“The sufferings we go through in the present time are not worth putting in the scale alongside the glory that is going
to be unveiled for us. Yes: creation itself is on tiptoe with expectation, eagerly waiting for the moment when God’s children will be revealed.”Romans 8:18-19, The Kingdom New Testament
Charles Spurgeon, the great preacher of the 19th century, called Romans 8 “the crown jewel of the Bible.” John Piper, one of the most influential pastors, speakers and authors of recent decades, says that Romans 8 is “the best chapter in the best book in the Bible,” which is the best collection of writings in history.
Take a few minutes right now to read the whole chapter.
I encourage everyone I meet with for discipleship to start memorizing Romans 8 at verse one and continue as far into the chapter as they can. Look at the highlights of the gospel Paul expresses in the first few verses:
- V. 1 – freedom from the penalty of sin (condemnation)
- V. 2 – freedom from the power of sin (slavery)
- V. 3 – clarity that salvation is 100% the work of God and 0% from your effort or worthiness
- V. 4 – a vivid description of justification by faith alone in Jesus Christ
- V. 5 – a powerful description of your new identity in Christ as one who “lives” or “is being” in the Holy Spirit and no longer in the flesh
- V. 6 – the importance of taking captive every thought and setting your mind on the Spirit, not your old nature and desires
- V. 7 – a clear understanding of what the natural mind is capable (and incapable) of
Then flip to the end of the chapter and experience afresh the wonder of God’s love for you in Christ!
- V. 31 – If God is on your side, who could possibly oppose you or harm you?
- V. 32 – Since God sent His only Son to die for us, how could we be deceived to think He would withhold blessings from us?
- V. 33 – If God has pronounced you righteous in Christ, who can bring any accusation against you?
- V. 34 – What could possibly separate us from the love of Jesus? Little things like suffering, persecution and pain?
- V. 35 – Jesus not only died and was raised to life, but He now lives to make intercession for us!
- V. 36 – A quote from Psalm 44 to remind us of God’s faithfulness to Israel in spite of their unfaithfulness to Him
- V. 37 – We are not only victorious over sin and suffering in Christ, we are more than conquerors!
- V. 38 – Half of a list of scary things in this world
- V. 39 – the rest of the scary list and the pronouncement that none of these things (or anything else) could possibly separate us from the love of Jesus
Those are the bookends of this incredible chapter. In between the mind-blowing gospel of Jesus and His infinite love is the middle of Romans 8, which is our focus for this Sunday (8/10/25).
“Creation, you see, was subjected to pointless futility, not of its own volition, but because of the one who placed it in this subjection, in the hope that creation itself would be freed from its slavery to decay, to enjoy the freedom that comes when God’s children are glorified.”
Romans 8:20-21, The Kingdom New Testament
Here Paul draws a connection between our human suffering and the groanings of the world. Based on the ending of this chapter we know that our suffering, persecution and even our (eventual or imminent) death cannot separate us from the overflowing, relentless love of Jesus. But here in the middle of the chapter we see that when we are glorified, the whole creation will also be set free from the curse of sin and death and will itself be renewed even as we are!
So it’s ok to groan. It’s ok to cry out to God in the midst of your pain and sadness. Just read the Psalms and you’ll see that God’s people have been doing this for thousands of years! Yes, we groan. But we do so with hope!
“We too, we who have the first fruits of the spirit’s life within us, are groaning within ourselves, as we eagerly await our adoption, the redemption of our body. We were saved, you see, in hope. But hope isn’t hope if you can see it! Who hopes for what they can see? But if we hope for what we don’t see, we wait for it eagerly-but also patiently.”
Romans 8:23-25, The Kingdom New Testament
Though we grieve like everyone else on the planet, we grieve with hope for our ultimate redemption and the redemption and restoration of our whole world! Hope is not wishful thinking or mere optimism. It is confidence in the faithfulness of God to keep His promises. And so we wait patiently, even eagerly, for all God has in store!
There is a glory that we will one day see that will make all of our present suffering fade into utter insignificance! And as we wait the Holy Spirit Himself groans with us and translates our prayers for us, even as Jesus intercedes for us before the Father.
“We know, in fact, that God works all things together for good to those who love him, who are called according to his purpose. Those he foreknew, you see, he also marked out in advance to be shaped according to the model of the image of his son, so that he might be the firstborn of a large family. And those he marked out in advance, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.”
Romans 8:28-30, The Kingdom New Testament
Here is the one verse from this chapter (v. 28) that most Christians know and some who otherwise know very little about the Bible have this verse stitched on a pillow or printed on a shirt. It does not say that everything that happens to us is good in itself. The verse tells us that God works all things (even the bad ones) “together for good.”
What is the “good”? The answer is right there in verse 29: “to be shaped according to the model of the image of his son.” God is making all who follow Jesus more and more into His likeness. And one of the most effective tools God uses to that end is suffering.
The whole process of salvation cannot fail. It is God who planned history and every detail of your life. It is God who called you to Himself. It is God who paid for all of your sins. And it is God who will change you “in the twinkling of an eye” and complete the process of salvation with your glorification in Christ.
So don’t stop groaning. Don’t stop praying. But as you groan and pray, hold onto hope. Cling to the promises of God, many of which are highlighted in this beautiful chapter. Memorize and meditate on passages like this. And keep encouraging those around you to do the same!