Teaching Videos
Commentaries
Romans Chapter 8:18-21
Romans 8:18-21 NIV - I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.
Warren W. Wiersbe - How to be right with God, yourself and with others
Romans 8:18-22 The Message -That’s why I don’t think there’s any comparison between the present hard times and the coming good times. The created world itself can hardly wait for what’s coming next. Everything in creation is being more or less held back. God reins it in until both creation and all the creatures are ready and can be released at the same moment into the glorious times ahead. Meanwhile, the joyful anticipation deepens.
Romans 8:18-22 - Creation Groans - When God finished His creation, it was a good creation (Gen. 1:31), but today it is a groaning creation. There is suffering and death; there is pain, all of which is, of course, the result of Adam’s sin. It is not the fault of creation. Note the words that Paul used to describe the plight of creation: suffering (Rom. 8:18), vanity (Rom. 8:20), bondage (Rom. 8:21), decay (Rom. 8:21 niv), and pain (Rom. 8:22). However, this groaning is not a useless thing: Paul compared it to a woman in travail. There is pain, but the pain will end when the child is delivered. One day creation will be delivered, and the groaning creation will become a glorious creation. The believer does not focus on today’s sufferings; she looks forward to tomorrow’s glory (Rom. 8:18; 2 Cor. 4:15-18). Today’s groaning bondage will be exchanged for tomorrow’s glorious liberty!
From Warren W. Wierbse - How to be right with God, yourself and with others
The Passion Translation
Romans 8:19 TPT - The entire universe is standing on tiptoe, yearning to see the unveiling of God’s glorious sons and daughters!
The Passion Translation Footnote - Romans 8:19
Or “the manifestation of the sons of God.” Interestingly, the Greek word used for “unveiling” (apokalypsis) is the same word for the full title of the last book of the Bible, “The Revelation [Unveiling] of Jesus Christ.” The created universe is but the backdrop for the dramatic appearing of God’s sons and daughters unveiled with the glory of Jesus Christ upon them. The verb tense in the Greek text is clear that this “unveiling” is imminent, soon to happen, and destined to take place. Christ’s glory will come to us, enter us, fill us, envelop us, and then be revealed through us as partakers of the glory. Although God will not share his glory with any other, we are no longer “another,” for we are one with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit through faith in Christ. See John 17:21–23.
NIV Grace and Truth Study Bible
Romans 8:20-21 NLT - Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay.
Romans 8:20 - Hope is not an expectation of something that might or might not happen; it is certain. Both creation and believers groan together. Creation is pictured as looking forward to being freed from its bondage to decay, but creation is not liberated by being destroyed. God will bring creation into the freedom and glory of the children of God.
NIV Quest Study Bible
Romans 8:21 TPT - all creation longs for freedom from its slavery to decay and to experience with us the wonderful freedom coming to God’s children.
Romans 8:21 - Is God's plan to redeem only people or all of creation? Just as all of creation was corrupted through the sin of Adam and Eve (v. 22; Ge 3:1–24), so all of creation will be redeemed through the salvation accomplished by Jesus Christ. The book of Revelation speaks of the future coming of a new heaven and a new earth (Rev 21:1; see Isa 65:17)—the restoration of creation as God intended it to be.
From the NIV Quest Study Bible
Worship Songs
All My Hope - Hillsong
Romans Chapter 8:22-25
Romans 8:22-25 NIV - We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds of the New Testatment
Romans 8:23 NKJV - 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.
Romans 8:23 - “Firstfruits” is used repeatedly in the Old Testament to describe the initial part of the harvest offered to the Lord and to his priests. It is hard to know whether this background plays a significant role in the New Testament use of the term, where it refers to the first stage of a series—the first converts in an area (Rom. 16:5; 1 Cor. 16:15), the first steps in God’s redemptive plan, and Christ himself, the first to be raised from the dead. In each case, however, the idea of “firstfruits” implies the certainty of more to come.
From Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds of the New Testament
Thru the Bible
Romans 8:25 NASB - But if we hope for what we do not see, through perseverance we wait eagerly for it.
Romans 8:25 - You see, faith, hope, and love are the vital parts of the believer’s life. There would be no hope if all were realized. Someday hope will pass away in realization. In fact, both faith and hope will pass away in the glory which shall be revealed in us. Only love abides.
From Thru the Bible
Worship Song
Wait on you - Elevation Worship & Maverick City Worship
What's Next?
Some questions to consider
1. What did God say to you when studying this passage?
2. What does that mean for how you live your life? (ie is there something you believe God wants you to do differently?)
3. How can we as a Lifegroup support you?