Principles of living a godly life [72] - Present hardship – Future honour [4]

 ‘For we appreciate that the whole of the original formation is jointly groaning and jointly suffering birth pains up to the present time. 23 Not alone, but on the contrary, even ourselves, possessing the first-fruit of the Breath [Pneuma], even we ourselves are groaning within ourselves, eagerly awaiting adoption as sons, the full ransom and release of our body’, (Romans 8 v 22, 23). 

The opposite of ‘the whole of the original formation’ (verse 22) is ‘even ourselves, possessing the first-fruit of the Breath’ (verse 23), or Christians. As Benson’s Commentary states, this shows ‘that the apostle is speaking, not of [animals] and inanimate creation but of mankind’. Generally speaking there is a discontentment or sense of lack of fulfilment within humanity. The whole of the empty, aimless, transient original formation that lacks usefulness ‘is jointly groaning and jointly suffering birth pains up to the present time’, (verse 22). Humanity, within its original formation, is united in a condition of sorrow, continued suffering and existential crisis. That fact that Paul is speaking about humanity is confirmed by his emphasis on ‘the attentive thinking and supposition of the original formation’, (verse 19). What is this attentive thinking and supposition? Paul has told us throughout his letter to the Romans. Existing within their original formation, humanity is ‘holding down the truth within injustice and what is not rightwise’, (Romans 1 v 18). They ‘became ineffectual, unproductive and without usefulness within their thinking, and their deep inner core, lacking synthesised understanding began and continued to be darkened. 22 Asserting to be clear and wise, they became dull, sluggish and insipid, 23 and they changed the honour and praiseworthiness of God into a likeness, an image, of mortal man, flying animals, four-footed beasts and crawling things. 24 Therefore God handed them over away from close beside, within focus on passionate desire of their hearts’, (Romans 1 v 21 - 24). Enslaved to their fleshly constitution, ‘the down from the flesh are existing thinking, judging and caring for that of the flesh’, (Romans 8 v 5), constructing and manufacturing that of the flesh, (Romans 1 v 24 – 32; Galatians 5 v 19 – 21).

But humanity existing within its original formation is not groaning in pain alone. On the contrary, ‘even ourselves possessing the firstfruit of the Breath [Pneuma], even we ourselves are groaning within ourselves’, (verse 23). Christians are also groaning within themselves in constriction. Why are Christians groaning within themselves? Because Christians are eagerly expecting ‘adoption as sons, the full ransom and release of our body’. We have seen that Christians are existing within their ‘clay vessel’, the original formation that is a ‘body of death’. They are ‘groaning and weighed down on the basis that they do not wish to be stripped out of clothing, but to be clothed over, so that ‘the subject to death’ be swallowed down by Life’, (II Corinthians 5 v 4). Christians are ‘eagerly awaiting adoption as sons’. The Christian has received the Breath of God and His Messiah and is already an adopted child of God, (verses15, 16.) But this adoption still has to be brought to completion, which will not be until the coming of the Messiah as King of kings. At that time they will receive ‘the full ransom and release of their body’. The original formation of flesh and blood, of a mortal body, cannot enter the Kingdom of God. Christians are groaning within, eagerly awaiting the release of their existing vessel of clay, eagerly expecting it to be changed.

Principles of living a set apart, godly life [6] – Repentance [4 of 12]

 Jesus was critical of those who presumed that they were judicially approved in front of God. We can still hear this kind of sentiment today - ‘I have not been a bad person really – I have not murdered anyone or anything like that. I am sure that a loving God will understand and say that I tried my best, and that He will forgive my mistakes and welcome me into heaven’. 

But this is what Jesus actually says on this matter. After presenting the parable of the shepherd who rejoiced on finding his lost sheep, Jesus said, ‘I say to you that in the same way there will be joy within heaven on the basis of one sinner thinking and perceiving afterwards, than on the basis of ninety-nine upright and righteous, whosoever, absolutely not requiring to possess thinking and perceiving afterwards’, (Luke 15 v 7).  In other words such people, whoever they are, need to think again. Jesus presents a similar conclusion after his description of a woman who lost a coin, searched for it, and rejoiced at finding it. Jesus concluded by saying, ‘I say to you, in this way there is joy in front of the angel/messengers of God on the basis of one sinner thinking and perceiving afterwards’, (Luke 15 v 10). Once again this is a message to Jews. There is rejoicing in the heavenly realm when angels observe the beginning of a positive response to God when a Jew who has lost their way thinks afterwards and turns back to God. 

So what is it that people need to be presented with in order to be persuaded to the point of obedience? Do they need fine orators and clever, witty speeches? Do they need a preacher with personality and charisma? Do they need a slick outreach campaign with professional musicians and an attractive, entertaining presentation with all the razzmatazz? Do they need clever, educated proposals and arguments? In Luke’s gospel there is the illustration of a rich man who dies and finds himself unable to escape torment within the unseen realm. Some distance away he sees Abraham in a state of comfort, but there is a deep chasm that separates Abraham from the rich man such that the rich man cannot cross over to Abraham. So the rich man calls out and pleads to Abraham for someone to appear to his five brothers, to give them solemn evidence of the place of torment, so that they might avoid it. But Abraham replies, ‘“They possess Moses and the Prophets, they should hear and comprehend them.” 30 But the rich man said, “By no means father Abraham…’, in other words, there is no way that my brothers will listen to Moses and the Prophets. So the rich man makes an alternative proposal, ‘….but if one away from death travelled to them they will think and perceive afterwards.” 31 But Abraham said to him, “If they are not listening to Moses and Prophets they will not be persuaded, not even if one from out of death stands up”’, (Luke 16 v 29 – 31). The Apostle Paul presents this same principle in chapter 2 of his first letter to the Corinthians. The declaration of the gospel, the word of the cross, even when it is presented in a stumbling, hesitant way that lacks eloquence, is a sufficient means for the Breath of God to bring forth enlightened persuasion and thinking afterwards within those whom God has selected.