01-26-2025 Why All This Groaning?

Text: Romans 8:18-27

                    None of us can deny that there is a lot of groaning going on in this world.  Everyone everywhere seems to be complaining or worrying about something.  Christians are groaning, non-Christians are groaning, the earth itself is groaning with all the crazy weather patterns we are seeing.  We had another earthquake in NJ on Friday.  Even the Holy Sprit is groaning.  But you know what?  The Bible tells us why.  Our text this morning is found in Romans 8:18-27 where Paul wrote:  “ (18) For I reckon that the sufferings of the 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 waits for the manifestation of the sons of God.  (20) For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly by reason of Him Who has 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 groans and travails in pain together until now.  (23) And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first fruits 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 sees, why does 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 helps our infirmities:  for we know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.  (27) And He Who searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because He makes intercession for the Saints according to the will of God.”

                   Verses 18-22 are referring to the world as God created it in the beginning.  Everything that God made was good as we are told in Genesis 1:31.  But the fall of Adam and Eve brought pain and suffering to the whole of creation.  That includes sickness, sorrow, and even death to mankind.  It also brought thorns, thistles, storms, earthquakes, and hostility --that’s what that word enmity means -- among and between the animals and humans.  The groaning in nature is a reminder to us of the seriousness of sin.  But we can take heart because the world God created for us is not lost.  It is waiting for the return of Christ. 

                   Sin caused the whole of creation to fall from the perfect state in which God created it.  That fall has made it subject to frustration, bondage to death and to decay as decay because it can’t fulfill its intended purpose.  But there will come a day when all of creation will be liberated and transformed.  Until that time it waits in eager expectation for the resurrection of God’s children and the restoration of the earth.

                   Christians see the world as it is – physically decaying and spiritually infected with sin.  But Christians don’t need to be pessimistic because we have hope for future glory.  We look forward to the new Heaven and new earth that God has promised, and we wait for God’s new order that will free the world from sin, sickness, and evil.  In the  meantime, Christians go with Christ into the world where we serve others, work for the well-being of people’s bodies and souls, proclaim the truth and promises of the Gospel, and fight the evil effects of sin in the world.

                   Verses 23-25 of our text show us why Christians are groaning.  One would think that believers would have nothing to groan about.  Afterall our sins are forgiven through faith in Christ as confirmed in Ephesians 1:7.  We’re justified and have peace with God as we are told in Romans 5:1, and Jesus Himself assures us in John 14:1-3 of our eternal home in Heaven.  So why are Christians, who have so much to look forward to, groaning?  We groan because we’re part of a fallen, sinful race as we’re told in Romans 3:10-23.  We groan because we experience pain, suffering, death, and final judgement just like unbelievers as told to us in Hebrews 9:27.  And we groan because we’re impatient as we wait for that a better day to come where we will experience the resurrection and finalize our adoption into the family of God.  Then our bodies will be perfect and pain free.

                   There is going to be a time when we will be resurrected with glorified bodies like the body Jesus now has in Heaven.  Until then, we have the first fruits, or the first installment or down payment of the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of our resurrection life.

                   Verses 26-27 tell us why the Holy Spirit is groaning.  We groaning Christians don’t know how to pray as we should, so the Holy Spirit has been given to us to help us when we pray.  It’s the Holy Spirit who intercedes for us with problems that we’re unable to talk about.  And the Holy Spirit knows what’s best for us and then intercedes on our behalf accordingly.  Trouble in our lives is God’s call to us to pray.  The Comforter, or Holy Spirit, makes our prayers more effective.  So, with all of the groaning going on in us and all around us, we can be assured that there are better days ahead for creation and for Christians. 

                   Throughout the book of Romans, Paul presents the idea that salvation is past, present and future.  In the past, we were saved the moment we believed in Jesus Christ as our Savior.  Our new life, including eternal life, began at that moment.  In the present, we’re being saved through the process of sanctification that is making us more holy.  But at the same time, we have not fully received all the benefits and blessings of salvation that will be ours when Christ’s new kingdom is established.  That’s our future salvation.  While we can be confident of our salvation, we still look ahead with hope and trust toward the complete transformation that lies beyond this life, when we will be made like Christ. 

                   As believers we’re not left to our own resources to cope with problems.  Even when we don’t know the right words to pray, the Holy Spirit prays us with and for us when necessary, and God always answers.  With God helping us pray, we don’t need to be afraid to come before Him.  We should never be afraid to ask the Holy Spirit to intercede for us.  Then, when we bring our requests to God, we can trust that He will always do what is best for us in accordance with His will.

                   Never forget that glory will follow all the groaning of creation and of Christians.  Creation and Christians are waiting for the day when angels will say, “Behold the Savior Comes Again!”  Until then, we can stand firm in our faith because we know in our heart that the promise of better days is getting closer all the time.  Matthew 24:7 tells us that an increase in natural disasters is a sign that that great day is coming soon.  When it gets here all of our problems, pain, sickness, and suffering will be nothing when we finally experience the full glory of what God has instore for us when we see Jesus.

                    Until we meet again, may God bless and keep you, may He shine His light on you, show you grace, and give you peace in all the days ahead.