Genesis, somebody from Romans.
Thank you, Peter.
So, Genesis chapter 3, it's on page 5,
from verses 8 through to 19.
Thanks very much, Chris.
Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God
as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day,
and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.
But the Lord God called to the man,
Where are you?
He answered,
I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid,
because I was naked, so I hid.
And he said,
Who told you that you were naked?
Have you eaten from the tree from which I commanded you not to eat?
The man said,
The woman you put here with me,
she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.
Then the Lord God said to the woman,
What is this you have done?
The woman said,
The serpent deceived me, and I ate.
So the Lord God said to the serpent,
Because you have done this,
cursed are you above all the livestock,
and all the wild animals.
You will crawl on your belly,
and you will eat dust all the days of your life.
I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers.
He will crush your head,
and you will strike his heel.
To the woman he said,
I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing.
With pain you will give birth to children.
Your desire will be for your husband,
and he will rule over you.
To Adam he said,
Because you listened to your wife,
and ate from the tree about which I commanded you,
you must not eat of it.
Cursed is the ground because of you.
Through painful toil you will eat of it
all the days of your life.
It will produce thorns and thistles for you,
and you will eat the plants of the field.
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.
Thanks very much.
And then if you'd flick over to Romans chapter 8,
which is on page 1135.
Romans 8,
page 1135,
starting at verse 17 through to verse 30.
Now if we are children,
then we are heirs,
heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.
If indeed we share in his sufferings,
in order that we may also share in his glory.
I consider that our present sufferings
are not worth comparing
with the glory that will be revealed in us.
The creation waits in eager expectation
for the sons of God to be revealed.
For the creation was subjected to frustration,
not by its own choice,
but by the will of the one who subjected it,
in hope that the creation itself
would be liberated from its bondage to decay
and brought into the glorious freedom
of the children of God.
We know that the whole creation
has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth,
right up to the present time.
Not only so,
but we ourselves,
who have the first fruits of the Spirit,
groan inwardly as we wait eagerly
for our adoption as sons,
the redemption of our bodies.
For in this hope we were saved.
But hope that is seen is no hope at all.
Who hopes for what he already has?
But if we hope for what we do not yet have,
we wait for it patiently.
In the same way,
the Spirit helps us in our weakness.
We do not know what we ought to pray for,
but the Spirit himself intercedes for us
with groans that words cannot express.
And he who searches our hearts
knows the mind of the Spirit,
because the Spirit intercedes for the saints
in accordance with God's will.
And we know that in all things
God works for the good of those who love him,
who have been called according to his purpose.
For those God foreknew,
he also predestined to be conformed
to the likeness of his Son,
that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
And those he predestined,
he also called.
Those he called,
he also justified.
Those he justified,
he also glorified.
Thanks, Peter.
Well, we've been looking through
the Book of Romans
in this last mini-series
from chapter 5 through to chapter 8.
looking at how we experience the Gospel.
And here we see how the Gospel
brings hope to our lives.
So let's pray together
as we look at his Word.
Our Father, we thank you so much
for your many gifts to us,
and we thank you for the gift
of your Holy Spirit.
the Spirit of Christ
living within us.
And we pray that by your Spirit
you would take your Word
and make it alive
in our own lives.
Make it real
and make it fresh.
may it remind us of the eternal hope
and glory
that your people have.
May it give us courage
and strength
for this coming week.
And may we be people
who celebrate
all that you have given to us.
So please speak to us
afresh this morning.
In Jesus' name.
Amen.
Well, who would have thought it?
Ireland beating England
at cricket.
cricket.
Hmm?
The scenes were quite incredible.
Bats were thrown in the air
in excitement.
The whole team rushed on
to embrace each other.
The fans cheered in the stands
with tears running down their face.
You would have thought
they'd won the World Cup.
Maybe beating England
is better than winning the World Cup.
I don't know.
But every one of those people
was a picture of joy
and delight
as together they celebrated
and reveled
in their new glory.
But before that famous victory
there came an awful lot
of suffering.
