Hope Groans

Romans 8:12-25

¹² So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. ¹³ For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. ¹⁴ For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. ¹⁵ For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” ¹⁶ The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,¹⁷ and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

Future Glory

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.

A lengthy winter, cold and dimly lit by the sun, can certainly make me groan for spring.  It is the freedom from outerwear and the newness of life in birdsongs, cleansing rains and fresh garden greens that my heart longs for at this time of year.

As I read Romans 8:23, I can hear Paul eluding to the heart's desire of every child of God.  We, fellow heirs with Christ (Rom 8:17), are on the earth, suffering and sharing in the burden that Christ bore.  Being in Christ Jesus, we are the fleshly dwelling place for the Holy Spirit of God.  By the Spirit, we put to death the deeds of the body (Rom. 8:13), and live as beacons of hope to a lost world (Matt. 5:14-16).  As we grow to love God more, it is natural for our mind and body to desire our heavenly home - to be captured away and joined with Christ unto new life and perfect holiness.

The phrase, "adoption as sons," has three meanings; the first meaning is regarding Israel as God's chosen people; the second regards the condition of a true disciple in whose soul the Spirit of God dwells; and the third regards the blessed state hoped for in the future life after the visible return of Christ from heaven.  

Paul referred to our groaning as we wait for the "type" of adoption as sons which would redeem our bodies from the earth at the return of Christ (Rom. 8:23).  This inner groaning is like grief.  It can be a painful desire at times - particularly when we suffer reviling and persecutions.  Like grieving the loss of a loved one, groaning for Christ's return cannot be relieved until His appearing or until He calls us home when we see Him face to face.

So we groan, and we wait.  It seems to be a painful dilemma, were it not for the hope, which rests in faith, that we belong to God.  Our hope and faith are being regularly fed by the ministry of God's Holy Spirit which sings to our spirit a song of love and belonging! (Rom. 8:15-17)

Thank God, our Creator, who knows how to supply the needs of His children so that we have the power to trust His perfect timing as we wait!