Romans Chapter 8

Glory to be revealed...

Chapter 8, Verses 18-25 

Rom. 8:18 "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. 24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it."         

"For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."  We read in Job: 14:1 "Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble."  We are born into this world and tribulations, trials, troubles, and sufferings are our lot until we lay down our lives in death.  Some people seem to suffer much more than others, but all suffer.  Regardless of the amount of suffering that we may undergo in this life, Paul says that it is unworthy of even being compared to the glory which shall be revealed in us.  Sometimes we get so caught up in our present circumstances that we fail to look forward to that which awaits us in glory.           

Our most glorious and blessed state is yet to come and we should rejoice in the remembrance of what awaits us in heaven's glory world.  Paul wrote in 1 Cor. 15:19 "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable."  Our hope goes beyond the grave into the glory world itself.  That is why we can rejoice and not be miserable.  If all we could see is this life and what awaits us at the end of this life-the grave, then we would be miserable indeed.         

"For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God."  Here, the creature is referring to the whole body, soul, and spirit of a spirit-born child of God.  What we will be in body is not yet revealed unto us, but we wait with an earnest expectation of that final manifestation of the sons of God.  That is we wait for the resurrection of our bodies.  The term, "earnest expectation," can be defined as hope.  Our hope is an earnest expectation.  With all the sufferings that we undergo in this life, we patiently wait for the morning of the resurrection when our bodies will be changed and fashioned like the glorious body of Christ.         

"For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,"  A person who is born of the Spirit does not want to have to carry around a corrupt sinful body.  It is not our desire (will) to do so.  Yet, God in his infinite mercy has taken care of our concerns about the outcome of this sinful flesh in which we dwell.  He has subjected the same in hope.  We have a hope that one day our change will come and we will no longer have to deal with the sin problem in our flesh that so readily plagues us in this life. The hope that we have is a covenant promise which Paul states for us in Rom. 8:28-30.           

"Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God."  The sin corruption of this body keeps us in bondage to its sinful desires so long as we live in this life.  We only now see through a glass darkly, but one day we will see Him face to face.  In the morning of the resurrection, we shall be changed and fashioned like the glorious body of Christ and at that time we will never again be troubled with sin.  We shall never have any more suffering, trials, tribulations or anguish.  We will not be troubled with health problems or mental problems.  We will not have conflicts with other people, but all shall be joy, and peace, and comfort, and fellowship, and love manifest for an eternity.  At that time we will be completely delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.         

"For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now."  The whole creation is referring to both the outer man and the inner man.  In Gal. 5:17 Paul wrote, "For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would."  The constant warfare that takes place in this life causes us to groan and travail in pain within.  Having these two contrary and warring natures brings us into daily conflict within and we have to constantly be on the alert to mortify the deeds of the flesh.  This groaning and travailing continues unto death of the body.  Yet with the death of the body, this is not the end of the body. 

Firstfruits        

"And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body."  The first fruit of the Spirit is the spiritual inner man that we have because of having been born of the Spirit of God.  Having a first fruit causes us to look for a second fruit.  Having this first fruit, the new birth, causes us to come into conflict with the works of the flesh which causes us to groan within ourselves.  Once we realize that we have been born of the Spirit of God we begin to wait for the adoption of our body into the family of God.  That adoption process will be completed in the morning of the resurrection when Christ shall come again and claim that which he has purchased with his blood.  The body shall be changed and fashioned like the glorious body of Christ at that time and we shall be taken to our eternal home in heaven as the adopted children of God.  For this, we now wait with hope for the final redemption (taking home) of our body.         

"For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it."  There is a lot of misunderstanding about what hope is.  Hope is not a wish or a dream.  It is something that is sure but that will not take place till sometime in the future.  Our hope is based on the covenant promise of God.  Our hope saves us, not into heaven's glory world, but it saves us from despondency and overmuch sorrow in this life.  Once a desire is accomplished, it can no longer be a hope.  We hope for that which we do not yet see.  We hope for the resurrection.  We know that we will have part in the resurrection due to the promise of God and the evidences that he has given us that we are the children of God.  The resurrection has not yet come, so we hope for it.  Once the resurrection comes we will no longer hope for it, but it will be then a present reality for us.           

For now we hope for the resurrection and this saves us from being overly despondent or concerned over the sufferings, trials, tribulations, afflictions, and persecutions of this life.  We know there is something better awaiting us further on.  

Chapter 8, Verses 26, 27 

Rom. 8:26 "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God."         

We have previously noted that the Spirit quickened us into spiritual life when we were dead in trespasses and sins.  Furthermore, we noted that the Spirit will also, according to God's covenant promise, quicken our vile bodies into spiritual bodies on the morning of the resurrection.  The statement was made, "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."  Even though the things that await us in heaven's glory world pale any sufferings that we may have in this time world, yet God cares for our sufferings here in time: "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities." Peter tells us in 1 Peter 5:7, "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you."           

Regardless of what condition or infirmity we might find ourselves in here in this time world, the Spirit helpeth our infirmities.  It is a great comfort to God's people to know that we have help from God in all of our infirmities and troubles of life.  Often times we do not even know what it is that we stand in need of, but: "for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered."  Even when we are at a total loss as to what we need or even what we should pray for, we can rest with the sweet assurance that the Spirit knows what we need and will intercede on our behalf with groanings which cannot be uttered.  What a merciful God that we have that even when we cannot find words to speak or knowledge to know what to ask, then he intercedes for us for our timely benefit and blessing.         

"And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God."  It is Christ that searches our hearts.  He being God, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, who is God.  While we may not be able to communicate with God or even with others very effectively, yet God has perfect communication in the Godhead.  Christ, the Son of God, hears the groanings of the Spirit of God on our behalf, and he intercedes on behalf of the saints with the Father according to the will of God.  In all of this we see God's amazing love, mercy, forgiveness, and grace towards his elect people.