Past articles recapped the good news that there is no judgement against believers in Christ Jesus who were formerly sinners condemned to death, Romans 8:1 – 11; the believer’s personal relationship as children of God and so empowered to can call Him “Abba Father,” notwithstanding suffering endured while looking forward to the Glory that will follow, Romans 8:12 – 23. “For we know that the whole creation (the universe and all within) groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now,” Romans 8:22. The Greek words translated “groaneth” and “travaileth” are found only here in the New Testament (NT). The lexicon defines the Greek word translated “groaneth” (G4959) as a verb “to grown together;” while the phrase “travaileth in pain together” is from the Greek word (G4944) meaning “to feel the pains of travail with, be in travail together; metaphorically to undergo agony (like a woman in childbirth), along with.”
“And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.” Romans 8:23. Believer’s groan in pain along with the rest of God’s creation while in these bodies of sin awaiting redemption. The Greek word translated redemption (G629) means “a releasing effected by payment of ransom, redemption, deliverance, liberation procured by the payment of a ransom,” see also 1 Thessalonians 4:14 – 18 & 1 Corinthians 15:50 – 54. But while believers await this change, they are blessed with the firstfruits of the Holy Spirit, which is described in Ephesians as being sealed by Him: “In whom (Christ) ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest (down payment) of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, (purchased by Christ’s finished work) unto the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1:13 – 14. Thus, a person receives the firstfruits (down payment) of the Holy Spirit Who seals them as they await redemption. And this happens at the time one truly believes the Gospel of salvation that Christ died for their sins and was raised from the dead, 1 Corinthians 15:1 –4.
The hope of the believer to put off their body of sin and to be clothed with a body like the Lord Jesus Christ’s is explained further: “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle (the believer’s body) were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.” 2 Corinthians 5:1 – 4.
“For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?” Romans 8:24. The Greek word translated “hope” (G1680), found 4 times in this verse means “joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation.” This hope is appropriated by faith because faith is the substance (substructure or foundation) of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1. “But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience (G5281) wait for it.” Romans 8:25. We learned earlier in Romans how the believer obtains patience: “…, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; (G5281) And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” Romans 5:3 – 5. And while believers remain in weak bodies of flesh, they have no reason to worry: “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” Romans 8:26 – 27.
The Greek word usually translated predestinated (G4209) is found only 6 times in the NT; first in Acts 4:18 – 28 where the key to its meaning is found in that it is translated “determined before.” There, Peter and John told a gathering of Jews who believed Jesus was their Messiah: “For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou (God) hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.” Acts 4:27 – 28. This states clearly that although Herod, Pontius Pilate, the Gentiles (Romans in this case) and Jews (Israel) were guilty of crucifying Jesus Christ; God had predestinated (determined before) it would happen.
The Greek word translated “predestined” occurs next in our text: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate (determined before) to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom he did predestinate (determined before), them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.” Romans 8:28 – 30. The Greek word translated “called” (G2822) means “invited, selected or appointed,” so believers are divinely invited according to God’s purpose, as was Lydia: “And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.” Acts 16:14. Here we learn that although Lydia “worshiped God” before she met Paul, she but did not attend to the things spoken by Paul because she was unaware of the Gospel preached by Paul, 1 Corinthians 15:1 – 4, until he told her, at which time she believed (attended unto) the Gospel.
“For whom he (God) did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Romans 8:29. The Greek word translated “foreknow” (G4167) means “to have knowledge beforehand,” so those who God knew beforehand, them he predestinated (determined beforehand) to be confirmed to the image (having the same form) of His Son (Jesus Christ) that He (Jesus Christ) might be the firstborn among many brethren (those who believe in Him). “Moreover whom he did predestinate (determined before), them he also called (invited, selected or appointed): and whom he called, them he also justified (made righteous); and whom he justified, them he also glorified.” Romans 8:30. So, what is it for believers to be glorified? Since Romans 8:29 teaches that believers are conformed to the image of Jesus Christ, we must determine how Jesus Christ was “glorified.” That happened when He died for our sins and rose again for our justification: “And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.” John 12:23. (It was then that He also defeated Satan, John 12:31.) Therefore, believers are glorified because they are “in Christ” and can say with the Apostle Paul: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20.
“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18. Believers are encouraged to grow in faith, hope, understanding, wisdom and knowledge as Paul prays: “Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,” Ephesians 1:15 – 20.
“For our conversation (citizenship) is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.” Philippians 3:20 – 21. In reality, the believer’s citizenship is in heaven right now even while they groan in pain along with the rest of God’s creation in these bodies of sin but look forward to having a glorious body, that is just like the Lord Jesus Christ’s, for all eternity. And nothing can take this away: “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38 – 39.
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