Salvation in Three Tenses: Hope Amid Suffering
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, church. Today, we conclude our series on the Apostle Paul by focusing on his teachings about salvation in three tenses: past, present, and future. Paul emphasizes that while we were saved in the past and are being saved in the present, the focal point of salvation is in the future. This future salvation is the ultimate remedy for our present sufferings.
We all experience suffering, whether personally or through those close to us. Even the best moments in life leave us wanting more, as C.S. Lewis aptly noted. Paul, who endured immense suffering, assures us that our present sufferings are insignificant compared to the future glory that awaits us. This future glory is the visible expression of all creation under God's rule and reign, contrasting sharply with the suffering that results from our rebellion and rule.
Paul uses Romans 8 to illustrate that our present sufferings are not worth comparing to the future glory. He explains that suffering is the visible expression of creation under human rule, while glory is the visible expression of creation under God's rule. All of creation, including humanity, is groaning for redemption, which will be fully realized in the future when God's redemptive plan comes to fruition.
The resurrection of Jesus is the cornerstone of this future hope. It proves that God has power over death, the ultimate consequence of our rebellion. Our future salvation is not an escape to a disembodied heaven but a restoration of all creation, including our bodies, to their intended glory. This future hope allows us to lament the present brokenness while looking forward to the complete redemption of all things.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Three Tenses of Salvation: Paul teaches that salvation occurs in three tenses: past, present, and future. While we were saved in the past and are being saved in the present, the ultimate focus is on future salvation. This future salvation is the culmination of God's redemptive plan and serves as the ultimate remedy for our present sufferings. [03:22]
2. Suffering and Glory: Suffering is the visible expression of creation under human rule, while glory is the visible expression of creation under God's rule. Paul emphasizes that our present sufferings are insignificant compared to the future glory that awaits us. This understanding helps us endure present hardships with hope. [07:50]
3. The Resurrection as the Cornerstone: The resurrection of Jesus is the cornerstone of our future hope. It proves that God has power over death, the ultimate consequence of our rebellion. This future hope is not an escape to a disembodied heaven but a restoration of all creation, including our bodies, to their intended glory. [25:02]
4. Lamenting the Fracture: As followers of Jesus, we are called to lament the brokenness of creation. This lament aligns our view with God's view and honors Him. It acknowledges that life is not as it should be and looks forward to the future redemption of all things. [23:14]
5. Living in Hope: Our future hope allows us to endure present sufferings with a confident expectation of future glory. This hope is rooted in the resurrection of Jesus and the promise of a new heaven and a new earth. We are called to live in light of this hope, enjoying the beauty of creation even in its broken state. [31:43]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:51] - Introduction to Paul's Teachings
[02:39] - Three Tenses of Salvation
[04:53] - The Universality of Suffering
[07:50] - Present Sufferings vs. Future Glory
[08:27] - Paul's Calculations on Suffering
[10:48] - Understanding Suffering and Glory
[13:18] - Definition of Glory
[18:01] - Creation's Groaning
[21:18] - Human Groaning and Hope
[23:14] - Lamenting the Fracture
[25:02] - The Resurrection as the Cornerstone
[28:36] - Future Restoration
[31:43] - Living in Hope
[40:11] - Revelation Reading
[43:19] - Closing Remarks
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Romans 8:18-25 (NIV)
> "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently."
### Observation Questions
1. What are the three tenses of salvation that Paul discusses, and which one does he emphasize the most? [03:22]
2. According to Romans 8:18, how does Paul compare present sufferings to future glory?
3. What does Paul mean by "creation's groaning" in Romans 8:22, and how does it relate to human suffering? [18:01]
4. How does Paul describe the ultimate expression of creation under God's rule and reign? [13:18]
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Paul consider future salvation as the ultimate remedy for present sufferings? How does this perspective help believers endure hardships? [07:10]
2. How does the resurrection of Jesus serve as the cornerstone of our future hope, according to the sermon? [25:02]
3. What does it mean to lament the fracture of creation, and why is this important for believers? [23:14]
4. How does the concept of living in hope, as described in Romans 8:24-25, influence a believer's daily life and outlook on suffering?
