The Vanity of God's Creation
"For to vanity was the creation subjected, not voluntarily, but because of Him Who subjects it, in expectation that the creation itself, also, shall be freed from the slavery of corruption into the glorious freedom of the children of God."
How do sinful people become "children of God"? By being "freed from the slavery of corruption" at the "deliverance of our body".
"For we are aware that the entire creation is groaning and travailing together until now. Yet not only so, but we ourselves also, who have the first fruit of the spirit, we ourselves also, are groaning in ourselves, awaiting the sonship, the deliverance of our body. For to expectation were we saved..." (Romans 8:20-24)
People are slaves to corruption. By corruption I am not talking about the worldly idea of being corrupted by evil men. I am talking about the biblical idea of the dying process. We are all born of a women to die with all mankind, that is our lot. We are "groaning and travailing" over it, but we still die along with all others we love because for now we are sons of men. But one day this corruption will put on incorruption and this mortal shall put on immortality and death will have been swallowed up in Victory,,,
"...according to the purpose that, whom He foreknew, He designates beforehand, also, to be conformed to the image of His Son, for Him to be Firstborn among many brethren. Now whom He designates beforehand, these He calls also, and whom He calls, these He justifies also; now whom He justifies, these He glorifies also. What then, shall we declare to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?" (Romans 8:28-31)
Believers have a definite advantage over unbelievers in this evil age in which we live. For we are aware that we are "awaiting the sonship" and believe what God has planned, the deliverance of His creation from "vanity" into "the glorious freedom of the children of God".
It enables us to be content in this present evil age as we look forward to our blessed expectation, the return of Christ Jesus the Lord to resurrect the dead.
People are slaves to corruption. By corruption I am not talking about the worldly idea of being corrupted by evil men. I am talking about the biblical idea of the dying process. We are all born of a women to die with all mankind, that is our lot. We are "groaning and travailing" over it, but we still die along with all others we love because for now we are sons of men. But one day this corruption will put on incorruption and this mortal shall put on immortality and death will have been swallowed up in Victory,,,
"...according to the purpose that, whom He foreknew, He designates beforehand, also, to be conformed to the image of His Son, for Him to be Firstborn among many brethren. Now whom He designates beforehand, these He calls also, and whom He calls, these He justifies also; now whom He justifies, these He glorifies also. What then, shall we declare to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?" (Romans 8:28-31)
Believers have a definite advantage over unbelievers in this evil age in which we live. For we are aware that we are "awaiting the sonship" and believe what God has planned, the deliverance of His creation from "vanity" into "the glorious freedom of the children of God".
It enables us to be content in this present evil age as we look forward to our blessed expectation, the return of Christ Jesus the Lord to resurrect the dead.