Rescued From Frustration

Romans 8:18-27
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Pastor Colin discusses the concept of glorification, explaining that a unique reflection of God’s glory will be seen in each believer. Believers will be fully revealed as sons of God, embodying a new creation at their core. He emphasises that believers are not fundamentally rotten but are new creations in Christ, awaiting the full revelation of their true selves.

He further highlights the promise of glorious freedom extended to God’s children, with the whole creation being liberated from decay. This includes the redemption of believers’ bodies. Pastor Colin shares a personal story about his niece with cerebral palsy, emphasising that in God’s plan, she will one day walk, skip, and dance freely in a resurrected body, reflecting Christ’s glory.

Continuing, Pastor Colin explains that God’s rescue plan also involves the renewal of the entire planet, which will be brought into the glorious freedom of God’s children. This renewed creation will be adapted for the redeemed and fully reflect God’s glory. He encourages believers to anticipate this future with eager expectation.

1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:03,940 Let’s turn to Romans chapter eight together. 2 00:00:03,940 –> 00:00:05,340 And this is the third week 3 00:00:05,340 –> 00:00:08,600 in our short series called Rescued. 4 00:00:08,600 –> 00:00:10,440 And if you’ve not been here before 5 00:00:10,440 –> 00:00:12,260 and you want just to pick up on it, 6 00:00:12,260 –> 00:00:14,880 the title comes from chapter seven of Romans, 7 00:00:14,880 –> 00:00:17,320 in verse 24 where Paul is talking 8 00:00:17,320 –> 00:00:19,040 about his own struggle with sin, 9 00:00:19,040 –> 00:00:21,959 the struggle that every human being experiences. 10 00:00:21,959 –> 00:00:22,799 And he says, 11 00:00:22,799 –> 00:00:24,420 Oh, wretched man that I am, 12 00:00:24,420 –> 00:00:26,680 who will rescue me? 13 00:00:26,760 –> 00:00:30,219 And really Romans eight is the answer to that question. 14 00:00:30,219 –> 00:00:31,920 He gives us the headline straight away 15 00:00:31,920 –> 00:00:33,580 at the end of Romans chapter seven. 16 00:00:33,580 –> 00:00:35,779 He says the answer is Jesus Christ, 17 00:00:35,779 –> 00:00:38,660 but Romans eight is really telling us 18 00:00:38,660 –> 00:00:42,500 how Jesus Christ accomplishes this rescue. 19 00:00:42,500 –> 00:00:43,939 What he actually does. 20 00:00:43,939 –> 00:00:45,160 And we’ve been tracing it 21 00:00:45,160 –> 00:00:46,939 and seeing that as we move through 22 00:00:46,939 –> 00:00:48,900 this marvelous chapter of the Bible, 23 00:00:48,900 –> 00:00:51,740 it is just increasingly wonderful. 24 00:00:51,740 –> 00:00:54,340 A quick review of what we’ve seen so far. 25 00:00:54,340 –> 00:00:58,660 First Christ removes the condemnation of sins penalty. 26 00:00:58,660 –> 00:01:01,919 God sent his son into the world. 27 00:01:01,919 –> 00:01:04,160 Christ became the sin offering. 28 00:01:04,160 –> 00:01:05,360 If you’re in Christ, 29 00:01:05,360 –> 00:01:09,300 you can truly say that God has passed the condemnation 30 00:01:09,300 –> 00:01:11,879 for your sin unto his son, 31 00:01:11,879 –> 00:01:14,160 the Lord Jesus Christ. 32 00:01:14,160 –> 00:01:19,160 The Bible calls this wonderful gift justification. 33 00:01:19,239 –> 00:01:20,760 Your sins are forgiven. 34 00:01:20,760 –> 00:01:24,320 Your eternal future is secure. 35 00:01:24,760 –> 00:01:27,580 If justification were everything that God gave to us 36 00:01:27,580 –> 00:01:30,279 in the gospel, it would be marvelous, 37 00:01:30,279 –> 00:01:34,360 but we’ve been seeing that it’s even better, 38 00:01:35,360 –> 00:01:36,839 because not only does Christ remove 39 00:01:36,839 –> 00:01:38,360 the condemnation of sins penalty, 40 00:01:38,360 –> 00:01:42,160 Christ breaks the condemnation of sins power. 41 00:01:42,160 –> 00:01:44,559 We saw that he sends his Spirit, 42 00:01:44,559 –> 00:01:47,400 that the Holy Spirit enters the life of every believer, 43 00:01:47,400 –> 00:01:50,360 bringing you power, new resources, new desire, 44 00:01:50,360 –> 00:01:52,480 new energy, new direction. 45 00:01:52,480 –> 00:01:55,820 God does not leave you when you come to be in Christ 46 00:01:55,820 –> 00:01:59,519 as a slave to their passions of your sinful nature, 47 00:01:59,519 –> 00:02:02,760 sin is still your enemy, but it is no longer your master, 48 00:02:02,760 –> 00:02:05,519 you’re now in a position to act and to fight, 49 00:02:05,519 –> 00:02:09,320 and the power of the Holy Spirit is for you and with you. 50 00:02:09,320 –> 00:02:11,279 In Christ, you are a new creation, 51 00:02:11,279 –> 00:02:13,880 your mind is set on what the Spirit desires, 52 00:02:13,880 –> 00:02:16,679 and the Bible calls this not justification, 53 00:02:16,679 –> 00:02:20,279 but sanctification, and if we were to put 54 00:02:20,320 –> 00:02:24,520 these two together, justification and sanctification, 55 00:02:24,520 –> 00:02:27,619 the gospel would be double marvelous, 56 00:02:27,619 –> 00:02:29,500 but you’re getting the feel of this now, 57 00:02:29,500 –> 00:02:33,800 but it’s even better, okay. 58 00:02:33,800 –> 00:02:37,940 We saw last week that not only does God do these things 59 00:02:37,940 –> 00:02:40,759 in Christ, the Father adopts us, 60 00:02:40,759 –> 00:02:42,919 when you come into faith in Jesus Christ, 61 00:02:42,919 –> 00:02:45,639 you are adopted into the family of God. 62 00:02:45,639 –> 00:02:46,960 We asked the question last week, 63 00:02:46,960 –> 00:02:48,940 why then does Jesus Christ save us? 64 00:02:49,179 –> 00:02:51,259 What does He want to bring us into? 65 00:02:51,259 –> 00:02:55,419 And we saw that the ultimate purpose of God’s great rescue 66 00:02:55,419 –> 00:02:59,899 is that His people should rejoice in his love forever. 67 00:02:59,899 –> 00:03:01,199 Forever. 68 00:03:01,199 –> 00:03:03,059 God wants you to flourish in his love, 69 00:03:03,059 –> 00:03:05,220 to be changed by it 70 00:03:05,220 –> 00:03:08,919 and to become all that He redeemed you to be in it. 71 00:03:08,919 –> 00:03:11,960 And we saw that it is the special work of the Holy Spirit 72 00:03:11,960 –> 00:03:16,460 to convince us that the Father really loves us 73 00:03:16,460 –> 00:03:18,860 because we find that by nature very difficult 74 00:03:18,860 –> 00:03:20,139 to believe. 75 00:03:20,139 –> 00:03:23,699 And so through the Holy Spirit, we cry out abba Father. 76 00:03:23,699 –> 00:03:27,759 We do that in our worship and we do that in our pain, 77 00:03:27,759 –> 00:03:31,740 drawing comfort and strength from His love 78 00:03:31,740 –> 00:03:35,580 knowing that we shall soon enter into our inheritance 79 00:03:35,580 –> 00:03:39,500 which is ours as heirs of God in Jesus Christ. 80 00:03:39,500 –> 00:03:42,139 And if you put these three together, 81 00:03:42,139 –> 00:03:46,380 justification, the removing of sins penalty, 82 00:03:46,500 –> 00:03:48,339 the rectification, the sanctification, 83 00:03:48,339 –> 00:03:50,399 the breaking of sins power, adoption God, 84 00:03:50,399 –> 00:03:55,399 making us his children forever adopting us into his family. 