Romans 8 17-25

(Vs 17, 18) We are "heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ", so when we suffer hardships, remember it is only temporary and soon we will be "glorified together" with Christ. This knowledge is God’s provision for us to get through suffering. He doesn’t say He will take our suffering away. (I Thes 3:3,4; II Thes 1:4,5) In fact, II Cor 4:17 shows that suffering "worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." Rom 5:3-5 shows how. Review the Romans 205 class which covers Rom 5:3-5. Note the sequence of character attributes that tribulation produces, the three causes of tribulations, and how troubles in this age are not from God to punish us as they were under the law. We can be thankful for suffering, and look on it as an opportunity to try out God’s word and to show forth His life in us. (Ps 119:71; Eph 5:20; Rom 8:28; II Cor 12:9,10)

When trouble comes, we can respond with despair and depression like the unsaved, or we can turn to "the God of all comfort"(II Cor 1:3-5) and apply the doctrine we’ve learned to our problem. (I Thes 2:13) This capacity that we build up in our soul to function on God’s word is the only thing we can take with us when we die. (Acts 20:32) Our reward (I Cor 3:8-15; Col 3:23,24), our position in the hierarchy of heaven, (Eph 1:20-23; II Tim 2:12; I Cor 15:41,42) depends on this capacity to think and function like God. Just living this way will bring persecution here. (II Tim 3:12) But regardless of it’s cause, our suffering doesn’t even compare to "the glory which shall be revealed in us."

The 12 disciples lost all their earthly possessions, and their lives, but knew they will gain 100 times more when Christ comes back with their earthly kingdom. (Mat 19:27-30) "Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection." (Heb 11) Paul suffered all kinds of things (II Cor 11:23-33) and writes, "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." (Rom 8:37) Jesus "endured the cross, despising the shame" by looking ahead to "the joy that was set before him". (Heb 12:1-3) We too need to look ahead, "not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things that are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." (II Cor 4:18)

(Vs 19) The word creation can be used for "creature". Both are translated from the same Greek word. (Vs 22) Creation waits with intense anticipation ("earnest expectation") for the sons of God (that’s us) to be made known and displayed (manifested).

(Vs 20.) Creation "was made subject to vanity" (emptiness, uselessness). Creation is not now fulfilling the purpose for which it was created. (Rev 4:11) Ever since Satan, his angels and man rebelled, creation has been waiting for it’s rightful Owner to take it back and run it right. That happens when God manifests His sons (vs 19) and fills "all principality, and power, and might, and dominion" in heaven with body of Christ (Eph 1:20-23; Col:1:16-18) and on earth with Israel (Mat 19:28; Is 2:2-4; 60:11,12) after ejecting Satan and his cohorts. (Rev 12:7-12; 20:7-10)

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.

(Vs 21.) Creation right now is in the "bondage of corruption". Corruption means decay. Everything gets old (decays) and dies. Plants, animals, people and even the earth have a limited life span. (Ps 39:4-7; Heb 1:10-12; II Peter 3:10-13) A curse was put on the earth in Gen 3:17 to match man’s condition after he sinned. (Gen 3:1-13) But when God’s plan for His universe is complete, it will be free of sin, and therefore free of death (Rom 5:12&6:23; I Cor 15:24-26) and of fear (Heb 2:15). Our new spiritual bodies will "be fashioned like unto his glorious body" (Phil 3:21) and will never sin, get old, sick or die. (I Cor 15:35-58) This is "the glorious liberty of the children of God" which creation will share.

(Vs 22.) "The whole creation" includes earth AND the heavenly places. (Col 1:16; Is 24:21) Satan currently is "the god of this world" (II Cor 4:4), as well as the leader of "spiritual wickedness in high (heavenly) places". (Eph 6:11,12) Satan is not cast out of the heavens yet. Isaiah 14:12 is prophecy, not history. He will be cast out during Israel’s tribulation period (Rev 12:7-9), several years after we leave the earth in the I Thes 4:13-18 event. (I Thes 1:10)

"Groaneth and travaileth in pain" is Bible terminology to describe child birth. Just like a woman goes through pain while looking forward to delivering her baby, the whole creation is in pain now and looking forward with great anticipation to God’s deliverance.

(Vs 23.) Even though we are already saved and have the Spirit of God, this is only the "firstfruits". The best is yet to come! What are we waiting for? "The adoption, (that is) the redemption of our body". We "groan" along with creation because we still live in bodies that have sin natures that age and die, and we still live in a world cursed by sin. When I Thes 4:13-17 happens, that all changes. God "wrought" (made) us to live in immortal glorified bodies. (II Cor 5:1-5) So we aren’t just waiting to die and be with the Lord (II Cor 5:8), although that will be wonderful (Phil 1:23), we’re waiting for our adoption when we will be resurrected in Christ’s image and declared to be the sons of God before the universe (Vs 19 Review adoption, last class)

(Vs 24,25) "For we are saved (from suffering) by hope (confident expectation): but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.:" (II Cor 5:7)

How does God want us to respond to suffering? Does He want us to constantly seek Him for deliverance or healing of our temporal problems? OR does He want us to look ahead with thanksgiving and patiently wait for Him to resurrect us in glory?