Section 4
we suffer with Him that we may also be glori fied with Him." Children cannot be legal heirs. In order to become legal heirs the children must grow into sons, and the sons must grow into heirs. When we have reached this stage of growth, we shall be glorified. We need to understand that the genuine growth of any kind of life depends upon hardship and suffering. Without hardship or suffering it is difficult for any life to grow. The more suffering we undergo, the greater will be our degree of glory. However, the suffering mentioned in verse 17 does not only concern outward glorification; suffering is also for growth in life. The more we suffer, the more we grow and the faster we are matured. A crop in the field grows not only by the soil, water, fertilizer, air, and sunshine, but also by suffering. Even the sunshine itself is a source of suffering, for the scorching heat of the sun burns the crop into ripeness. Therefore, if you expect to grow and to be a joint-heir of Christ, you should not expect a life that is free of suffering.
CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE
OF THE FIRSTBORN
Verses 26 and 27 say, "And in like manner the Spirit also joins in to help us in our weakness;