Sighs too Deep for Words

Sighs too Deep for Words

Romans 8:15-27

Joint Heirs with Christ

In previous chapters, Paul has used many analogies to describe our condition with respect to the law, our sin, and our redemption from sin. He has used the illustrations of death, marriage, and slavery to describe the Christian’s current relationship to his or her former self. In Chapter 8, Paul speaks, not in analogy, but of our true state, which is that we are children of God. In verses 15-18, Paul uses another analogy as he describes us as having the spirit of “adoption” or of “sonship”, depending on which translation you read. The word used in verse 15 is huiothesia, which literally means to “make as a son”. Both the Jewish and Greek societies were entirely male-dominated and patriarchal, and the idea of adoption only applied in the sense of inheritance, in both material goods and social stature. It is in this spirit that Paul makes the bold claim that we are no longer slaves, but joint heirs with Christ.

Of course, Paul is not the author of this idea. In John, 15:14-17, Jesus tells us that we are no longer servants, but friends if we do as he commands, and his commandment is that we love each other as he has loved us. Also, it was Jesus who taught us to pray, crying out “Abba, Father” (Mark 14:36). Paul was very much a product of both Jewish and Greek patriarchal societies, and his Jewish background forbade that he even speak the name of his God. It is surely the witness of Jesus through the Holy Spirit that taught him to speak of God as a loving parent.

But what is it that Paul speaks of as our inheritance? Certainly, a major part of it is our victory over death, which means victory over all of this life. The writer of Hebrews uses this same line of thought in Chapter 2, verses 10-15, where he says that through the life and death of Jesus, we are all one family, and by his sacrifice, we are no longer slaves to the fear of death.

But to share in his life, we must also share in his suffering. Even for those of us who are quite privileged, this life is not long or easy. But we have already been born again, as Peter says in 1 Peter 1:23-25. The things of this world are not permanent, but the promise of God has no beginning or end.

Pains of Childbirth

Though his most eloquent words are later in the chapter, in verses 18-25, Paul has dropped all his argumentative, doctrinal discourse and speaks in flowing words of praise and adoration, but these are not empty words, and though they are uplifting words by their very sound and spirit, they also hold truths to be carefully considered.

It is said that J. R. R. Tolkien helped convert C. S. Lewis to Christianity. Both men were great lovers of myth, and it is said that in their pre-conversion discussion, Lewis remarked that that the stories of the Bible were myths like any other. Tolkien is supposed to have replied, “Yes, except that they are true.”

It is in that sense of “true myth” that the stories in Genesis teach us of the plan of God, the choice of the human race, and the effect that this choice had on all creation. After Adam and Eve sinned, and God confronted Adam with his sin, Adam replied “The woman you put here with me – she gave me some fruit of the tree and I ate it.” (Genesis 3:12 NIV) If we can imagine Adam standing as he said this, with one finger pointed towards God and the other to his wife, we get a picture of the fallen relationships that result from sin, relationship with each other and with God.

But the story goes further. In verses 17-19, God tells Adam that all of creation is cursed because of man’s sin. It is this idea that Paul is thinking of when he says that all of creation awaits the day when it will be “liberated from bondage and decay.” The Greek word Paul uses for “creation” is ktisis, and this is the same word that Jesus used when he commissioned us to “Go into all the world and preach the good news to the whole creation.” (Mark 16:15 RSV) Certainly, this means that every kind of human being is included, but we must remember that we serve a God who looked at all of creation and said that it was good (Genesis 1:31) and who loved the world (Greek kosmos) so much that he gave his only son, that the world, through him, might be saved. (John 3:16-17)

Hope

But it is not only creation that waits this day, but we ourselves. Paul says we have the “firstfruits” of the Spirit, meaning that what we have now is just the beginning of what we will see in the latter day, the day for which we hope. In perhaps his most memorable passage, quoted even by non-believers, Paul speaks of that day.

Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love, and the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:12-13 NIV)

In our everyday conversation, the word “hope” is very weak. We hope for things that we fear will not come to be. We hope because we are uncertain. It was not so for Paul. Earlier, in Chapter 5, verses 1-5, Paul goes from faith to hope, a hope that will not disappoint. Faith is proof. It is not scientific proof that can be reproduced in a laboratory. It is personal proof. We have faith in the present, because God poured out his love into our hearts. We have hope for our very certain future, when we shall see face to face, and know fully, as we are already fully known.

Sighs too Deep for Words

In the mean time we have the comfort of the Holy Spirit. When Jesus promised the coming of the Holy Spirit, he spoke of the Spirit as “another Counselor” (John 14:16) meaning that the Spirit would be a counselor like himself. Indeed, just as Jesus and the Father were one, so it is with Jesus and the Holy Spirit, for Jesus goes on to say “I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you.” (John 14:18) In verses 26 & 27, Paul speaks of the work of this Counselor – one whose mind is known to God, and who knows our hearts and minds – who helps us in our weakness. There are many aspects of human frailty, but what Paul speaks of is our inability, at times, even to tell our loving God what it is we need. There are many times that we can do no more than cry “Abba, Father,” and sometimes we fail even that. In those times, the Spirit intercedes for us, with “sighs too deep for words”.