Romans 8:18-25: The Glory to Be Revealed & Firstfruits is the Spirit
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Romans 8:18-25 - The Believer's New Expectation and Future Hope
Romans 8:18-25 is the last section in God's Power Plant of Grace (Romans 6-8) The Glory to be revealed, and Firstfruits is the Spirit.
"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.
For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope;
because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.
Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.
For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees?
But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance." Romans 8:18-25
Why Paul Compares Suffering and Glory
The sufferings of the present are slight when compared with the glory later.
The Weight of Glory in Biblical Context
Paul calls the sufferings "light affliction" compared to the "eternal weight of glory" (2 Corinthians 4:17).
Divine Compensation
This divine compensation package is "a hundredfold" (Matthew 19:29)
The Eager Expectation of Creation (Romans 8:19-22)
"Earnest expectation" literally means "to watch with outstretched neck." (8:19)
"Creation" is impatient to see the revelation of the sons of God. (8:21)
What does Creation Awaits Mean
"Creation" awaits the coming glory because it also will be delivered.
The Bondage of Corruption Explained
The bondage of corruption further describes the futility (vanity emptiness) of verse 20. Nature is a slave to decay and death because of sin. (8:21)
Firstfruits of the Spirit: Our Present Hope (Romans 8:23)
What are the Firstfruits of the Spirit
"The firstfruits of the Spirit may refer to the first workings of the Holy Spirit (8:9-11), which is a pledge of more work to come, like the redemption of our body.
Otherwise, the expression firstfruits may be in apposition to the word Spirit;
thus firstfruits is the Spirit.
The firstfruits of a harvest was a foretaste of the harvest to come. So the Spirit, or His work, is God's assurance of the greater blessings to come.
Elsewhere the Spirit is called a "guarantee of our inheritance" (Ephesians 1:14), (8:23).
Hope in the Return of Christ:(Romans 8:24-25)
The Relationship between Faith and Hope
"Hope" is a constant expectation of an unseen reality. We are saved by faith, but our hope is in the return of Christ in all His glory and our complete deliverance from our sinful natures. (8:24)
If we are expecting something unseen, we wait with perseverance; that is, we are willing
to endure the present.
Romans 8:18-25 - The Believer's New Expectation and Future Hope
Romans 8:18-25 is the last section in
God's Power Plant of Grace (Roman 6-8)
God's Power Plant of Grace - God's Way (Sanctification and Preservation-Romans 6-8)
The Prize of Preservation: How the Sinner Will Be Saved
The Prize - third floor of preservation (Romans 8) This is where Paul addresses how the sinner will be saved. His answer: preservation.
Because of his new expectation (Romans 8:18-25)
The Nature of Christian Hope: Full Redemption of Christians and All Creation
- The nature of this hope: the full and final redemption of all creation.
(a) This includes the Christian himself.
The Christian's Glorified Body - Five Key Characteristics
1- He will receive a new body. It will be a body like Christ's body (1 John 3:2)
2- It will be a body of flesh and bone (Luke 24:39). Our Lord both spoke (John 20:17) and ate and drank (Luke 24:30, 41-43; John 21:13) in his resurrected body.
3- It will be a recognizable body (Matthew 28:9-10, 17; Luke 24:31, 36-37; John 20:16, 19-20). Jesus was recognized by all believers after his resurrection.
4- It will be a body in which the Spirit predominates (1 Corinthians 15:44,49).
5-It will be a body unlimited by time and space (John 20:19; 1 Corinthians 15:53-54).
The Redemption of Creation Itself
(b) The creation itself.
All creation "was made subject to vanity" (Romans 8:20) as a result of man's rebellion in Eden; Adam's fall (Genesis 3:17-18; Isaiah 24:5-
The word "vanity" is mataiotes, which means "to be idle, to have no purpose" (cf. Ecclesiastes 1:5-8).
Deliverance From the Bondage of Corruption
But someday creation "itself shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption" (Romans 8:21)
How Hope Sustains Believers Today
Practical Applications of Romans 8:18-25
Finding Strength in Present Trials by resting in God's Word.
Live with the Eternal Perspective of Redemption; in the Christian himself, and in Creation itself.