The work in the gym.
The endless hours of practice.
The years of defeat
and being written off
by the press
as losers.
Before their victory
there was a lot of agony.
Before their glory
there was a lot of groaning.
Now in Romans 8
there's a lot of talk of glory
but before we get to the glory
there is a lot of groaning.
It starts in verse 17
with the promise of glory.
Look at the end of verse 17.
It says that we may also share
in his glory.
And the passage that we read
finishes with the assurance
of glory.
Verse 30.
Those he justified
he also glorified.
But between this promise of glory
and the assurance of glory
in between
we have an awful lot of groaning
going on.
verse 22
tells us that creation
has been groaning
as in the pains of childbirth.
Verse 23.
People are groaning.
Not only so
but we ourselves
groan inwardly.
and the spirit groans.
Verse 26.
We do not know
what we ought to pray for
but the spirit himself
intercedes for us
with groans
that words cannot express.
this passage
gives us a picture
of life
showing in detail
that Christians
are people
who are moving
from groaning
into glory.
Now the reason
why we're in that position
why we're moving
from groaning
to glory
is because
we have lost
the glory.
If you remember
from our study last week
the first part of
Romans 8
reminded us
that those who have
faith in Christ
are supernatural people.
The spirit of Christ
lives in us
empowering us
to live the life
that God has called us to.
But being supernatural people
does not mean
we are suffering
free people.
In fact
we live in a world
where the glory
has been lost.
Keep your finger
in chapter 8
and just go back
to chapter 1
of Romans.
Verse 22.
Chapter 1
verse 22.
This is true
of all people.
Verse 22.
Although we claimed
to be wise
we became fools
and exchanged
the glory
of the immortal God
for images.
So it's telling us
that we have exchanged
God's glory
for an imitation glory.
Rather than looking
to God
for life
and meaning
and purpose
we have looked
to idols.
We have substituted
God
with things
and people.
And the consequences
are a complete
breakdown
in the world's order.
Look at verse 28
of chapter 1.
God's glory.
Furthermore,
furthermore,
since we did not
think it worthwhile
to retain
the knowledge
of God
he gave us
over to a depraved
mind
to do what
ought not
to be done.
You see,
the people
in this world
do not reflect
God's glory.
We have distorted
God's glory.
glory.
Everything
has become
twisted.
Go to chapter 3
verse 22.
Here was his summary
of the way
things have gone.
The end of verse 22.
There is no difference
no matter who you are.
For all have sinned
and fall short
of the glory
of God.
it's become
unrecognizable.
It's broken
and twisted
and so what we see
now in this world
is a people
who live in a world
that suffers
and people
who suffer
and we suffer
because
we have exchanged
God's glory
for an imitation
glory.
But the wonder
of the gospel
is all about
the restoration
and the renewal
of that glory.
The promise
and the assurance
of a world
and a people
who will one day
experience God's glory
in all its fullness.
And so with our feet
firmly fixed
in this life
but with our eyes
firmly fixed
on the life
to come
he says
in chapter 8
verse 18
I consider
that our present
sufferings
are not worth
comparing
with the glory
that will be revealed
in us.
Compared
contrasting
what we have
today
and the glory
that is to come
it's not worth
comparing.
Christians
are people
who are moving
from groaning
into glory.
Well let's see
how this
is worked out
in three stages.
Firstly
creation
groans
for glory.
All around us
we see the signs
of a broken
and a decaying
world.
Verse 20
chapter 8
for the creation
was subjected
to frustration
not by its own
choice
but by the will
of the one
who subjected it
in hope
that creation
itself
will be liberated
from its bondage
to decay.
The story
at the beginning
of Genesis
in the Garden
of Eden
we had Adam
and Eve
where they enjoyed
a world
which reflected
the glory of God.
It was full
of beauty
everything in harmony
with its creator
there was no death
there was no disease
there was no decay
there was enjoyment
with God
but then
they exchanged
God's glory
didn't they?
They substituted God
for things
and for people
and when that happened
the physical world
broke.
