Romans 8:24-30: Our Hope

I. Base Text: Romans 8:24-30

II. Understanding the Text
   A. "This hope" (Romans 8:24)
      1. What is "this hope"?
      2. Romans 8:19-23: redemption of bodies, groaning of creation 
         for renewal
      3. Romans 8:18: glory to appear greater than difficulties 
         suffered
      4. Romans 8:14-17: adoption as sons of God, heirs of God
      5. Romans 8:1-13: contrast of living according to flesh, 
         living according to Spirit-- need to live according to 
         Spirit
   B. The Nature of Hope (Romans 8:24-25)
      1. Saved in "this hope"-- promises of God fulfilled in Gospel, 
         expectations of promises of Jesus' return, resurrection, 
         and eternal life (Romans 1:16, Acts 17:30- 31, 
         1 Corinthians 15)
      2. Hope as unseen-- if perceived, no longer hope!
      3. We wait with patience to have our hope realized
   C. Intercession of the Spirit (Romans 8:26-27)
      1. We live in weakness
      2. Spirit assists us, interceding for us before God, 
         inexpressible groanings
      3. Spirit intercedes for saints, God knows the thoughts of the 
         Spirit
   D. All Things For Good (Romans 8:28)
      1. An encouraging statement!
      2. For all who love God, things work out for good
      3. May not always be evident how, but they do!
      4. Consider Joseph-- Genesis 37-50
      5. Suffered many things, yet it worked out for good 
         (Genesis 50:20)
   E. Predestination, Foreknowledge, Conformity (Romans 8:29-30)
      1. Another difficult couple of verses
      2. Consider also Ephesians 1:3-6
      3. Predestination as based in God's foreknowledge
      4. God not violating free will-- an encouraging passage for 
         believers
      5. Ephesians 3:11: God's eternal plan
      6. God calls through Gospel, likely knows who will obey it to 
         the end, who will not
      7. Believers as experiencing conformity to the image of the Son 
         (cf. 1 Corinthians 11:1, Galatians 2:20, 1 John 2:6)
      8. Jesus thus Firstborn of many brothers
      9. Those predestined called, those called justified, those 
         justified glorified
      10. Not some mysterious heavenly working, but according to 
          God's revelation 
      11. Called: Matthew 22:9, 14, 2 Peter 1:3-- that God calls 
          believers does not deny that God also would call 
          unbelievers!
      12. Justified: Romans 5:9; 6:7, Galatians 3:8, James 2:24-25
      13. Glorified: John 17:1, Acts 3:13-- cf. Philippians 2:5-11
      14. Past tense not saying that all things have already 
          happened-- past tense indicates that we can have great 
          confidence that it will take place, as if it has already 
          happened!

III. Application
   A. Living in Hope
      1. From Romans 8:24-25, we see that we are currently living 
         by hope
      2. cf. 1 Corinthians 13:10
      3. Hope that we will be saved as we are currently saved 
         (1 Peter 1:3-9)
      4. Hope that we will obtain the redemption of our bodies
      5. Our faith, life, confidence-- all in hope!
      6. Hope not worthless; instead, most valuable!
      7. Hope as leading to patience: since we have not yet obtained 
         it, but look for it, we gain patience and endurance so that 
         we can obtain it (1 Corinthians 9:24-27, James 1:2-4)
      8. The things God has promised us are awesome-- let us hope for 
         them in patience!
   B. Intercession of the Spirit
      1. Realization of our weaknesses: we do not know all things for 
         which we should pray
      2. Spirit as interceding for us-- the Spirit is on our side!
      3. Extremely encouraging to consider
   C. All Things Leading to Good
      1. A statement we have to take on faith!
      2. Many times circumstances do not look like they will be 
         positive in the least
      3. Yet for those who love God, all things work out for good 
         (Romans 8:28)
      4. Consider Joseph, Esther, others
      5. "Good" may not always be something pleasant-- perhaps the 
         "good" is growth in character (James 1:2-4)
      6. Do we have enough faith in God to accept that even if 
         circumstances seem dire, all things will eventually work out 
         for the good?
   D. Comfort From Predestination and Foreknowledge
      1. Romans 8:29-30 often passed over or explained away because 
         of its difficulties
      2. Yet, when we understand what Paul is trying to do, we can 
         gain great encouragement
      3. Not a denial of free will, acceptance of Augustinian 
         Calvinism
      4. Recognition that God's hand is still there throughout our 
         lives (Ephesians 3:11)!
      5. God has provided the means by which we can be saved
      6. God presides over our calling, justification, and 
         glorification
      7. God knows us in advance, and based on His knowledge of
         what will be done, He makes sure that the way is paved for 
         our salvation!
      8. This does not deny our need to hear the Word, believe it, 
         and obey it!
      9. It also does not mean that God has already predetermined 
         who will be saved and condemned based only in His sovereign 
         choice!
      10. It does mean, however, that we're not going to lose out in 
          some cosmic accident, or somehow be passed over
      11. This is to encourage: God's care for us from before the 
          foundation of the world!

IV. Conclusion
   A. This passage quite controversial and contentious for many 
      reasons
   B. Nevertheless, great encouragement to be gained from 
      Romans 8:24-30
      1. Hope of salvation
      2. Intercession of the Spirit
      3. All things work out for good for those who love God
      4. God foreknows those who will be His, paves the way so that 
         they can be saved
   C. Let us praise God for such a wonderful salvation and strive to 
      do His will!
   D. Invitation/songbook