85 00:03:55,639 –> 00:03:57,119 If you put these three together, 86 00:03:57,119 –> 00:04:00,039 the gospel is triple marvelous. 87 00:04:00,039 –> 00:04:02,000 And you know what I’m gonna say next 88 00:04:02,000 –> 00:04:06,720 but it’s even better. 89 00:04:06,720 –> 00:04:09,619 You say, what could top that? 90 00:04:11,919 –> 00:04:14,059 Well, when God completes the work 91 00:04:14,220 –> 00:04:17,980 that He has already begun in your life in Jesus Christ, 92 00:04:19,399 –> 00:04:24,040 a unique reflection of the glory of God 93 00:04:24,040 –> 00:04:28,760 will be seen in you a unique reflection 94 00:04:28,760 –> 00:04:32,019 like light coming off each facet of a diamond 95 00:04:32,019 –> 00:04:33,540 having its own glory. 96 00:04:33,540 –> 00:04:36,540 There will be a unique reflection 97 00:04:36,540 –> 00:04:41,540 of the glory of Jesus Christ in every one of his children, 98 00:04:41,559 –> 00:04:42,619 of His children. 99 00:04:43,839 –> 00:04:47,760 The Bible calls this glorification. 100 00:04:47,760 –> 00:04:49,720 And if you can get this framework in your mind, 101 00:04:49,720 –> 00:04:51,779 you’ll have a picture really 102 00:04:51,779 –> 00:04:53,619 of what God’s rescue really looks like, 103 00:04:53,619 –> 00:04:56,720 what salvation is all about. 104 00:04:56,720 –> 00:05:00,119 And you’ll see this theme of the glory 105 00:05:00,119 –> 00:05:02,640 that God bestows on His children 106 00:05:02,640 –> 00:05:04,320 running right throughout Romans 8. 107 00:05:04,320 –> 00:05:07,160 For example, verse 30, see what it goes. 108 00:05:07,160 –> 00:05:09,359 Those He predestined He also called. 109 00:05:09,359 –> 00:05:11,260 Those He called He also justified, 110 00:05:11,279 –> 00:05:13,420 and those He justified, what did He do? 111 00:05:13,420 –> 00:05:16,220 He also glorified. 112 00:05:16,220 –> 00:05:20,600 Or verse 18 and 19, I consider Paul says 113 00:05:20,600 –> 00:05:24,040 that the present sufferings of this world, 114 00:05:24,040 –> 00:05:26,820 they’re not worth comparing with 115 00:05:26,820 –> 00:05:31,820 the glory that will be revealed in us. 116 00:05:32,179 –> 00:05:34,380 Glory in us. 117 00:05:34,380 –> 00:05:37,859 Or verse 21, the creation itself 118 00:05:37,920 –> 00:05:41,420 will be liberated from its bondage to decay 119 00:05:41,420 –> 00:05:43,559 and the creation is going to be brought 120 00:05:43,559 –> 00:05:48,559 into the glorious freedom of the children of God. 121 00:05:51,500 –> 00:05:54,380 Now, this then, is our marvelous theme today 122 00:05:54,380 –> 00:05:56,959 and I want to make four observations 123 00:05:56,959 –> 00:06:01,959 about the glorious freedom that Paul speaks about here. 124 00:06:03,220 –> 00:06:05,100 First of all, then, let’s think about 125 00:06:05,100 –> 00:06:09,739 that freedom displayed in verse 18, Paul says, 126 00:06:09,739 –> 00:06:14,739 the sons of God will be revealed. 127 00:06:14,760 –> 00:06:16,679 I consider that our present sufferings 128 00:06:16,679 –> 00:06:20,339 are not worth comparing with the glory 129 00:06:20,339 –> 00:06:23,160 that will be revealed in us. 130 00:06:23,160 –> 00:06:28,140 The creation waits in eager expectations for what? 131 00:06:29,000 –> 00:06:34,000 The creation is waiting for the sons of God to be revealed. 132 00:06:34,119 –> 00:06:36,320 Paul’s talking now then about something very specific 133 00:06:36,320 –> 00:06:38,640 that’s going to happen in the future. 134 00:06:38,640 –> 00:06:40,359 And here’s what it is, 135 00:06:40,359 –> 00:06:45,359 the sons of God are going to be revealed. 136 00:06:45,359 –> 00:06:47,679 The sons of God, that’s us. 137 00:06:47,679 –> 00:06:49,760 That is those who have put our faith 138 00:06:49,760 –> 00:06:51,480 in the Lord Jesus Christ, 139 00:06:51,480 –> 00:06:53,959 come to know him as Savior and Lord. 140 00:06:53,959 –> 00:06:56,059 If you look back at verse 14, 141 00:06:56,059 –> 00:06:59,160 sons of God is the way that Paul describes 142 00:06:59,160 –> 00:07:00,600 ordinary Christian believers, 143 00:07:00,600 –> 00:07:03,279 those who are led by the spirit of God are sons of God. 144 00:07:03,279 –> 00:07:04,119 Why? 145 00:07:04,119 –> 00:07:05,019 Because we are adopted, 146 00:07:05,019 –> 00:07:06,440 as we saw just last week, 147 00:07:06,440 –> 00:07:09,119 into God’s wonderful family. 148 00:07:09,119 –> 00:07:10,880 And on the last day, 149 00:07:10,880 –> 00:07:12,160 the day is coming, 150 00:07:12,160 –> 00:07:17,160 when the sons of God are going to be revealed. 151 00:07:19,260 –> 00:07:20,940 Now let’s pause and ask this question. 152 00:07:20,940 –> 00:07:23,619 How do you feel instinctively, 153 00:07:23,619 –> 00:07:28,619 how do you feel about the thought of you being revealed? 154 00:07:29,100 –> 00:07:33,600 Now, you see, I think that perhaps many of us 155 00:07:33,600 –> 00:07:34,739 as a first reaction, 156 00:07:34,739 –> 00:07:35,579 I’ll think, 157 00:07:35,579 –> 00:07:37,119 whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. 158 00:07:37,119 –> 00:07:39,480 I don’t like the sound of this. 159 00:07:39,480 –> 00:07:41,540 If people knew who I really am, 160 00:07:41,540 –> 00:07:42,720 they wouldn’t like me. 161 00:07:43,720 –> 00:07:46,920 So I don’t want people knowing who I really am. 162 00:07:46,920 –> 00:07:50,519 I don’t really want to be revealed. 163 00:07:52,640 –> 00:07:57,480 Maybe you feel that at the deepest level of your life, 164 00:07:57,839 –> 00:07:59,279 right down at the core, 165 00:07:59,279 –> 00:08:01,440 maybe you feel that at the deepest level, 166 00:08:01,440 –> 00:08:03,119 you are fundamentally rotten 167 00:08:04,339 –> 00:08:06,980 and therefore that you would not want to be revealed. 168 00:08:08,820 –> 00:08:11,980 And that is a very natural reaction 169 00:08:13,339 –> 00:08:15,440 because, of course, the Bible makes it clear 170 00:08:15,440 –> 00:08:19,480 that by nature we are all rotten at the core. 171 00:08:19,480 –> 00:08:21,160 That is why we need a savior. 172 00:08:21,160 –> 00:08:23,839 That is why the rescue had to happen. 173 00:08:23,839 –> 00:08:26,160 That is why God sent His son into the world 174 00:08:28,399 –> 00:08:32,640 but is it true, of a person in Christ, 175 00:08:33,880 –> 00:08:36,739 that you are rotten at the core? 176 00:08:37,940 –> 00:08:39,059 Of course not. 177 00:08:40,119 –> 00:08:44,080 If anyone is in Christ, he is what? 178 00:08:44,080 –> 00:08:45,619 A new creation. 179 00:08:46,719 –> 00:08:49,599 The old has passed away. 180 00:08:49,599 –> 00:08:51,599 Not will pass away, it has passed away, 181 00:08:51,599 –> 00:08:53,500 the new has come. 182 00:08:54,500 –> 00:08:56,200 There may be, and doubtless are, 183 00:08:56,280 –> 00:08:59,820 many things that are rotten in your life, 184 00:08:59,820 –> 00:09:02,979 but if you are in Christ, 185 00:09:02,979 –> 00:09:06,479 you are a new person at the core. 186 00:09:06,479 –> 00:09:08,760 That’s what it means to be born again. 187 00:09:08,760 –> 00:09:13,280 And one day, what you really are will be revealed. 188 00:09:13,280 –> 00:09:16,880 What is at the heart of you will become the whole of you. 189 00:09:16,880 –> 00:09:19,179 That’s what glorification is all about. 