Review and
introduction
We saw last week
(from 2 Corinthians 5) that as we receive Christ’s forgiveness we become part
of God’s new creation. We read: “If anyone is in Christ – [there is a] new
creation” (v.17). Through the work of Jesus, the old is passing away and the
new is coming. The question then is … where do we stand in this? So often we
only look inside, rather than out the window … at the broader picture of what
God is doing. What is our part in this “new creation” that is emerging? We will
turn [in a moment] to Romans chapter 8 to assist with the answer.
The resurrection
of Jesus was the point in time when the old was over and the new came in.
However, everything will not be completely new, and creation will not be fully
restored, until Jesus returns, and everything is then put completely right.
But, what are we called to do in the meantime?
I have seen
attitudes that represent various responses (that I might add are contrary to
Scripture):
·
Let the
world go its own way, and we will find our little safety bubble
·
Criticise
everything, blame the devil, and just wait for Jesus to return
·
The
quicker the world dies, the sooner Jesus will come
·
God
is in control, we don’t have to do anything
·
I’ll
just worry about my own salvation and blessing
·
God
will win in the end, so don’t worry about it, or,
·
It’s
all too hard.
A little bit
differently, with people seeing various tensions, the response may be:
·
I’ll
give up on faith, because it seems that God has lost interest
·
I’ll
give up on the church, because it seems to make no positive difference, or
conversely,
·
An
attitude of trying to fix everything, without first listening and relying on
God.
Much more
correctly:
·
We
can live lives of active integrity that partner with God in the activity of
restoring all creation.
We need to
critique both complacency and despair. Any sense of immanence about the
return of Jesus should heighten ethical action rather than diminish it. Our
suffering and groaning should cause us to pursue with urgency the tasks of love
and mutual service in the name of Jesus. God is equipping the church community
in numerous ways to participate in His plans. We are called to stand as God’s
sign of promise in a dark world, planting hope … by being ‘signposts’ …
pointing to what God is going to do. The “new creation” is thus beginning to
appear, whether it seems that way or not!
I use the notion
of ‘restoring creation’, even though we also think in terms of “new” creation,
because there was nothing wrong with the original creation until it was marred
by bad human decision-making. It is the harmony and vision of the original
creation that we want to re-capture. It is we who live in this
environment, who can easily praise God for the wonders of creation. It is we
who come to worship, who can easily appreciate the possibilities of redeemed
humanity (for we ourselves have been redeemed).
The “old” that
has passed away, is not what God described (at the beginning) as “very
good”, but rather all those things that marred what began “very good”. “New”
creation then, is the perfecting of what has gone astray, whether that be the
physical environment (and everything contained in it), or human lives in the
depth of their souls.
To put this
simply – we are called to
make the world a better place. We pray, “Your kingdom come; Your will be done,
on earth, as it [already] is in heaven”. This is our prayer … when we hear the
news each morning, when another catastrophe has been reported. But at the same time,
this prayer engages us in being part of the solution … maybe only in small
ways, but engaging us nonetheless.
Great chapter,
great verses (Romans 8 verses 19-21)
If I asked you
about great chapters of the Bible, I’m sure some really good ones would be
suggested. Romans chapter 8 stands as one of those writings … that inspire the
Jesus-following life in so many ways. We are here just studying the middle
part, and only touching the surface. But this is the verse that fires me up …
verse 19: For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the
children of God. I have to say that this is the concept that drives my
thinking; while at the same time as feeling just as paralysed as many of you
may do.
As we are
revealed as God’s children before the world, positive things happen! And there
is an expectation and longing within creation that people will be revealed as
children of God. Despite how things look, there is hope – because God is out
and about redeeming people into His Kingdom!
Who are the
children of God? How are the children of God revealed?? What impact do they
have??? Built into creation is the longing and the expectation for the
redemptive activity of the children of God! There was nothing wrong with God’s
original creation – it was brilliant; but it did have the capacity to be marred
by human sin. And from the day of the “fall” (Genesis 3), and from the moment
each of us make wrong decisions, creation is marred. Yet within this freewill
for us to do good or evil, stands God’s gracious invitation to obtain the
freedom of the glory of the children of God (verse 21b). This has happened
through what Jesus has done for us.
