17. Andif children, then heires, heirs of God, and joint heires with Christ: if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
18. For I reckon, that the sufferings of this present time, are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
With a profound ability to illustrate the Christian identity, Paul paints a masterpiece with Romans 8:17-18. In just two verses, we learn five truths that apply to every believer: we are adopted into God’s family; we are brothers and sisters with Christ; and our faith is in the life to come. We also learn that there is glory to be gained in our sufferings, and that our afflictions affirm who we are in Christ — provided we remain faithful to Him.
As believers, we know that the adoption into God’s family and the inheritance of salvation are real. We know this not only because the Holy Spirit testifies to this truth within our spirit — in a way that is only understood once we are born again spiritually — but also by the fact that adoption forms a foundational pillar of Christianity. It is also echoed by almost all of the New Testament writers. Matthew, Luke, John, James, the writer of Hebrews, and Peter were all inspired at different times, in different places, and without the knowledge of each others writings. Yet each of them wrote about being adopted by God and becoming heirs with Christ.
Being adopted into God’s family means you are never alone in this temporal world. This is one reason Scripture emphasizes fellowship. John teaches us that, “If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another.” This shows that when we follow the path of Christ, we will recognize and be recognized by our brothers and sisters in the world. Hebrews 10:24-25 reminds us to “not forsake the assembling of ourselves together” because when believers gather together we encourage one another to walk in love instead of anger, and to always choose good over evil. Fellowship with our brothers and sisters makes it easier to travel the path less taken — the one that leads to the straight gate (Matthew 7:14).
Not only do we have the strength of Christ when we are adopted into God’s family, but we also gain the service of His holy angels. We learn who the angels are in Hebrews 1:14, “Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” This does not mean that God’s angels are in subjection to His children, but that as His children we receive their assistance as we walk toward our salvation. Even Jesus was made a little lower than the angels (Hebrews 2:7), yet the angels ministered to Him after His temptation. Matthew 4:11 tells us, “Then the devil left Him, and behold, angles came and ministered to Him.” The angels would have been a comforting presence to Jesus, providing mental and physical rejuvenation that would renew His hope and strength to begin His earthly ministry.
Although our physical eyes are blind to the spiritual realm where the angels dwell, adoption opens our spiritual heart to sense their presence and their work on our behalf. The ministry of angels enables God to work through His children, allowing His glorious light to flow from them into the darkness of the world.
Following Christ ensures afflictions and times of trouble — just as He suffered for us, we suffer with Him as His brothers and sisters. Unbelievers suffer as well, but without the inheritance of God their suffering continues in eternity. For believers, our sufferings are temporary mental and physical challenges that will not follow us into eternity. In eternity we will live free of stress, pain, and even conviction of sins — because sin will not exist in Heaven. The glory within us will be revealed in our resurrected bodies — perfect bodies free from sickness and disease just as Adam and Eve were before the fall.
Notice when Jesus appeared to His disciples He said, “Handle me, and see, for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see Me have” (Luke 24:39). He did not say “flesh and blood” as we describe our earthly bodies, because in a resurrected state life is no longer sustained by blood. Life is eternal, flowing directly from the glory of the Father.
When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we may lose people, attitudes, and possessions that were contrary to God’s way — but we gain so much more. Adoption gives us a family with whom we can share a life aligned with God, making what we left behind feel like addition by subtraction. We no longer suffer through trials and hardships alone, and understanding how Christ suffered makes our own struggles easier bear. We understand that our difficulties are symptoms of a fallen world, not signs of an angry God. We thrive knowing that our continued faith and our walk in His Spirit leads to incomparable glory, and to life after life.
Father God in Heaven, I thank you for the gift of Your Heavenly family — not only in Your Kingdom for eternity, but here on earth for the short time I am here. The sacrifice of Your Son cleansed me of my sins, gave me a Brother, and granted me an inheritance I now share with Jesus. Although I’m not deserving of the gifts or Your promises, Your love would not keep them from me once I sought You with my whole heart, just as you promised. I thank you in Jesus’ Name.
Amen.