An Incredible Chapter

Since early September of last year, I have had the privilege of sharing with a group of two dozen or so men at an early Tuesday morning Bible study here at Buffalo Covenant Church.  We have been slowly working our way through the first eight chapters of Romans.  We have had some very interesting discussions along the way that has caused us to be stretched in our understanding of the Scriptures.  We are now in the middle of chapter eight - one of the greatest passages in all the Bible, or at least from the pen of Paul. 

As you might remember, the chapter begins and closes with two incredible truth-statements about our relationship with Jesus Christ.  Paul begins so powerfully with what I call "Tower #1" - "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set met free from the law of sin and death."  What an incredible statement - "I am no longer condemned by God because my trust is now in Jesus Christ."  I am reminded that Paul wrote to the Ephesians and shared with them that before they came to a saving knowledge of Jesus, they were "dead in their trespasses and sins" and they were "separated from God."  We were at war with God because our sins were hostile to God.  But then we met Jesus and the war with God ceased.  Not just a cease-fire, but the war stopped.  There was an unconditional surrender of self to God.  And peace came.  Paul referred to it in Romans 5:1 - "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."  This results in no longer being under the condemnation of God!

Paul closes this chapter with a powerful truth I call "Tower #2" - For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."  Isn't that an amazing truth?  Once we have experienced that love that God has shown us in the sacrifice of His Son, there is nothing that can separate us from that love...absolutely nothing!  Praise God for this powerful truth!

Now what caught my attention this past week are those verses that describe how we are eagerly waiting for the redemption of our bodies.  Paul writes, "Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies" (verse 23).  Our adoption as sons of God has been initiated, but it is not yet completed.  That completion will occur when we receive our risen, glorified, transformed bodies.  Paul says, "For in this hope we were saved" (verse 24).  This got me to thinking: What do we emphasize when someone comes to Christ for salvation?  Well, we tell them that God will forgive their sins which happens immediately.  We tell them that they are reconciled to God, which also happens immediately.  We tell them that they are now children of God, also an immediate happening.  And we might tell them they have eternal life which is also an immediate happening, however, most of us actually believe it becomes ours when we die.  But do we ever share with them that someday they will get a new body?  And yet Paul says that is part of the hope we have when we are saved.  The older I get the more I appreciate the fact that this body I presently live in is not my final one.  I have a new body that awaits me some day - a body fitted, not for life on this earth, but for life on a new earth. 

One final thought from this amazing section.  Paul says "But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently" (verse 25).  I believe there is a twofold warning implied here in this statement.  First, we can get so excited over the perceived nearness of this redemption - this return of Jesus - that we just settle into our "spiritual rocking chairs" and wait.  If one searches the Internet, one can find those who are making predictions about the return of Jesus that it is very soon.  (And, by the way, I believe that the signs are multiplying and becoming more clearly defined, leading me to believe that the coming might be getting closer).  Yet the problem with this excitement is that it causes some people, especially younger people, to not focus clearly upon how God might direct their futures.  "Well, the Lord is coming, so I probably should not go to college."  "Well, the Lord is coming, so I need to be careful about getting married and starting a family or making any long-term commitments." 

There is a second warning: We see the signs around us and we get apathetic about them.  It is so easy to say, "Well, we have gone through similar situations in history before and the Lord did not come then.  What about the Holocaust, that was certainly a tragic situation and the Lord did not come then.  Why should He come now?"  This is what I call "Ecclesiastes-thinking."  You might remember that little book Solomon wrote late in his life.  "There is a time for every purpose under heaven" and "there is nothing new under the sun."  To summarize Solomon, history is just a big circle and we are like a hamster on the treadmill running around the circle.  And, mostly I would agree.  Yet, there have been moments when God has stepping onto that circle and changed the course.  He did it at the time of the flood.  Read 2 Peter 3 to see how Peter relates that event to those with "Ecclesiastes-thinking" at the end of the age.  And He will do it again when He returns.

So, how are we to respond as we groan, awaiting the redemption of our bodies and the completion of our adoption?  Paul say we are to wait patiently.  That means that, yes, I will pay attention to what is happening around me.  Yes, I will get excited for the coming of the Lord.  And, yes, I will be faithful in living my life as a testimony before others.  As one preacher said, "Live as if today Jesus might come; plan as if He might come ten years from now."  Good advice. 

Friends, I would encourage you to sit down this week and read this amazing chapter.  Don't read it quickly.  Read it slowly and with careful thought.  I can guarantee that God will speak to your heart through His Spirit as you read and you will develop a deeper appreciation of your relationship with Him.