1. Three Groans and One Glory
Romans 8:18-30

2. Three Groans
Groan 1
Groan 2
Groan 3

3. One Glory

4. ONE GLORY

5. Present Suffering and Future Glory
Paul’s sufferings
I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 2 Corinthians 11:23-28

6. Present Suffering and Future Glory
Paul’s suffered immensely yet held on to the hope for glory.
Glory grows out of suffering

7. Creation groan and hope (vv. 19-22)
Frustration
V 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it.

8. Creation groan and hope (vv. 19-22)
Genesis 3:17-19  (NIV)
17 To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’
“Cursed is the ground because of you;     through painful toil you will eat food from it     all the days of your life. 18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you,     and you will eat the plants of the field. 19 By the sweat of your brow     you will eat your food until you return to the ground,     since from it you were taken; for dust you are     and to dust you will return.”

9. Creation groan and hope (vv. 19-22)
Frustration
V 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it.
Because of sin creation became a sufferer and was filled with futility, decay, and death.
Sometimes there appears to be no hope. But there is!
V 21 Creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

10. Creation groan and hope (vv. 19-22)
Revelation 22
Eden Restored
22 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be any curse.

11. Creation groan and hope (vv. 19-22)
Frustration
V 21Creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.
No longer will there be any curse.

12. THE CHURCH'S GROAN AND HOPE (vv. 23-25)
We groan because of the misery of living in our fallen bodies in this fallen world.
we groan because we see possibilities that are not being accomplished.
We groan physically in our pain and our limitation.
Life consists of a great deal of groaning.
Groan 2

13. THE CHURCH'S GROAN AND HOPE (vv. 23-25)
We have hope because we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.V23 2 Corinthians 5:2-3 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, 3 because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked.
Groan 2

14. THE CHURCH'S GROAN AND HOPE (vv. 23-25)
We have hope because we have the firstfruits of the Spirit.
‘initial down-payment’ of the eternal heritage of glory that awaits believers.
We have hope because we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. V 23
In this hope we are saved. V24
we wait for it patiently… V25
Groan 2

15. THE HOLY SPIRIT'S GROAN AND HOPE (vv. 26, 27)
The Spirit helps us in our weakness. V26
When we do not know what we ought to pray for…
the Spirit himself intercedes for us. V 26
Through wordless groans.
Like when Jesus was approaching the tomb of Lazarus, Jesus groaned in his spirit because he was so burdened by the way that sin had influenced a believing family.
And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. V 27

16. God's purpose for us is to be glorified (vv.28-30)
We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. V 28
This does not mean that "everything will turn out okay in this life."
Everything that happens in life is used by God to prepare us in some way for the future revelation of glory.

17. God's purpose for us is to be glorified (vv.28-30)
Frustration
Hope
Sufferings
Liberated
bondage
Children of God
decay
Adoption
groaning
First fruits
wait
Redemption
weakness
Purpose
Glory!

18. God's purpose for us is to be glorified (vv.28-30)

19. God's purpose for us is to be glorified (vv.28-30)