From Grief to Glory
James Merritt
Romans 8:18-25
INTRODUCTION
1. On the capitol dome in Washington, D. C. you will find the following inscription: ''One God, one law, one element and one supreme event toward which the whole creation moves.''
2. Now what is that event? The inscription doesn't tell us. It leaves it to our own imagination. Is it the destruction of the world? Is it the establishing of a worldwide order? Is it the bringing in of a utopian state? I think not.
3. The one event toward which this entire creation is moving is the glorious return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
4. It doesn't take a rocket scientist or a brain surgeon to figure out something is desperately wrong with this world; both the world of nature and the world of humanity. Now the Bible tells us that what is wrong with this world is guilt. But the Bible gives the solution to guilt, which is grace.
5. We also know by experience that the result of this guilt is grief, but the result of grace is glory. What this world needs to do is to move from guilt to grace, and from grief to glory. That is exactly what the sainted Apostle Paul is dealing with in this precious passage of scripture.
I. The Grief We Suffer
1. ''For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.'' (v.18) Now present time is universal time. We all live in the present time. All present time is a time of suffering.
2. There is a fact we all must face. That is, suffering is inevitable and suffering is inescapable. You are not going to get out of this life without suffering, without heartache, without grief, without pain.
3. There are some people who think that they can escape suffering by being godly, by living pure, and avoiding trouble. Now you ought to be godly, and you ought to live pure, and you ought to try to avoid trouble at all cost. But the problem is, trouble will not avoid you. ''Yes, and all who desire ...
James Merritt
Romans 8:18-25
INTRODUCTION
1. On the capitol dome in Washington, D. C. you will find the following inscription: ''One God, one law, one element and one supreme event toward which the whole creation moves.''
2. Now what is that event? The inscription doesn't tell us. It leaves it to our own imagination. Is it the destruction of the world? Is it the establishing of a worldwide order? Is it the bringing in of a utopian state? I think not.
3. The one event toward which this entire creation is moving is the glorious return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
4. It doesn't take a rocket scientist or a brain surgeon to figure out something is desperately wrong with this world; both the world of nature and the world of humanity. Now the Bible tells us that what is wrong with this world is guilt. But the Bible gives the solution to guilt, which is grace.
5. We also know by experience that the result of this guilt is grief, but the result of grace is glory. What this world needs to do is to move from guilt to grace, and from grief to glory. That is exactly what the sainted Apostle Paul is dealing with in this precious passage of scripture.
I. The Grief We Suffer
1. ''For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.'' (v.18) Now present time is universal time. We all live in the present time. All present time is a time of suffering.
2. There is a fact we all must face. That is, suffering is inevitable and suffering is inescapable. You are not going to get out of this life without suffering, without heartache, without grief, without pain.
3. There are some people who think that they can escape suffering by being godly, by living pure, and avoiding trouble. Now you ought to be godly, and you ought to live pure, and you ought to try to avoid trouble at all cost. But the problem is, trouble will not avoid you. ''Yes, and all who desire ...
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