And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.” Psalm 39:7. The Apostle Paul… “But this I confess to you, that according to the Way…I worship the God of our fathers…having a hope in God” Acts 24:14-15. The Thessalonians… “remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thess 1:3
Creation groans for this redemption. The church groans for this redemption The believer groans for this redemption Our hope is not that we might not lose our salvation, but that it’s firmly secure in the object of our faith, Jesus Christ. This is the promise of God, “Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day." John 6:35-40
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