190 00:09:19,179 –> 00:09:21,659 That’s why Paul says in verse 18, 191 00:09:21,659 –> 00:09:24,479 I consider that the present sufferings that we have 192 00:09:24,500 –> 00:09:27,739 are not worth comparing with the glory 193 00:09:27,739 –> 00:09:31,820 that will be revealed in us. 194 00:09:32,760 –> 00:09:36,960 Notice that in us, not just to us, in us. 195 00:09:36,960 –> 00:09:39,700 It’s not just that when you arrive in heaven, 196 00:09:39,700 –> 00:09:41,780 you will be in Christ’s glory, 197 00:09:41,780 –> 00:09:43,479 it’s that when you arrive in heaven, 198 00:09:43,479 –> 00:09:46,059 Christ’s glory will be in you. 199 00:09:46,059 –> 00:09:48,580 The glory that will be revealed in us, 200 00:09:48,580 –> 00:09:52,580 when we see him, we will be like him. 201 00:09:54,820 –> 00:09:58,719 Now, of course, you can’t see this glory in yourself, 202 00:09:58,719 –> 00:10:02,700 I can’t see it in myself yet. 203 00:10:02,700 –> 00:10:06,799 Because it is by faith that we know 204 00:10:06,799 –> 00:10:09,299 that we are new creations. 205 00:10:09,299 –> 00:10:10,659 And the world doesn’t see it. 206 00:10:10,659 –> 00:10:12,359 The world looks at you, looks at me, 207 00:10:12,359 –> 00:10:14,640 and all it wants to do is point out our failings 208 00:10:14,640 –> 00:10:16,380 and our faults, and there are many. 209 00:10:17,900 –> 00:10:19,919 My guess is that even the angels 210 00:10:19,919 –> 00:10:22,419 can’t see the glory in you yet, 211 00:10:22,419 –> 00:10:23,859 because they’re trying to puzzle out 212 00:10:23,880 –> 00:10:26,460 how this extraordinary salvation of human beings 213 00:10:26,460 –> 00:10:27,460 can actually work. 214 00:10:27,460 –> 00:10:30,520 They cannot fully comprehend it, the Bible tells us. 215 00:10:30,520 –> 00:10:33,679 But the day is coming, Paul says here, 216 00:10:33,679 –> 00:10:38,679 when who you are in Jesus Christ will be revealed 217 00:10:39,159 –> 00:10:41,619 and you will see it. 218 00:10:41,619 –> 00:10:44,400 You will see the full extent of God’s saving work 219 00:10:44,400 –> 00:10:46,239 in your own life. 220 00:10:46,239 –> 00:10:48,359 And the angels will see it 221 00:10:48,359 –> 00:10:51,260 and all heaven will rejoice in it. 222 00:10:52,020 –> 00:10:55,200 C.S. Lewis had a way of putting things very vividly 223 00:10:55,200 –> 00:10:57,239 and he put it like this. 224 00:10:58,619 –> 00:11:03,380 He said if you could see the glory 225 00:11:04,359 –> 00:11:06,460 that will one day be revealed 226 00:11:06,460 –> 00:11:09,020 in the Christian sitting next to you, 227 00:11:10,200 –> 00:11:12,760 have a look at the Christian sitting next to you. 228 00:11:14,559 –> 00:11:16,820 And if you’re not yet a Christian 229 00:11:16,820 –> 00:11:18,219 by the time this morning’s over, 230 00:11:18,219 –> 00:11:21,179 I hope you will be putting your trust in Christ. 231 00:11:21,179 –> 00:11:24,159 I’m serious, you don’t want to miss out on this. 232 00:11:25,380 –> 00:11:29,900 But Lewis said if you could see the glory 233 00:11:29,900 –> 00:11:32,539 that will one day be revealed 234 00:11:32,539 –> 00:11:34,900 in the Christian sitting next to you, 235 00:11:34,900 –> 00:11:37,919 you would be seriously tempted to fall down 236 00:11:37,919 –> 00:11:40,219 in front of them right now and worship. 237 00:11:42,659 –> 00:11:43,500 Wow. 238 00:11:45,159 –> 00:11:50,059 The glory that will be revealed 239 00:11:50,059 –> 00:11:52,960 in us. 240 00:11:54,440 –> 00:11:55,440 Glorification. 241 00:11:58,020 –> 00:12:00,760 So Paul says, hey, however hard it is 242 00:12:00,760 –> 00:12:02,400 for you to be a Christian, 243 00:12:02,400 –> 00:12:04,739 whatever your sufferings right now in this world, 244 00:12:04,739 –> 00:12:07,840 whatever you’re contending with on this Sunday morning, 245 00:12:07,840 –> 00:12:10,359 however hard it is for you to live with integrity, 246 00:12:10,359 –> 00:12:11,239 whatever it costs you, 247 00:12:11,239 –> 00:12:13,200 however tough your struggle against sin, 248 00:12:13,200 –> 00:12:14,799 whatever the pressure in your life 249 00:12:14,799 –> 00:12:17,359 because of following Jesus Christ, that’s nothing. 250 00:12:18,200 –> 00:12:21,320 In comparison with this glory 251 00:12:22,799 –> 00:12:25,799 that is going to be revealed in you. 252 00:12:27,099 –> 00:12:29,280 Do you know, to live a Christian life wisely, 253 00:12:29,280 –> 00:12:31,460 you really only need to know two things. 254 00:12:33,080 –> 00:12:35,640 One is you need to know who God is 255 00:12:35,640 –> 00:12:38,799 and the other is you need to know who you are. 256 00:12:40,140 –> 00:12:41,760 If we just focus in on the second 257 00:12:41,760 –> 00:12:42,919 because this is very important, 258 00:12:42,919 –> 00:12:45,679 you need to know who you are. 259 00:12:46,539 –> 00:12:49,239 You can boil that, the bible’s teaching 260 00:12:49,239 –> 00:12:50,520 about who you are really down 261 00:12:50,520 –> 00:12:52,299 to two very simple statements. 262 00:12:52,299 –> 00:12:53,320 Let me give them to you. 263 00:12:53,320 –> 00:12:54,679 I find this helpful. 264 00:12:54,679 –> 00:12:58,880 By nature, I was rotten at the core. 265 00:12:58,880 –> 00:13:01,039 I say that is why I came to Christ, 266 00:13:01,039 –> 00:13:03,239 that is why you need to come to Christ 267 00:13:03,239 –> 00:13:05,080 if you have not done so already. 268 00:13:05,080 –> 00:13:10,080 I need a Savior because of who I was by nature. 269 00:13:11,159 –> 00:13:13,260 Who needs a Savior if you’re already good 270 00:13:13,299 –> 00:13:17,239 but when you see that sin is at the very core 271 00:13:17,239 –> 00:13:19,900 of your nature, then you will come to Jesus Christ. 272 00:13:19,900 –> 00:13:21,099 When you see that and of course, 273 00:13:21,099 –> 00:13:24,039 this is why God gave us the law in the Old Testament 274 00:13:24,039 –> 00:13:26,780 because when you look at what God’s holiness 275 00:13:26,780 –> 00:13:29,140 really looks like as it’s reflected in his law, 276 00:13:29,140 –> 00:13:31,440 it’s not long if you’re really taking that seriously 277 00:13:31,440 –> 00:13:33,320 before you say, I’m nowhere near. 278 00:13:33,320 –> 00:13:36,219 I need a Savior, that’s why he gave us the law 279 00:13:37,500 –> 00:13:40,159 and when you see it, you will come to Christ. 280 00:13:40,559 –> 00:13:42,219 By nature, I was rotten at the core. 281 00:13:42,219 –> 00:13:46,919 Number two, in Christ, I am a new creation 282 00:13:46,919 –> 00:13:48,960 and you need to know this. 283 00:13:48,960 –> 00:13:52,020 You are a new creation in Jesus Christ. 284 00:13:52,020 –> 00:13:54,659 The sinful nature is not what you are. 285 00:13:55,559 –> 00:13:59,640 The sinful nature is what you are fighting against. 286 00:14:00,840 –> 00:14:03,200 Now, you need to know that you are a new person in Christ 287 00:14:03,200 –> 00:14:07,260 because if you believe that fundamentally you are a loser, 288 00:14:07,260 –> 00:14:09,659 you will live like a loser. 289 00:14:10,659 –> 00:14:12,719 But if you know and believe by faith 290 00:14:12,719 –> 00:14:15,840 and have come to grasp and to see that in Christ 291 00:14:15,840 –> 00:14:20,299 you are a new creation, you will live like 292 00:14:20,299 –> 00:14:22,099 a new creation. 