We read
in Genesis 3
that God
cursed
the world.
It was not just
a cause
an effect
result
but God
at work
in the world
verse 20
for the creation
was subjected
to frustration
not by its own
choice
but by the will
of the one
who subjected it
and ever since
that day
we have felt
and experiences
the consequences
and we were
reminded of it
two weeks ago
as an earthquake
ripped through
Christ Church
in New Zealand
the plates
that moved
underground
were an outworking
of that initial
curse
God who had
frustrated the world
we see it
in parts
of Africa
as thousands
and millions
live with drought
some parts
of that vast
continent
haven't seen
a raindrop
in years
some parts
in decades
the land
is barren
and cracked
dried bones
litter the landscape
as children
die as quick
as they are born
with no food
or water
and in contrast
in another part
of the world
in Australia
we see it's been
submerged
through extensive
flooding
homes
towns
whole cities
destroyed
in what seemed
like an endless
flood
and that's not
to mention
the ongoing cycle
of hurricanes
and tsunamis
and typhoons
and other destructive
weather patterns
the world
verse 21
is in bondage
to decay
the glory
has gone
and the curse
is at work
so what are we
to make
of all of this
well all this
groaning
in the physical
world
is a sign
of the glory
that is to come
look at verse 22
we know
that the whole
creation
has been groaning
as in the
pains of
childbirth
right up
to the present
time
now for those
who've experienced
the maternity ward
you'll know
that it's a place
where we see
and perhaps hear
a lot of
groaning
and glory
before the glory
of holding
a newborn baby
in your arms
comes the groaning
and agony
of giving birth
but it's a pain
that is full
of hope
because you know
that at the end
of it all
you will hold
a new life
in your arms
in the same way
the groaning
in this world
the earthquakes
the volcanoes
the destructive
weather patterns
is like
birth pains
it is all
signs
of a new
and a perfect
world
to come
verse 21
creation
itself
will be
liberated
from its
bondage
to decay
and brought
into the
glorious
freedom
of the
children of
God
with every
earthquake
with every
storm
with every
lightning bolt
it's like
creation
crying out
in pain
shouting
at the
world
telling us
that glory
is coming
one day
there is going
to be a world
where there will
be no more
earthquakes
no more
drought
and no more
flooding
creation
is moving
progressively
from groaning
into glory
but it's not
just
creation
Christians
also
groan
for glory
not just
the physical
world
in which
we live
but our
own
bodies
suffer
as well
look at
verse 23
not only
so
but we
ourselves
who have
the first
fruits of
the spirit
groan
inwardly
as we
wait
eagerly
for our
adoption
of sons
the redemption
of our
bodies
it's a
reality of
life
isn't it
that the
moment we
are born
we begin
to die
that is the
process of
life
we don't
like to
talk about
death
but it's
too real
for us
to avoid
I was
reminded of
it again
this week
as I
stood with
a friend
who buried
his mum
very well
before the
weekend
and then
died very
suddenly
somewhere
along the
course of
life
things begin
to slow
down
our vital
organs
don't function
as they
should
our
faculties
begin to
deteriorate
it may
happen at
birth
a rare
disease
or a
syndrome
because the
genes
somehow got
twisted
it may
happen as
we grow
old
aches
and pains
increase
sometimes
they go
only to
return
with greater
force
cancers
grow
and spread
and eventually
our physical
bodies
fail
look at what
it says
in verse
23
we groan
inwardly
every ache
and every
pain
is a cry
and a
reminder
that our
bodies
don't
work
and they
don't
function
the way
they
should
the glory
has gone
and the
curse
is at
work
and what
are we to
make of all
this suffering
that so many
people have
to endure
well for the
unbeliever
the person who
is not yet a
Christian
it's completely
hopeless
it's just an
empty cycle
of life
we've come
from nowhere
we're going
nowhere
and these
things just
happen
but for the
Christian
it is so
much
more
look at the
end of
verse 23
as we
groan
inwardly
we wait
eagerly
