Eternity Daily Bible Study: No. 540 Romans 1-8 - A Righteousness That Is By Faith Verses: Romans 8:22-25 Topic: Groans of Hope Date: 14th November 2005 Romans 8:22-25 HCSB For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now. (23) And not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits--we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. (24) Now in this hope we were saved, yet hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? (25) But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience. The world is waiting for something, groaning, hoping - the whole of Creation is shaking and shuddering with the long labor pains of the last two thousand years since Christ. The Universe wants to give birth to a new spiritual age of immortality and glory and see the back of the "present evil age" and all its turmoil. The long shadow of sin and death and the rule of darkness will be broken by the revealing of the sons of God and the return in triumph of the Lamb That Was Slain. Colossians 3:3-4 MKJV For you died, and your life has been hidden with Christ in God. (4) When Christ our Life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. The key to the new age of immortality and glory is the redemption of our bodies. Matter transformed and made spiritual and eternal and taken up into Heaven as the physical body of Christ was. For it was the physical body on the cross, that rose from the grave along with the nail scars, and ascended into Heaven and which sits at the right hand of the majesty on high. Creation is going to be made new. There will be a new heaven and a new earth and we will dwell in it. The last enemy - death and decay will be banished and immortality will reign. All will be pure and will be light and sin will be no more and people and relationships will be perfect and will last forever. 2 Corinthians 5:17 HCSB (17) Therefore if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come. Isaiah 65:17 HCSB "For I will create a new heaven and a new earth; the past events will not be remembered or come to mind. Revelation 21:1-5 HCSB Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea existed no longer. (2) I also saw the Holy City, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. (3) Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look! God's dwelling is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. (4) He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will exist no longer; grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer, because the previous things have passed away. (5) Then the One seated on the throne said, "Look! I am making everything new." He also said, "Write, because these words are faithful and true." The present tedious order of things, of sin and death and wars and pestilences and pain and grief and pointless suffering will come to a complete end and be utterly forgotten as a bad dream indeed "the past events will not be remembered or come to mind." Just as no-one has nostalgia for the food at boarding school so no-one will have nostalgia for the things of the past - for the glory that is to be revealed will far surpass them. Somehow deep in ourselves we know this for God has communicated it to us by His spirit which He has given us as the first-fruits of things to come. Intuitively we know that this age will pass, and be replaced by something much better, and that it will happen 'in the twinkling of the eye, at the Last Trump." Yet we also know that this world and its ruling spiritual powers and principalities will not go quietly. Matthew 24:21 HCSB For at that time there will be great tribulation, the kind that hasn't taken place from the beginning of the world until now and never will again! So we wait in hope, patiently, knowing that we who have eternal life, will far outlast all the troubles of this age and attain to eternal glory. 2 Timothy 2:10-11 HCSB This is why I endure all things for the elect: so that they also may obtain salvation, which is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. (11) This saying is trustworthy: For if we have died with Him, we will also live with Him; 1 Peter 5:6-11 HCSB Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you in due time, (7) casting all your care upon Him, because He cares about you. (8) Be sober! Be on the alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. (9) Resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are being experienced by your brothers in the world. (10) Now the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will personally restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little. (11) To Him be the dominion forever. Amen. Something is seriously wrong if a Christian is not troubled by this age! If some days you feel that "something is amiss with the world" you are right. If you are outraged by death, and frustrated by sin and ungodliness - then your heart is one with God's heart! This is our groaning and it is produced by the Holy Spirit within us who causes us to both rejoice in God and to mourn for this world. The Christian cannot be fulfilled in this life or satisfied with this world just as it is. We are made for eternal realms and we must needs breathe the air of Heaven. We groan within ourselves waiting for the return of the Lord and the resurrection of our bodies and the transformation of all things. And its not just us, this is not just a pious affection or a religious sentiment, for the whole of Creation groans with us in hope and God the Holy Spirit groans with us (see verse 26). This is a vast yearning of all things for their true meaning and glory. Even the trees and the rocks cry out for Christ to be revealed. Revelation 5:13 HCSB I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them say: Blessing and honor and glory and dominion to the One seated on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever! Blessings, John Edmiston (johned@aibi.ph) REFER OTHERS: If this devotional is a blessing to you, maybe you have a friend or family member that would like to start receiving this daily bible study. You can forward this to them, and they can use the following link to subscribe. http://www.aibi.ph/eternity/ or they can just send a blank email to: eternity-dbs-subscribe@strategicnetwork.org BLOG: If you missed a day or would like to read the bible studies online you can catch up using the new Eternity Daily Bible Study Blog at: http://aibi.gospelcom.net/eternity/wordpress/ EBOOKS & ARCHIVES : http://www.aibi.ph/eternity/ - includes free ebooks containing each series of Eternity-DBS bible studies. 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