Beyond the Weekend: Saved
Your Past, Present, and Future Rescue
The word "saved" gets used a lot in church. But what does it really mean to be saved?
In this series, we look at how salvation works. It's not just something that happened to us in the past. It's something God is doing in us right now, and something he will finish one day.
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Hope in Suffering
Read: Romans 8:18-23 | Listen: Romans 8
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. Romans 8:18
Paul says believers "groan inwardly as we wait eagerly" (Romans 8:23). This groaning is the deep longing creation feels for the restoration of all things. Prior to this point, Paul reminds his listeners of what they already knew to be true: they are sinners who need a Savior. He tells them that through Christ's death and resurrection, they are no longer slaves to death. However, Paul opens up about a tension he knows well: the pull between doing the good he wants to do and doing the very thing he doesn't want to do (Romans 7:19). Paul points this tension toward the glorification of all things. One day, all will be made well. Creation groans with anticipation.
Like Paul, we too groan for the restoration of all things. We long for God's work of salvation to be complete, for glory to fill our hearts and the world around us. We eagerly wait for the day when suffering will be no more. This groaning is foundational to finding hope in suffering. The hope of our future salvation lets us see God's faithfulness even in the hardships that weigh on us. When our bodies give out, or a marriage unexpectedly fails, glorification is the promise that God will one day finish what he began. This allows us to comfort one another, no matter the circumstances.
TODAY: God’s truth moves us to worship. Commit to memorizing Romans 8:18 this week, then join Ada Bible Church as they sing “Holy Forever.” Let the truth of your future salvation inform your worship today.
