All of Creation Is Eagerly Waiting – EGP Blog post from December 27, 2012

Romans 8:19–22 ()

[19] For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. [20] For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope [21] that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. [22] For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.

Romans 8:20 Or in hope; because the creation

When Adam sinned, he brought death into the world (), not just for people, but for all of creation. Animals die, plants die, even stars die. So, what Paul is saying here is that everything that’s been created has suffered because of the fall. One of the punishments of the fall was great pain during childbirth (), so Paul compares the sufferings of all creation to those pains. But when Christ restores everything, it won’t just be people being restored, but all of creation (, )!

Romans 8:23–25 ()

[23] And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. [24] For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? [25] But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

We received the indwelling of the Holy Spirit when we became believers as a pledge (or down-payment) of our future in the presence of God (). But because of this, there also was implanted a strong desire for that time. We can call God, “Abba Father,” now, but that time is coming when we’ll inherit the full blessings of being His children ()! But not only that, we’ll also have redeemed and renewed bodies that aren’t subject to age, death, and decay ()!

“In hope we have been saved.” Notice that this doesn’t say “we hope we have been saved…” but, “in hope…” (NLT) says, “What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see.” In hope, through faith, we can now see a glimpse of what is unseen. Knowing that all of this isn’t just “opiate for the masses,” helps us to stay strong in our faith until the end, but at the same time, we just can’t wait to experience it fully!