Romans 8:17 - Suffering with Christ.
Romans 8:17 (KJV) 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.
Romans 8:17 (NIV) Now if we are children,
then we are heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs
with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings
in order that we may also share in his glory.
Romans 8:17 (NLT) And since we are his
children, we will share his treasures - for everything
God gives to his Son, Christ, is ours, too. But
if we are to share his glory, we must also
share his suffering.
Romans 8:17 (AMP) And if we are [His]
children, then we are [His] heirs also: heirs of God
and fellow heirs with Christ [sharing His
inheritance with Him]; only we must share His suffering
if we are to share His glory.
Romans 8:17 (CWR) If were Gods
children, then were His heirs and fellow heirs with
Christ, provided we are willing to share in the
struggles and suffering which Christ also had while
living in this sinful world. And if we share in
His sufferings, we will also share in His
glory.
Romans 8:17 (MSG) And we know we are going
to get what's coming to us"an unbelievable
inheritance! We go through exactly what Christ goes
through. If we go through the hard times with him,
then we're certainly going to go through the good
times with him!
INTRODUCTION
We are no longer like "fearful slaves";
instead, we are the Master's children. What a
privilege! Because we are God's children, we share in
great treasures as co-heirs. God has already given
us his best gifts: his Son, his Holy Spirit,
forgiveness, and eternal life; and he encourages us to
ask him for whatever we need. [Life Application
SB]
There is a price for being identified with
Jesus. Along with being "heirs of God's glory,"
Paul also mentions the suffering that Christians
must face. What kinds of suffering are we to
endure? For first-century believers, there was
economic and social persecution, and some even faced
death. We, too, must pay a price for following
Jesus. In many parts of today's world, Christians
face pressures just as severe as those faced by
Christ's first followers. Even in countries where
Christianity is tolerated or encouraged, Christians must
not become complacent. To live as Jesus did -
serving others, giving up one's rights, resisting
pressures to conform to the world - always exacts a
price. Nothing we suffer, however, can compare to
the great price that Jesus paid to save us.
[Life Application SB]
In the pathway of all who seek the crown, is
the cross. If we would become partakers with
Christ of his glory, we must be willing to share
with him in his sufferings. If we would reflect
his glorious image, we must be submissive to the
divine molding; we must follow in the footsteps of
the Man of Calvary. God has claims upon every
one of us. He created us, he redeemed us with an
infinite sacrifice. He has promised the overcomer the
great rewards of eternity. Why do we cling to
anything that is offensive to him? Why not separate
from every sin, and perfect holiness before him?
The only reward for sin is unutterable woe and
death; but the righteous shall be at his right hand
in fullness of joy, in his presence, where are
pleasures forevermore. [RH, September 16, 1890 par.
2]
COMMENTARY PEARL
The Work of Suffering
A while ago I read an unusual story about
a man who survived a shark attack. The man
actually said he was thankful that it happened.
It turns out that when he went to the
hospital for treatment, his doctor discovered that he
had cancer. They were able to successfully
remove a tumor before it metastasized. If the shark
hadnt bitten him, he wouldnt have known that he
had cancer.
Who would ever think that a shark attack
could end up being a good thing?
In the same way, spiritual attacks and
trials will come into our lives, but they are
opportunities to turn to the Lord and trust Him. We never
know how God will take a hardship and use it for
our good.
The Bible says, Dear brothers and
sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way,
consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you
know that when your faith is tested, your
endurance has a chance to grow (James 1:2-3 NLT).
From the original Greek, we could also
translate the phrase troubles of any kind to
read many-colored trials. You might be
going through a hardship thats different from
what someone else is going through.
But even when things look bleak, God
ultimately will work all things together for His glory
and your good. God is in control of all
circumstances that surround the believer. Remember, before
Satan could bring hardships into Jobs life, he
first had to get permission from God.
The same is true of you. God knows what
you can handle. Hes always keeping an eye on
you, and His ultimate purpose is to conform you
into the image of Jesus Christ (see Romans 8:29).
The big picture, then, Gods endgame for you,
is to make you more like Jesus.
No matter what youre going through,
know this: God is at work in your life. [Greg
Laurie from Harvest Ministries;
https://www.harvestdaily.com]
COMMENTARY
Pain and Promise
(Romans 8:16-25)
In some areas of the world, people are
flocking into the Kingdom. In many, however, people
tend to explore the Christian faith, grab hold of
salvation, develop some degree of a personal
relationship with God (especially for purposes of prayer
and receiving from Him), and carry on with their
daily activities as usual. In other words, they
major on salvation but not on the Kingdom
community. That's a start, but it isn't a Kingdom
lifestyle.
Why are many reluctant to immerse
themselves in a Kingdom lifestyle? Because that
lifestyle involves sacrifice and usually a fair amount
of pain. Christianity places no value in
suffering for the sake of suffering, but suffering is
usually a by-product of our faith. When we enter a
new Kingdom, we unavoidably leave one behind.
That can be traumatic for us and the people
around us. It creates friction between us and the
world. We embrace Kingdom ways only at the expense
of the ways of the world. That can involve
tension or even rejection.
Scripture makes it clear that there is
enmity between God and the world - not the created
world, but the world systems that run counter to
His character. Why wouldn't there be suffering
in the Kingdom? In this interim period when the
Kingdom is growing in a hostile environment, pain
happens. Its part of life in this age.
But pain isn't a permanent part of life.
In the age to come, there will be no pain for
those with royal blood. Kingdom citizenship will
be nothing but blessing, far removed from the
vestiges of the curse. But for now, we live in the
friction. It isn't easy. We have to be prepared. Take
heart. The foretastes of glory come with a promise
of greater glory. God doesn't share His glory
with rivals (Isaiah 42:8), but He freely gives it
to His own (John 17:22). Our inheritance
includes His own radiance within us. And this promise
is far greater than any pain in the process.
