Series Big Idea: "The gospel of Jesus Christ gives believers a new way of life - abundant life through the Holy Spirit"

Sermon Big Idea: "New Life as a Child of God is based on God's promises and plans He has for His Children"

Key Scripture (Romans 8:19-25)

(Romans 8:19-25)

For the creation eagerly waits with anticipation for God’s sons to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility —not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it — in the hope 21 that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage of corruption into the glorious freedom of God’s children. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now. 23 And not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits —we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. 24 Now in this hope we were saved, yet hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience. 

I want to review just a moment. Paul has been speaking throughout chapters 6-8 about our justification before God and that this is something that can never be undone. We saw last week in verse 18 that we as Christians are destined for glory. Today in the text before us Paul moves from this idea of glory to explaining the glory that awaits us. In other words, he is going to dazzle us with some of the details of this glory.

First is the coming glory of “creation” or the physical world (19-22), animals, plants, etc. He personified it as waiting for something. The text says it “eagerly awaits” (v. 19). The basic idea is to “stretch the neck.” But waiting for what?

His answer is “for God’s sons to be revealed” (v. 19). He seems to be talking about the one-thousand-year reign of Christ. Some people will be honored and glorified during this time and others will not be. His point is that creation is waiting for this because in the Bible the state of man is directly linked with the state of the creation. As man is blessed and as man is right with God the condition of creation is affected. The two go hand in hand. Why is it waiting for the “sons of God to be revealed?”

Because thirdly, it has been subject to “futility” (v. 20). This happened at the fall of man with Adam and Eve. This word has the idea of something not reaching its full potential. You could even say it is frustrated. It is frustrated because it is not what it used to be. Who did this? God. Because of the legal nature of the term “subject.” He is the One who put the curse on creation. Was this creation’s fault? No. Adam did sin and then God cursed creation. But Paul says, God “subjected it in hope” (v. 20). It wasn’t permanent. God has always intended to lift the curse at some point. And someday it will be delivered, “creation itself will also be set free from the bondage of corruption into the glorious freedom of God’s children” (v. 21). (Isaiah 11:6) (Isaiah 35:1-2) (Isaiah 65:25). Can you see the anticipation of being delivered someday? Creation one day will return to its original beauty.

Now in verses 23-25, Paul is going to talk about the coming glory of the believer. He will present us with three pictures. The first picture is seen in the words “firstfruits” (v. 23). In the Old Testament when Israel brought their firstfruits there was an expectation of a further harvest. In this text, the “Holy Spirit” is seen to be the first fruits. Since we have been given the Spirit upon our justification, it is a kind of down payment on what more He is going to do for us in the future. Paul says the same thing in (Ephesians 1:4). The second picture of the glory of the believer is “adoption” (v. 23). Here it is something that is future. But Paul has already used this word. Can he not make up his mind? Hasn’t this adoption already happened? Yes, but as Paul has explained, in the Roman custom of adoption, there was the legal adoption, but the adoption wasn’t entered into until the child became an adult. In other words, all the benefits kick in when the child becomes an adult. We are legally God’s children now. We have been placed into His family. But we will enter the fullness of that and the recognition of that during the kingdom age. At this point the adoption is final, and we enter our full inheritance.

Conclusion

Finally, Paul gives us this third picture of the glory of the believer. In the coming glory, our body will be redeemed, “redemption of our bodies” (v. 23). The implications of this are astounding. Our bodies will be different physically, psychologically, and spiritually. Our minds will be renewed. No impurities in any way. Just to be psychologically pure will be an amazing thing. Oh, what a day that will be!

Pastor Beaver's thoughts and ideas are inspired by:

Holman Christian Standard Bible

English Standard Version Bible

King James Version Bible

Christian Standard Bible

Walvoord, John F., and Roy B. Zuck, Dallas Theological Seminary. The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures. Victor Books, 1985.

Richards, Lawrence O. The Bible Reader’s Companion. Electronic ed., Victor Books, 1991.

Jamieson, Robert, et al. Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible. Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997.

Blum, Edwin A., and Trevin Wax, editors. CSB Study Bible: Notes. Holman Bible Publishers, 2017.

Lewis, C. S. Weight of Glory. Harper Collins, 2009

Morris, Leon. The Epistle to the Romans. W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press, 1988.

Barry, John D., et al. Faithlife Study Bible. Lexham Press, 2012, 2016.

Dockery, David S., editor. Holman Concise Bible Commentary. Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1998.

Water, Mark. Key Word Commentary: Thoughts on Every Chapter of the Bible. AMG Publishers, 2003.

Brannan, Rick, and Israel Loken. The Lexham Textual Notes on the Bible. Lexham Press, 2014.

Barton, Bruce, et al. Life Application New Testament Commentary. Tyndale, 2001.

MacArthur, John F., Jr. The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006.

Radmacher, Earl D., et al. Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary. T. Nelson Publishers, 1999.

Smith, Jerome H. The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge: The Most Complete Listing of Cross References Available Anywhere- Every Verse, Every Theme, Every Important Word. Thomas Nelson, 1992.

Kruse, Colin G. Paul’s Letter to the Romans. Edited by D. A. Carson, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Apollos, 2012.

Boa, Kenneth, and William Kruidenier. Romans. Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000.

Moo, Douglas J. Romans. Zondervan Publishing House, 2000.

Mounce, Robert H. Romans. Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1995.

MacGorman, J.W. Layman's Bible Book Commentary, Romans, 1 Corinthians. Copyright 1980 Broadman Press, Print

Pate, C. Marvin. Romans. Edited by Mark L. Strauss and John H. Walton, Baker Books, 2013.

Newell, William R. Romans Verse-by-Verse. Christian Classics Ethereal Library, n.d.

Brooks, Keith. Summarized Bible: Complete Summary of the New Testament. Logos Bible Software, 2009.

Hughes, Robert B., and J. Carl Laney. Tyndale Concise Bible Commentary. Tyndale House Publishers, 2001.

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