We become
children of God as we accept the gift of forgiveness and reconciliation that
God has brought to us. And then, as verse 14 puts it, … all who are led
by the Spirit of God are children of God. So it is those who
accept God’s gift of forgiveness, come into relationship with Jesus, and go on
with this in discipleship, that are the children of God.
We are saved ourselves
in the hope that creation itself will receive its freedom (verses 20-21). So
thus we take on the challenges that the world presents us with! We think about
the issues of our time. Young people in detention being treated so badly!
Mental health issues. Loneliness. Problem gambling. Substance abuse. Family
violence and dislocation. Bullying … what do many violent offenders have in
common? They were bullied; not to lessen their crime, but to understand the
social problem that we need to remedy. Is it easier to build bigger prisons
than tackle bullying? We can continue to treat symptoms or begin to address
evil!
What are the
issues that get you going?? We would have a collection of different concerns,
some overlapping, some unique. We might differ on how we think about these, or
how they should be addressed … which [by the way] still could be complimentary
… but at least we are involved. We were given responsibility and stewardship
for the earth from day one (Genesis 1:28), and that has never changed!
Suffering and
groaning and healing (v.18, 22-25)
We ourselves
continue to suffer as victims of sin … both our own sin and that of others. The
whole human environment is suffering and groaning in maybe unprecedented
proportions. So much violence and shedding of innocent blood. So many cancers.
Injustice everywhere. The destruction of forests. Pollution. Here again is the
neglect of that responsibility and stewardship! So much greed. What is it about
the world today that makes you “groan” [in solidarity with creation] … in
frustration, or in anger, on in desperation to see change?? Some of this is
likely to be frustration with ourselves – not being able to fully break free,
not being able to be as joyful and as thankful as we want to be, not being able
to be part of the solution like we want to be.
But within all
this, the glory of God still dwells; and dwells most especially in suffering.
It might be hard to see; yet here is our hope, here is our vision. God is
working his way through tragedy, drawing people toward a new spiritual
experience. And God will have the final say when the time comes and everything
will be as new. We ourselves want to be … what we can’t seem to be … and groan
inwardly. We live in the tension of having the Holy Spirit, yet still having the
capacity to fall so short. But there remains this glorious hope … of God
ultimately completing in us what he once began.
The “suffering”
that Paul refers to in verse 18, may also include the difficulties and
challenges of living against the tide. Our Founder and Saviour Jesus, suffered
for taking contrary views. Jesus’ first disciples found trouble through
following Jesus. Paul suffered in his attempts to spread the Gospel. This very letter was written from prison. We have it
easy compared to so many brothers and sisters around the world who are tortured
just for holding faith in Jesus.
Where is our
suffering? We might just sit a little too comfortably in how fortunate we are!
Could it be that we don’t push the boundaries or leave the comfort zones
enough? Do we have to be persecuted before our faith stands out? There is no
doubt we can experience growth spurts through dealing with pressure. Look at
those Masterchef contestants! “30 seconds to go”!!
30 seconds is a
very short time when you can see the clock ticking. Well likely there are more than
30 seconds to go for us. Some may say, ‘good job too’! We don’t want to be
found unprepared. We don’t see the clock – we’re NOT meant to see the clock,
we’re just meant to exhibit faith and trust. Some may be ready! But at the same
time, we need to be patient and faithful (verse 25). We need to work towards
the outcome that God has always envisioned. In time, God will declare it ‘time’
– all suffering will be over, and all evil vanquished!
Then the effects
of the “fall” (Genesis 3) will be reversed, and there will be the ‘new
creation’ in all its glory (including the redeemed children of God). In the
meantime, we will naturally feel dissatisfied, and thus pray and work. For the
now, God’s children will live in solidarity with the pain of an unredeemed creation.