for our
adoption
as sons
and the
redemption
of our
bodies
yes we
know from
chapter 8
verse 15
that we
have been
adopted into
God's
family
yes we
have been
redeemed
but that
experience is
only partial
each aching
cry
each shout
of pain
is a
groan
not just
of empty
suffering
but of
anticipation
for the
day
when we
will enter
into the
fullness
of our
adoption
and our
redemption
our cries
and our
pain
are not
empty
and hopeless
they are
cries of
expectation
for what
is to
come
again look
what it
says in
verse 23
it says
we have
the first
fruits
of the
spirit
the holy
spirit
in us
is a
mark
it's a
sign
and a
seal
on our
lives
that
one
day
we
will
experience
the
redemption
of our
bodies
in all
its
fullness
and
completeness
look back
at verse
11 of
chapter 8
here is
real hope
as we
live with
our aching
and suffering
bodies
verse 11
if the
spirit
of him
who raised
Jesus from
the dead
is living
in you
he who
raised
Christ
from the
dead
will also
give life
to your
mortal bodies
through his
spirit
who lives
in you
just as
Christ
was raised
from the
dead
just as
the spirit's
power raised
Christ
so with
that same
spirit in
us
we also
will rise
with a
brand new
body
just like
the Lord
Jesus
with no
more disease
no more
pain
no more
cancers
and no
more death
look at the
end of
verse 24
who hopes
for what
they already
have
but if we
hope for
what we do
not yet
have
we wait
for it
patiently
we don't
want
what we
see around
us
because what's
around us
is broken
it's frail
we hope
for what is
to come
for what is
to come
is eternal
this life
that we
live in
is marked
not with
glory
but with
a curse
and so
we wait
patiently
in expectation
and in
anticipation
of what
will be
ours
one day
creation
moves
from groaning
to glory
and Christians
because we
have the
spirit within
us
are moving
from groaning
to glory
glory
where the
experience
of suffering
in this
world
and in
our lives
has become
so intense
that we
can feel
utterly
weak
and helpless
and because
of that
we discover
that the
spirit within
us
also groans
for glory
look at
verse 26
in the
same way
the spirit
helps us
in our
weakness
we do
not know
what we
ought to
pray for
but the
spirit
himself
intercedes
for us
with groans
that words
cannot
express
as we
journey
through
life
if we
haven't yet
experienced
it
we will
experience
all kinds
of
suffering
it
can be
an
illness
it
could be
the loss
of a
loved
one
it
could be
the
extreme
poverty
the
wasted
life
that we
see
around
our
world
and at
times
all of
these
things
can be
too
much
for us
it's
overwhelming
all the
suffering
in the
world
we feel
broken
and we
feel
defeated
the
glory
has
gone
and it's
like the
weight
of the
curse
is crushing
down upon
us
and crushing
down upon
the world
but into
our helplessness
comes the
spirit
literally
he comes
alongside
he joins
in
with our
agony
and pain
that's what's
being said
here in
verse 26
the second
part
the spirit
himself
intercedes
for us
with groans
that words
cannot express
he takes
our cries
and our
shouts
of pain
he makes
them his
very own
and he
prays them
out to
god
our helpless
and hopeless
groans
are taken
by the
spirit
and turned
into prayer
before god
he joins
with us
in our
agony
and he
prays it
to our
father
but what's
happening
as he
prays
what's this
mystery
of this
groaning
with words
that words
cannot express
what's being
achieved in
this prayer
well look
at verse 27
and he
who searches
our hearts
knows the
mind of
the spirit
because the
spirit intercedes
for the saints
in accordance
with god's
will
we're told
aren't we
here that the
spirit intercedes
for us
he prays on
our behalf
but we also
know
and we saw
this last week
that the spirit
in us
is the spirit
of god
that's why
it says
in verse 27
that he
knows the
mind
of the
spirit
so in
effect
when the
spirit
is praying
it is
god
who is
praying
to god
it's not
something
separate to
god
it is the
spirit of
god
himself
within
us
praying
to god
so it's
not just
us
who feels
the weight
of the
curse
it's not
just us
who feels
crushed by
the suffering
in the
world
god
also
groans
longing
and waiting
