Romans 8:21-22 (ESV)


[21] that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. [22] For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.


(Introduction to Pastor Todd's sermon on "Creation Groans")


In this passage Paul connects groaning with suffering. The word itself conveys the deep sort of pain that expresses itself in the inward groan that cannot be expressed in words.

Paul actually speaks of three types of groaning – the groaning of the Christian, The groaning of creation and the groaning of the Spirit. First there is the idea that following Christ will also involve a type of suffering - along with the grace of forgiveness and new life, comes the grace of identifying with his suffering. All who want to live a godly life will have persecution.
This is what Peter speaks about as the normative and typical experience of Christian living – we don’t live in the world in its present form as a place of ultimate hope and comfort.


1 Peter 1:6 (ESV)

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, as was necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,

There is also the groaning of creation. Here Paul is personifying creation as though it too feels the weight of sin, - it too is looking with hopeful expectation of the final victory of our redemption in Christ.
This is a forgotten blessing of our redemption. We tend in evangelical circles to think of our salvation in just personal terms. This however is a glimpse in the cosmic implications of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Another truth of our redemption is that it gives us hope in regard to the future. There are great promises in relation to our salvation that is rooted in


Our Past - Christ’s death and resurrection – the surety of our sins paid for.

Our Present – the promise of the Spirit who applies the benefits of our salvation - The gospel is not simple an objective truth – we can right down and explain. It is also, by God’s mercy, a subjective and transforming reality. Is this real for you? Do you believe, merely with your mind? Has the Holy Spirit made the truth come alive and bring power and new freedom in your life – a growing freedom from your old habits and sinful ways?

There is of course groaning in the personal struggle as we wait the “full redemption of our bodies”For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us
- The groaning expressed repeatedly in this section is a groaning that is always pictured in the Bible with the pains of childbirth.

So, it is a pain that has the end result of something great. In childbirth there is the promise of great joy that comes with a new life that a woman, who endures great suffering, but later forgets the pain for the joy of her child.


(the rest of the sermon will be uploaded for listening next week....for the audio version - stay tuned)