For Paul, the redemption of humans goes hand-in-hand with the redemption of all
creation, both now, and ultimately. As we read last week, “If anyone is in
Christ – new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Being
“debtors” (verses 12-17)
I want to go back
to verses 12 and 13, to the notion of being
“debtors” to the Spirit. How does this concept sit with you?? Being a “debtor”
is most often seen as something we don’t like. It means we owe something to
somebody, and will be required to pay it back. And severe debt can really
monopolise our mind! Although, on the positive side, sort of, is that often the
only way we can purchase the house of our dreams, is through going into debt.
Yet, we are often paying this loan back for decades.
In a way, the
obligation we have to God (in ministry to others), is a debt that needs to be
addressed. To put it another way, the great blessing of mercy, grace,
forgiveness and redemption we have freely received, brings us into a contract
of obligation towards other people. This then, rightly dominates how we see the
world! Do we have this idea of being in debt to God [healthily] as part of our
mindset? Or, do we take our responsibilities as ‘Christians’ too lightly?
This is not so that
we can be saved (that’s already happened freely), but rather puts this
salvation into action. Our own experience of Jesus saving us … heightens (not
lessens) the intensity of our intuitive understanding of the lostness of
others, and the pain in the world. Because we are being led by the Spirit of
God, we actually groan more NOT LESS, because we have a keener
sense of incompleteness.
We are asked to
invest wisely and well what we have received. The benefits we have received
were well set out by Paul in verses 1 to 11 (of Romans 8). This is alluded to
again in verses 15 to 17; these are the benefits of being children of
God. Despite the gravity of our sin, we have not been taken captive as
slaves by a tyrant – so much the complete opposite! If we have this, should we
not want others to have it as well!
In the Roman
world of the first century, an adopted son was deliberately chosen by his
adoptive father to perpetuate the father’s name (and inherit his estate), and
was by no means inferior to any natural son. We have been adopted by choice by
the most loving of parents, who opens their heart to forming the most intimate
of relationships with us, and says, ‘Call me Daddy’!! Then our new Parent …
gets us to stand beside the perfect Son … and says that you have the same
position as he does in my family!!! We are just as welcome and accepted in
God’s family as Jesus is!! And so a real ‘trust’ relationship comes into play!
Lots of (emotional and spiritual) resources for life here! A ‘child of God’
then perpetuates God’s name before the world – i.e. keeps God’s name alive
(with “name” representing character).
But then comes an
“if” (v.17b)! Oh, blow!! We have to be serious about this. No gain without pain,
they say! Jesus had to suffer crucifixion before his resurrection. We still
have to be exposed to the world. We have to engage the world, opening ourselves
to suffering – which might just be … more effort than we’d like … but could
also be serious opposition – all in the process of becoming like Jesus – being
a part of his glory. We don’t get to be like the perfect Son, without putting a
bit of time in!
Conclusion
We are heading
towards a 'glorious day'. But we are called to be disciples in the meantime. It’s
not that we can just eek out time and try to slip through under the radar.
For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children
of God. The creation is waiting eagerly for those who are in Christ to
awaken, rise and step out. God’s master plan is to transform us … so that we
can transform the kingdoms of this world into the Kingdom of God. Transformed
people will have a positive effect on the total human environment.
This is NOT so we
might feel more comfortable (in a place that agrees with us more), which might
sometimes be our motivation. But rather, this is so more people will have the
opportunity of connecting with God, having witnessed the “new creation”
gradually being brought to be. Evidence of God’s loving activity will lead to
more transformed people. We are advance representatives in God’s cause of
redeeming all creation (in an often unwilling and hostile world).
The best evidence
for God we can present to the world is this: the transformation of our lives
(under the influence of God’s Spirit), especially as this happens under pressure
and challenge, combined with the difference it makes in the lives of others –
on a small scale, and sometimes, collectively and accumulatively,
on a larger scale.
What do I mean by
collective?? What do I mean by accumulative?? This can happen for us together.
And this can happen for us in bigger and better ways over time, one effort
building on another. The church will bear great relevance with this collective
and accumulative service to all creation (through the guidance and equipping of
God)! Let’s look forward to the ‘glorious day’ having made all the preparations
we can – so that this day is a good day for as many as possible!
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