Awaiting glory

Groaning for Glory: The Hope of Redemption

Bible Passage: Romans 8:18–25

Summary: The creation series has benefited me greatly. We have been reminded of a foundational truth. God is creator. As unbelievable as it may sound, that is a controversial statement today, in the year of our Lord. The days of creation reminded us of the majesty and splendor of Yahweh. Devon reminded us of the simplicity of creation. How in the span of 6 days the Lord made the Heavens and the earth! Dan told us How Yahweh created order from chaos. How the universe is fined tuned and how Yahweh is upholding His creation. Rob shared with us the significance of creation.

But now, we take a look at a passage nestled inside a larger flow of thought by Paul. The book of Romans is filled with theological richness. It has influenced believers the world over. However, Paul has yet to visit the church at Rome, but sends a letter to not only introduce himself, but to the share the Gospel. I believe that if we grab ahold of this passage, we will run with endurance.

When I was young, my family would take road trips every summer. The moment we piled into the car, my siblings and I could hardly contain our excitement. We'd constantly ask, 'Are we there yet?' Just like that eager anticipation, we often forget to enjoy the journey of life. In Romans 8:19, it says, 'For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.' Are we eagerly waiting for what God has promised us?

Romans 8:18–25 LSB

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the anxious longing of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. 23 And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. 24 For in hope we were saved, but hope that is seen is not hope, for who hopes for what he already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we eagerly wait for it.

According to the founder of YouVersion Bible Software:

“Every month, the most-searched terms within the Bible App (which has 1 billion users) include hope, peace, anxiety, healing, and love. This isn’t random. Each term is a window into an individual’s journey with God, whether it be a search for comfort or a longing to understand amidst the waves of uncertainty.”

Today I have four points

suffering: A passing shadow

creation’s collective cry

groaning for freedom

Promise of Patient hope

Big Idea: Glory is coming!

1. Suffering: A Passing Shadow

Romans 8:18–19 LSB

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the anxious longing of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.

exposition

Verse 18 is a carried over from the preceding verses. Paul tells the Christians in Rome that suffering and Sonship go hand in hand. There is no escape hatch. No way we get through unaffected. Are you a son? Women and daughters included. To be a son means to be welcomed into the family of God and receive the benefits of salvation

The Westminster Shorter Catechism Question 32 asks

The Westminster Confession of Faith: Edinburgh Edition The Shorter Catechism

Q. 32. What benefits do they that are effectually called partake of in this life?

A. They that are effectually called do in this life partake of justification, adoption, and sanctification, and the several

What may be confusing is that suffering is a benefit. This is what is communicated in verse 17

Paul is no stranger to suffering himself.

Remember the first assignment given to Paul was to suffer for Christ Acts 9:15-16

Acts 9:15–16 LSB

15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; 16 for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name.”

And suffer he did. Beatings, shipwreck, left for dead, imprisonments. And Yet, he, through the Spirit could write verse 18.

Paul considered the meaning of suffering. Paul has deliberated on this matter. It wasn’t lightly taken into account and he came to the conclusion if we were to put suffering on one end and glory on the other, the scales are not balance. And we don’t want them to be. Right. How pitiable would our life be if the future glory was equal to the present suffering. Suffering is incomparable to the eternal weight of glory. I mean we could spend forever on this one verse! but he will explain this statement in detail.

2. Creation's Collective Cry

Romans 8:20–21 LSB

20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

Paul describes creation’s subjection to futility, yet inserts a note of hope regarding liberation from corruption. Maybe use this to remind believers that they are part of a larger cosmic story. This point could illuminate how Jesus' redemptive work offers hope not just to individuals but to the entire creation, emphasizing the comprehensive nature of redemption and God's ultimate renewal plan.

Even creation is stained by sin and decay. What does Paul mean by the creation? Demons aren’t longing for freedom. In fact they know their time is short. Unbelievers aren’t as well. He meanS the subhuman creation. The universe.

No doubt he has the fall of Gen 3:17-19 in mind. Creation was not willing to be put to futility. It was God who subjected it as a penalty for sin. Pollution, destruction, negligence. These are not God’s original intention for creation. We were to have a interdependent relationship- both humans and the earth benefiting one another. Creation is truly waiting to exhale! It wants to be let loose from its bondage.

Only the Creator of the universe can set creation free. We need to remember God is near and involved in creation.

3. Groaning for freedom

Romans 8:22–23 LSB

22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. 23 And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.

Not only is groaning global, it’s personal. You and I have groaning in our hearts. The frustration with evil in this current age.

The groaning from suffering persecution in our efforts to evangelize. Everything is breaking down. We get the displeasure of watching love ones get sick and die. Our health is deteriorating. Friendships go sour. Families bicker. Our homes are in constant need of repair. Our minds are not as sharp as they once were. We feel that maybe we hadn’t taken the right career path.  Suffering is not some far out theological idea. Some of us feel it in our bones.

There have been people in my lifetime who turned away from Christ because the sufferings choked the joy. I would submit for consideration that either never heard this passage or didn’t let it take root in their heart.

Iv’e highlighted some of the reasons for suffering.

