VERSE 18: THE FUTURE GLORY
“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.”
This verse gives the reason why Paul only now mentioned sufferings and glory. When that glory shall be revealed in us, then the sons of God will be revealed also..
“For I reckon”
Literally: “For I calculate.” I think; I judge. This is a favorite phrase of Paul’s. It expresses faith in action. He had suffered much in his ministry for Christ, but he still “recokoned, calculated” in view of the coming glory, which should be the constant attitude of all of us believers.
This verse begins a new division of the subject, which is continued to verse 25. The purpose is to show the power of the Gospel in sustaining the soul in trials: a very important and material part of the scheme. Paul’s mind seems to have been averted to the effects or benefits of the adoption of the believer by God; and one of the most material of those benefits was the sustaining grace which the Gospel gives us in the midst of afflictions. It should be borne in mind, that the early Christians were comparatively few and feeble, and exposed to many trials, and that this topic would be often, therefore, introduced into the discussions about the privileges and condition.
I RECKON: (Grk.–logizomai)—Literally: “I count, reckon, calculate, take into account, think, suppose.”
“the sufferings”–The afflictions; the persecutions, sicknesses, etc. The expression evidently includes not only the peculiar trials of Christians in Paul’s time, but all that believers are called to endure.
SUFFERINGS: (Grk.–pathêmata)–Suffering with Christ in order to be glorified with Him.
This present spoiled and pampered generation, which is enjoying more creature comforts than any other in history, and who really know nothing of standing for anything, when they have been taught that “nothing is factual; there are really no standards; all knowledge is relative; frowns upon this statement. They have never been taught what it is like to really know or love something or someone enough to die for them. This is seen in the out of control divorce rate in America. However, present day Christians cannot escape suffering. In our present day we see believers being persecuted all over the world. Even here in America the attacks on Christians and our Judea-Christian value are increasing daily, and much of this attack is even coming from those in our own government.
If the glory that is to be revealed be the enjoyment of God Himself, then the sufferings of this life, which, when compared with eternity, are but as for a moment, then they are not worthy to be put in competition with this glory which shall be revealed in us. This case is perfectly clear. While it is true that we must suffer with Christ, if we would partake of His glory; but what of that? If such sufferings are set over against the coming glory, they sink into insignificance.
“of this present time”
Literally: “Of the present time.”–Christians of our time have little concept of the sufferings of the ancient saints; they were counted as outcasts, despised, persecuted, slain (see v. 36; also II Cor. 11:23-28).
Yet Paul counted these as nothing in view of the hope of eternal glory. Probably Paul had particular reference to the various calamities then endured. But the expression is equally applicable to affliction of all times and in all places. It is necessary to have God’s estimate of these days in which we live, or we will be deluded into man’s false thoughts. Note: “this present evil age” (Gal. 1:4); “the days are evil,” (Eph. 5:16); “the distress that is upon us” (Eph. 6:12).
“are not worthy to be compared with the glory”
Literally: “Are not worthy {to compare to} the coming glory.”–Are nothing in comparison in comparison to the Glory–that will be revealed in us; (Eph. 3:16-19; Col. 3:4; II Thess. 1:10; I John 3:2). All sacrifices which men make to obey God, and all trials which they are called to endure, are light and momentary, compared with the blessings which he will bestow upon them in heaven.
“not worthy”–Not of equal importance, not of corresponding weight; they are unimportant.
WORTHY: (Grk.–axios)-–Meaning: “of like value, worth as much, deserving, in keeping with, proper, fit.”
GLORY: (Grk.–doxa)—“To the coming glory.” The happiness; the honor in heaven. This will be a reflected glory; reflected from the Lord in His glory, that will make the saints radiant when we return to the earth with Christ at His Second Coming.
“which shall be revealed in us”
Literally: “To be revealed in us— That shall be disclosed to us; or of which we shall be the partakers in heaven. (Comp. Rev. 21:10, 23; 22:5).
The usual representation of heaven is that of glory, splendor, magnificence, or light. In the saints when they shall have received the inheritance which God bestows in Christ. The comforts of the saint in the midst of suffering are now given:
1. The hope of glory for which all creation, ruined by the Fall, is looking.
2. The present help of the Spirit.
3. The overruling providence of God.
By this, therefore, Christians may be sustained. Their sufferings may seem great; but they should remember that they are nothing in comparison with future glory. They are nothing in degree. For these are light compared with that “eternal weight of glory” which they shall “work out,” (II Cor. 4:17). They are nothing in duration. For these sufferings are but for a moment; but the glory shall be eternal. These will soon pass away; but that glory shall never become dim or diminished, it will increase and expand for ever and ever.
“to be revealed”–Namely, at the “Rapture” (taking out) of the Church (Grk.-parousia), when the glory that is now hidden in heaven, (comp Colossians 3:3f; I Peter 1:4) . is to be revealed.
