Not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.Not only so, but ourselves also, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for adoption, the redemption of our body.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.And not only so, but ourselves also, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for our adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
6 sermons cite this verse
… creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, we ourselves have the first fruits of the Spirit. We groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons of redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that's seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for it? He already has. But if we hope what we don't yet have, we wait for it patiently. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We don't know what to pray for sometimes. The Spirit intercedes for us with groans that words can't even express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accord with God's will. And we know that in all things, in all things, in all things, God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew, he predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called. …
His second coming shall be to deliver our bodies from the bondage of corruption. Paul calls it in Romans chapter 8 and verse 23, the redemption of the body. Now, when is he coming? We don't know. We don't know the day. We don't know the time or the year, but we know he will. Why? Because his word says that he will return. Remember the words the angels gave to the disciples in Acts chapter 1, verse 11? He men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? The same Jesus who was taken up from you into heaven will come, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven. from Christ's resurrection we know that we who are united to him by the spirit will also be raised like him we do know that his coming will be as a thief in the night so be ready do you ever know when a thief is going to come into your house do you know when a thief is going to break into your car of course not and our lord's going to return when we think not that he will we're told in first thessalonians that the dead in christ will rise first and those that are alive will be called up with them in the clouds to meet the lord in the air our bodies and our souls will be reunited and you can rest assured that your body is not going to be attached to somebody else's soul …
… until now not only the creation but we ourselves who have the first fruits of the Spirit grown inwardly. as we wait eagerly for adoption, as sons, we're waiting. We're waiting, hidden. the redemption of our bodies. Paul just felt he was constantly resisting over-realized eschatology. You can hear it in the words, not only the creation, but literally even we, ourselves, even we who have the first fruits of the Spirit, the people that you would expect of all people to look like sons of God are groaning. We just don't look like it as we wait. And here, for me, as an 80-year-old... this is sobering and wonderfully realistic so it is with the resurrection of the dead what is sown is perishable what is raised is imperishable it is sown in dishonor that to me is, I mean I'm a pastor right for 33 years I've watched people die like this sown in dishonor A 90-year-old man curled up like a fetal position with a diaper on. …
… Colossians 1.18 says he's the firstborn from the dead and Romans 8 verse 23 tells us that we have the first fruits of the spirit as we await the redemption of our bodies so we have the presence of the Holy Spirit with us Ephesians 1 verses 13 through 14 tells us that God has given us his Holy Spirit who is a seal, a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance. And so our future hope is anchored in the sure promises that come with Christ's resurrection and the present reality of the Holy Spirit who is with us. The one who indwells us. The one who is at work in us now. And so Paul says in Romans 8, if the spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies that through his spirit who dwells in you. Elsewhere the promise tells us that he will transform our lowly bodies to be like his body. …
… For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but we ourselves also, which have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves. That's the difference between church folks and the world. We groan within ourselves. We don't want nobody to see it. we groan within ourselves. We hope for a word that will ease our pain and then when it comes we act like it's not talking to us. we groan within ourselves which have the first fruits of the spirit we have the first fruits of the spirit that don't stop the groaning so you got on one hand you got the first fruits of the spirit but on the other hand you got the groaning at the same time at the same y'all don't hear me y'all don't hear me Lord, help them to hear me. You have both of them at the same time. it's the best of times and the worst of times you're happy but you're sad you're glad but you're disappointed you can see the blessing of the Lord but you can see where all hell is breaking loose over here in the same life at the same time anybody hear the words that are coming out of my mouth but ourselves also which have the first fruits of the spirit even we ourselves groan within ourselves now the groaning within I ain't got time to get into it I'm running out of time …
Yeah, Romans chapter 8, verse 18 through 28. When you have it, say amen. Paul says, for I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to even be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. I could stay there all day. I could just put up a tent and camp out in my backyard and stay on that text all day. I reckon that the sufferings of this present time, anybody got some sufferings? The suffering of your present time is not worthy to even be compared. Don't even put it in the same sentence. It's not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. The whole earth is waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God, for you to peel back your flesh and show who you really are. Come on, talk to me, somebody. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly. …