Romans: Theology for Everybody (6-11)預覽

I was present when my wife Grace gave birth to each of our five children. Like all women, her entire pregnancy involved lots of pain and discomfort. The bigger each child grew, the harder it was to breathe, sleep, and undertake otherwise normal activities. Her energy level was often low, and her pain level was also high. The closer we got to the birth, the more intense and frequent all the pains and problems became. Everything culminated with the birth of each child, and then she recovered as new life began. 

Paul uses this analogy to explain our present life. This life is like childbirth. It’s a painful, awful, constant mess that only gets worse before it gets better. Not only are we, but all of creation, subjected to the curse of the fall and are pushing and groaning for the new world and our new life to be birthed. Thankfully, we have the Holy Spirit with us every moment so that we can access His divine power to meet our needs. 

Paul concludes this unit of thought with one of the most succinct and significant summaries of salvation in all of Scripture. He is assuring us that the process we are in is worth it and that God will be good to fulfill all of His promises to all of His people. Here are those words defined: 

1. Foreknew – God knew all of history in advance including His plan for you. 

2. Predestined to be conformed – God chose in advance your destiny to be saved and become more and more like His Son. 

3. Called – God sought you out and called you from spiritual death to life, much like Jesus who called the dead Lazarus to come forth from the grave by name. 

4. Justified – God has declared you legally righteous in His sight by grace from and through faith in Jesus Christ. 

5. Glorified – God sees you as you will be - fully healed and redeemed in eternity -once He is done working to make you like His Son Jesus Christ as one of His adopted “sons”. 

The big idea is that God’s plan for your life began in eternity past and continues into eternity future. Faith is trusting that He will not fail and remaining steadfast and Spirit-filled in the middle of His plan as we push through the pain on our way to Paradise. 

Reflection:

1. In what areas of your life is the pain of the fall and curse most frustrating right now (e.g. physical or mental health, a loved one is sick or dying, things simply keep breaking and falling apart, etc.?)

2. How can you welcome the Holy Spirit to help you process and push through your pains and problems (e.g. time in prayer, worship, Scripture, talking with wise counsel, etc.)? 

3. What are you most looking forward to when you are fully glorified, healed, and delivered in Jesus’ presence once and forever?