“in us”–As in “to us; towards us; to uswards.” We will be included in that radiance of the coming glory that will shove back into the shadows of our minds any remembrance of our present sufferings.
VERSE 19:
“For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.”
“For the earnest expectation”– This word occurs only here and in Phil. 1:20, “According to my earnest expectation and my hope,” etc.
EARNEST EXPECTATION: (Grk.–apokaradokia)-–Literally: “a deep desire, eager longing.” A Greek word made up of a combination of other words: i.e., apo—meaning, “away;” and kara–which means “the head;” and dokein–that means “to watch.” When you put these these together you get the picture of a man watching with his head erect and stretched forward; that is, waiting in suspense.
This illustrates a state of earnest desire to see an object when the head is thrust forward; an intense anxiety; an ardent wish; and Paul uses this to illustrate the intense interest with which a Christian looks to his future inheritance.
“of the creature”
Literally: “Of the creation.”—Of all visible creatures, believers excepted, who are spoken of apart; each kind, according as it is capable. All these have been sufferers through sin; and to all these (the final impenitent excepted) shall refreshment rebound from the glory of the children of God.
CREATURE: (Grk.–ktiseos)–Referring to all creation. In this and the three following verses the word rendered “creature” and “creation” is the same in the original Greek.
“For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now” (Rom. 8:22).
This seems to denote the whole of this lower creation as brought under God's curse, and made subject to suffering and abuse in connection with the fall of man (compare Gen. 3:16-19). The manifestation of the sons of God; when they shall be seen and publicly acknowledge as his children, and take full possession of their inheritance as heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.
“waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.”
Literally: “Is eagerly expecting the revelation of the sons of God.”– That is, "for the redemption of their bodies" from the grave (v. 23), which will reveal their sonship, now hidden; the time when they shall be acknowledged, and received into the full privileges of sons.
Looking with interest the full development of the benefits of the sons of God. Here and now Christians have some evidence of their adoption. But they are still in a world of sin, exposed to trials; subject to many calamities; and though they have evidence here that they are the sons of God, yet they wait for that period when they shall be fully delivered from all these trials and admitted to the enjoyment of all the privileges of the children of the Most High. Then they shall be seen and publicly acknowledge as His children, and take full possession of their inheritance as heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.
AWAITETH: (Grk.–apodechomai)–Literally: “waiting patiently for.”
MANIFESTATION: (Grk.–apokalupsis)–Meaning, “an uncovering; a laying bare.”
VERSE 20:
“For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same, in hope,”
“For the creature”
Literally: “For the creation.”–The renewed creature; the Christian mind. This is given as a reason for its aspiring to the full privileges of adoption; that the present state is not one of choice, or one which is preferred, but one to which it has been subjected for wise reasons by God.
“was made subject to vanity”|
Literally: “Was subjected to vanity.” The creation was subjected to vanity; that is, became empty; lost its original significance; subjected to buse, misery, and corruption.
SUBJECT: (Grk.–hupetage)–Literally meaing “placed in such a state; subjected to it by the appointment of another,” as a soldier has his rank and place assigned him in an army.
This subjection is one that is contrary to it, and from which he desires to be delivered. This describes substantially the same condition as in 7:15-24. That is, through no natural principle of decay. Paul, personifying creation, represents it as only submitting to the vanity with which it was smitten, on man's account, in obedience to that superior power which had mysteriously linked its destinies with man's.
VANITY: (Grk.–mataiotes)-–Literally: “idle, resultless, futile, aimless”–Vincent. Means “to seek without finding.” God placed “the creation” under man's dominion, and when man fell the whole was subject to “vanity” by God.
This describes the present condition of the Christian: that is, as being frail and dying; exposed to trials, temptations, and cares; being in the midst of conflicts. More or less, the Christian is brought under this influence:
1. His joys are marred;
2. His peace is discomposed;
3. His affections wander;
4. His life is a life of vanity and vexation.
“not willingly”–Not voluntarily; not by their own choice.
1. Not that which is congenial to his renewed nature.
That would aspire to perfect holiness and peace.
2. Not a matter of choice.
It was Adam’s sin and not God’s will that was the cause of this subject to vanity.
“by reason of Him.”
Literally: “But through the{One”– It is the appointment of God, who has chosen to place His people in this condition; and who for wise purposes retains them in it. Namely, God, (Gen. 3:17; 5:29). Adam only made it liable to the sentence which God pronounced; yet not without hope.
Now look back to the origin of Gentilism, to the Confusion of Languages, by reason of the attempt to build the tower of Babel; and though there are some passages in the Targums upon this matter that are sufficiently ridiculous, yet as to their scope and design they are worthy of notice. “They said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, and let its head reach unto the top of heaven; and let us make a house of worship in the top of it; and let us put a sword in his hand that he may wage war for us against our enemies, before we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.”
