Romans: Future Glory

Last week, we looked at Romans 7, where Paul describes the human struggle with sin. He reminds us that through Christ we are set free from the law, yet we still wrestle with the frustrating reality of wanting to do what is right while continually falling short. This tension—between the desire to obey and the weakness of our flesh—leaves us longing for deliverance.
If chapter 7 can be seen as one of the most frustrating chapters in Romans, then chapter 8 stands as the most hope-filled and powerful. At its core, it proclaims victory over sin, freedom from condemnation, and the unshakable assurance that belongs to every believer in Jesus Christ. In its opening 25 verses, Paul overflows with promises—reminding us of the redemption we already possess in Christ while also pointing us toward the future glory that awaits.

Romans 8:1

The chapter opens with one of the most liberating statements in all of Scripture: “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” Let’s pause for a moment. Put down your pens, Bibles, or phones, and take a moment to let this truth sink in and resonate in your soul…

This verse means exactly what it says. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, if you belong to him and have placed your faith and trust in Him, you have been released from the guilty verdict of sin. The phrase “no condemnation” is a legal term, meaning there is no declaration of guilt and no penalty hanging over you. The charges have been dropped entirely. The verdict for the sinner is “not guilty.” As a follower of Jesus, you are no longer under God’s condemnation; the judgment that once stood against you because of your sin has been completely removed. Paul declares that for followers of Jesus, there is no condemnation at all. This means that condemnation no longer exists for us. It’s not that our condemnation has been paused for a while, but that it doesn’t exist anymore at all.

As you ponder this truth, think of the liberation and freedom you have because of what Jesus did on the cross of Calvary.

Now, this doesn’t mean you are free from the presence of sin in your daily life. We still battle temptations. But it does mean we are no longer under the eternal penalty, judgment, or the power of sin. The condemnation that we deserve has been lifted because Jesus bore that judgment for us. As Paul wrote earlier in Romans 5:9, “We have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, [and] He will certainly save us from God’s condemnation.”

This present redemption is a gift received the moment you became a follower of Jesus Christ. At that moment, your eternal destiny changed. You were transferred from death to life, from judgment to freedom. You now have life, and you have life abundantly.

Romans 8:4–9

Now, Paul explains in verse 4 that since we have been set free in Christ, we must no longer “follow our sinful nature” but instead “follow the Spirit.” We still live in the world, but we no longer live according to the world’s values or our old, sinful desires. If we set our minds and hearts on pleasing the flesh by chasing self-centered ambitions, indulging sinful appetites, and ignoring God, then we are aligning ourselves with death, not life. Paul is clear: “For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will… Those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.”

Part of our transformation in Christ is that not only are we freed from the condemnation of sin, but also our desires change. We are no longer enslaved to sin’s demands. Instead, the Spirit of God redirects our affections toward what pleases Him, such as serving others, loving God and even our enemies, pursuing holiness, and advancing His kingdom.

Verse 9 makes the dividing line crystal clear: “You are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you.”

This is the evidence of belonging to Christ: The Spirit’s presence and the Spirit’s fruit in your life found in Galatians 5:22–23, “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” Kingdom living or Spirit living replaces worldly living, not in a way that makes us retreat from the world, but in a way that gives us a new perspective on how we live our lives here on earth.

 Romans 8:12–17

Because we belong to Christ, we are “debtors” to God, not to the flesh. We owe our lives to the One who purchased us at the cost of His blood. When we “put to death the deeds of the sinful nature”, we no longer live according to the flesh or the old nature, but we live out our identity as God’s children.

Paul takes this even further in verse 17 by calling us “heirs”.  What does it mean to be an heir? It means we inherit everything God has promised His Son. Eternal life. Resurrection glory. The kingdom of God itself. But there’s a sobering reality attached to this promise: we also inherit the cross.

Suffering, persecution, and hardship may not be the everyday experience of every believer. But Scripture makes it clear that those who follow Christ will face opposition. 2 Timothy 3:12 says, “Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” Still, we do not shrink back in fear. Why? Because we have a hope that far outweighs any pain we endure.

Romans 8:18

This is our future glory: this is the day when our salvation will be complete, our bodies will be transformed, and all creation will be restored. Every trial, every tear, every loss will be eclipsed by the joy of that day.

What is “glory”? It is the most exalted state imaginable, the fullness of life as God intended, the complete transformation into the image of Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul writes in Philippians 3:20-21, “But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.” We are citizens of heaven now, but also one day we will take possession of our true heavenly home with our resurrected Lord as King and Ruler of all.

Jesus described this eternal home in John 14:2–3, “There is more than enough room in my Father’s home… When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.”

In that home, whether the dwelling is literal or symbolic, we will experience the perfection of God’s presence. And not only will we have a new home, but we will also have new, glorified bodies. Whatever the details, we can be certain of this: it will be glorious beyond imagination.