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you experienced significant suffering. How did your understanding of future salvation impact your ability to endure that period? [07:10]
2. The sermon mentioned that even the best moments in life leave us wanting more. How can this realization shape your expectations and contentment in daily life? [05:38]
3. How can you actively lament the brokenness of creation in your personal prayer life or community worship? What specific steps can you take to align your view with God's view of the world? [23:14]
4. In what ways can the resurrection of Jesus provide you with hope and courage in facing your current struggles? How can you remind yourself of this cornerstone truth regularly? [25:02]
5. How can you live in hope, enjoying the beauty of creation even in its broken state? Identify one specific way you can appreciate God's creation this week, despite its imperfections. [31:43]
6. Think of a person in your life who is currently suffering. How can you share the hope of future glory with them in a compassionate and meaningful way? [04:53]
7. How does the promise of a new heaven and a new earth influence your long-term goals and priorities? What changes might you need to make to live in light of this future hope? [28:36]
Devotional
Day 1: The Three Tenses of Salvation
Salvation is a multifaceted concept that Paul describes in three tenses: past, present, and future. In the past, we were saved through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. This act of grace has justified us and reconciled us to God. In the present, we are being saved as we grow in our faith and are sanctified by the Holy Spirit. This ongoing process involves daily transformation and renewal. However, the ultimate focus of salvation is in the future. This future salvation is the culmination of God's redemptive plan and serves as the ultimate remedy for our present sufferings. It is the hope of eternal life and the restoration of all creation. [03:22]
1 Peter 1:3-5 (ESV): "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."
Reflection: How does understanding the three tenses of salvation change the way you view your current struggles and future hope?
Day 2: Suffering and Glory
Paul teaches that suffering is the visible expression of creation under human rule, while glory is the visible expression of creation under God's rule. Our present sufferings, no matter how intense, are insignificant compared to the future glory that awaits us. This understanding helps us endure present hardships with hope, knowing that they are temporary and will be overshadowed by the eternal glory to come. Paul’s perspective encourages us to focus on the future promise of God's kingdom, where suffering will be no more, and all things will be made new. [07:50]
2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (ESV): "For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."
Reflection: What current suffering are you experiencing, and how can you shift your focus to the future glory that God promises?
Day 3: The Resurrection as the Cornerstone
The resurrection of Jesus is the cornerstone of our future hope. It proves that God has power over death, the ultimate consequence of our rebellion. This future hope is not an escape to a disembodied heaven but a restoration of all creation, including our bodies, to their intended glory. The resurrection assures us that death is not the end, and it provides a solid foundation for our faith. It is a promise that just as Christ was raised from the dead, we too will experience resurrection and eternal life in a renewed creation. [25:02]
1 Corinthians 15:20-22 (ESV): "But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive."
Reflection: How does the resurrection of Jesus influence your daily life and your perspective on death and eternity?
Day 4: Lamenting the Fracture
As followers of Jesus, we are called to lament the brokenness of creation. This lament aligns our view with God's view and honors Him. It acknowledges that life is not as it should be and looks forward to the future redemption of all things. Lamenting is an act of faith that recognizes the pain and suffering in the world while holding on to the hope of God's promise to make all things new. It is a way to express our grief and longing for the day when God will restore everything to its intended glory. [23:14]
Lamentations 3:31-33 (ESV): "For the Lord will not cast off forever, but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love; for he does not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men."
Reflection: What areas of brokenness in your life or the world around you do you need to lament before God today?
Day 5: Living in Hope
Our future hope allows us to endure present sufferings with a confident expectation of future glory. This hope is rooted in the resurrection of Jesus and the promise of a new heaven and a new earth. We are called to live in light of this hope, enjoying the beauty of creation even in its broken state. This hope gives us the strength to persevere and the courage to face challenges, knowing that God's redemptive plan will ultimately prevail. It is a hope that transforms our present reality and shapes our daily actions and attitudes. [31:43]
Romans 15:13 (ESV): "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope."
