International Sunday School Lesson - Sunday School in 7minutes
Sunday School in 7minutes
FREEDOM FOR THE FUTURE
SCRIPTURE: Romans 8:18–30
ISSL May 8, 2022 / MSSL May 15, 2022

In chapters 1-4
• Paul writes of man’s need for righteousness & justification.
• Paul tells us about salvation by faith in Jesus Christ.

In Romans 8 Paul introduces what even MCs need to understand the certainty of suffering and of God’s sustaining ministry through His Spirit.

Paul is explaining the theological foundation of our faith to new Christians. Through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, we are joined with Christ so that we become the sons of God. This relationship of sonship is the opposite of slavery. Rather than being subject to sin and to death, we become heirs in the family of God.

But Paul did not want these Christians, or us, to think now that we have changed our ways and accepted Christ that all our problems are gone. Christ suffered we will suffer but it is that shared suffering and ministry of the Holy Spirit that binds us as a Christian family.

Paul starts our lesson with a cost-benefit analysis. Explaining that the benefits of sonship far outweigh the price we are called upon to pay as sons of God.

In my teens, I did not understand but as I live, I now clearly understand what Paul means as he explains here that suffering is the universal experience of all of God’s creation, saint and sinner both experience the trials of the universe. It cannot be avoided.

Paul, therefore, informs us that our suffering is part a part of the bigger whole—the suffering of all of creation. Several Timeless truths are taught here:
• All creation groans, you are not alone
• Creation has been in the process of deterioration this is a part of the Devine plan. Our own bodies bear testimony to the process of corruption. No matter How hard I exercise,
o my hair thins,
o my skin drys,
o places I did know I had ache.
o no matter how hard we try to resist or reverse the process of corruption, it is inevitable, leading to frustrations as things do not work like they use to work
Paul explains that creation is dying also.
• Even with a divine decree of deterioration leading to frustration, we have sure and certain hope. Creation & Christians await the day it is redeemed from the chaotic consequences of sin when present conditions will be set aside, redeemed through Jesus the Christ.

Like the creation, Christians suffer and groan due to the suffering and futility we see in the world. Sin, dwelling in our flesh and in this fallen world, all around us causing us to groan wanting full deliverance. Sorta like a child waiting for Christmas day the longer we wait does not cause the wanting or suffering to lessen in fact the groaning grows more intense.


Remember at this time Christianity could be called a cult. They are viewed as dangerous by Jewish and Roman leaders alike. Paul, like a coach at halftime, must inspire his people in their suffering.

Paul acknowledges that there will be moments we get tired of suffering and waiting, He reminds them that God’s Spirit is right alongside helping. If we don’t know how or what to pray, there have been nights of confusion when I did not know what to ask God. Paul asserts God will do our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves,




Paul assures these suffering Christians that God is ultimately in charge of all things. His authority is without limits. All of creation is under his control.

God’s sovereignty assures Christians He is working all things together for their ultimate good. from the very beginning, God decided that those who came to him—and he knew who would—should become like his Son, so that his Jesus would be the First, with many brothers.

As his son, those who respond to his call, are Filled with Christ’s goodness, we are redeemed one day to know the joy that comes with that redemption