Romans - Part 4: SPIRITSample

Hope and Glory

Romans 8 is one of my favorite scripture passages. Right in the middle of the book, Paul writes his climactic point. After showing that all have sinned and that the Law cannot save, after declaring that even our own desire to do good is not enough because we still do the things we don’t want to, he boldly declares, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.”

This IS glorious Good News! My sins are gone! I’ve been set free! And Paul continues; we are not just positionally changed into a right relationship with God, but are now relationally changed into His children--sons and daughters who can cry out to Him, “Abba, Father”-- Daddy.

Most of us would be satisfied to merely be saved from hell, to be given a quiet corner of heaven in which to spend eternity. Instead, God has made anyone who trusts in Jesus an heir to all the glories of God's kingdom in this world and in the next. Can you see why I love this passage so much?

But, I never noticed this one little clause tucked into verse 17. Perhaps I was too busy reveling in the goodness of God, in His grace and love, to notice the conditional clause. In verse 17b. Paul slips in something totally unexpected: “provided we suffer with him.” (ESV)

What? Who among us enjoys suffering? Not me!

So, what does it mean to suffer with Christ? It may mean that, as Christians, we can expect to be persecuted (John 15:20). It may also mean that we die to sin on a spiritual level (Romans 6:5–8). Or perhaps, this suffering is the suffering that Jesus experienced in daily life in a sin-ravaged world, something that every person lives through. Paul will describe this universal "groaning" of existence later, in verses 22–23. But, this we do know, that whatever our suffering is, may it be big or little, those in Christ will be glorified with Him, once this life has ended. For Christians, suffering is never meaningless (Romans 5:3–5), nor are we ever alone in our suffering.

Suffering, too, is part of Christian living, but our hope remains, as we anticipate the glory we will also share with Him.

-Jen Hooker