At The Blue Point Bible Church (www.bluepointbiblechurch.org) we have been going through a sermon series #ReadingThroughRomans. The idea of the sermon series is that we would read through the Book of Romans in its historical and chronological context. We currently find ourselves looking at Romans chapter 8, which we have covered a bit extensively, as Romans chapter 8 is one of those chapters of the letter that proves how theologically rich it truly is.
Consider reviewing the sermons that I have already preached through Romans chapter 8;
- The Law of The Spirit of Life – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GJ4WJ1agP0
- Manifestation of the Children of God – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8YnWf895KM
- The Eagerly Awaiting Creation – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YohnV8IzuQs&t=97s
- The Manifested Creation – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLnsRHzas20
- The Children of God are Kings – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLnsRHzas20
We have established that the transition of covenants that was underway as the Kingdom of God was breaking in, at the fullness of time. Unfortunately, just as this confused many during the time of the 1st century, how and what was being done, many seem confused regarding the transition today, as well. We must properly assess what the Christians of the 1st century were being delivered from, how that related to the “hope of Israel” (and what the “hope of Israel” was), and that will lead us to better learn and discern our current reality, what I like to refer to as the “post-fulfilment reality”.
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Let’s take a look at Romans chapter 8 verses 20-28.
In verses 20 -21, we read that “the creation was subjected to futility”. While many assume “the creation” being spoken of is the planet or some universal creation, the contextual reading bears out that “the creation” is Old Covenant Israel. The narrative of the Old Testament is that God provided Israel with the Law which led to death, which was explained in previous chapters of Romans, as well as previous learning in the Book of Galatians. However, in Romans chapter 8, the Apostolic wisdom is that God provided, or “subjected”, Israel to the Law “in hope”. Notice also what the hope is as per Romans 8:21 – “set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the children of God”. This is not a universal reality to be expected, but rather a covenant reality, not about the material planet, but about the freedom and identity of God’s people.
A necessary cross-reference would be 1 Cor. 15: 35-44. In that text, it is explained that the purpose of God can be compared to a seed that was planted, died, and produced a planting of the Lord. That’s the narrative of Old Covenant Israel and the realization of that hope as the New Covenant Church. Unfortunately, just as many seem to miss the contextual point being made and realized in Romans chapter 8, so many do the same with what the ‘seed analogy’ in 1 Corinthians chapter 15.
In Romans 8:22, we read that “the whole creation groans and suffers the pain of childbirth”, which again is speaking to all who were under the Old Covenant identity, the the ‘childbirth pain’ is related to the fulfillment of Bible prophecy, a pain the old creation endured until the “fullness of time” (see, Galatians 4:4), as Jesus Christ explained that certain signs would be the beginning of birth pains (see, Matthew 24:8).
Notice that in Romans 8:23, a differentiation is made between the “whole creation” of the previous verses and “we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we groan”. Catch the power of that! “The whole creation” is distinct from those who possess the Spirit. And of course, I again encourage you to consider what they were “eagerly waiting for” – “adoption as sons, the redemption of our body”. This is a corporate promise, which demonstrates the importance of something I have talked about before – the Corporate Body View”
In Romans 8:24, it is declared that “in hope we have been saved”, which corresponds to the points being made in verses 20-21. God subjected “the creation” “in hope”, just as He was doing a work in the 1st century “in hope”. The Apostolic wisdom of Romans 8:20-28 is explaining that what Israel knew, saw, discerned, and had was not the hope, nor was what the Church had in the transition period the completeness of the hope – “Who hopes for what he sees?”.
v. 25 – “But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we eagerly wait for it”
They eagerly awaited the fruition of the ‘seed concept’. The planting of the Lord!
We must properly discern what was hoped for. The time of fulfilment and the nature of fulfilment. Unfortunately, what is evident today is rampant confusion regarding the time and nature of fulfilled Bible prophecy.
Apostolic wisdom in Romans 8:26-27 explains the fulfilment of the hope as similar to the work of the Spirit in prayer. We don’t always know, but the Spirit knows, and even in our confusion the Spirit is still at work. Thank God!
Concluding with Romans 8:28, we can discern what was known, otherwise assumed and affirmed, that, “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose”.
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Unfortunately, we see two extremes in our day. Those who fail to acknowledge the historical past having any significance regarding Bible prophecy and those who do acknowledge the historical past but don’t believe it has any bearing upon their futures (redemptive-history speaking). This is to our dismay.
In order to properly learn and discern our post-fulfillment reality, we must know what was being restored (see, Acts 3:21) and reformed (see, Hebrews 9:10). Unfortunately, even when folks begin to learn the context, there is a current idea that fulfilled hope leaves us hopeless. Does that make sense? Not at all. Have you ever hoped for something and then experienced the fulfilment? Were you hopeless after the fact?
When it comes to the ideas of Futurism (all Bible prophecy is to be fulfilled in our future), Idealism (a sort of stretching of the fulfillment of Bible prophecy beyond the necessary boundaries), or Full Preterism (Bible prophecy being fulfilled in the past), there is much confusion and needed conversation. Some may say certain prophetic things need to happen. Others will say they happed in part or sort variation of making a yet future expectation. I’ll tell you they all happened exactly when and how Jesus Christ said they would, and as expected they have an everlasting effect.
In conclusion, I’d assert that while we do have an already-not-yet situation regarding the ever-increasing Kingdom of God, it is imperative that we recognize and explain that it is not the already-but-not-yet of the pre-AD 70 believers. It order to truly keep things in context, and properly explain redemptive history (the fulfillment of the “one hope”), as well as our current reality, we must understand and acknowledge the significance of the destruction of Jerusalem and the historical events of AD 66-70.
Verses mentioned
Romans 8:1-28; 1 Corinthians 15: 35-44; Galatians 4:4
Acts 3:21; Hebrews 9:10