The Freedom Of The Glory Of The Children Of God

“…creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.”

These words are set in the context of Romans 8, and specifically in the context of Romans 8:18-30. They have to do with the future glory that awaits the people of God. This future glory is linked to creation itself. Creation is groaning (vs. 22) with an eager longing (vs. 19) for the revealing of the sons of God. The problem that creation has is linked to the sin of Adam. Paul describes this as a bondage to corruption (vs. 21). This is a bondage to decay. It is crumbling. Our own bodies are also decaying. They are bound to corruption. This corruption is due to sin in us.

There are many sufferings in this life connected to this. Paul encourages us to look beyond the present sufferings to the incredible future that is before us. It is a future of glory (vs. 18). The sufferings of the present time cannot be compared to that future glory. That future glory comprises being in the presence of God, possessing a resurrection body (1 Thess. 4; 1 Cor. 15), and enjoying a new heavens and earth (Rev. 21:1 – 22:5; Isa. 65:17).

Adam’s sin brought about a disruption within creation itself. There are now thorns and thistles that hinder his work (Gen. 3:17 – 19). Marriage relationships are not easy due to the inherent rampant sin within man. Childbirth is painful. These are parts of the curse that God pronounced upon Adam and Eve (Gen. 3:14 – 19). The consequences of sin affect creation. Creation did not have any problems until Adam transgressed. Creation will be transformed and will again be glorious and beautiful. Creation is said to be longing eagerly for that day (vs. 22), and that longing is expressed as a groaning.

This groaning is said to be like the pains of childbirth, and it has been gong on since that tragic day in Eden. If creation can be affected in such a way because of sin, we ought not to limit its power and effect upon ourselves. We also are said to be corrupt. Every believer knows that something glorious awaits him. But we will be transformed. Sin will no longer be with us. What a day that will be.

At the present moment, the salvation brought by our Lord Jesus Christ is working in us and through us, yet salvation is not complete until that future day of resurrection. What is begun in us will be brought to completion (Phil. 1:6). We are longing for the completing of the saving work begun in us; and the proof that we are Christians is connected to this.

However, anybody can say that this is what he hopes for. The real proof is the effect that this future hope has on us in the present. Do we conform our lives to the saving reality of what God says concerning salvation? The fruit of salvation must be evident in us and through us. It must transform, and be transforming, us daily. This is seen when we respond to trials and tribulations which cause suffering.

A saving work in us causes us to bear fruit, godly fruit, the fruit of the Spirit. We already have the firstfruits of the Spirit (vs. 23), and because we do, we groan inwardly. What are we groaning inwardly after? It is the adoption of ourselves as sons which Paul says is the redemption of our bodies (vs. 23). It is true that we are already adopted but Paul is thinking of the day of resurrection. Resurrection means no more change and decay. No more sin. It is redemption completed. It is true freedom. When someone who is a slave is set free, the reality of that freedom needs to be experienced. He may know the legality of it, but the living of it is the real thing. So too, we when we get to heaven, will truly be free. We shall not be troubled by anything which we endure here on earth. In glory there is only God in his glorious trinity, there are the angels of heaven, and then there are the saints who are above the angels with Jesus as their head. All things at present work together for the good of God’s people (vs.28). Even in the midst of suffering, hardships, and trials, God is preparing for us a greater weight of glory. We cannot be separated from the love of God, either in this present life or in the life to come (vv. 37 – 39).

Creation groans for that freedom which will be ours. This proves that creation was made for us. It was for our enjoyment. Man was to tend it, care for it, enjoy it, and have dominion over it in complete freedom (Gen. 1:26 – 30). We lost that freedom in Adam. Christ has recovered all that was lost. This means that the future of creation will be recovered. It will be set free from its bondage to corruption, and it will obtain the freedom of the glory that is ours. That glory is only ours because of Jesus.

Just as the Sabbath was made for man (Mark 2:27, 28) and Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath, there remains for us (the people of God) a Sabbath rest (Heb. 4:9). That Sabbath rest means the cessation of all labor and all struggle. It means the end of sin. The Sabbath is a Creation ordinance, so when creation rejoices in its freedom, we and creation shall be at rest for eternity. This is our future. We live in uncertain days, but that uncertainty in understood by us as being related to sin. The day is coming when the days shall be certain. It will be an eternal day.

Now how shall we apply this to ourselves. First, the Apostle says in vs. 18, “for I consider…” The word is “logizomai.” It means to count, to reckon, to calculate, to evaluate, to think upon. It means that Paul has thought seriously about these things. Most of us do not reflect on heaven. We do not meditate on glory. We are too much of the earth. Paul tells the Colossians that they were to seek the things above where Christ is (Col. 3:1); not only that, but also to set their minds on things above and not on things of the earth (Col. 3:2).

You can never be too heavenly minded. Thinking as Paul did is not living with your head in the clouds. It is living above the clouds. Anticipation is always heightened by future outcome or prospect. Paul’s anticipation of future glory causes him to say that the sufferings of this present life do not compare to that future glory (vs. 18). How was Paul able to live as he did? I suggest it was because he thought like this. So have a plan to think like this.

Second, we do this in hope (vs. 20, 24 esp.). Just as creation is groaning and will be set free, we also groan and shall be set free (vv 20 – 23). Hoping is connected to faith. We hope not because we see but because God has promised (vs. 24, 25). This hope was begun in our hearts through the new birth. New life in Jesus has given us hope. When confronted by the overwhelming ways of the world, the flesh and the devil, remind yourself that you have Jesus, that you believe all that God has said, and you shall find that your heart will begin to rise and seek those heavenly things (that future glory). We shall appear in redemptive colors far removed from this corruption.

Last, we wait in patience (vs. 25) and in weakness (vs. 26). But we are not alone. The Holy Spirit helps us as we cry out to God for help (vs. 26, 27). Patient waiting brings reward. Our reward shall be change (final redemption through resurrection; see vs. 23) and being conformed (vs. 29) to the image of our Lord Jesus. Future glory will only be glory because we shall be like our Savior (Phil. 3:20, 21). It will be worth it all when we see Jesus.