This is the manuscript version of the third lesson I taught in a three-part series to the adult Sunday School class at the Bible Church of Buena Park in February of 2003. The first and second lessons are also available.
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You’ve got me for one more time this morning, and I thank you again for your willingness to journey with me in this worthy pursuit. Two weeks ago I set out to address a failure in my own life, namely the problem of misplaced affections. Why is it that when my alarm goes off in the morning, my heart would rather stay in bed than spend time with the Creator of the universe and the Savior of my soul? And why is it that, once I do get up, my attention drifts to all manner of lesser things? To the best of my ability, through the light of the Word, I suggested to you (and to myself), three culprits. Number one, I don’t remind myself what’s at stake each morning. Number two, I’m spending too much time on the spiritual sidelines. Number three, I’m trying to maximize my enjoyment now, rather than pursuing the lasting and perfect enjoyment that can only be attained in the life to come.

These three culprits relate to each other like this: I don’t recognize what’s at stake, because I’m not in the game, because I want to live life on my own leisurely terms. But what lies beneath this three headed monster? What is this spiritual lethargy anchored in? To put it bluntly, it is nothing less than a lack of faith, both in my view of hell and in my view of heaven. One day in hell is worse than a lifetime of bearing a cross, and one day in heaven is better than a lifetime of worldly indulgence. The man who gains the whole world but forfeits his soul profits nothing. Rather, he loses everything. Nevertheless, the profits of this world can be seen while the profits of eternity cannot. Here enters the conflict, the great fight of faith. Will God’s promises be real enough and precious enough to us that we will forsake the competing claims of sin? Sin is what we do when we are not satisfied by that all that God is for us in Christ Jesus. Therefore, sin can only entice us when we are not satisfied in God. This means, of course, that the only way we can triumph over sin, in the long run, is to gain a distaste for it by finding a superior satisfaction in a right relationship with God. I am trying to feed this kind of faith by holding up for you two themes in the Bible, warning and reward. Last week my intention was to nurture a healthy sense of desperation lest we run in vain. I read warnings the likes of Hebrews 12:14 and Romans 6:22 which tell us that without holiness, without being sanctified, we will not see God. You could summarize that message like this: Be afraid. Hell is a terrible place, and those who won’t deal radically with sin (which is only possible through spiritual regeneration) will go there.

This morning, my aim is to move from warning to reward, holding up a vision of God’s heavenly glory that we might long for with all our being. I am going to do my best, in this short time we have together, to get out of the way of God’s Word. It speaks for itself. Though extra-biblical insights and commentary can be extremely helpful, there is not much I can add to the lavish promises that Scripture makes itself. As we come before it today, I want the Spirit to wash over us that we may go home this afternoon and weep for joy that God would save such a people as us.

Last week I opened our time together with one of the more frightening portions of Scripture, Matthew 7:21-23:

Not everyone who says to Me, “Lord, Lord” shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? And then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from Me you who practice lawlessness!

This morning I am happy to direct you to one of the most glorious portions in all of Scripture, namely Romans 8, the great eight! I’m going to read the bulk of it to you this morning, and I’ve broken it up this way. Romans 8: 1-4 deals with the gospel, Romans 8:12-18 speaks of reward, Romans 8:24-26 highlights the help our faith receives from the Spirit, Romans 8:28-32 declares that all things happen for our good (if we are united to Jesus), and Romans 8:35-39 speaks of our security in Christ.

Romans 8:1-4:

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God {did:} sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and {as an offering} for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Romans 8:12-18

So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh -- for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with {Him} so that we may also be glorified with {Him.} For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

Romans 8:24-26

For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he {already} sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it. In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for {us} with groanings too deep for words;