IN THIS HOPE WE ARE SAVED

Romans 8:18-30 / Keywords 8:24a

For in this hope we were saved.

 

Present Suffering and Future Glory

8:18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that[h] the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[i] have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

Footnotes

h. Romans 8:21 Or subjected it in hope. 21 For

i. Romans 8:28 Or that all things work together for good to those who love God, who; or that in all things God works together with those who love him to bring about what is good—with those who

1. Life is full of many types of suffering. Even Christians suffer. Our bodies get sick. We face many disappointments and frustrations. Loved ones pass away. But those who belong to Jesus know that the glory that is awaiting us makes all our suffering seem like nothing. That is the greatness of the glory we will one day see. And, it is not just Christians who suffer. In fact, all of creation groans and yearns for the revelation, freedom, and glorification of God’s children. Our sufferings are meaningful because they point us to our hope of adoption by God, And in this hope, we are saved. But the hope is not quite yet fulfilled. If it were, it would not be hope! Instead, we wait for it patiently.

 

2. At the same time, we live in a fallen world. So, we need help. And the Spirit helps us when we need it. It helps us to know what to pray for when we are so overwhelmed in this life that we don’t know how we should pray. We can know for certain, while we wait for hope to become reality, that God works for the good of those who love him. What does God do for us? He calls us, justifies us, and glorifies us.

 

Prayer Father, this life is full of suffering. But we have hope, hope that we will be conformed into the image and likeness of Jesus Christ. Thank you for sustaining and saving us in this hope.

One Word In this hope we are saved