We left off in Romans 8 with a powerful proclamation about who we are in Christ. If we are living according to the Spirit, putting to death the deeds of the flesh, then the Spirit testifies that we are sons of God (cf. Romans 8:12-16). We have received the spirit of adoption so that we can be called children of God. If we are children of God, then we are heirs of God. We have a great inheritance awaiting us. But then the apostle Paul says something that might be surprising at the end of Romans 8:17. Paul does not end his thought by telling us that if we are children of God then we are heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ. Paul concludes with an important condition: “provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.”

I want us to think about what Paul is doing as we begin this lesson. Romans 8 is a glorious chapter about who we are in Christ. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). We have been set free from sin to live righteous lives before the Lord (Romans 8:4-5). We are adopted children of God and can cry, “Abba, Father!” (Romans 8:15). But if we are children of God and heirs of God, what are we supposed to make of the problem of suffering? What does it mean when we suffer? What should be our perspective about our relationships with God when we are crushed by trials? Paul is going to take us through this process to help us understand the role of suffering and the glory of the gospel…

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