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"The sufferings of this present time..."

Text: Romans 8:18

THE SUFFERING WE MAY HAVE TO ENDURE

Many are afraid of suffering. Many more are unable to cope with suffering. Let us learn how we may view suffering more positively.

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time
are not worthy to be compared with the glory which
shall be revealed in us.
For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits
for the revealing of the sons of God.”
Romans 8:18-19

1. “For I consider”

a) Paul shares how he reasoned things out.

b) The word “consider” suggests that he adopted a logical reasoning approach to the matter of suffering.

2. “The sufferings of this present time”

a) Suffering is to be anticipated.

b) The Lord Jesus forewarned His disciples about the problem of suffering.

i) If the Master was persecuted.

ii) The disciples must not be alarmed if they too were to suffer.

c) Paul had to endure much suffering (2 Corinthians 11).

3. “Not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us”

a) The present may include suffering.

b) The future will be glorious.

c) This glory far exceeds the pain and sorrow that we may have to endure for the moment.

4. “The earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits”

a) The creation of God earnestly waits for the day when God will create everything anew.

b) This is a glorious sense of hope.

5. “For the revealing of the sons of God”

a) Paul wrote more extensively about this in 1 Corinthians 15.

b) The sons of God will be given a new resurrection body.

c) This will be truly glorious for it would be like the resurrected body of the Lord Jesus Christ.

d) This is a hope that we must earnestly cling to with all the faith we have.