Romans 8:18-27
18 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. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23 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. 24 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? 25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. 26 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. 27 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.

In explaining what God has done in Christ for the believer’s ongoing struggle with sin and the flesh, the Apostle Paul wrote one of greatest chapters in all of Scripture, Romans 8. Here, we are told that Christ will eventually remove sin’s presence (7:24-25), has removed sin’s penalty (8:1), and will remove sin’s power (8:2-4). He has given us the Holy Spirit to guide (8:5-8), revive (8:9-11), and empower (8:12-14) all believers in their present struggle with sin. He has made all believers children and heirs of God through Christ by adopting them into His family (8:14-17).

In Romans 8:18-27, the Apostle Paul looks to the future when believers will be totally set free from sin as their bodies are raised, changed, and totally redeemed. Believers will one day receive a body that is no longer a “body of this death” (7:24) but is a glorified body, apart from sin, and fit for eternity with God. In the meantime, Paul notes that believers must patiently wait for this day with anticipation and tells us about three groanings of our present existence that take place in the intervening time until believer’s bodies are redeemed.

First, Paul tells us that the creation itself groans for the glory of the children of God. Paul tells us in verses 18-22 that the creation was “made subject to vanity” and is under the “bondage of corruption” because of sin. In the same way that all of us are born sinners and live with a fallen nature called the flesh, the creation is, similarly, under a curse. Not only are people not as they should be, but the creation itself is now not as God had originally intended it. When He made everything, He made it “good” (Genesis 1:31). While there is much beauty in the creation now, there are many things about it that are not good. There is disease, disaster, death, and decay. The creation is said to groan here because it looks forward to the day when God’s children are set free from “the body of this death” because, in God’s plan, there will follow another day in which the creation will be set free from the curse. Revelation 21:1 promises a “new heaven and a new earth” in which Revelation 22:3 promises “and there shall be no more curse.”

Second, we are told that believers groan for the glory of God’s promises. 1 Corinthians 15:35-57 tells all about how the believer will one day be raised with a qualitatively new body that is no longer impacted by sin. When we die, we leave our present body behind, it is buried in the ground, and our spirit and soul go to be with the Lord (1 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:21-23). We will be set free from sin and in the presence of God. However, in God’s plan, He has promised that one day Christ will return and believers will be raised with new, glorified bodies to spend eternity with Him (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17). We look forward to that day when we will be totally set free from sin and fitted with a body apart from sin to spend eternity with our God.

One final groaning that Paul mentions is that of the Holy Spirit. What the Holy Spirit groans for is on our behalf. He takes our prayers and “maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” This means that, when you and I don’t know how to pray or what to pray for, the Holy Spirit, who is in us, takes those desires and longings of the heart and intercedes for us according to God’s perfect will. He helps us in our “infirmities,” or weaknesses, and takes care of us during this time of patient waiting for God to finish His work in our lives. We pray all of the time, perhaps with good intentions, for wrong things or for the right things at the wrong time. The Holy Spirit takes those desires and intercedes for us according to what God’s perfect will is for our lives. These “groanings which cannot be uttered” are not audible, nor felt. They are unheard and unseen, but this is nevertheless a work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We can trust that God hears us and will work His will out in our lives because of the Spirit’s interceding work.

Do you long for what is to come? Are you weary in the current struggle against sin and the flesh? There is good news for the child of God. Everything is moving to God being glorified in His children and His creation. There will come a day when Jesus will call the church home and we will be with Him forever, free from sin and the flesh. Are you ready for that day? Can you say with the Apostle John, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” If you do not yet have this hope and these desires as a reality in your life, then there is hope today through the gospel. Jesus came to set you free from sin. Have you trusted Him? Will you trust Him?