Lesson for May 21, 2023
The Doctrine of Undeserved Suffering
Lesson 2
Romans 8:18
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”
This verse contains the outline of verses 18-30. Basically, there are two thoughts: 1) the sufferings of the present time, verses 19-27 2) the glory that is destined to be revealed in us, verses 28-30. In this outline we see three categories of present suffering, described by three “groans:” 1) the groan of nature, verses 19-22 2) the groan of maturing believers, verses 23-25 and 3) the groan of the Holy Spirit, verses 26-27. After these three groans, a promise to maturing believers is given in verse 28. Then, what follows is the glory, which is destined to be revealed in us, verses 29-30.
Three things to remember: 1) There is no comparison between suffering as spiritually maturing believers and the rewards and blessings that they receive in eternity 2) Bible doctrine resident in the soul of spiritually maturing believers create the capacity to overcome any suffering in life, when properly applied 3) No suffering in spiritual maturity is greater than the rewards and the greater blessings of grace in eternity.
Romans 8:19
“For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.”
Paul used creation to illustrate the longing that advancing believers should have for their eternal home in Heaven. Even the earth is waiting to be restored to its original state before the fall of mankind in the Garden of Eden.
Eager expectation means confident assurance. The material universe stands in an “attitude of expectation,” waiting for God to work out its “undeserved suffering for blessing.” And even though nature is under a curse at the present time, that curse will be removed at the Second Coming of Christ after His enemies are defeated at the Battle of Armageddon.
So, nature between Adam’s fall and the Second Coming, is under undeserved suffering, a perfect illustration of what is coming up in this paragraph for maturing believers. God demonstrates that happiness can be just as easily related to unpleasant circumstances and that you can be just as happy in undeserved suffering as you are in prosperous circumstances. And God also demonstrates that there is no circumstance in this life which is greater than the divine provision for growing believers, those who are being blessed by undeserved suffering.
The revealing of the sons of God is a reference to the Second Coming of Christ where the Church, as the Royal Family of God, and the Old Testament believers will be presented in resurrection bodies. The Church receives resurrection bodies at the Rapture. At the Second Coming another resurrection occurs: the Old Testament believers.
Romans 8:20
“For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope.”
This verse begins with a phrase which introduces a reason for the material universe eagerly anticipating the revealing of the Royal Family of God at the Second Coming when we return with Christ in our glorified bodies. There is going to be a complete and total change during the Millennium. When Adam sinned, nature was put under the curse (undeserved suffering) and it continues in that status until the revelation of the children of God, the Royal Family of God during the Millennium.
Remember that nature, in undeserved suffering, is an illustration of advancing believers in undeserved suffering. It is a reference to that point of time when Adam sinned. (Genesis 3:17) Undeserved suffering came to nature, but it came as a blessing to man because this is the source of our food. Nature was innocent but nature suffered along with man. Frustation means emptiness, vacuum, or nothingness. Nature was originally perfect but is now void of its original perfection. The time of hope is when, at the Second Coming of Christ, nature is redeemed. (Isaiah 35:1-2)
The material universe suffered when Adam committed the original sin, and since then the material universe has been in bondage, undeserved suffering, waiting eagerly to be delivered at the Second Coming. The undeserved suffering has great blessing connected with it even for creation. Even though creation had been cursed, it still produces food for the human race. The analogy is believers in the midst of undeserved suffering can produce divine good and share God’s happiness.
In the Millennium, perfect environment will exist because Satan will be bound. Demons will be removed from the earth and therefore there will be no religion in Christ’s kingdom. The absence of religion will be absolutely necessary, because religion is a part of human good and evil. Religion combines the functions of human good with evil. Christianity is not a religion. Religion is man by man’s works seeking to gain the approbation (approval) of God. So, perfect environment cannot exist as long as Satan is operating in this world.
In the Millennium, there will be optimum spirituality among believers. In that day, believers will take their place as the true royalty they were intended to be. (Isaiah 65:24; Joel 2:28-29; Zechariah 14:16,17) In that day, the filling of the Spirit will be quite different from the filling of the Spirit today. Israel will be restored as a nation in the Millennium. (Isaiah 5:26-30; 10:19-23; 11:11-16; 65:19; Joel 2:16ff; Zechariah 8:20-23) There will be the fulfilment of all the unconditional covenants. (Daniel 9:24) The nations of the earth will enjoy perfect environment under the universal reign of Jesus Christ. There will be universal peace. (Psalm 46:9; Isaiah 2:4; Hosea 2:18; Micah 4:3) There will be universal prosperity. (Psalm 72:7,16) Free enterprise will operate. Motivation will be competition and profit, an honorable principle.
A perfect world government under Christ will exist for the first time. There will be a universal knowledge of God. (Isaiah 11:9) There will be perfect objectivity in the administration of justice, an absolute must for perfect environment. (Isaiah 11:3-4; Psalm 72:12-14) Perfect environment will exist in nature. Creation will be released from the bondage of sin. Plant life will abound. Animals will lose their ferocity. (Isaiah 11:6-9; 65:25) There will be a great explosion of births in the Millennium.
Romans 8:21
“That the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.”
The material universe (nature) shares the bondage of Adam, but still points mankind to the existence of God. (Romans 1:20) However, nature’s slavery to corruption results in man having to work for a living. Because nature is now in slavery to corruption, it became necessary for God to provide laws for nature, as He has provided laws of establishment for corrupt humanity. Once again, Paul used the Greek word “teknon” for children, which is a reference to believers in the process of growing up spiritually. Christ is the glory of God. Maturing believers are the reflection of Christ.
Romans 8:22
“We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.”
The groaning of nature looks back to the fall of man. Nature is like a woman in labor, she is in agony until delivery takes place. The birth occurs at the Second Coming of Christ. In the meantime, there is the intense suffering of nature. Nature shares, undeservedly, the curse of mankind. Nature will continue under the curse throughout the rest of the Church Age and the Tribulation.
Therefore, the undeserved suffering of the universe is a perfect illustration of the maturing believer in undeserved suffering. I Peter 4:16 refers to believers suffering undeservedly. When believers are in fellowship with God and filled with the Holy Spirit, they do not have to be ashamed of their suffering because it is suffering for blessing, not divine discipline. God is glorified when we are filled with the Holy Spirit and using the doctrine that we have learned. This, of course, brings inner happiness and peace. When we are able to have happiness and peace in the midst of suffering, we are already blessed.