293 00:14:22,099 –> 00:14:24,260 The very heart of living the Christian life 294 00:14:24,260 –> 00:14:26,179 is not pretending to be something you’re not. 295 00:14:26,179 –> 00:14:28,419 That’s Phariseeism and hypocrisy. 296 00:14:28,419 –> 00:14:32,159 The heart of being a Christian is to be who you are. 297 00:14:33,900 –> 00:14:35,900 When you sin, 298 00:14:35,900 –> 00:14:39,739 you’re doing what’s foreign to a child of God. 299 00:14:40,719 –> 00:14:45,239 Which is what you are, if you are in Christ. 300 00:14:48,320 –> 00:14:51,039 Being who you are in Christ, and one day 301 00:14:51,940 –> 00:14:56,479 his glory will be revealed in you. 302 00:14:56,479 –> 00:14:57,880 Isn’t that a wonderful truth? 303 00:14:59,739 –> 00:15:03,859 Freedom displayed, the sons of God will be revealed. 304 00:15:05,140 –> 00:15:07,419 Here’s the second thing. 305 00:15:07,479 –> 00:15:11,799 Freedom extended, God’s children will come 306 00:15:11,799 –> 00:15:15,840 into glorious freedom. 307 00:15:16,859 –> 00:15:19,000 Now we see this in verse 21. 308 00:15:19,000 –> 00:15:22,880 The creation itself will be liberated 309 00:15:22,880 –> 00:15:27,320 from its bondage to decay and brought into, what? 310 00:15:27,320 –> 00:15:31,919 The glorious freedom of the children of God. 311 00:15:32,919 –> 00:15:34,140 As we celebrate the gift 312 00:15:34,140 –> 00:15:36,840 of freedom and we thank God for it. 313 00:15:36,840 –> 00:15:41,640 And we enjoy the blessings of freedom in so many ways. 314 00:15:42,900 –> 00:15:44,299 But not always. 315 00:15:45,440 –> 00:15:46,479 Not always. 316 00:15:48,599 –> 00:15:52,880 See we experience the frustration of the bondage 317 00:15:52,880 –> 00:15:56,739 to decay in our own flesh. 318 00:15:58,719 –> 00:16:00,520 Anyone here got decaying teeth? 319 00:16:02,799 –> 00:16:04,280 Anyone this morning? 320 00:16:04,280 –> 00:16:05,580 High cholesterol? 321 00:16:07,039 –> 00:16:09,440 Loss of muscle tone? 322 00:16:10,559 –> 00:16:13,440 Aching bones, wrinkling skin? 323 00:16:15,039 –> 00:16:17,380 An old guy once wrote the ditty, 324 00:16:17,380 –> 00:16:19,780 My back is all sore. 325 00:16:19,780 –> 00:16:22,859 And my knees are all bent. 326 00:16:22,859 –> 00:16:26,940 And my get-up-and-go has got up and went. 327 00:16:27,020 –> 00:16:27,859 No. 328 00:16:29,559 –> 00:16:33,340 We are not yet free from sin, 329 00:16:33,340 –> 00:16:37,140 or failure, or sickness, 330 00:16:37,140 –> 00:16:40,099 or disabilities, or accidents, 331 00:16:40,099 –> 00:16:42,979 or suffering, or pain, or sorrow, 332 00:16:42,979 –> 00:16:47,119 or enemies, or danger, or disasters, or death. 333 00:16:49,419 –> 00:16:51,140 And in Romans chapter eight, 334 00:16:51,140 –> 00:16:54,659 Jesus Christ promises a greater freedom 335 00:16:55,640 –> 00:16:59,099 than can ever be known at any time 336 00:16:59,099 –> 00:17:01,700 or in any place in this world. 337 00:17:01,700 –> 00:17:03,919 That’s why he calls it in verse 21 338 00:17:03,919 –> 00:17:05,479 a glorious freedom. 339 00:17:06,380 –> 00:17:08,260 Because all of the freedom that we 340 00:17:08,260 –> 00:17:09,979 taste, and enjoy, and thank God for 341 00:17:09,979 –> 00:17:13,979 today is only a taste of the much greater freedom, 342 00:17:13,979 –> 00:17:16,479 the glorious freedom that is promised 343 00:17:16,479 –> 00:17:17,500 to the children of God. 344 00:17:17,500 –> 00:17:20,819 We’re talking here about freedom 345 00:17:20,819 –> 00:17:23,660 from sin, and sickness, and suffering. 346 00:17:23,699 –> 00:17:27,060 Freedom from fear, and failure, and frustration. 347 00:17:27,060 –> 00:17:30,719 Freedom from dangers, and disasters, and death. 348 00:17:31,719 –> 00:17:34,599 And you will enjoy this freedom, Paul is saying, 349 00:17:34,599 –> 00:17:37,359 not only in your redeemed soul, 350 00:17:37,359 –> 00:17:40,079 but in your resurrected body. 351 00:17:40,079 –> 00:17:42,979 Which is why in verse 23 he says we eagerly 352 00:17:42,979 –> 00:17:44,839 await for our adoption as sons, 353 00:17:44,839 –> 00:17:48,459 the redemption of our bodies. 354 00:17:48,459 –> 00:17:50,339 So, he’s making it clear to us 355 00:17:50,339 –> 00:17:52,959 that in this extended freedom, 356 00:17:53,560 –> 00:17:58,439 God’s rescue is much more than saving your soul. 357 00:17:58,439 –> 00:18:03,439 It is redeeming your life, body, soul, and spirit. 358 00:18:04,380 –> 00:18:06,900 Everything that you are will be redeemed, 359 00:18:06,900 –> 00:18:09,540 and made perfect, and adapted for eternity, 360 00:18:09,540 –> 00:18:12,160 and brought into the glorious freedom 361 00:18:12,160 –> 00:18:15,359 of the children of God. 362 00:18:15,359 –> 00:18:18,119 And, says Paul, verse 24, 363 00:18:18,140 –> 00:18:20,239 it is in this hope 364 00:18:21,319 –> 00:18:23,699 that is the hope of an even greater 365 00:18:23,699 –> 00:18:25,680 and more glorious freedom, 366 00:18:25,680 –> 00:18:30,199 a fuller life, that you were saved. 367 00:18:34,479 –> 00:18:38,319 I turned 50 this year, 368 00:18:38,319 –> 00:18:41,000 and a few friends threw a surprise party. 369 00:18:42,079 –> 00:18:44,239 Was a wonderful occasion. 370 00:18:44,239 –> 00:18:48,060 And I think the first time I’ve ever had a surprise party. 371 00:18:48,400 –> 00:18:49,800 Great evening. 372 00:18:49,800 –> 00:18:52,839 And you know the deal, your friends gather in surprise. 373 00:18:55,079 –> 00:18:59,479 God could have kept the resurrection body as a surprise. 374 00:19:01,000 –> 00:19:02,800 I mean, he’s given us the promise 375 00:19:02,800 –> 00:19:04,959 that to be absent from the body 376 00:19:05,880 –> 00:19:07,920 is to be present with the Lord. 377 00:19:07,920 –> 00:19:10,000 Funeral of a loved one, 378 00:19:10,000 –> 00:19:12,719 the body is buried, 379 00:19:12,719 –> 00:19:14,699 you go and visit the gravesite. 380 00:19:14,699 –> 00:19:16,599 But you say, well, she’s present with the Lord. 381 00:19:16,599 –> 00:19:18,680 He’s present with the Lord. 382 00:19:18,680 –> 00:19:20,119 We could live on that. 383 00:19:21,540 –> 00:19:23,719 And then when the Lord Jesus came, 384 00:19:23,719 –> 00:19:24,880 the sound of the trumpet 385 00:19:24,880 –> 00:19:26,280 and he brings the souls of those 386 00:19:26,280 –> 00:19:28,160 who are ready in his presence with him 387 00:19:28,160 –> 00:19:30,979 and we are caught up to meet the Lord in the air, 388 00:19:32,760 –> 00:19:37,119 he could have said to us, surprise! 389 00:19:37,119 –> 00:19:40,760 Well, I think we’ll be a surprise anyway, wont it? 390 00:19:40,760 –> 00:19:42,359 And we should be ready for it. 391 00:19:43,280 –> 00:19:45,040 And he could have told us then 392 00:19:45,040 –> 00:19:46,540 about the resurrection body. 393 00:19:48,760 –> 00:19:51,579 But he doesn’t keep it as a surprise, 394 00:19:51,579 –> 00:19:56,579 he wants you to know about the resurrection body now. 395 00:19:57,959 –> 00:20:00,839 Why is it so important for you to know 396 00:20:00,839 –> 00:20:04,260 about the resurrection body, now? 397 00:20:05,380 –> 00:20:08,160 There’s a big deal because so many Christians 398 00:20:08,160 –> 00:20:10,719 have this vague view of eternity 399 00:20:10,780 –> 00:20:13,119 and floating around in spirits and all the rest of it. 400 00:20:13,119 –> 00:20:14,880 We don’t quite get the resurrection body, 401 00:20:14,880 –> 00:20:17,359 and Paul says, this is critical. 