Romans 8:17-18: "Our Future Glory"

Paul continues to show us the benefit of being a child of God. He continues his thoughts from v. 16 with, "and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him". What a magnificent thought to know that when we come to faith in Jesus Christ we inherit in all that God and Christ have. Heir comes from the Greek word kleronomo and means one who has acquired or obtained the portion allotted to Him. This allotment is not earned or worked for, and the one who gains did nothing except receive the gift. As believers we are in line to receive the divine glory that God bestows on all His children. MacArthur writes this, "The ultimate purpose of salvation is to forgive and to cleanse men of their sin and to restore to them God's glory and thereby bring to Him still greater glory through the working of that sovereign act of grace". Ultimately, glorification is the pinnacle of salvation and marks its perfect completion.

As we learned in the last section, believers are adopted by God, and through the adoption we are then made children of God, in line to receive all the blessings as if an original child. We now go a step further to see that we are not only children, but we are "heirs also". Colossians 1:11-12 says, "strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness, and patience, joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light". It is the righteousness of Christ imputed to the believer through faith that "qualifies us" as heirs to receive the glory of God. MacArthur writes, "This inheritance is only God's to give, and He sovereignly bestows it, without exception, on those who become His children and heirs through faith in His divine Son, Jesus Christ". God Himself is our greatest inheritance. As children of God, we now have access to the Most High God. What an amazing and rich inheritance we do have. The Psalmist understood this in Ps. 73:25, "Whom have I in heaven but thee? And besides Thee, I desire nothing on earth". Our inheritance is generous and infinite, and yet can all be found in our new standing before God.

Paul continues that we are, "fellow heirs with Christ". God has appointed Jesus Christ as "heir of all things" (Heb 1:2), which He then gives to us as we are "fellow heirs". MacArthur writes, "In His great high priestly prayer, Jesus spoke to His Father of the incredible and staggering truth that everyone who believes in Him will be one with Him and will share His full glory: 'The glory which Thou hast given Me I have given to them; that they may be one, just as We are one' (John 17:22)". Christ willingly gives of the glory He receives by God, and we are forever joined in Christ. Paul has taught us through Romans that when we believe in Christ, we partake in His righteousness, His death, His resurrection, and now we learn that we partake in His glory. Do we truly understands the depths of His grace. For we are, "justified by His grace [in order that] we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life" (Titus 3:7). The very gift of God's grace does not stop at justification, He will see it through to its completion in our glorification in Heaven.

Paul, desiring to give encouragement and the proof of their adoption, writes, "if indeed we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him". MacArthur writes, "strange as it seems to the earthly mind, the present proof of the believer's ultimate glory comes through suffering on his Lord's behalf. Because we suffer with Him, we know that we will also be glorified with Him". Just as we partake in the blessing of divine glory and salvation, we also partake in the suffering of Christ while here on earth. John 15:18 says, "If the world hates you, you know that it has hated me before it hated you". Paul also wrote, "Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions". We must understand that as the world hated Christ, it will also hate you who are followers of Him. This was said as encouragement to those Christians who were being persecuted for the sake of Christ, reassuring them of their glorious destiny that is eternal, rather than focusing on the temporary suffering. "The more we willingly suffer for Christ's sake on earth, the more we are driven to depend on Him rather than on our own resources and the more we are infused with His power", MacArthur explains. All things are done "for good, to those who love God", even suffering, as it allows us to depend on God, and make us long for eternity with Him.

Continuing his encouragement to those who are "suffer[ing] with Him", Paul again turns our attention to the glory we have waiting for us, "For I consider that the suffering of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us". It is no doubt that Paul lived his life in the grand perspective. If, as Christians, we held every trial up in the right perspective we would never complain. However, it is those times we focus on our current trials without perspective of all God is trying to accomplish, and the wonderful hope we have in the future, that we complain. Paul went through more suffering than most people ever will, and yet he was able to say, "Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am". It was Paul's great understanding of this wonderful truth that, "the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us". If we believe this and remember this the next time we suffer sickness, persecution, ridicule, trials, etc. we can truly say in our hearts that, "God causes all things to work together for good, to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose". That is why Christians have such great hope, and those apart from Christ have none.

May we constantly be reminded of the riches we have in Christ Jesus. May we meditate on His promises to us as adopted children and heirs of His divine glory. May we remember, MacArthur says, "As followers of Christ, our suffering comes from men, whereas our glory comes from God. Our suffering is earthly, whereas our glory is forever. Our suffering is trivial, whereas our glory is limitless. Our suffering is in our mortal and corrupted bodies, whereas our glory will be in our perfected and imperishable bodies".