Romans chapter 8....a favourite for many.
I can think of no better passage that exposes the experience of the Christian life in the light of the achievement of the work of Christ.
No richer passage it terms of the expectations of the Christian life.
It is real, it is raw. I believe it holds the key to not just hanging in there as a Christian, not just surviving….more than that, there is a yearning, a longing, a power in this chapter that draws you close to God, that teaches us how to live this earthly life, while being destined for heavenly life.
We'll be spending 5 weeks from June 14 working it through. But while I'm preparing I've got a candid series of questions for you to respond to:
What do you find especially difficult or perplexing about living in this age, while longing for the full reality of the next?
What do you find yourself most yearning for?
What things in this life cause you to doubt and waver in your passion and conviction about the next life?
Heavy questions I know, but I'd love people's honest stories. If you're uncomfortable about sharing your name in the blog comments, you can choose to remain anonymous. Either way, please read through Romans 8 and consider them.
For those who are interested, here's the series plan.
June 14 "The invasion of a new world" (8:1-11)
June 21 "War of the world's" (8:12-17)
June 28 "Hope through Suffering" (8:18-25)
July 5 "Glory through Weakness (8:26-30)
July 12 "Victory through Greatness" (8:31-39)
"What do you find especially difficult or perplexing about living in this age, while longing for the full reality of the next?"
ReplyDeleteI wonder if this world gives me proper preparation for the next. Will I still have any of the things I enjoy here? Or will they be too materialistic, or simply not all about praising God?
"What do you find yourself most yearning for?"
To get away from all the garbage life throws at us; whether it's the pain a hurtful and hate-filled world, or the red tape we're forced to deal with to get by. (Guess who's just taking out a mortgage?)
"What things in this life cause you to doubt and waver in your passion and conviction about the next life?"
That the same God who was in control of my life when I suffered... a lot (I'm not going into it here) will be in control of my life in Heaven. What does that tell you?
Yeah this is a big one. But can you clarify something? (Sorry about my lack of perception) Are you saying the worries/thoughts that the God who has been sovereignly in control over your suffering in this life, may not be trustworthy or disposed to be sovereignly in control over your blessing in the next life? Is it the track record of the hardships in life that actually spoil something of the yearning and hoping for the next?
ReplyDeleteI think you're close (or right on).
ReplyDeleteIt's a question of what hope is there for me that things will be any better in the next world?
I feel like God has complete knowledge and control over my life, which means he knows all that I've suffered and could have prevented it -- but didn't. He calls that love.
If watching me suffer is his idea of loving me in this world, why should he, our unchanging God, change his mind about that in the next?
Sorry this is so harsh. It's a big struggle I've had for a long time. Used to be worse.
Yeah thanks for the clarification, I'll be trying to engage with this issue although I must admit I hadn't considered God's 'unchanging' nature as a potential cause for concern/dread in the arena of potential ongoing suffering. I will, and am reading a lot of related stuff on this in "Suffering and the Sovereignty of God" - which goes deep into a number of issues associated and foundational to your questions. I'll be recommending it in the weeks ahead.
ReplyDeleteI have to say WOW following the talk on Sunday night … how amazingly rich a passage and there are four more weeks to come!! Thanks … I was reminded (yet again… why do I keep forgetting?) at the wonder of God’s provision in His word to us.
ReplyDeleteThinking about the passage last week I thought of my attitude being of a pendulum swinging between living on a higher plane of expectation of the next life through the depths of depressing mundane mediocrity through to a frenetic intensity of legalism to ensure I get there (even though I know full well I can’t do anything to deserve it) … but I didn’t realise I potentially oscillated five ways!!!! (please, please, please let it be only four) … so thank you for opening up such a fantastic passage.
A question, however, I got a bit confused about the several references to “Spirit” … “Spirit of life” (v 1), “Spirit of God” & “Spirit of Christ” (v 9), “Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead… through his Spirit who dwells…”(v 11) … is Paul always referring to the Holy Spirit or is there some “essence” of “Christ-ness” that he is referring to?
Hey praise God for the 'WOW' factor, these really are very rich verses that have much for us to gain if we take the time to mine.
ReplyDeleteIn regards to the questions on the Spirit...yes all the references here are referring to the person of the Holy Spirit, except for v.1 where the 'way of' the Spirit, or the 'resultant Spirited-led life' is on view. Also v.16 is different in referring to our spirit.
If you do a concordance study on the Spirit you'll find that he is often mentioned in reference to the other persons of the Godhead. So Spirit of Christ, God's Spirit , Spirit of God etc. And you'll also find that the Spirit works in unity of purpose with God the Father and God the Son.
The amazing thing in Romans 8 is that God unites us to himself by himself...hence this idea of union with Christ. The Holy Spirit not only draws us to know and appropriate the truth by faith, but also takes up residence in us uniting us to the God we were estranged from. In Christ, by the Spirit we are truly part of God's family. I know getting our heads around that is pretty hard work at times, but it's an amazing reality to dwell and and celebrate in....more on this in the next talk....