[The One Year Heaven On Earth Devotional by Chris
Tiegreen]
ILLUSTRATIONS
Since the earlier years of his profession of
faith, Marks Christian experience had deepened.
As he had studied more closely the life and
death of Christ he had obtained clearer views of
the Saviours mission, its toils and
conflicts. Reading in the scars in Christs hands and
feet the marks of His service for humanity, and
the length to which self-abnegation leads to
save the lost and perishing, Mark had become
willing to follow the Master in the path of
self-sacrifice. Now, sharing the lot of Paul the prisoner,
he understood better than ever before that it
is infinite gain to win Christ, infinite loss
to win the world and lose the soul for whose
redemption the blood of Christ was shed. In the face of
severe trial and adversity, Mark continued
steadfast, a wise and beloved helper of the apostle.
AA455
While in the middle east, I met a man
who'd been tortured by ISIS for studying social
justice and human rights. One night in prison, he
prayed, God, if You exist, then save me. A short
time later, bombs fell on the prison. The attack
enabled my new friend to escape to a neighboring
country, and that's where believers introduced him to
Jesus.
Now he's in a dilemma. He can't return
home because his father and brothers have vowed
to kill him for converting to Christianity, and
the political situation in his country of
residence makes it impossible for him to get the
necessary paperwork to remain there legally.
My friend suffers from posttraumatic
stress disorder, and he lives under constant threat
of being deported to certain death, but he will
not turn his back on Jesus. He knows that Jesus
suffered for his sake, and he counts it a privilege
to suffer for Jesus in return.
Love for Jesus and others compels him to
daily seek out other refugees who speak his
language, even though doing so puts his life at risk.
When he finds them, he shares the gospel with
them. He disciples those who respond, so their
spiritual roots go deep. The reality of hope amid a
present hopeless situation and the promise of
heaven's future glories motivate him.
This man humbles me. Sharing Jesus's
suffering is something I know little about in my
secure surroundings. I have much to learn, and I'm
thankful for his example. Grace Fox
Faith Step: Pray that persecuted
believers will remain steadfast in their faith.
[Mornings With Jesus 2021 Devotional by Guideposts and
Zondervan re vs. 17, 18]
After spending the better part of an hour
reciting the woes of my life to my wife, Denalyn
interrupted me with a question. Is God in this
anywhere? I hate it when she does that.
What had happened to me? I was focusing
on my resources. I wasnt consulting God. I
had limited my world to my strength, my wisdom,
and my power. No wonder I was in a tailspin. For
such moments God gives this promise: We are
heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.
(Romans 8:17).
The cronies of dismay, gloom and
rejection have no answer for the promise of
inheritance. Tell them, the gauge may be bouncing on
empty, but I will not run out of fuel. I am a
child of the living and loving God, and he will
help me! And because Gods promises are
unbreakable our hope is unshakable! [Max Lucado Daily
Devotional at maxlucado.com]
PRACTICAL APPLICATION
Sit quietly in My presence while I bless
you. Make your mind like a still pool of water,
ready to receive whatever thoughts I drop into it.
Rest in My sufficiency, as you consider the
challenges this day presents. Do not wear yourself out
by worrying about whether you can cope with the
pressures. Keep looking to Me and communicating with
Me, as we walk through this day together.
Take time to rest by the wayside, for I
am not in a hurry. A leisurely pace
accomplishes more than hurried striving. When you rush,
you forget who you are and Whose you are.
Remember that you are royalty in My kingdom. (Psa.
37:7; Rom. 8:16, 17; 1Pe. 2:9) [Jesus Calling by
Sarah Young]
CLOSING PEARL
Lose Your Religion
When people go through great difficulty,
sometimes they say theyre losing their religion.
I would say thats good. Lose your
religion and then replace it with a relationship with
God, because the faith that cannot be tested is a
faith that cannot be trusted.
If your faith cant stand a test, then
maybe it isnt real faith. The faith of real
Christians will grow stronger through hardship. It
wont get weaker because of it.
The reality is that if you live a godly
life, then you will suffer in some way. The Bible
tells us that everyone who wants to live a
godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer
persecution (2 Timothy 3:12 NLT).
Trials, hardships, difficulties, and yes,
even suffering, come into every believers
life. It is not a matter of if, but when.
Thats because once you become a
Christian, a new battle begins. Its a battle with
the devil, the world, and the flesh.
The apostle Paul wrote to the believers
in Rome, And since we are his children, we
are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we
are heirs of Gods glory. But if we are to
share his glory, we must also share his
suffering (Romans 8:17 NLT).
We go through hardship so our faith will
get stronger and so we will become more like
Jesus. God is getting us ready for Heaven. And
suffering reminds us that Earth is not our home.
Heaven is.
Yes, we will suffer as Christians, but
God will be with us. Suffering and pain cause us
to depend on Him instead of ourselves. It is
only the Christian who can know that God is
ultimately in control. And it is only the Christian who
knows that one day we will be rewarded in Heaven.
[Greg Laurie from Harvest Ministries;
https://www.harvestdaily.com]
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY
Acts 14:22b - Tribulation for Entrance to
the Kingdom.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2021/20210810-1026.html
2 Corinthians 4:8-11 - God is in the
Remodeling Business.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2021/20210928-0835.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo
Steps to Peace by Billy Graham:
https://stepstopeace.org/
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Voice of Prophecy Discover Bible Study
Guides:
https://www.voiceofprophecy.com/study/discover
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of
Adventist World Radio: https://www.awr.org/bible
Panorama of Prophecy with Pastor Doug
Batchelor: https://www.panoramaofprophecy.com/
Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW:
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