402 00:20:17,359 –> 00:20:18,719 You have to get this. 403 00:20:20,079 –> 00:20:21,380 Why is it so important? 404 00:20:21,380 –> 00:20:24,400 For this reason, because God wants you to know 405 00:20:24,400 –> 00:20:29,079 that your future life will not be less than your life here. 406 00:20:29,079 –> 00:20:30,900 It will be more. 407 00:20:32,439 –> 00:20:34,680 See, many Christians have the idea 408 00:20:34,680 –> 00:20:37,359 that the future, however wonderful 409 00:20:37,359 –> 00:20:39,680 that the Lord Jesus Christ has prepared for us 410 00:20:39,699 –> 00:20:42,060 is really a kind of half life. 411 00:20:43,719 –> 00:20:46,439 We can’t imagine golf there, you see. 412 00:20:46,439 –> 00:20:48,239 How do spirits play golf, you see. 413 00:20:50,479 –> 00:20:52,359 There is a kind of compensation 414 00:20:52,359 –> 00:20:55,599 for those who grew too old or those who died too young 415 00:20:55,599 –> 00:20:58,040 and did not have the strength to continue in this world 416 00:20:58,040 –> 00:21:00,300 where the real action is. 417 00:21:02,560 –> 00:21:05,040 But the glorious freedom of the children of God 418 00:21:05,040 –> 00:21:08,479 is not a compensation for those who missed out on life here. 419 00:21:08,640 –> 00:21:11,680 It is not a half life, it is not a disembodied life. 420 00:21:13,479 –> 00:21:15,839 It is the fulfillment of the purpose 421 00:21:15,839 –> 00:21:17,500 for which you were created 422 00:21:17,500 –> 00:21:20,199 and you were created a body, soul, unity. 423 00:21:21,599 –> 00:21:24,439 And it is the purpose for which you were redeemed 424 00:21:24,439 –> 00:21:26,579 and it is pointed to by the resurrection 425 00:21:26,579 –> 00:21:27,920 of our Lord Jesus Christ. 426 00:21:27,920 –> 00:21:29,640 And God wants you to know this 427 00:21:29,640 –> 00:21:32,819 and live in this hope now. 428 00:21:35,640 –> 00:21:37,880 Karen and I have a niece. 429 00:21:39,479 –> 00:21:41,900 She’s a great joy to her parents 430 00:21:41,900 –> 00:21:43,479 and to all of us in the family 431 00:21:44,880 –> 00:21:46,839 at our seventh birthday on Friday. 432 00:21:48,439 –> 00:21:50,219 She has cerebral palsy. 433 00:21:51,680 –> 00:21:56,199 Megan lives a full life but she cannot speak. 434 00:21:58,000 –> 00:21:59,959 She’s made amazing progress. 435 00:22:01,119 –> 00:22:02,979 For a long time after she was born 436 00:22:02,979 –> 00:22:04,680 the doctors were not certain 437 00:22:04,680 –> 00:22:07,760 that she would be able to support the weight of her own head 438 00:22:09,459 –> 00:22:14,459 now she can walk and in her own kind of uncoordinated way 439 00:22:14,699 –> 00:22:17,540 she is even able to run. 440 00:22:18,640 –> 00:22:20,640 She can’t skip. 441 00:22:20,640 –> 00:22:23,239 She can’t coordinate her movement 442 00:22:24,880 –> 00:22:27,040 and now that she’s seven years old. 443 00:22:27,040 –> 00:22:31,420 Seven years old she knows she is different. 444 00:22:31,420 –> 00:22:32,260 She knows. 445 00:22:33,219 –> 00:22:38,219 Now here’s what God’s rescue looks like for Meaghan. 446 00:22:43,920 –> 00:22:48,920 One day, Meaghan will walk and skip and dance 447 00:22:51,380 –> 00:22:53,819 beautifully all she wants to. 448 00:22:55,619 –> 00:22:59,260 She will reflect the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ 449 00:22:59,400 –> 00:23:03,719 not only in a redeemed soul but in a resurrected body. 450 00:23:06,420 –> 00:23:08,839 And you may have a loved one 451 00:23:08,839 –> 00:23:11,579 who has special challenges in life 452 00:23:11,579 –> 00:23:15,459 and you think oh, they are missing out so much of life. 453 00:23:15,459 –> 00:23:16,939 No, don’t say that. 454 00:23:18,099 –> 00:23:19,800 They just haven’t got there yet. 455 00:23:21,479 –> 00:23:24,420 Or maybe you have in your mind right now 456 00:23:24,420 –> 00:23:27,219 a loved one who died early in life 457 00:23:27,219 –> 00:23:28,800 and you have all kinds of questions, 458 00:23:29,239 –> 00:23:32,579 you feel oh, they missed so much in this world. 459 00:23:33,959 –> 00:23:37,880 And you wonder, questions like what age will he be 460 00:23:37,880 –> 00:23:41,000 or what age will she be in God’s new creation? 461 00:23:41,000 –> 00:23:42,339 And I don’t know that, 462 00:23:44,180 –> 00:23:45,819 but I do know this. 463 00:23:46,920 –> 00:23:50,339 Your son, your daughter, your friend, 464 00:23:50,339 –> 00:23:54,680 your loved one will enjoy the full life, 465 00:23:54,680 –> 00:23:57,160 the glorious freedom of life 466 00:23:58,300 –> 00:24:02,160 that was God’s purpose in creating him or her 467 00:24:02,160 –> 00:24:06,160 and Jesus Christ had in mind in redeeming him or her 468 00:24:07,140 –> 00:24:09,079 and that is the promise of the gospel 469 00:24:09,079 –> 00:24:12,479 to all who are in Jesus Christ. 470 00:24:13,380 –> 00:24:18,319 And God does not want to hold this back as a surprise. 471 00:24:18,319 –> 00:24:20,060 He wants you to know it now 472 00:24:21,040 –> 00:24:26,040 so that through the tears and in the frustration 473 00:24:26,599 –> 00:24:30,619 you may have living hope not looking at life 474 00:24:30,619 –> 00:24:32,420 as if it was sort of passing away 475 00:24:32,420 –> 00:24:34,780 time like sand through your fingers 476 00:24:34,780 –> 00:24:36,660 but rather that you’re drawing nearer 477 00:24:36,660 –> 00:24:38,579 to what it’s really all about 478 00:24:41,160 –> 00:24:44,000 and there will be unspeakable joy 479 00:24:44,000 –> 00:24:47,979 in the fullness of his glory. 480 00:24:48,859 –> 00:24:53,859 So freedom displayed and freedom extended. 481 00:24:56,739 –> 00:24:57,900 Extended. 482 00:24:57,900 –> 00:25:02,900 I love to think of that freedom being extended 483 00:25:02,900 –> 00:25:05,819 in its fullness to Megan 484 00:25:05,819 –> 00:25:10,819 and you will have someone else in your mind 485 00:25:12,260 –> 00:25:16,219 and you’ll have joy as you think of that freedom 486 00:25:16,260 –> 00:25:21,079 in all its fullness being extended to them. 487 00:25:22,939 –> 00:25:26,979 Now, here’s the third thing, freedom shared. 488 00:25:28,020 –> 00:25:31,619 The creation will be brought into the glorious freedom 489 00:25:31,619 –> 00:25:35,040 of the children of God, verse 21. 490 00:25:35,979 –> 00:25:40,459 Now Paul is now telling us that when God’s rescue 491 00:25:40,459 –> 00:25:43,619 is complete, the whole planet’s going to be involved 492 00:25:43,619 –> 00:25:46,099 and it’s very interesting the way that this is put, 493 00:25:46,959 –> 00:25:49,500 that the planet will be brought into the glorious freedom 494 00:25:49,500 –> 00:25:51,540 of God’s children, not the other way around. 