Reflection: How can you actively live out the hope of future glory in your daily life, especially in the face of current challenges?
Quotes
1. "Reading the Bible in its proper context and applying it to our proper context can be a challenging task. I hope this has been helpful. I hope you've seen the importance of approaching Paul's letters as primarily, primarily his letters were pastoral encouragements, challenges to specific groups of people and specific individuals, people who were struggling, rather than these theological books that were written specifically for us to build our theology off of." [01:51] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Every single one of us in this room has experienced suffering. Is that a fair statement? Every single one of us in this room has faced suffering. Many of us in this room this morning are currently dealing with suffering. We're struggling through a difficult situation or circumstance in our life. And if we personally aren't struggling, we are probably in close relational proximity to someone who is struggling or suffering." [04:53] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Even in the best of circumstances in life on earth, they often leave us wanting. I'm getting ready to go on vacation. And I already know that about two days into vacation, you know what I'm going to be thinking about? An ending. I'm going to be thinking about vacation ending. Like there's so much time to enjoy the vacation. And I'm going to be thinking about an ending because there is no vacation, no career, no hobby, no relationship that will satisfy the deepest longings of our life." [06:08] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed. In us in the future. I consider that our present sufferings not worthy to be compared to the future glory that will be revealed. This verse is Paul's thesis for his argument in our passage today. He says that present sufferings of this world are not worthy to be compared to the future glory that will be revealed when God's redemptive plan for salvation comes to its eternal conclusion in the future." [07:50] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "He actually uses a mathematical phrase in the Greek. Consider, it literally is a mathematical term. He means I've done the calculations, right? I've ran the equation. I've put the sufferings of the present world on one side of the scale and I've put the weight of future life and the future glory of future salvation on the other side of the scale and it's not even close. The future salvation wins out over the present suffering. I consider it. It's not even worthy to be compared." [08:27] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "Suffering is the visible expression of creation under our rule and reign. And death is its ultimate. Expression. So Genesis 1, beginning of the book, we remember this. God created everything and it was good and very good. All that we knew was glory, the visible expression of creation as it was intended to be. And a few pages in, humanity decided to rebel against God. We didn't want to live under his rule or reign. We didn't trust that he was good, that he had good intentions." [13:58] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "The result of our rebellion against God didn't just negatively affect us, but Paul says it negatively affected all of creation. Creation is frustrated and subject to futility. We were intended. God's glory, his intention, was us to be stewards under creation, over creation, under God's rule and reign. And instead, we took charge and all of creation, including ourselves, is paying the consequences. Everything immediately became more difficult and dangerous when prior to the rebellion, nothing was dangerous or difficult." [19:09] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "If the ultimate climax of all of human suffering is death, this is why the gospel of Jesus Christ is the central point of all of human history. Think about this. If literally, if the climax of our rebellion is our death, that means that if Jesus rose from the dead, if he is son of God, came, lived a perfect life, died on our place for our sins, the central point in human history is the resurrection because Jesus proved that he did the thing he said he did, that he conquered our ultimate enemy, that he conquered the consequences of our ultimate rebellion." [24:35] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "The focal point of the redemptive story is not the cross and forgiveness, but the empty tomb and the resurrection of God's children to inherit the new heaven and the new earth. God didn't give up on his original creation. He's not taking us away somewhere to live forever. He's taking us away somewhere temporarily to be absent with the bodies, to be present with the Lord. That's true. But he is going to bring us back. He is going to redeem all of creation. He's going to make things as they were intended to be." [28:13] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "The ultimate destination for followers of Jesus is not to be absent from the good, beautiful, and God-honoring experiences we have on earth, but to be filled with them for all of eternity without any possibility of sin, suffering, or rebellion ever entering into creation. Again, because all of us who will inherit the new heavens and the new earth have bowed our knee to Jesus. There is no, no more opportunity for rebellion. And so Paul can say, present sufferings have nothing to be compared to our future glory." [29:20] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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