IF WE SUFFER, WE WILL ALSO BE GLORIFIED
Introduction: If we suffer with Him we will also be glorified with Him (v. 17). The world is fallen and is suffering. See the illustration of creation, corruption, cleansing and crowning with glory (1 Peter 3:18-21). The world was created, corrupted, cleansed with a world wide flood and will be crowned with glory. Man was created, corrupted, cleansed in baptism and will be crowned with glory.
SUFFERINGS OF THIS PRESENT TIME (v. 18)
1. Not common sufferings such as disease, calamity, death, heartache etc.
2. Sufferings from Without
a. Mark 10:30 “but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions and in the age to come, eternal life.”
b. John 15:19 “If you were of the world, the world would love its own, but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.”
c. Acts 8:1 “Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death. And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.”
d. 2 Thessalonians 1:4 “therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure.”
3. Sufferings from Within
a. Ephesians 4:22-24 “That, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.”
b. 1 Corinthians 2:14-15 “But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one.”
c. Galatians 5:16-17 “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.”
GLORY THAT IS TO BE REVEALED (v. 18)
1. Can’t be compared. It is much weightier.
a. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 “Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentarily, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen, for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
2. We must dwell on and focus our attention on this glory
a. 1 Peter 5:10 “After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.”
b. Hebrews 2:10 “But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings.”
REVEALING OF THE SONS OF GOD (v. 19)
1. Even creation awaits the revealing of the sons of God. Because men are sons of God by faith (Galatians 3:26), it is difficult to determine who they are.
a. They are “peacemakers” (Matthew 5:9).
b. They are “led by the Spirit of God” (Romans 8:14).
2. This will happen when Jesus Himself is revealed
a. 1 John 3:2 “Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.”
b. Colossians 3:4 “When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then we also will be revealed with Him in glory.”
c. 2 Thessalonians 1:6-7 “For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire”
CREATION IS SUFFERING (v. 20-22)
1. Subjected to futility by God. Solomon said “all is futility” (Ecclesiastes 1:2, 14; 2:17; 3:19; 12:9)
2. Creation wasn’t willing. Nothing desires to die but instead strives to survive. But God made it so that everything will die and/or deteriorate.
3. In hope. The reason for this is that creation will hope for freedom from its current state. Where suffering continues hope grows.
4. Creation will be set free from corruption.
a. Genesis 3:17 “Then to Adam He said, ‘Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you saying, “You shall not eat from it”; cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.’”
b. The earth and all it contains will be burned up.
i. Mark 13:31 “Heaven and earth will pass away”
ii. 2 Peter 3:7-12 “But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!”
c. Regeneration not annihilation
i. Matthew 19:28 “And Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
ii. Psalm 102:25-26 “Of old You founded the earth, and the heaven are the work of Your hands. Even they will perish, but You endure; and all of them will wear out like a garment; like clothing You will changes them and they will be changed.”
d. New heavens and new earth
i. Isaiah 65:17-22 “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things will not be remembered or come to mind.”
ii. 2 Peter 3:13 “But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.”
iii. Revelation 21:1 “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.”
5. Creation is currently groaning and suffering until He makes all things new (Revelation 21:5).
THE BELIEVER IS SUFFERING (v. 23-25)
1. We ourselves are groaning, eagerly awaiting the redemption of our bodies.
2. This is because we have the first fruits of the Spirit but are not yet complete.
3. We are saved in hope – we are not there yet
a. 1 Peter 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”
b. Hebrews 6:19 “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul…both sure and steadfast”
c. 1 Corinthians 13:13 “But now faith, hope, love, abide these three…”
d. Titus 2:11-13 “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.”
4. We persevere as we await heaven.
THE SPIRIT PROVIDES HELP TO THOSE IN CHRIST (v. 26-27)
1. Hope helps us and the Spirit also helps us.
a. 2 Corinthians 5:1-5 “For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven, inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked. For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life. Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge.
2. He intercedes for us – He prays for us!
STRENGTH TO GO ON EVEN IN SUFFERING
1. We will suffer because of the time and place in which we live.
2. Our hope of the glory to come enables us to persevere.
3. Creation even longs for redemption.
4. We do not feel at home here and deep within us there are groanings and longings for God.
5. We cannot even pray as we would like but the Spirit intercedes for us.
6. We have hope and look forward to the great day of the Lord.