495 00:25:51,540 –> 00:25:54,020 It’s not that God will have the marvelous new heaven 496 00:25:54,020 –> 00:25:56,040 and earth and bring you into it. 497 00:25:56,040 –> 00:25:59,239 It is that he will have you fully redeemed 498 00:25:59,239 –> 00:26:00,859 and brought into glorious freedom 499 00:26:00,859 –> 00:26:03,079 and then he will adapt a new heaven and a new world 500 00:26:03,079 –> 00:26:04,780 that will be a fitting place for you 501 00:26:04,780 –> 00:26:06,459 to express this life. 502 00:26:08,099 –> 00:26:09,579 Now, notice the story here. 503 00:26:09,579 –> 00:26:10,660 Condensed right down. 504 00:26:10,660 –> 00:26:12,920 He tells us verse 20 that the creation 505 00:26:12,920 –> 00:26:15,119 was subjected to frustration. 506 00:26:15,979 –> 00:26:19,119 He’s talking of course about Genesis 3.17 507 00:26:19,119 –> 00:26:22,699 where after the first sin by Adam and by Eve, 508 00:26:22,699 –> 00:26:26,300 God subjected the creation to frustration. 509 00:26:26,300 –> 00:26:29,140 He said, cursed Adam is the ground 510 00:26:29,140 –> 00:26:30,780 because of you, 511 00:26:30,780 –> 00:26:33,239 because of your sin. 512 00:26:33,239 –> 00:26:34,839 So when man sinned, 513 00:26:34,839 –> 00:26:37,439 creation comes under a curse. 514 00:26:37,439 –> 00:26:39,540 Now Paul’s telling us when men and women 515 00:26:39,540 –> 00:26:41,800 are fully redeemed and we enter into 516 00:26:41,800 –> 00:26:44,420 the glorious freedom of the children of God 517 00:26:44,520 –> 00:26:47,099 then the curse that has been upon the earth 518 00:26:47,099 –> 00:26:48,540 it will be removed. 519 00:26:48,540 –> 00:26:51,219 The earth will have gone through this final judgement 520 00:26:51,219 –> 00:26:54,180 in which it is melted with fervent heat 521 00:26:54,180 –> 00:26:56,500 but then Revelation Chapter 21 522 00:26:56,500 –> 00:26:58,260 God creates a new heaven 523 00:26:58,260 –> 00:26:59,660 and a new earth 524 00:26:59,660 –> 00:27:02,380 so that the planet itself is now brought into 525 00:27:02,380 –> 00:27:04,640 and adapted for 526 00:27:04,640 –> 00:27:09,219 the life of God’s fully redeemed children 527 00:27:09,219 –> 00:27:11,040 forever and forever 528 00:27:11,040 –> 00:27:13,079 And that’s why Paul says the creation 529 00:27:13,079 –> 00:27:16,280 waits in eager expectation 530 00:27:16,280 –> 00:27:18,280 for the sons of God to be revealed 531 00:27:18,280 –> 00:27:21,219 because when our redemption is complete 532 00:27:22,239 –> 00:27:26,920 then the very creation itself gets free from the curse 533 00:27:26,920 –> 00:27:29,619 and enters into the joy 534 00:27:29,619 –> 00:27:31,619 that is already ours 535 00:27:31,619 –> 00:27:32,640 That’s why in the Old Testament 536 00:27:32,640 –> 00:27:34,339 you have things like the trees of the field 537 00:27:34,339 –> 00:27:36,160 clapping their hands 538 00:27:36,160 –> 00:27:37,199 Wonderful picture 539 00:27:39,599 –> 00:27:41,760 Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones 540 00:27:41,760 –> 00:27:43,459 I think makes this quite vivid 541 00:27:44,839 –> 00:27:48,119 He feels sorry for creation 542 00:27:48,119 –> 00:27:49,819 He says can you imagine how frustrating 543 00:27:49,819 –> 00:27:51,619 it is for the creation? 544 00:27:51,619 –> 00:27:54,079 Every year it tries to renew itself 545 00:27:54,079 –> 00:27:55,640 and every year it fails 546 00:27:57,400 –> 00:27:58,900 Comes out the deadness of winter 547 00:27:58,900 –> 00:28:00,520 and all this sudden blossom 548 00:28:00,520 –> 00:28:02,239 Creation renewing itself 549 00:28:02,239 –> 00:28:03,040 full of hope 550 00:28:04,640 –> 00:28:06,079 We come to church at easter 551 00:28:06,079 –> 00:28:07,319 and we have all the lilies 552 00:28:07,319 –> 00:28:08,479 and the daffodils 553 00:28:08,479 –> 00:28:09,520 and oh, isn’t it wonderful 554 00:28:09,520 –> 00:28:11,079 all this hope there in nature 555 00:28:12,000 –> 00:28:14,599 and where are the daffodils and the lilies 556 00:28:14,599 –> 00:28:16,160 a few weeks later? 557 00:28:16,160 –> 00:28:18,359 The bottom of a brown paper bag in the dumpster 558 00:28:19,520 –> 00:28:21,680 because the hope didn’t last 559 00:28:21,680 –> 00:28:22,719 that sprung up 560 00:2823,680 –> 00:28:25,040 and spring gives way to summer 561 00:28:25,040 –> 00:28:25,900 and summer to fall 562 00:28:25,900 –> 00:28:27,000 and fall to winter 563 00:28:28,219 –> 00:28:30,319 And nature breathes a sigh of relief 564 00:28:30,319 –> 00:28:32,140 and says better try again next year 565 00:28:35,140 –> 00:28:36,380 See that’s how the resurrection 566 00:28:36,380 –> 00:28:37,780 of Jesus Christ is different 567 00:28:37,780 –> 00:28:39,680 because the resurrection of Jesus Christ 568 00:28:39,680 –> 00:28:40,760 is a hope that lifts 569 00:28:40,760 –> 00:28:43,619 He conquers over death never to be defeated by it again 570 00:28:45,060 –> 00:28:47,180 And so the new creation when you read about it 571 00:28:47,180 –> 00:28:49,540 in Revelation Chapter 21 and 22 572 00:28:49,540 –> 00:28:52,219 it is bursting with life without death 573 00:28:53,099 –> 00:28:53,959 The whole planet 574 00:28:55,819 –> 00:28:57,540 When God wraps up human history 575 00:28:57,540 –> 00:28:59,880 He will make a new heaven and a new earth 576 00:28:59,880 –> 00:29:02,780 not a different heaven and a different earth 577 00:29:02,780 –> 00:29:04,300 the same planet made new 578 00:29:04,300 –> 00:29:07,260 perfectly adapted as the home of righteousness 579 00:29:07,260 –> 00:29:08,979 So here’s something that we can say 580 00:29:09,160 –> 00:29:11,380 in conversations about the planet 581 00:29:11,380 –> 00:29:14,239 we can say Christ will rescue the planet 582 00:29:14,239 –> 00:29:17,319 And he’ll rescue it for His children 583 00:29:18,579 –> 00:29:20,199 So the big thing is not the planet 584 00:29:20,199 –> 00:29:22,300 and the children being brought into the planet 585 00:29:22,300 –> 00:29:23,780 The big thing is the children 586 00:29:23,780 –> 00:29:26,000 and the planet gets brought into the glorious freedom 587 00:29:26,000 –> 00:29:27,180 of the children of God 588 00:29:29,060 –> 00:29:31,560 Because it’s God’s children had added to the most 589 00:29:33,280 –> 00:29:35,979 this planet will be rescued from its bondage to decay 590 00:29:35,979 –> 00:29:37,219 It will not be replaced 591 00:29:37,239 –> 00:29:39,579 It will be renewed 592 00:29:39,579 –> 00:29:40,500 and it will be brought into 593 00:29:40,500 –> 00:29:43,079 the glorious freedom of the children of God 594 00:29:43,079 –> 00:29:46,060 and maybe you will find this helpful 595 00:29:47,020 –> 00:29:48,719 you know, when we have such vague notions 596 00:29:48,719 –> 00:29:51,040 of floating spirits in heaven 597 00:29:51,040 –> 00:29:52,599 and all this kind of thing 598 00:29:52,599 –> 00:29:54,199 Well, to be absent from the body 599 00:29:54,199 –> 00:29:55,719 is to be present with the Lord 600 00:29:55,719 –> 00:29:57,380 immediately and consciously 601 00:29:57,380 –> 00:29:59,180 in a spiritual state 602 00:29:59,180 –> 00:30:02,319 Because the body is in the ground after death 603 00:30:02,319 –> 00:30:05,239 But God’s ultimate purpose for you 604 00:30:05,239 –> 00:30:07,699 is best described like this 605 00:30:07,699 –> 00:30:09,199 God’s ultimate purpose for you 606 00:30:09,199 –> 00:30:11,280 is heaven on Earth forever 607 00:30:13,599 –> 00:30:14,939 