Romans 8:18-21

Rachel Workman: ¹⁸ I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. ¹⁹ For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. ²⁰ For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope ²¹ that^[h] the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

All creation has been subject to the punishments of sin. The earth and everything that inhabits it suffers because man choose to sin. This means the animals as well. Man has suffered because of man and it saddens me even more to think about what animals have suffered because of man.

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John Burnett:  ¹² So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— ¹³ for if you are living according to the flesh, you^[a]must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. ¹⁴ For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. ¹⁵ For you have not received a spirit of slavery^[b]leading to fear again, but you have received ^[c]a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” We are adopted sons and daughters thus we will co-heirs with Christ as the next verses so plainly stipulate. ¹⁶ The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, ¹⁷ and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.  I have not had to suffer with Him yet but I know I am ready and I know the Holy Spirit will give me the words to stay.

¹⁸ For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. ¹⁹ For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly 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, ^[d]in hope ²¹ that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.  Creation is waiting for Christ to return to reveal those who belong to him. 

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Allen Michaels:  ¹⁸ I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. ¹⁹ For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. ²⁰ For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope ²¹ that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

Sin has caused all creation to fall from the perfect state in which God created it. So the world is subject to frustration and bondage to decay so that it cannot fulfill its intended purpose. One day all creation will be liberated and transformed. Until that time it awaits in eager expectation for the resurrection of God’s children.

Christians see the world as it is—physically decaying and spiritually infected with sin. But as Christians we should not be so pessimistic, because we have hope for future glory. We look forward to the new heaven and new earth that God has promised, and we wait for God’s new order that will free the world of sin, sickness, and evil. In the meantime, Christians go with Christ into the world where they heal people’s bodies and souls and fight the evil effects of sin in the world.

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Tomorrow’s reading for Romans 8:22-25

²² We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. ²³ 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. ²⁴ For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.