Romans 8:23-25

Passage

And not only creation, but we ourselves while having the first fruits of the Spirit groan deeply within ourselves while waiting expectantly for adoption – the redemption of our bodies.  For we were being saved by this hope.  And hope that is being seen is not hope.  For who hopes for what he sees?  But if we hope for that which we do not see, we wait expectantly through patient endurance.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Paul reminds us that we have a very excellent reason to hope.  We have the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is the first fruit!  As Paul tells us in Ephesians 1:13-14, the Holy Spirit is the guarantor of our salvation.  This section of Romans confirms this truth.  If we have the Holy Spirit, we have every reason to eagerly look forward to our salvation.

How do you know if you have the Holy Spirit?  How do you live once you know the Holy Spirit is within you?

Second Thought:

Then Paul speaks about salvation via the illustration of adoption.  Adoption is legally being allowed to claim a lineage that does not technically belong to you.  That is what we receive through Christ.  We have no right to think that we could live eternally.  We are a part of this creation and a few days ago we talked about how the creation is decaying.  We deserve to decay.  Yet in Christ, we can claim an eternal lineage.  We have no legal right to it, but we are adopted into it.  How great is God!

Do you see yourself as adopted?  What does that mean for you?  What opportunities does that status open up for you?

Third Thought:

Finally, Paul talks about hope versus seeing.  When we see something, we don’t need hope.  We can see it.  We can touch it.  We can let our senses convince us of its reality.  However, with respect to salvation we cannot see it or touch it or smell it of feel it.  Salvation is intangibly within us, as is the Holy Spirit.  We cannot touch it, so we must hope.  Yet this hope is exactly that for which God is looking.  He wants us to humble ourselves to Him and trust in Him knowing that He will provide.  That is hope.

Where is your hope?  In whom does your hope reside?  How does your life illustrate these answers?

Passage for Tomorrow: Romans 8:26-27