Resurrection Body 608 00:30:14,939 –> 00:30:16,520 Heaven on Earth 609 00:30:16,520 –> 00:30:18,439 Heaven on Earth forever 610 00:30:20,660 –> 00:30:23,479 That’s Revelation chapter 21 and chapter 22 611 00:30:23,479 –> 00:30:25,300 And that is Romans 8 612 00:30:29,160 –> 00:30:31,760 So if you have this idea 613 00:30:31,760 –> 00:30:33,180 I feel I’m almost fighting against it 614 00:30:33,979 –> 00:30:36,979 so deeply ingrained in many good people’s minds 615 00:30:36,979 –> 00:30:38,599 but if you have this idea that 616 00:30:38,599 –> 00:30:41,219 eternity is a vague floating around there forever 617 00:30:41,219 –> 00:30:42,979 please, will you intentionally today 618 00:30:42,979 –> 00:30:45,500 try and get rid of that 619 00:30:45,500 –> 00:30:47,260 because it will not help you 620 00:30:47,260 –> 00:30:49,380 It will reduce your anticipation of the future 621 00:30:49,380 –> 00:30:50,760 and not increase it 622 00:30:51,640 –> 00:30:54,280 And it is very important that you see 623 00:30:54,280 –> 00:30:57,420 that what God prepares in the new heaven 624 00:30:57,420 –> 00:30:59,319 and the new Earth 625 00:30:59,319 –> 00:31:01,300 is more, not less 626 00:31:01,500 –> 00:31:04,819 than Adam and Eve enjoyed in the garden of Eden 627 00:31:05,660 –> 00:31:07,420 see, if you go back to the beginning of the Bible 628 00:31:07,420 –> 00:31:09,199 what was the state there? 629 00:31:09,199 –> 00:31:13,020 Here is Adam and Eve and they enjoy a perfect life 630 00:31:13,020 –> 00:31:14,660 in this world 631 00:31:16,380 –> 00:31:18,900 unspoiled by sin 632 00:31:18,900 –> 00:31:21,219 walking with the Lord in the cool of the day 633 00:31:21,219 –> 00:31:23,780 seeing him, communing with him 634 00:31:25,040 –> 00:31:26,339 And then what happens? 635 00:31:26,339 –> 00:31:29,119 Well, Satan, who has, before the beginning of time 636 00:31:29,119 –> 00:31:31,060 already, for whatever reason 637 00:31:31,060 –> 00:31:33,859 began this dark rebellion against God 638 00:31:33,859 –> 00:31:37,579 he wants to recruit the human race into his rebellion 639 00:31:37,579 –> 00:31:41,500 he wants to eclipse the glory of God 640 00:31:42,640 –> 00:31:47,439 And if Satan is to be comprehensively defeated 641 00:31:48,300 –> 00:31:51,260 then God must bring us into an experience of life 642 00:31:51,260 –> 00:31:54,640 that is at least as good as the garden of Eden 643 00:31:55,540 –> 00:31:58,599 If it was even 1% less than the garden of Eden 644 00:31:58,599 –> 00:32:00,239 then Satan would have accomplished something 645 00:32:00,239 –> 00:32:02,280 He would have taken something away 646 00:32:02,739 –> 00:32:04,739 That’s why the Resurrection body 647 00:32:04,739 –> 00:32:08,619 At least 1 reason why the Resurrection body is so important 648 00:32:09,939 –> 00:32:13,459 But I want you to think about this because it is glorious 649 00:32:15,199 –> 00:32:17,939 What God has in the new Heaven and the new earth 650 00:32:17,939 –> 00:32:20,239 is not just equal 651 00:32:20,239 –> 00:32:23,280 to the garden of Eden 652 00:32:24,180 –> 00:32:27,040 the reflection of God’s glory 653 00:32:27,160 –> 00:32:28,920 that will be in the new Heaven and the new earth 654 00:32:28,920 –> 00:32:31,500 is not just equal to the garden of Eden 655 00:32:31,500 –> 00:32:34,459 it is much more 656 00:32:36,280 –> 00:32:39,599 God knew what he was doing 657 00:32:40,619 –> 00:32:43,739 when he created a world where men and women 658 00:32:43,739 –> 00:32:44,680 would rebel 659 00:32:45,979 –> 00:32:48,280 and find ourselves hopelessly lost 660 00:32:49,579 –> 00:32:52,400 so that God would send His Son as a sin 661 00:32:52,400 –> 00:32:54,719 offering redeeming us by His blood 662 00:32:55,660 –> 00:32:58,359 so that we being justified, sanctified, 663 00:32:58,359 –> 00:33:01,479 adopted and glorified in Christ 664 00:33:01,520 –> 00:33:04,380 should rejoice in Him and declare His glory 665 00:33:04,380 –> 00:33:06,619 not only as our Creator 666 00:33:06,619 –> 00:33:08,800 but even more as our redeemer 667 00:33:08,800 –> 00:33:11,800 in a perfect world forever 668 00:33:11,800 –> 00:33:14,739 God knew what he was doing in all of that plan 669 00:33:14,739 –> 00:33:17,420 at every step along the process 670 00:33:17,420 –> 00:33:20,640 because God knew that a redeemed creation 671 00:33:21,219 –> 00:33:22,619 would reflect His glory 672 00:35:52,919 –> 00:35:55,899 We groan inwardly as we wait eagerly 673 00:35:55,899 –> 00:35:57,840 eager waiting 674 00:35:58,739 –> 00:36:00,959 for our adoption as sons 675 00:36:01,679 –> 00:36:04,100 the redemption of our 676 00:36:04,679 –> 00:36:05,899 bodies 677 00:36:07,300 –> 00:36:09,959 now it’s interesting that the Bible talks about different kinds of groaning 678 00:36:09,959 –> 00:36:11,979 that Christians experience 679 00:36:11,979 –> 00:36:13,600 when your body wears out 680 00:36:13,600 –> 00:36:15,399 there’s a special kind of groaning 681 00:36:15,399 –> 00:36:19,840 You find that in 2 Corinthians chapter five 682 00:36:19,840 –> 00:36:21,580 the pains and the difficulties 683 00:36:21,580 –> 00:36:24,439 and the burdens of life bring their own kind of groaning 684 00:36:24,439 –> 00:36:27,419 but that is not what Paul is talking about here 685 00:36:27,560 –> 00:36:32,320 Here he’s talking about the groaning of those who know what God has prepared 686 00:36:32,600 –> 00:36:36,739 and we know that it is so good that we can hardly wait to get there 687 00:36:36,739 –> 00:36:39,260 we have the first fruits of the spirit 688 00:36:39,260 –> 00:36:43,879 and what we’ve tasted, you see, makes us groan inwardly harmlessly as we eagerly await 689 00:36:43,879 –> 00:36:47,419 There’s anticipation, freedom anticipated 690 00:36:48,100 –> 00:36:49,959 for all that will be ours 691 00:36:50,159 –> 00:36:53,639 When Christ Wraps Up Human History 692 00:36:55,080 –> 00:36:57,719 Karn was talking to a young lad 693 00:36:57,719 –> 00:37:03,739 just close to our home who this week is on a family vacation in Hilton Head 694 00:37:04,219 –> 00:37:07,239 he’d been looking forward to it so much 695 00:37:07,239 –> 00:37:10,520 he had been there briefly before and so he’d had a little taste 696 00:37:10,520 –> 00:37:14,040 and now he was really excited about going there for this week 697 00:37:14,100 –> 00:37:16,580 and Karn said to him 698 00:37:16,580 –> 00:37:19,300 now are you looking forward to your vacation? 