For the creation is eagerly waiting for God to reveal his children, because the creation was subjected to frustration, though not by its own choice. The one who subjected it did so in the hope that the creation itself would also be set free from slavery to decay in order to share the glorious freedom of God’s children. For we know that all creation has been groaning with the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. However, not only creation groans, but we who have the first fruits of the Spirit also groan inwardly as we eagerly wait for our adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For we were saved with this hope in mind. Now hope that is seen is not really hope, for who hopes for what can be seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience.
Romans 8:19-25
Actually Paul is continuing his thought from what went before. He starts verse 18 with “for” – For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed to us. Paul’s point in Rom 8:18 is unfolded here. The translation of NIV and the ISV have substituted because instead of for to make the English read smoothly, but it is still the same link that Paul is stacking up here. Verses 18 to 24 are a carefully interlinked proposition to which we should pay heed.
Creation is waiting for the children of God to be revealed and gain their inheritance. . . for even the creation will share in glorious freedom of God’s children. . . for that reason creation has been groaning . . . for we too eagerly await this hope [just as creation is eagerly waiting].
- Creation is eagerly awaiting for God to reveal his children
- creation to be set free from slavery and decay
- We His children too eagerly wait for our adoption and the redemption of our bodies
Creation is integrally involved with us. Creation is groaning, longing frustrated. Sure this is figurative language but rocks cry out and sing, trees clap their hands etc. God’s creation is waiting with bated breath.
Above all creation is groaning! Creation groans, his children groan and the Holy Spirit groans as we will see tomorrow. Paul is beginning another string of thought that is interrelated.
Creation is groaning or moaning together with us [συστενάζω or sustenadzo], – jointly groaning.
We ourselves are groaning [στενάζω or stenazō] to sigh, murmur, pray inaudibly: – with grief, groan and sigh.
The Holy Spirit is using groans [στεναγμός or stenagmos] to express Himself
Apparently there is a lot of longing, groaning and sighing going on amid expectation for the revealing of the sons of God and the consummation of the age.
Ian Vail
Life is God’s gift to us. What we do with it is our gift to God.
AR Bernard