Exposition by Max A Forsythe
Christ Covenant Reformed (PCA)
Now,
I am certain that we all have memories of those teen age years when we tried
things that we ordinarily would not have tried, in order to please our parents
or to fit into the crowd.
But we all survived those years, and eventually found our way into the
Lord's plan for our lives.
If I remember correctly, there were many tests, trials and even
temptations in our youth -- the three “T’s.”
Of
course, we like to think that those three "T's" of youth are ever so
much worse in our own time.
Well, I remember spending some time as a teenager helping my uncle Earl
restore a buggy that he and my aunt gave into my safekeeping.
While we were working on it, he told me some stories about how he had
courted my aunt in the very vehicle we were restoring.
It seems that he had been quite shy as a youth and wanted very much to be
a part of the fast crowd at the turn of the century.
So he saved his money, bought the Bimmel Buggy, and immediately painted
the wheels yellow!
At that time, yellow wheels were a fashionable statement of being part of
the fast crowd.
Well, he was invited to a party in an out-of-the-way barn, and there
discovered a drinking party in progress.
Since
he was under age, and not all that interested in those spirits, he disappeared.
The next day at church he invited my aunt for a Sunday afternoon drive.
When he delivered her home, she told him that while she enjoyed his
company, her father would not allow her to be seen in such racy company, even if
he went to church!
So that week, my uncle purchased a more sedate maroon paint, which we
were attempting to restore some sixty years later.
Today,
as we look around at the world and consider the many choices that we are given,
perhaps it would be well to consider how we have turned out to this point in
time.
Yes, there were many temptations; there were even a few tests that we
passed.
And yet, at some level, our natural selves were held back.
How was that?
Perhaps our resistance was more than coincidence.
Perhaps, like my short sports career indicated, we were given weights to
prepare us for glory.
Perhaps the weight of glory held us back?
As
we turn to the text in Romans set before us today, let us well consider our
calling and our preparation to this point in our lives.
Let us read the text found in verses sixteen through eighteen.
“The
Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
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
first thing that we notice here is the nature of our calling.
"The
Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.”
This revelation is necessary to help us appreciate how we come into
Christ's kingdom.
It must be a humbling experience, we must learn to recognize that except
for his great mercy and complete grace, we could not arrive.
God's spirit, as Paul tells us here, must bring us.
No, that is not a strong enough term.
He must compel us.
Luther
would argue from the writings of Bernard that the Spirit's testimony consists of
three parts.
First of all, you must believe that you
can have the forgiveness of sins only by the kindness of God.
Second of all, you must understand that you cannot call a single good
work your own that God has not given to you!
This is the weight of glory that is our theme today.
Finally, you must know that eternal life cannot be yours unless it, like
forgiveness and the weight of glory themselves, are freely given to you from the
hand of the Father.
Now
for some of you who have not yet come into the kingdom, this doctrine may seem
strange -- yet, if you are drawn thus far, there is certain hope that this too
is the work of the Spirit.
Of course, it is very reasonable to affirm the great teaching of
Scripture that God can and does indeed forgive sins.
However, it is ever so much more difficult to arrive at the conviction
that your own particular sinfulness is forgiven.
This
is the work of the Spirit in our hearts.
And this entire section emphases the three points mentioned before.
In Romans 8:33, Paul demonstrates that we may be certain that our sins
will not be held against us.
In Romans
8:28, Paul shows
us that any good that is accomplished through us is accomplished by the will and
purpose of the Father.
In Romans
8:38, Paul tells
us that the promise of eternal glory is ours because of the love of God which is
given to us through Christ.
And
so as Paul continues in the course of this text, he next reminds us in verses
eighteen to twenty-one that the three "T's" of tests, trials and
temptations, that cause us to suffer in this life, are not worth comparing to
the weight of glory put into our hearts by the eternal power of our Father in
heaven.
Even now, Paul tells us, the whole creation waits to see the revelation
of the elect as the reflection of God's eternal glory.
Popular
evangelists still ask their audience what they think of God.
As if that was ever of any importance!
Dear friends, this is not the case.
Several nights on television there was an appeal for some family to
consider adopting three children of the many who need homes in Franklin County.
These children are not sent out from house to house to choose where they
will live.
No, someone must choose them!
In the same way, we may not make the rounds of the assorted religions and
find one to our liking!
No, the popular evangelists are wrong, as Paul makes it clear in this
passage.
The most important question ever to be faced is this:
Verse
twenty-six reinforces our theme today of the weight of glory -- "the
Spirit helps us in our weakness."
Have you felt the weight of the Spirit?
Have you ever been held back from sin?
Have you ever been sidetracked from a sinful purpose?
Have you ever been made aware that you are indeed a sinner?
This is the weight of glory that will help you prepare for eternity.
Look at our closing verse, verse twenty-seven; look at what the Lord is doing in your life. "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." Yes, this is deep and our subject today has been more complicated than usual. But it is the gospel truth. If anyone could walk into any church and announce to the Lord God Creator of the universe: "Hey Big Daddy, I think you're cool and I want to hang out with you,” who could call that good news? We would take it for granted. Instead, the God of heaven sends His spirit into our hearts and gently, persistently says to our heart, "Child, you belong to me, grow up in grace and truth, and come along home with Me." Isn't that great news? May that invitation be yours today and always.
Resources Used: The Holy Bible, New International Version
Places Preached:Bruce, F.F. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries: Romans. Lewis, C.S.. The Weight of Glory. Pauck, Wilhelm. Library of Christian Classics: Luther: Lectures on Romans.
Christ Covenant REFORMED (Presbyterian Church in America) Post Office Box 13926 - Columbus, OH 43213-7926
Rom08g.htm 08 October 95
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