Dr. Cecil A. Fayard - 2001 Sermons
Sunday, August 19, 2001   

INTRODUCTION: Verse 18 and 19 begin with the little word "for." In verse 18 Paul says: "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." When will this glory be revealed? At the Second Coming of Christ. Verse 19 says: "For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God." The whole creation is eagerly looking forward to the coming of Christ.

The entire passage that we are studying points to the Second Coming of Christ. Note with me:

1. Verse 18, when Christ comes again our suffering will be as dust on a scale compared to the glory to be revealed in us.
   
2. Verse 19, the whole creation is waiting for Christ to return.
   
3. Verse 20, note the word "Hope." This hope is the blessed hope of Christ's return.
   
4. Verse 21, "The creature itself all shall be delivered..." When will this deliverance take place? At the Second Coming.
   
5. Verse 22, what is creation groaning for? The Second Coming when Christ will make all things new.
   
6. Verse 23, note the word "waiting." Waiting for what?
   
   1. For the adoption.
      
   2. For the redemption of our bodies at the Second Coming.
   
   
7. Verses 24-25, speak of an unseen hope, the sure hope of His coming again.

Yes, the three groanings of Romans eight point without a doubt to the Second Coming of Christ:

1. Verses 19-22, Creation's groaning
   
2. Verses 23-25, the Groaning of the believers
   
3. Verses 26-27, The Groaning of the Holy Spirit.

1. VERSES 19-22, CREATIONS GROANING FOR THE SECOND COMING
   1. A. Verse 19, There are some very important words in this verse that I want you to take notice of. These words tell us that creation is waiting for Christ to return to earth and rule.
      
      1. "Ernest" - this word means that the whole creation is eagerly, anxiously, looking and watching for the "manifestation of the sons of God."
         
         1. Creation is craning its neck to see the coming of Christ.
            
         2. This word also can mean to stand on tiptoes peering up with great expectancy. Creation is on its tiptoes waiting for Christ.
            
      2. "Expectation"-looking forward to deliverance from the curse of sin. Great expectation yet with patience.
         
      3. "Creature"-- this is the non-rational creation including animals, plants, and inanimate objects like rivers, mountains, oceans, creeks, and heavenly bodies.
         
      4. "Waiteth"-- the whole of the non-rational creation is intensely interested in what is going to happen to God's children.
         
         1. How can this be?
            
         2. Notice how this is possible.
            
            1. Trees can rejoice (Psalms 96:12).
               
            2. Floods can clap their hands (Psalms 98:8).
               
            3. The wilderness can be glad (Isaiah 35: 1).
               
            4. ) Mountains and hills can -burst into song (Isaiah 55:12).
               
         3. If the trees can rejoice etc., why should they not be able to look forward to the revelation?
            
      5. "Manifestation"-- the whole creation looks forward to, with outstretched necks, the manifestation of the sons of God. It does so because this means glory for all of creation.
         
         1. Not until the return of Christ to earth will it be public knowledge how much God loves His children and how richly He rewards them.
            
         2. Matthew 13:43 The righteous shall "shine forth as the sun."
            
         3. Daniel 12:3- the wise "shall shine as the brightness of the firmament."
            
         4. The saved will be on display as trophies of grace (Ephesians 2:7-10).

   2. Verse 20, there was a time when lions did not kill, and snakes were not poisonous, when there were not thorns to prick the skin, a time when nothing could cause harm to man.
      
      1. But at the fall, creation was plunged under the curse. Creation did not curse itself but was cursed by what man did.
         
         1. "Vanity" without success" is one meaning.
            
         2. Millions of dollars are lost to crop disease every year. Millions are spent trying to prevent disease.
            
      2. God himself executed the curse upon creation.

   3. Verse 21, What a day that will be when creation shall be delivered from the curse! One of these days, this earth and the heaven will be rejuvenated (II Peter 3:7, 11-13). The creation will share in the "glorious liberty of the children of God." One day we and all of creation will be free from the presence of sin (Isaiah 11:6-9).

   4. Verse 22, Creation is groaning, yearning, and looking forward to deliverance as a woman groaning in the giving of birth to a baby.
      
      1. Today we have floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, etc. These are the groanings of creation.
         
      2. One day we will be set free from sin's power and presence. Not only we, but the whole of creation.

2. VERSES 23-25, THE GROANING OF BELIEVERS AND THE SECOND COMING
   1. Verse 23, "Ourselves" means believers, born again children of God.
      
      1. "Which have the first fruits of the Spirit."
         
         1. Having or possessing the Holy Spirit.
            
         2. Those who are believers possess Him, the Holy Spirit (8:9).
            
         3. The Holy Spirit is the first fruits or pledge of salvation.
            
      2. "Even we ourselves groan within ourselves." We, like creation, groan, experiencing pain and looking forward to deliverance with hope. (Note Romans 7:24 concerning groanings).
         
      3. We are adopted (8:15-16), but we are going to realize the full extent of our adoption with the redemption of our bodies.
         
         1. We still have bodies that are unredeemed.
            
         2. One day we will have new bodies, transformed bodies that cannot experience pain, sickness, or death (Revelations 21:4).

   2. Verse 24, Hope and salvation cannot be separated.
      
      1. In hope, we have been saved.
         
      2. This hope is real as John 6:37 points out.
         
         1. Because of our Lord's promise, we cannot and will not lose our salvation. That's hope.
            
         2. We are anchored to heaven itself by Christ (Hebrews 6:18-20).
            
      3. I have never seen Christ, yet I have experienced His love and salvation. One day, I know I will see Him; this is my sure hope (I Peter 1:8-9).

   3. Verse 25, Patiently we wait for what we are hoping for knowing that Philippians 1:6 is true. Those who have this kind of hope are the elect of God (I Thessalonians 1:3-4).

3. VERSES 26-27, THE GROANING OF THE SPIRIT AND THE SECOND COMING
   1. Verse 26, The Spirit helps us because of our human weaknesses. We are weak in body and spirit because of sin.
      
      1. Because of our weakness, Christ intercedes for us at the right hand of God; and the Holy Spirit makes intercession from within us.
         
      2. The Spirit knows all about you; He knows the deep secrets of your heart; He knows your unspoken requests.
         
      3. "Groanings"-- these groanings which cannot be uttered tell us that we have a great need because of our depravity and inability.
         
         1. I believe that the Spirit prays for those who seek God in prayer.
            
         2. It is possible that the Spirit prays against our prayers as in the case of Paul in II Corinthians 12:7.

   2. Verse 27, God the Father searches our hearts.
      
      1. God searches our hearts to know what the indwelling Holy Spirit groans for concerning the saint in order to supply that need.
         
      2. In the final conclusion, the Spirit makes intercession according to the will of God. The Spirit's will and the Father's will are the same.