for the
glory to
come
so these
wordless
prayers
is god
within
us
groaning
out to
god
himself
for the
fulfillment
and the
completion
of his
plan
it is
god
longing
for his
promised
future
for he
has
promised
that a
day will
come
when
everything
will be
put
right
but the
prayers
that the
spirit
prays
within us
is god
himself
crying out
to god
longing
for the
day when
christ
will come
again
and renew
and restore
all things
now i don't
know about
you but
when you
pray
we're always
wondering
am i praying
according to
god's will
is this what
god wants
is he going
to answer
well if
god is
praying to
god for
us
we can be
assured that
that prayer
will be
answered
god
praying to
god for
us
praying
that we
will receive
and that we
will enter
into his
eternal glory
we can't get
greater assurance
than that
so creation
groans for
glory
christians are
groaning for
glory and
god himself
within us
groans for
glory
if anyone
suggested to
you a couple
of weeks
ago that
ireland was
going to win
the cricket
against england
you would
have laughed
you probably
would have
said cricket
what's that
never heard
of it
you say
it's not
possible
it's in your
dreams for
something like
that to
happen
well the
suffering that
we face in
this world
can be so
heavy
that it
makes glory
seem unreal
it makes it
seem just
not possible
our experience
in this life
of all that
goes on
it's just a
dream
the stuff you
talk about
heaven
it can't be
true
but the gospel
doesn't do
dreams
the gospel
isn't about
wishful thinking
it guarantees
and it secures
our hope
look at
verse 29
and as we
read these
couple of
verses
look at
the unbroken
chain
that starts
in eternity
past
and goes on
to eternity
to come
from eternity
past to
eternity
to come
look at
verse 29
for those
God
foreknew
that doesn't
mean that he
knows about
us in the
future
it means he
knew us
personally
and intimately
in eternity
past
before we
were even
born
God knew
us
for those
God
foreknew
he also
predestined
verse 30
those he
predestined
he also
called
and those
he called
he also
justified
and those
he justified
he also
glorified
can you see
that unbroken
chain
from eternity
past
God
foreknew
to eternity
to come
he will
glorify
God begins
the process
and God
will finish
the process
and the
promise
is so
sure
it is so
guaranteed
that a
future
event
glory
is spoken
of as a
past
event
look at the
tense of
the verb
it says
glorified
it's all
past tense
so something
that we
don't yet
have
he speaks
of as if
we already
have it
that is the
absolute
certainty
that the
restored glory
to come
is ours
today
we don't
yet have
it in all
its fullness
and all
its
completeness
but each
day
little by
little
we are
people who
are moving
from groaning
into glory
every day
that goes
past
is not
just another
day of
suffering
it is not
just another
day of
living within
the curse
of this
world
it is
actually a
step closer
to the
glory
that is
to come
let's pray
together
our
father
god
we thank
you for
this
amazing
promise
your
sure
and
certain
guarantee
that your
people
all those
who love
you and
put their
trust
in you
are heading
towards
a glorious
home
a day
when
creation
will be
full of
glory
everything
made right
no more
natural
disasters
no more
droughts
and no more
famine
and your
people will
no longer
ache
or struggle
for we
will receive
our brand
new bodies
living in
your new
creation
and we
thank you
that this
is true
that this
is sure
that this
is guaranteed
because god
by his
spirit
is living
within us
praying
prayers
to god
himself
that we
would receive
our eternal
glory
we thank you
for the promise
that we have
in you
and we
thank you
that that
is ours
today
please give
us eyes
to keep
looking forward
and faith
to trust you
in the midst
of our
struggles
and our
suffering
in jesus name
amen
well we're
going to try
and sing
hopefully there'll
be no explosions
but a celebration
as we look
forward
to the life
that is to
come
as long as
we're
there'll остан
we take
another
verse
start
to
and
氣
has
the
beautiful
and
continues
through
things
happening
in
through
the
you
continue
really