“Who hath subjected the same”
Literally: “the {One} subjecting {it}-–God by His wise and righteous constitution of things Who has appointed His people to this condition. It is His wise arrangement. Here we may observe:
1. That the instinctive feelings of Christians lead them to desire a purer and a happier world, (Phil. 1:23).
2. That it is not what they desire, to be subjected to the toils of this life, and to the temptations and vanities of this world. They sigh for deliverance.
3. Their lot in Life; their being subjected to this state of vanity, is the arrangement of God. Why it is, he has not seen fit to inform us fully. He might have taken his people at once to heaven as soon as they are converted. But though we know not all the reasons why they are continued here in this state of vanity, we can see some of them.
“in hope”
Literally:: “On hope.”–Upon the basis of hope. In hope of deliverance from the evil endured.
IN HOPE: (Grk–eph’ elpidi)–Better: “On hope” as a foundation. A promise of final redemption was made to fallen man (Gen. 3:15), and the creation is represented as sharing that hope. The hope is that of the subjected, not of the one doing the subjecting..
Hope has reference to the future; and in this state of the Christian. A hope was left to creation in its fallen estate. Understand that when the sons of God are revealed, this curse will be removed from man and it will also pass away from the creation.
VERSE 21:
“Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.”
In this verse we see the reason for the hope of the believer.
“Because the creature shall be delivered”
Literally: “That also the creation itself will be free.”—Or, even the creation itself. It is the purpose of God that this deliverance shall be granted; and this purpose (and hope) supports the Christian amidst the trials to which he is subjected here. The hope is, that this same renewed man shall be delivered from all the toils, and cares, and sins of this state.
BECAUSE: (Grk–dioti)–This word may also be translated as, “that.” Paul now begins his explanation.
The very soul that is renewed; the ransomed man without essential change. It will be the same being, though purified; the same man, possessed of the same body and soul, though freed from all the corruption of humanity, and elevated above all the degradations of the present condition. The idea is everywhere presented, that the identical person shall be admitted to heaven without essential change (I Cor. 15:35-38,42-44). That this is the hope of all Christians (see II Peter 3:13).
“from the bondage of corruption”
Literally: “From the slavery of corruption.”–From the enslavement, to the principle of death and decay and. which consists in a corruptible state, and all the suffering belonging to such a state. Every decaying carcass speaks of this “bondage of corruption.”
BONDAGE: (Grk–douleias)–Literally: “enslavement.”
Freedom from the corruption which they are now subjected to, they will be delivered and changed into the blessed state of incorruption, which will be revealed when the sons of God will be advanced to glory. This could really refer back to vanity. This shows that this present condition is not a willing state, or not a condition of choice, but is one of bondage or servitude. This condition does not really differ materially from the “vanity,” of v. 20.
1. It is one that leads to sin, and temptation, and conflict, and anxiety.
2. It is a condition often which destroys the peace, mars the happiness, dims the hope, enfeebles the faith, and weakens the love of Christians; and this is called the bondage of corruption.
3. It is also one in which temporal death has dominion, and in the bondage of which believers as well as unbelievers shall be held.
Yet from all this bondage the children of God shall be delivered.
“into the glorious liberty”
Literally: “To the freedom of the glory.”–The freedom of the glory of the children of God. That is, returned to the state in which they were created.
Our present state is “bondage to corruption.” The hope is deliverance from the bondage into “the liberty,” etc. In that Day of the Revelation of Glory, “all things shall become new” (Rev. 21:5).
1. This is liberty––Freedom from the bondage under which the Christian groans. It will be freedom:
a. From sin;
b. From corruption;
c. From evil desires;
d. From calamity;
e. From death.
The highest freedom in the universe is that which is enjoyed in heaven, where the redeemed are under the sovereignty and government of their King, but where they do that, and that only, which they desire. All is slavery but the service of God; all is bondage but that law which accords with the supreme wish of the soul, and where commands accord with the perfect desires of the heart.
2. This is glorious freedom. It is encompassed with majesty; attended with honor; crowned with splendor.
The heavenly world is often described as a state of glory. We might get a sample view of these contrasting states by contrasting this present state of creation with the Millennial State described by Isaiah (Isa. 11:6-9)
a. The wolf dwelling with the lamb;
b. The leopard with the kid,
c. The calf and the young lion and the fatling together, with the young child leading them.
d. The cow and the bear feeding, their young ones lying down together;
e. The lion eating straw like the ox
f. Children playing over the serpent’s hold.
“of the children of God.”– That the children of God shall enjoy.
CHILDREN: (Grk–teknōn)–Literally: “little children.”