Text: Romans 8:14-19

14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

Introduction:

Romans chapter 8 is one of the most incredible chapters in the Bible.

Romans 8:1-27 Describes our life in relationship to the Holy Spirit.

Romans 8:28-30 What we know.

Verse 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:31-39 Three Questions.

Verse 31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

Verse 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

Verse 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

We often over look verse 18, Paul in this text says (paraphrase):

When I set the sufferings of the Christian life and its glory side by side and consider their likeness and differences, the sufferings fade into nothingness, not even deserving of comparison, the glory so far exceed them.

Paul compared the suffering now to the future glory. His conclusion, no comparison. Yet every day many children of God make the comparison and conclude it is not worth it and chose the lesser. (a penny verse twenty dollar bill)

Sacrifice is a natural part of our Christian life.

Philippians 1:29

For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

If a child of God, you don’t choose the Christian life, it chooses you.

2 Corinthians 5:20

Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

Sometimes it is easy to focus on the suffering instead of the glory to come. This morning let us consider four things in this Christian life which are not worthy of comparison to the glory to come.

1.      The Things We Suffer For Him VERSUS All Jesus’ Suffered For Us – NOT WORTHY OF COMPARISON.

a.       Many have suffered greatly for Christ and the Gospel

Acts 9:16

For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

2 Corinthians 11:23-28

23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.

24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.

25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;

26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

b.      What we suffer for Him is not worthy to be compared with His suffering for us

2 Corinthians 8:9

For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

What we give up verses what Jesus gave up – no comparison.

Matthew 27:46

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

2 Corinthians 5:21

21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

2.      The Things We Gave Up At Salvation VERSUS The Things We Received At Salvation - NOT WORTHY OF COMPARISON.

a.       We gave up our ways and thoughts, for His Marcy, pardon and His ways

Proverbs 16:25

There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Isaiah 55:7-8

7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

b.      We gave up our own unrighteousness (filthy rags) for His perfect righteousness (robe of righteousness)

Isaiah 64:6

6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Isaiah 61:10

10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

c.       We gave up:

John 5:24 (death for life)

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Matthew 25:46 (hell for heaven)

And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

3.      The Things We Gave Up To Serve Jesus VERSUS The Things We Receive - NOT WORTHY OF COMPARISON.

a.       It costs the things of this world, it pays in learning of Him and His way 

1 John 2:15

 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Matthew 11:28-30

28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

b.      It costs the praises of Men, it pays in the praises from God

John 12:42-43

42 Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:

43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

1 Thessalonians 2:4

But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

c.       The things we receive in serving are not worthy to compare. 

Philippians 3:7-8

7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

4.      The Things of This Present Time VERSUS Our Future Glory - NOT WORTHY OF COMPARISON.

a.       The present sufferings versus the future glory which shall be revealed in us are not worthy of comparison. 

2 Corinthians 4:17

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

Romans 8:19

19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

Romans 8:19

The whole creation is on tiptoe to see the wonderful sight of the sons of God coming into their own {glory},

Phillips translation

Romans 8:19

For all creation, gazing eagerly as if with outstretched neck, is waiting and longing to see the manifestation of the sons of God.

New Testament in Modern Speech (Weymouth)

Romans 8:19

Everything God made is waiting with excitement for God to show his children's glory completely. 

New Century Version