Romans 8:17-18

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.

In v17, Paul is saying that this assurance God gives us is not merely subjective or objective; it’s both. Our spirit bears witness, and the Holy Spirit also bears witness. Furthermore, Paul says that the Holy Spirit’s bearing witness that we are sons of God does not mean that we’re not going to suffer. On the contrary, precisely because the Spirit bears witness that we are true sons of God, we expect to suffer in this life. Every trial in life is used by God to sanctify.

Paul has given us the simple truth on suffering, that God is using it, that God has purposed it for sanctification, and that the Holy Spirit is leading us through it; but now he will elaborate on suffering, because it’s an issue that often drives Christians, and all people for that matter, to despair. Paul wants to do two things: teach truth about suffering and comfort those who are suffering. And this verse is a great encouragement.

On the one hand there are the health and wealth teachers who say that if you do not have health or success in all your endeavors of life, if you are not experiencing triumph, it is clearly a result of a lack of your faith; because God wants you to have abundance. He wants you to be successful and healthy. He wants you to have riches. And if you don’t, it’s clearly because you lack the faith. Paul would say, “If your understanding of Jesus’ promise of abundant life means a lack of suffering, you have misunderstood what Jesus said.” On the other hand, there are others who cope with suffering by saying, “God just can’t help it. God wasn’t able to control that. When bad things happen to good people, it’s just another sign that though God wishes that He could help us in those circumstances, it’s just out of His control. So take comfort. It’s not what God wanted; He’s just as sad as you.” And Paul says, “No! That’s wrong too.” Both views wrong.

The point is that the believer will suffer, and God is sovereign in suffering. Paul makes that clear in v20, by the way; God Himself has subjected this creation to frustration and suffering. We’ll look at that next time. God’s in charge, even in the sphere of suffering and frustration. Suffering is part of His plan for His people, and so we rejoice, just as Paul said in chapter 5 of this letter. Life in the Spirit is a life of suffering. That’s the first thing that Paul wants us to know. Your circumstances, almost certain to involve some sort of suffering, do not indicate a failure in your hearing the will of God; your circumstances indicate to you the reality which Scripture speaks of—in this life believers suffer. Look at Jesus in that garden. What took Him to the garden? The will of God. What happened when He got to that garden? Weeping, sweating, trembling, and brokenheartedness. He prayed, “Father, if it’s possible, let this cup pass.” After that, He added, “Not My will, but Yours be done.” So Paul is saying to the believer, “Do you think that the Father would have called His only begotten Son that way, and would not have called His adopted sons and daughters that way?” God calls us to glory through the way of suffering, just as He did with Christ.

Paul also wants us to learn that life in the Spirit gives us a perspective on suffering that no one else can have. Our trials here are real, and sometimes they seem as they are beyond endurance; but the glory then is beyond compare. Paul contrasts the suffering of the present with the glory of the future on the grandest scale. And these sufferings include those inward battles with sin that we continue to have, and the frustration which arises from living in a fallen world, as well as coping with the injustices of this life or dealing with the opposition or persecution that the child of God faces in one shape or form no matter when or where he or she lives. Paul says that the sufferings of the present time are nothing in comparison with the glory that is to be revealed. He is not saying that we’re going through these enormous trials now, but what we’ll see when we get to glory is just going to blow our minds, and it’s going to cause what we’ve gone through to pale in comparison. He’s not simply saying that the glory to come is going to be revealed to us as if it’s the curtains of a theatre being drawn back, and we’re spectators seeing some incredible theatrical spectacle. He’s saying something even better. Paul is saying that this is a glory not simply revealed to us, but in us. Paul is speaking of our own glorification. And not only will we see the glory of Christ when He comes, but we ourselves will share in that glory. Picture the number of believers who are taking care of family members that suffer from enormous handicaps and physical or mental difficulties. They lovingly care for those family members. And think of that day when, through the grace of Christ, there’s going to be a complete transformation. Glory will not just be shown to them, but glory will be shown in them. Can you imagine that day?