The day will come when we, the sons of God, will be manifested. In that=
day
we all shall be glorified. Sufferings of the present time are not worthy to=
be
compared to the coming glory to be revealed upon/into us (v.18). For our momentary lightness of aff=
liction
works out for us, more and more surpassingly, an eternal weight of glory (2=
Cor
4:17).
The entire creation is waiting for this with watching eyes. The entire creation has been subje=
cted
under vanity in the sphere or realm of the slavery of corruption. This corruption is a kind of bonda=
ge, a
slavery that binds the whole creation. One day we will be glorified. With t=
hat
glory there will be freedom, and that freedom will be a kingdom, sphere, or
realm. When we are brought into that freedom or kingdom of glory, creation =
will
be delivered from vanity, corruption, and slavery. This is the reason that =
the
entire creation is awaiting that time. We have very much to do with the
creation, for the future destiny of the creation rests upon us. Creation is
waiting for the time of our maturity, the time when we will enter into glor=
y,
the time when we will be freed from vanity, corruption, and slavery.
Not only does the creation groan together, it also travails as in the p=
angs
of childbirth. All of creatio=
n is
taking part in this massive delivery.
The whole creation is groaning and travailing in pain together until
now.
Since our
regeneration as the sons of God we have begun to experience the firstfruits of the Spirit. To some degree we have the
experience of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22) but not in a complete or f=
ull
way. Because we are still in =
the
body which is linked to the old creation, we continue to groan in ourselves,
eagerly awaiting sonship, the redemption of our=
body. Since our body belongs to the old
creation and has not yet been redeemed, we are groaning in it as the creati=
on
does. However, while we are groaning we have the first=
fruit
of the Spirit. The firstfruit of the Spirit is =
for
our enjoyment; it is a foretaste of the coming harvest, a sampling of the f=
ull
taste of God as our enjoyment, of all that God is to us.
If you talk with unbelievers, they will say that they have enjoyment in
their entertainments, like dancing and gambling. However, the results of th=
eir
lives will tell you that they are unhappy and vain. They also are groaning, but only
groaning; there is nothing else. We, on the contrary, as we are groaning, h=
ave
within us the Spirit as the firstfruit, as the
foretaste of God Himself. Even as we are suffering, we have the taste of the
presence of the Lord. We groan
outwardly, but rejoice inwardly. Why do we rejoice? We rejoice because we h=
ave
the firstfruits of the Spirit.
While we are groaning and enjoying the firstfruits=
of the Spirit, we are expecting full sonship.
Although we have sonship within us, this sonship has not yet become full. In that day we will =
know
full sonship, which will be the redemption of ou=
r
body. We have sonship in our spirit through
regeneration and we may also have sonship in ou=
r soul
through transformation, but we do not as yet have sons=
hip
in our body through transfiguration.
Groaning without growth is vanity.&nbs=
p;
While we are waiting we need to grow and be matured; from children to
sons to heirs. The time of the
coming of that glorious day depends upon our growth in life. This is our ho=
pe
that we have been saved in. B=
eloved,
now we are children of God, and it has not yet been manifested what we will=
be.
We know that if He is manifested, we will be like Him because we will see H=
im
even as He is. (I John 3:2).
Vers=
es:
Rom 8:18-24
Gen 3:16-17
Gen 6:11-12