Sep 29, 2019
Due to technical difficulties the first 2 minutes of the sermon are missing.
Originally Presented: August 26, 2007
Scripture Reading: Romans 8:18-25
Among other things, this passage in Romans 8 is intended to be an encouragement to Christians concerning suffering in their lives. In the first century the Christians in Rome suffered greatly. This passage was meant to give them, and us, a perspective through which to understand and endure the trouble of life.
Romans 8:19-22 is something of a commentary on Genesis 3:17,18. In Genesis we see that, in response to Adam's sin, the earth was cursed. The results of this curse include weeds, thorns, earthquakes, hurricanes, volcanoes, flooding, drought. Paul's description of God's curse in Romans 8:19 is to say "creation was subjected to futility." In verse 21 he refers to God's curse as a "slavery to corruption." In Romans 8:19, Paul personifies the physical creation, saying, "The whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth."
But this passage is not a funeral dirge, nor a hymn of despair. It is a song of hope and strength. According to Romans 8:20 God subjected the creation to futility in hope. The purpose of suffering in the world is to illustrate the horror of sin so that man would hasten to God as the only hope there is for life and peace. God brought plagues on the people of Egypt that they might "know that I am the LORD" (Exod 7:5).
The 'groaning' of creation echoes the groaning of the children of God, eagerly waiting for the completion of our salvation in Christ, namely the redemption of our body (Rom 8:23). But this waiting is not a passive waiting it is a persevering waiting. Knowing the final outcome of our salvation in Christ, we suffer with endurance and hope and even joy.