Sermon Tone Analysis

The opening verses of introduce the profound liberation which comes from the Holy Spirit.

Verses 2–4 reveal how the Holy Spirit liberates us through Christ.

Verses 5–17 tell us what the Holy Spirit gives us as he liberates us.

As we followed the argument of these verses we saw an exhilarating intensification of hope culminating in the cry, “Abba, Father.”

Now in verses 17 and 18 Paul contrasts this rising hope with the inescapable reality of the pain of human existence

and declares that our pain is not worthy to be compared with the coming glory.

He says in verse 18, "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.” ()

As our greatest good comes through the sufferings of Christ, so God’s greatest glory that he has from his saints comes through their sufferings.

As our greatest good comes through the sufferings of Christ, so God’s greatest glory that he has from his saints comes through their sufferings.

Having said this, Paul gives us three reasons which make it certain that the present order cannot go on for ever.

They are that creation groans, that we groan and that the Spirit groans.

Having said this, Paul gives us three reasons which make it certain that the present order cannot go on for ever.

They are that creation groans, that we groan and that the Spirit groans.

1.

The Creation’s groan & promise (8:19–22)

First, he tells us that ‘the whole creation groans’.

This creation has been under a curse since the fall of man.

It is awaiting deliverance from that curse.

It will be delivered at the time when God’s children are openly announced.

19 "For the creation eagerly waits with anticipation for God’s sons to be revealed.”

()

Olyott, S. (1979).

The Gospel as It Really Is: Romans Simply Explained (p.

105).

Darlington, England: Evangelical Press.

This creation is the whole frame of the universe.

Heaven, earth, and the creatures in them.

This fallen, broken world is now Christ’s world.

It is the theatre of His redemption (; ),

the place of His mission, over which

He has total authority for the accomplishment of his saving work (; ; ; ).

The rule of Christ will bring this present world to the glory of the world to come (; ; ; ).

He will come again in glory to judge the nations and form a new universe (; ; ; ; ).

v19 says that “God’s sons” are “to be revealed.”

This is where we get the term apokalypsis which is, “The revelation of Jesus Christ” () We are united to Him in His second coming.

That’s when the revelation of the son’s of God is going to happen.

Listen to our union to Christ in His coming again.

4 "When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”

()

There’s the revelation of the son’s of God, the revelation of Jesus Christ.

There’s the appearing of Christ and when He appears, we shall appear with Him!

The whole frame of the universe was first made in that beautiful state for the glory of God and for the use of man.

Clowney, E. P. (1995).

The Church.

(G.

Bray, Ed.) (p.

172).

Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

The whole frame of the universe was first made in that beautiful state for the glory of God and for the use of man.

Well since this it is subject to many changes and at length, it will be subject to destruction.

The earth, and all the bodied in it and on it shall be burnt up like a scroll, but

when the children of God come into that glorious state, everything shall be renewed.

This double compound (in v19) “waits with anticipation” paints a vivid picture of the

hushed expectancy with which the whole creation awaits the disclosure of the coming glory.

As the saints are suffering for it, so are we waiting for it.

Christ is there in glory beloved.

God, by His Spirit wouldn’t raise and encourage those hopes only to defeat and disappoint us.

He will establish this word to His servants in which He’s caused us to hope

49 "Remember your word to your servant; you have given me hope through it.”

()

So why is creation eagerly waiting with anticipation for God’s sons to be revealed?

"For the creation was subjected to futility—not willingly, but because of him who subjected it—in the hope” ()

Paul is referring, of course, to the curse that came upon creation when mankind sinned.

When man sinned, the ground became cursed along with all of creation.

Everything changed and became mortal.

21 "that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage to decay into the glorious freedom of God’s children.”

()

Due to the fall of man, the creation has taken on infirmities, deformities, and impurities.

Creation has now been stained and much of that beauty is gone.

Now man hates one another and we are all subject to decay and death, making humanity liable to the strokes of God’s judgments.

Creation became a sufferer and was imbued with futility, decay, and death.

The animal world was invaded by fear and violence.

The loveliest scenes in nature, while remaining beautiful, are also witness to bloody horrors.

Floods, hurricanes, droughts, tornadoes, blights, avalanches, and earthquakes stalk the earth.

22 "For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now.”

()

The earth groans like a woman in labor.

It want desperately to be delivered.

When man rebelled, creation was affected.

Yet God subjected it in hope.

He has determined that its present condition is not to be its permanent condition.

It will not always be uncoordinated, ravaged by sin and spoiled by man’s corruption.

20 "For the creation was subjected to futility—not willingly, but because of him who subjected it—in the hope 21 "that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage to decay into the glorious freedom of God’s children.”

()

There’s coming a day of final victory.

(Please turn to Isaiah 65).

Some of the prophets weighed in on this too.

God will triumph gloriously.

Although Jesus accomplished all that was needed to vanquish sin and suffering in the first century,

God’s glorious victory will not be manifest until Jesus comes again.

Morgan, C. W., & Peterson, R. A. (2008).

Suffering and the Biblical Story.

In C. W. Morgan & R. A. Peterson (Eds.),