Romans 8:19–23

Knowing what’s ahead should create a deep longing in our hearts; it’s a kind of holy homesickness. Paul says this longing is not unique to humanity; all creation feels it. Creation was not designed for death, decay, and disaster. Instead, we are told in Genesis that God saw his creation and it was “very good”, reflecting the beauty and harmony of its Creator. But when humanity sinned, the whole created order was subjected to futility. The ground was cursed. Thorns and thistles grew. Death entered the world.

Paul says here that creation has been “groaning” for liberation, just as we “groan” inwardly for the redemption of our bodies. This groaning is not hopeless despair; it’s the eager anticipation of a coming transformation.

The late Pastor Timothy Keller captures this longing and groaning well:

“We are told (in Genesis) that we were created to live in the garden of God… a place in which there is no parting from love, no decay or disease… That is our original home, the true country we were made for… We have been living in a world that no longer fits our deepest longings.”[1]

In other words, we are like square pegs trying to fit into a round hole. We were not originally made for a world filled with brokenness; we were ultimately made for eternal fellowship with God, and this is why nothing in this world fully satisfies. We live in frustration because we are living where we don’t necessarily belong.  The only way we will truly be satisfied is in our final redemption.

Romans 8:24–25

Paul reminds us that hope is not wishful thinking; it’s the confident expectation based on God’s promises. We hope for what we do not yet see, and in that hope, we wait patiently. This patience is not passive. It’s an active, persevering faith that clings to God’s Word, it refuses to be swayed by temporary trials, and looks forward with joy to the day when faith becomes reality.

Hebrews 6:19 says, “This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls.” In the storms of life, it holds us steady because it is secured in the unshakable character of God.

The Charge: Hold Fast Until the End

So, my friends, hold fast. This life is not all we have. God has prepared an eternity for you, a future in which you will share His glory and bear His image perfectly.
Imagine, if you will, this place God has prepared for you:

• A place where no one sends sons or daughters to war, for the Lord Himself will be our defense.
• A place where there are no hospitals, because there will be no sickness.
• No lawyers or judges, because perfect justice will reign.
• No cemeteries or funeral homes, because death will be no more.
  
  

Every longing will be fulfilled, every wound healed, every tear wiped away. We will live in the place God created for us, in His presence, in perfect fellowship with one another, forever.
This is our redemption. This is our destiny. And this is why we endure whatever comes in this life.

Conclusion
Romans 8:1–25 calls us to live in the freedom of present redemption while looking forward with eager anticipation to our future glory. We are no longer condemned; we are Spirit-filled children of God, heirs of His kingdom. Our present sufferings, though real and often painful, cannot compare to the glory that is coming.

So let us live as people of hope. Let us walk by the Spirit, not the flesh. Let us hold fast through trials, knowing that one day our redemption will be complete.

And when that day comes, we will say with full hearts: It was worth it. Every moment of waiting, every act of obedience, every trial endured—it was all worth it to see our Savior face to face and dwell with Him forever.

 
Responding to the Word: Romans in Real Life

1. How does knowing you are “no longer condemned” change the way you approach God in prayer and worship?
Paul begins Romans 8 with the declaration that there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.

• Do you tend to relate to God as a loving Father or as a distant Judge?
• How might this truth free you from fear or guilt that still lingers from your past?
  
  

2. What are some practical ways you can “set your mind on the Spirit” in the week ahead?
Paul says the mind set on the flesh leads to death, but the mind set on the Spirit brings life and peace.

• What tends to distract your heart toward “fleshly” thinking?
• Which specific habits or spiritual disciplines help you keep your focus on the Spirit?
  
  

3. How does being an heir of God affect the way you endure suffering?
As children of God, we inherit His promises—but we also share in Christ’s sufferings.

• What trials are you facing right now that test your trust in God?
• How might remembering your eternal inheritance give you strength to keep going?
  
  

4. When you think of “future glory,” what do you imagine?
Paul says our present suffering is nothing compared to the glory that will be revealed in us.

• Does this perspective make you more eager for Christ’s return?
• How might this hope reshape the way you see your present struggles?
  
  

5. How does the idea that “creation is groaning” shape your view of the world?
Paul describes all creation longing for restoration and freedom from decay.

• Where do you see evidence of this brokenness in the world around you?
• How can your life point others toward the hope of renewal in Christ?
  
  

6. What does it look like to “wait patiently” for God’s promises while still living faithfully now?
Paul says we hope for what we do not yet see, and we wait with patience.

• What is one promise from God you are still waiting to see fulfilled?
• How can you remain steadfast and active in your faith while you wait?
  
  

7. Which truth from Romans 8:1–25 most encourages you to persevere in your walk with Christ?
This passage overflows with hope: freedom from condemnation, life in the Spirit, our adoption as God’s children, and the promise of glory.

• Which of these truths speaks most powerfully to you right now?
• How can you use that truth to encourage someone else this week?

 


[1] Timothy Keller, The Prodigal Son: Redefining Hope—Our Longing for Home, sermon excerpt, quoted in The Value of Sparrows, March 25, 2014,

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