Bible Study January 2, 2025
Romans 8:18 – 26 (ESV)
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing 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 will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. 26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
The football junkie that I am found me sitting in front of the television yesterday watching college football. I like bowl season and it is the first day of the year when the junk food comes out.
As I was watching the game yesterday I saw one player with Romans 8:22 written on it and taped below his eyes for sun glare. I thought that seems as an odd verse why not 8:23 (did you just go back and read 8:22)?
I decided to look into this context of 8:22. Suffering no one likes it whether it is hitting our thumb with a hammer or losing a loved one albeit one is much worse that the other. Our present suffering, though small in the totality of eternity gives us a look at what God is doing. When man fell the complete creation fell. Verse 19 “For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.”
Man’s sin brought the world to where it is today and the decay we see such as sickness and disease. However as we look at verse twenty-two and twenty-three we share in the groaning and the anticipation of the redemption of our earthly bodies. While we suffer we suffer with hope. It might seem difficult now but our groaning is leading to life at a future point.
Hope is the joyful expectation of a future we are promised. Thankfully the Spirit intercedes for us in unspoken groanings.
God Bless.
Asbury Chapel 