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Sermon Notes of Rev.Dr. Ivor J.W.Oakley (Strandtown Baptist Church 6-11-1977)
Last week Paul’s teaching left us on a high note. The
Holy Spirit’s work in holiness, guidance and assurance. Bearing witness that
we are God’s sons, his heirs, indeed joint heirs with Christ. If we have
suffered with him down here, we are to share his glory when we are above.
Then he brings us right down to earth – we are not in
glory yet. We are still in this world. What a world it is! And what people we
are! But Jesus Christ is going to return. Glorious resurrection day – we are
going to be changed, the universe to be changed. What guarantee? Presence of
Holy Spirit within. (1) Present situation, (2) Future prospect, (3) Present
guarantee of future glory.
Sufferings of this present time (8:18), Creation was made subject to vanity (8:20), the bondage of corruption (8:21), Groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now (8:22). Wherever we look in the universe, though there are many glories and wonders, we see constant change.
“Change and decay in all around I see”
Nothing permanent or secure. World is running down.
“Everybody is living on
the dying of others, and all are ultimately to die”. Everything is a struggle
against disintegration, and it is a losing struggle. Every time we go to the
doctor, put on glasses, visit the dentist, collect pension, sweep up fallen
leaves, take nightly rest, feel the need of a rest and a holiday. The truth of
Paul’s words about decay and disintegration is underlined here.
Dying world. Continuous cycle of
birth, growth, death, decomposition ad infinitum. Physical suffering. Calamity
of various kinds. Devastating forces, savage beasts, poisonous snakes, dangerous
birds, war, poverty, disease, natural disasters, flood, flame, typhoon,
blizzard, blight, volcanoes, catastrophes, nature red in tooth and claw, misery,
oppression, infirmities of age. Vanity of vanities, all is vanity. (Ecclesiates
1:2). Nothing that completely satisfies or lasts. Nothing that is not spoilt or
marred. Beauty fades, loveliness decays.
Scripture traces this something wrong in world to the fact of curse on nature. Sin has brought disturbance not only to men and character and relationship with God and others. But also disturbed and upset world. Somehow or other the sin of man has effected lower orders of creation. Nature is not what it was in its original condition when it was pronounced good. Groaning and travailing in pain till now because it is not what it was at first, nor what it will be in the future.
Then concentration of thought on
believer. What complex people we are! What a mixture we are! Forgiveness, new
life, in touch with God, found one who really satisfies us as water of life,
rejoice in the Lord, sin not to have dominion over us. Yet another side to us
because work is not yet completed. Only half saved! Not free of trials,
hardship, suffering and persecution.
“And none, O Lord, have perfect rest
For
none are wholly free from sin
And
they who fain would serve thee best
Are conscious most of wrong within” H. Wells
Furthermore we have a new life in spiritual sense. Still
have old bodies. Unlikely we shall die of alcoholism or lung cancer etc. – may
live a little longer – but Christian or not we are still going to die. Still
need glasses, and still feel onset of old age. Because redemption has not yet
touched our bodies. Souls are saved but not bodies. God’s redemptive purpose
affects whole personality. While in this body, we are only half saved. We are
still in bodies which are weak, fragile, subject to fatigue, sickness, pain and
death. Hence we groan inwardly. This is not God’s final purpose for us.
In light of God’s complete purpose for us – which extends into future – have to say that we have only begun to enjoy blessings of salvation. Our full salvation is a hope. Bound up with a hope. We were saved in hope. We were saved in hope of full salvation in the end (including our bodies). We are saved by faith, in hope of all that, and more, at Christ’s return. Not have everything when we first believed.
This incomplete, unsatisfactory
situation to be brought to an end. Creation itself is to be set free from this
bondage to decay. To obtain glorious liberty if children of God. Reaffirmed in
various portions of Scripture penned at different times. Bible in early chapters
speaks of curse on the world, ends in the final chapter (Revelation 22:3) with
triumphant words And there shall be no more curse.
Isaiah 11:6-9 The wolf also
shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf
and the young lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them.
The cow and the bear shall feed …. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my
holy mountain. This speaks of a renovated universe. Instincts of animals
changed. No longer red in tooth and claw.
Isaiah 65:17 For behold I
create new heavens and a new earth, and the former shall not be remembered, nor
come into mind.
2 Peter 3:13 (having said that
present heavens and earth to disappear) We, according to his promise, look
for new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness.
Revelation 21:1 And I saw a
new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and first earth were passed
away.
Complete change. Things are not
to continue indefinitely as they are. Nature, earth and heaven, whole universe
to be transformed, to be set free from its bondage, from all that mars and
spoils it now.
This all depends on the second
coming of the Lord. Universe to share in glory which awaits the church at
Christ’s return. Creation is awaiting that day with eager longing. On tiptoe
with excitement and expectation, looking for signs of dawn of glory. As nature
share in man’s curse, and now shares in his tribulation, so it is to share in
man’s glory. Creation to be restored when we are restored. Believer to share
Christ’s glory and creation to share ours.
Our future glory is described in two ways.
(a) Bodies to be redeemed. On last day at Christ’s glorious return we to have new bodies. (Not to be disembodied spirits). Like unto His glorious resurrection body (Philippians 3:21). No indwelling sin. Old nature, the flesh, will have no part in new bodies. Perfectly conformed to image of God’s Son (8:29). Not to be sin’s instrument.
“When
I see thee as thou art,
Love
thee with unsinning heart”
Body
perfectly suitable for life of spiritual man. New powers which are unknown. 1
Cor. 15:42-43 Sown in corruption, raised in incorruption; Sown in dishonour,
raised in glory; Sown in weakness, raised in power; Sown a natural body, raised
a spiritual body.
Philippians
3:21 Will change our lowly body to be like his glorious body. No more
weariness, defects, disease, aging, pain, suffering or death. Doctors,
opticians, dentists and undertakers will not be needed in eternal state.
(b)
Sonship is to be publicly revealed and recognised. Formally adopted. On
last day there will be revealing of sons of God. God to show who are his sons.
World not know us yet as sons of God. Largely unknown and unrecognised at
present. Glorious status and wonderful prospects are unrealised by people of the
world. We long earnestly for that day. Contrast with unsaved man, no expectancy,
no sure hope. Increasingly hopeless as nearer to the end. “Devil has no happy
old men” Days only get darker for such. Contrast from Christian prospect.
Beloved, now are we the sons of God and it doth not yet appear what we shall e; but we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:2). When we are transformed, then universe will likewise be transformed.
Sounds well, but what proof or evidence beyond are Word of God? We have the first fruits of the Spirit. His presence in our lives is God’s guarantee of full inheritance to come. He is the guarantee and also the foretaste. Sometimes Paul uses commercial metaphor (Ephesians 1:14) – Holy Spirit is the “earnest” or deposit, i.e. first instalment in hire purchase agreement, down payment which certifies that remainder is to be paid later. And sometimes as a seal (2 Cor. 1:22), sealed unto the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30). Mark of God’s ownership. Here we have an agricultural metaphor, the first fruits of harvest. He is the pledge of full crop to come.
We grow and yet we are full of hope. Life is not easy and soft, but not hopeless. Has vital expectation. Look beyond world to God. Set mind on God’s mercy and love. Keynote of life is not despair but hope. Glorious future ahead. Not always to put up with world as it is, or selves as we are. Liberation, renovation and creation by glory and power of God. Do some spiritual arithmetic. Sufferings of present time are not worthy to be compared with glory which shall be revealed in us. Glory far outweigh suffering. This hope of future glory enables us to accept and live above trials of present. These are the school days, one day we are going home.
