From Groaning To Glory Series

J. But let’s notice the second thing: “the creation eagerly waits with anticipation for God’s sons to be revealed.”

1. J.B. Phillips paraphrased this verse: “The whole creation is on tiptoe to see the wonderful sight of the sons of God coming into their own.”

2. Picture the old days when an anxious father-to-be, paced back and forth just outside the maternity ward, hour after hour, wondering why its taking so long, wondering if everything is ok...then suddenly the doctor appears at the door and asks, “Would you like to come into the room and hold your new daughter or son?”

3. That’s the picture presented in this verse: intense anxiety, pain, suffering, but followed by great rejoicing!

4. And years from now, it is the rejoicing we celebrate!

5. Kent Hughes wrote: “Many of us have pictures of our wives after they have delivered a child, and typically the baby is in their arms and mother is radiant. None of us have a picture of our wives in labor. We do not reach into our wallets saying, ‘Let me show you a picture of Margaret groaning in labor. Isn’t the agony terrific?’ ” (Kent Hughes, Romans, page 160).

6. In the same way, verse 22 tells us, “For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now.”

K. Right now life is imperfect – it is hard – there is sorrow and suffering, disease and decay and death.

1. Unbelievers are disappointed by this world, it turns them bitter and resentful.

2. But we believers know a secret: for us our suffering is not a pointless pain!

3. It is like the “groaning” of a woman’s labor pains: one day it is going to bring great joy!

4. So we have this state of suspense in which even creation occupies an “in-between” condition, this intense expectation, anticipation: we are destined for glory, someday. but in the meantime. well, that’s the challenge: how do we make it in the meantime?

L. Paul takes us in that direction in the next few verses: 23 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, but hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? 25 Now if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience. (Romans 8:23-25)

1. Paul declares that we believers groan in our eager anticipation.

2. We groan because we have the first fruits of the Spirit in us.

3. Why “firstfruits” Because firstfruits are a harbinger of the harvest to come!

a. There's nothing sweeter than the first tomatoes of the season - after eating those cardboard substitutes you get down at the supermarket.

b. Or how about the first sweet corn right out of the field or the first apples off the tree? So good!

4. And one of the best things about “firstfruits” is that they are a promise of more to come!

a. A whole glorious season of fresh fruits on the table!

M. The Holy Spirit is given to us as “firstfruits”: that first sweet taste of more to come!

1. How does He do that? Well, God can't eliminate all the bumps in the road during this life: we’re still going to suffer.