Introduction: In Romans 8:1-17, Paul laid the foundation for Life in the Spirit. If we are to move from spiritual misery (Romans 7) to spiritual maturity (Romans 8), then it’s imperative that we put into practice those truths (justification, obedience, new mindset, new life, discipline, new spiritual identity).

 

But the process of spiritual maturity is not automatic. In fact, the road to spiritual maturity includes suffering. There’s no glory without suffering! We should expect to experience some kind of suffering—physical, emotional, spiritual in our lives. This is where Romans 8:18-27 comes into play.

 

Romans 8:18-27 answers the question, “How do we respond to suffering?” Some will doubt God’s love for us. Others will conclude that He’s not powerful enough. Many will take a few steps away from God and keep Him at a distance. What about you? “How do you respond to suffering?”

 

Persevering in the Spirit is Paul’s answer. In Romans 8:18-27, Paul identifies a path for persevering in the Spirit (perspective in suffering, hope in our future redemption, Spirit’s intercession). Instead of falling away from God during times of suffering, Paul’s path for persevering in the Spirit will bring us into a deeper spiritual intimacy with God.

 

8:18: Gaining a perspective in suffering is Paul’s first point for persevering in the Spirit. Continuing the idea of suffering leading to glorification (8:17), Paul proclaims “that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” (8:18)

 

The word “consider” refers to someone who has thought about it carefully and “weighed the evidence and thus reckon it to be so.” (Hughes, 151) Paul’s experience of suffering and understanding of glorification (via God’s revelation) allowed him to declare this truth (cf. Acts 20:23; 21:27, 30-31; 23:3; 27:41; 2 Corinthians 11:23-27; 4:17).

 

When we suffer it’s imperative that we have the proper perspective—it’s temporarily and points to our ultimate glorification when we will see Jesus face to face (1 John 3:2; Revelation 22:4). There’s just no comparison here! It’s no wonder that many martyrs focused on God’s glory and meeting Jesus as they experienced persecution.

 

8:19-22: Paul highlights the importance of gaining a perspective in suffering by pointing to creation. He makes three observations. First, creation “waits with eager longing.” (8:19) From a poetical standpoint, creation is waiting for “the revealing of the sons of God” (8:19) when we will receive our glorified bodies.

 

Second, “creation was subjected to futility” (8:20) and “bondage and corruption” (8:21) until its ultimate redemption (cf. 2 Peter 3:1-13; Revelation 21-22). Most believe that Paul is referring to the curse of creation in Genesis 3:17-19. While God cursed the ground (thorns, thistles, sweat of your face), there still remains “hope” because God is in control of the process.

 

Third, the process of redemption is intense, but ultimately satisfying. Paul referred to the “groaning” of creation and “pains of childbirth” (8:22) This is the first mention of groaning (three times in this passage). A groan highlights an intense and emotional cry but it can be both negative and positive. Negatively, creation groans because of its futility and bondage, but positively it groans because creation is longing to be redeemed perfectly.

 

The illustration of childbirth fits the theme well. The process of childbirth is full of pain and suffering, but the end result is jubilation. When a mother sees her newborn baby for the first time, her tears of pains have become tears of satisfaction and joy.

 

8:23-25: Hope in our future redemption is Paul’s second point for persevering in the Spirit. Why do Christians have hope in the midst of their suffering? First, we “have the firstfruits of the Spirit.” (8:23) According to Stott, “the firstfruits was both the beginning of the harvest and the pledge that the full harvest would follow in due times.” (232) So, we have hope because the Spirit given at our salvation is a down payment, a pledge of our future glorification.

 

Second, we “groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.” (8:23) As mentioned earlier, a groan is both negative and positive. Negatively, we groan because of our suffering. But a groan can be positive when its full of hope. We have hope because we groan for our complete “adoption” and “redemption.” (I believe that Christians need to groan more in the sense of longing for God’s glory and our ultimate redemption.)

 

Third, we have hope that our present suffering will be finally eradicated because it’s premised on the hope of our salvation (8:24). We have been set free from the law, the power of sin, Adam’s guilt and judgment, but these gospel blessings will not be completely fulfilled and experienced until our ultimate glorification. Because God is in control of this whole process, we can and need to “wait for it [our complete salvation] with patience.” (8:25)

 

8:26-27: The Spirit’s ministry of intercession is Paul’s third point for persevering in the Spirit. In the midst of “our weakness…we do not know what to pray.” (8:26) So, how does the Spirit help us during our weakness and suffering?

 

First, “the Spirit helps us in our weakness.” (8:26) There are times when we are simply a loss of words for praying because of our weakness. This probably doesn’t refer to a weakness of faith (someone who is living in the flesh like Romans 7:13-25), but rather, simply a loss of words for prayer during our suffering. Is it not difficult to pray (with the “right” words) during times of great distress and suffering?

 

Second, “the Spirit…intercedes for us with groaning too deep for words.” (8:26) Again, the “groaning” refers to a deep and intense cry. Pate explains: “The Spirit groans on behalf of the believer who sufferings in this age. But the Spirit’s groaning is also a sign that the age to come has already dawned.” (176) The Spirit groans negatively for us because of our suffering, but there’s a positive groaning because the Spirit is praying for our ultimate perseverance and glorification in the midst of our suffering.

 

Third, the Spirit prays for us “according to the will of God.” (8:27). Osborne notes: “God knows the Spirit prays in keeping with his will. This is how we know that God’s will is going to be accomplished, for the Spirit’s intercession undergirds our prayers.” (219) In short, in the midst of our weakness and suffering, the Spirit sustains us with his prayers.

 

1. What kind of personal sufferings have you experienced? To what extent have you found peace in the midst of your sufferings? How do we find peace while we are suffering?

 

2. How does Romans 8:18 address the issue of suffering and perseverance?

 

3. Why is creation “groaning?” (8:19-22) How does this groaning run parallel to our brokenness and the blessings of the gospel?

 

4. Why do we groan while we wait for “the redemption of our bodies?” (8:23-25)

 

5. For Paul, the idea of hope has played a key role while we wait for Christ’s return. What makes hope so important? How do we experience hope?

 

6. The Spirit also “groans.” (8:26-27) How does the Spirit’s groaning/intercession encourage you?

 

7. In Romans 8:18-27, Paul identifies a path for persevering in the Spirit (perspective in suffering, hope for a future redemption, Spirit’s intercession). How can these truths make a difference in your life for upcoming week, month, year?