We suffer because of the curse Genesis 3:17–19 “17 Then to Adam He said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat from it’; Cursed is the ground because of you; In pain you will eat of it All the days of your life. 18 “Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you; And you will eat the plants of the field; 19 By the sweat of your face You will eat bread, Till you return to the ground, Because from it you were taken; For you are dust, And to dust you shall return.””

for personal sins. We have brought about the wrath of God Romans 3:23

Romans 3:23 LSB

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

3. for the cause of Christ. Because of our confession 1 Pet 4.14

1 Peter 4:14 LSB

14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

4. For refinement and restoration; 1 Pet 5.10

1 Peter 5:10 LSB

10 And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, strengthen, confirm, and ground you.

Peter makes the same point. He says this time of suffering doesn’t compare to His eternal glory.

5. To focus our eyes on Christ James 1:2-4

James 1:2–4 LSB

2 Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith brings about perseverance. 4 And let perseverance have its perfect work, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

But it doesn’t end there

Look at the metaphor in verse 22. Romans 8:22

Romans 8:22 LSB

22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.

Women endure the pains of child birth to experience the joys of motherhood. Fathers, we get to witness the outcome of that pain. Those months of pregnancy are endured for the coming blessing. And, Just as pregnancy indicates new life, so does our groaning. Interpreters ask, what the meaning of verse 23? Do we groan because we have the Spirit? or Do we groan in spite of having the Spirit? I believe it is because God has given us the Spirit as a taste of glory, that we desire to be free of this brokenness.

First fruits indicate that a harvest is on the way. A guarantee of more. A foretaste. When my wife cooks a meal, and I sneak in to get a taste or the aroma hits, I’m excited about what’s coming. Or the night before 1st day of school with your clothes laid out on the bed. You can hardly sleep. That anxious feeling of something new. Like dad telling you we’re going to get ice cream after church today.

Our bodies will be redeemed!!! We will be like Jesus. Currently, we are unclothed awaiting our glorified garments. 

Sometimes I like to think what age will my body be? Am I the only one? Lord how will i appear? For a moment, think of the best age and the healthiest you’ve ever been and it won’t compare to your glorified body. John tells us:

1 John 3:2 LSB

2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not been manifested as yet what we will be. We know that when He is manifested, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.

Application: So, how are we to live in the meantime? When our body aches and bones hurt, remember the redemption of our bodies. It won’t always be like this. The pains we feel are labor pains.

4. Promise of Patient Hope

Romans 8:24–25 LSB

24 For in hope we were saved, but hope that is seen is not hope, for who hopes for what he already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we eagerly wait for it.

Suffering can coexist with hope. Jon Bloom puts it like this “This is a God who chooses death as the means to life (Hebrews 2:14-15), foolish things as the means to shame the wise (1 Corinthians 1:27), humility as the means to exaltation (1 Peter 5:6), and poverty as the means to riches (2 Corinthians 8:9).”

Where does our hope lie? Is it in capitalism or socialism? Is it in your intellect or modern medicine? The groaning is a temptation to place our hope in something that will liberate us.

But I'm here to tell you that nothing will do it except for Jesus Christ. He is the liberator, the creator of all things, the one who suffered before us and for us.

Application: Trust in Jesus He has conquered sin and death and is the solution for Hope. 

This hope is not a wish. It is a sure Hope. It is real. Set in eternity. Written in the book of Life. We have the mark of the lamb. While so many are obsessed with the beast. we have the lamb. And His glory is coming!!

Closing Thoughts

When we keep our focus on Christ the hope of Glory, we can endure! Hope is both a gift and a discipline that grows from trusting in Christ's promises. We need strengthen this hope through prayer and community, and resting in what’s promised. God will finish what He started. He is faithful. The work that He has begun, He will complete it. Daily we should reflect on heaven.

There is a phrase that i hear from time to time that, “we shouldn’t be so heavenly minded, that we are no earthly good” and I get what they mean but it’s not possible. To have our hearts set on heaven are not against loving one another in the here and now. We should be so focused on the kingdom of heaven that we affect and infect the earth. We should be contagious with Gospel assurance.

Now, I have been using inclusive language. We. Us. Our. This implies you are family. But if you haven’t trusted in Christ. I beg you to. Confess your sins and turn to Christ. He was wounded for our transgressions. It was our sins that Christ died for. Cast your cares on Him. His shoulders are broad enough to bear the burden. Understand your pain isn’t without a promise to restore and heal. Jesus is not only the object of this hope but also the one who leads believers into glory.

Through His resurrection, we are assured that we too will experience redemption and transformation. Because Christ is the fulfillment of the hope Paul speaks of. The curse brought agony and suffering, but Jesus brings order and restoration. Glory is coming

The new creation has dawned in Christ, but the old creation continues (Rom. 8:18–25), so that believers long for the day when God will raise them from the dead and renew the created universe.

Thomas Schreiner

Let us pray,

Father, you love us. You ordained us to suffer but not without hope. Teach us to depend on you in our moments of despair. let us wait with anticipation for your heavenly glory. Help us in our weakness and let us encourage one another as The day of our redemption draws near. Thank you for your Spirit as firstfruits. In jesus name we pray Amen.

We must accept finite disappointment, but we must never lose infinite hope.

Martin Luther King Jr. (Baptist Minister and Civil Rights Activist)