699 00:37:19,399 –> 00:37:23,060 and he said what time is it? 700 00:37:23,060 –> 00:37:27,060 so she said well it’s it’s half past nine 701 00:37:27,060 –> 00:37:32,159 he said it’s 42 hours and 30 minutes until we go 702 00:37:32,860 –> 00:37:35,820 that is eagerly awaiting 703 00:37:35,820 –> 00:37:38,560 that is the groaning of anticipation 704 00:37:38,560 –> 00:37:40,739 that’s what Paul is catching here 705 00:37:40,739 –> 00:37:42,760 that what God has planned for you 706 00:37:42,879 –> 00:37:46,879 see it’s not just better than life at its worst 707 00:37:47,600 –> 00:37:50,080 what God has planned for you in the new heaven in the new earth 708 00:37:50,080 –> 00:37:52,040 is better than life at its best 709 00:37:52,040 –> 00:37:56,780 Better than the best you could ever imagine in this world 710 00:37:56,780 –> 00:37:59,020 better than sports 711 00:37:59,020 –> 00:38:03,419 better than dating or marriage 712 00:38:03,419 –> 00:38:05,280 better than kids 713 00:38:05,280 –> 00:38:09,280 better than a vacation in Hawaii 714 00:38:09,280 –> 00:38:11,419 better than golf 715 00:38:11,419 –> 00:38:14,260 better than retirement 716 00:38:14,260 –> 00:38:16,679 better than travel 717 00:38:16,840 –> 00:38:18,100 better than money 718 00:38:18,100 –> 00:38:19,899 better than sex 719 00:38:19,899 –> 00:38:24,899 better than any joy that you can imagine in this world 720 00:38:24,899 –> 00:38:27,379 David who was the king of Israel 721 00:38:27,379 –> 00:38:31,919 and had the richest experience of life surely that a person could enjoy 722 00:38:31,919 –> 00:38:35,239 you think about all the wealth and all the opportunities 723 00:38:35,239 –> 00:38:36,879 that surround king David 724 00:38:36,879 –> 00:38:39,760 look at his life and everything that he had 725 00:38:39,760 –> 00:38:42,439 and King David says this in psalm 63 726 00:38:42,439 –> 00:38:43,600 he says to God 727 00:38:43,639 –> 00:38:48,639 your love is better than life 728 00:38:50,600 –> 00:38:51,520 better than life 729 00:38:54,540 –> 00:38:56,639 and if you’re a Christian you’ve tasted 730 00:38:56,639 –> 00:38:58,520 just a little bit of that 731 00:39:01,639 –> 00:39:04,040 and Paul says therefore we live in anticipation 732 00:39:04,040 –> 00:39:06,760 not as those who feel that life is running down 733 00:39:06,760 –> 00:39:08,760 and becoming less and less 734 00:39:09,679 –> 00:39:11,040 but that every step of your life’s journey 735 00:39:11,560 –> 00:39:12,540 is getting nearer to that 736 00:39:12,540 –> 00:39:15,020 for which God not only created you 737 00:39:15,020 –> 00:39:18,439 but in Christ has redeemed you. 738 00:39:21,500 –> 00:39:23,340 He said that the series is aimed 739 00:39:26,179 –> 00:39:28,060 to help you savor 740 00:39:29,120 –> 00:39:32,459 all that is yours in Jesus Christ. 741 00:39:32,459 –> 00:39:33,719 I hope you’re doing that. 742 00:39:35,280 –> 00:39:36,120 I hope you’re feeling more and more 743 00:39:36,120 –> 00:39:38,679 on these Sunday mornings, boy to know Jesus Christ 744 00:39:39,100 –> 00:39:40,699 is the richest, most glorious thing 745 00:39:40,699 –> 00:39:43,540 in all of life and will be for all eternity. 746 00:39:44,699 –> 00:39:49,239 And to offer myself to him and to love him 747 00:39:49,239 –> 00:39:51,159 and to worship him and to live for his glory 748 00:39:51,159 –> 00:39:53,840 whatever the cost is just the greatest, 749 00:39:53,840 –> 00:39:57,780 greatest thing I could ever do with my life. 750 00:39:59,899 –> 00:40:01,800 And the second aim was to say this 751 00:40:01,800 –> 00:40:04,659 that if you are not yet a Christian, 752 00:40:04,659 –> 00:40:07,560 if you have not yet come to Jesus Christ, 753 00:40:07,679 –> 00:40:10,260 if you have not yet come to know him as your Savior, 754 00:40:10,260 –> 00:40:14,600 I want you to savor all that can be yours 755 00:40:15,500 –> 00:40:16,600 in Jesus Christ. 756 00:40:16,600 –> 00:40:20,520 I hope you’re seeing, even if you have not yet believed 757 00:40:21,399 –> 00:40:24,840 that this is an amazing rescue. 758 00:40:27,000 –> 00:40:31,239 And here’s what can be yours in Jesus Christ today. 759 00:40:32,159 –> 00:40:35,719 Justification, your sins forgiven 760 00:40:35,719 –> 00:40:38,000 by the shed blood of Jesus on the cross for you, 761 00:40:38,000 –> 00:40:39,580 that can be yours today. 762 00:40:40,939 –> 00:40:45,800 Sanctification, the power of sin broken in your life, 763 00:40:45,800 –> 00:40:47,120 I’m not saying you won’t have a battle. 764 00:40:47,120 –> 00:40:50,360 We all have many battles, all our lives, 765 00:40:50,360 –> 00:40:51,780 but the Holy Spirit within you 766 00:40:51,780 –> 00:40:53,959 putting you in an entirely different position, 767 00:40:53,959 –> 00:40:56,879 positioning you to prevail, to live a new life 768 00:40:56,879 –> 00:40:58,840 because you’re a new person. 769 00:40:58,939 –> 00:41:00,120 You’re a new person. 770 00:41:00,120 –> 00:41:03,560 Adoption, being brought from the awareness 771 00:41:03,560 –> 00:41:05,419 that is at the core of your being 772 00:41:05,419 –> 00:41:07,159 that God is somehow against you 773 00:41:07,159 –> 00:41:11,280 and that you’re outside of a relationship with Him 774 00:41:11,280 –> 00:41:13,699 to know that you are in his family 775 00:41:13,699 –> 00:41:16,399 and that you’re surrounded by his love now and forever. 776 00:41:16,399 –> 00:41:19,020 That is yours and can be yours in Jesus Christ, 777 00:41:19,020 –> 00:41:21,760 and one day, glorification, 778 00:41:21,760 –> 00:41:23,820 for you to be caught up with the people of God 779 00:41:23,820 –> 00:41:27,500 and then when Jesus Christ wraps up human history 780 00:41:27,959 –> 00:41:29,340 to be brought into all the glories 781 00:41:29,340 –> 00:41:30,800 of the new heaven and the new earth, 782 00:41:30,800 –> 00:41:33,500 all this can be yours in Jesus Christ. 783 00:41:33,500 –> 00:41:34,879 That’s some rescue. 784 00:41:36,260 –> 00:41:38,100 And whatever it is that’s holding you back 785 00:41:38,100 –> 00:41:41,600 from making the pledge of your life to Jesus Christ, 786 00:41:41,600 –> 00:41:44,659 I don’t know what it is, but it can’t be bigger than this. 787 00:41:46,580 –> 00:41:49,780 So I want to invite you to bow your head 788 00:41:49,780 –> 00:41:51,179 and your heart before Him today 789 00:41:51,179 –> 00:41:53,379 to be able to say, you know, 790 00:41:53,379 –> 00:41:56,939 by nature I am rotten at the core, 791 00:41:56,939 –> 00:41:59,899 I need you Jesus Christ, I need this rescue. 792 00:42:01,020 –> 00:42:03,979 Now will you come and bring me into all 793 00:42:03,979 –> 00:42:06,139 that Jesus Christ can make mine. 794 00:42:06,139 –> 00:42:10,120 I trust you for that, I turn to you today. 795 00:42:11,040 –> 00:42:12,540 Let’s pray together, shall we. 796 00:42:14,020 –> 00:42:18,820 Father, seal your word 797 00:42:19,939 –> 00:42:22,780 and bear fruit from it by your spirit 798 00:42:22,919 –> 00:42:26,179 in the hearts of your people 799 00:42:27,820 –> 00:42:30,580 and in the hearts of those who are turning 800 00:42:30,580 –> 00:42:35,580 to you right now for Jesus sake, amen.

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Colin Smith

Trustee / Founder and Teaching Pastor

Colin Smith is the Senior Pastor of The Orchard Evangelical Free Church in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. He has authored a number of books, including Heaven, How I Got Here and Heaven, So Near – So Far. Colin is the Founder and Teaching Pastor for Open the Bible. Follow him on X formerly Twitter.

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Sermons on Romans 8 Jesus died to rescue us—but what does He rescue us from? Many today believe that Jesus Christ rescues them from their sins, and having secured forgiveness, the rest is up to them. In these sermons on Romans 8, you will discover the good news that Jesus’ rescue involves much more than

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