A Study of The Book of Romans

Lesson 52 Chapter 8:19 - 22

1. Verse 19 “For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.”
1. “For the earnest expectation…” - earnest expectation means – a sense of watching with an intense anticipation – that is of what is to come.
2. “…the earnest expectation of the creature…” – The word “creature” here has caused much controversy among many bible commentaries and while most differ somewhat on who those considered “the creature” are;

a. A. H. Strongs defines it – formation or creation – or creating something like a building - Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words defines it – as the product of the "creative" act.

b. This we know – in context with the verses following; it cannot refer to the entire human creation, because God talks about deliverance of the “creature” verse 21 and the lost have no earnest expectation, especially for the saved. - This would also exclude the non-human creation that some have suggested. – I believe in context it refers to each individual born again “creature” that Gods has created in Christ Jesus “…waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.” Which is the rapture and the joining of our souls and spirits with our new bodies because of verse 23 “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.”

3. “…waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.” – The word “manifestation” means – disclosure, appearing, or coming – This could and most likely does read “Each individual born again “creature” waits for the “manifestation” (or the appearing) of all the creatures or the elect with their new bodies making us all look like Christ Jesus and salvation and adoption is complete.” We will fill heaven as “the sons of God”
4. It is not uncommon for God to call people “creatures” - Mark 16:15 “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” - Colossians 1:23 “If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;”
1. Verse 20 “For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,”
1. “For the creature was made subject to vanity…” the creature or creation both are the same Greek word and therefore are the same. Let us look at two words here”:

a. “Subject” means - to subordinate - reflexively to obey – I line the - reflexively to obey – here because it carries the thought of total depravity; the word reflexively means automatically or naturally.

b. “vanity” means - morally depravity – so the thought here is that the entire creation was subject to vanity or the entire creation was naturally totally depraved and therefore did not have to try to sin but it was natural to them.

c. “…the creature was made subject…” because of Satan and Adam, condemnation is not because of our sin but the sin of Adam, therefore we are born sinners by nature or made sinners not because we willed it that way but because we were born that way.

2. “…not willingly…” because it was natural to them or automatic to them, it took no thought, decision, or trying on their part.
3. “…but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,”

a. It was because of Satan or “…by reason of him…” that subjected Adam and the entire human creation to sin. Adam and mankind is to blame but Satan is the root cause.

b. God simply allowed it, He was not the cause.

3. Verse 21 “Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.”
1. It is almost universally agreed that the words “…in hope…” belongs in this verse instead of verse 20. This makes a lot of sense, since it cause a brain freeze trying to put in with verse 20. I wasted 20 minutes of study time trying to figure out verse 20 until I saw it went with verse 21.
2. “Because the creature…” The word creature here must refer to the elect of God because it deals with deliverance and not all of creation will be delivered.
3. Now lets add “In hope because the creature…” The hope of the creature is to be delivered from his sin or as Colossians put it transferred from corruption into the glorious liberty (or freedom) in which the children of God are delivered which is in Christ Jesus.
4. “…shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption…” from the slavery of ruin and sin.
4. Verse 22 “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.”
1. The thought here is the whole world and both Christians and lost people suffer an evil world together. Matthew 5:45 “That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”
2. Paul compares this to a woman ready to give birth, the world is very painful and we all suffer together.
3. But since we are saved, we long for salvations completion which will be at His return when we are complete and fully adopted and await for nothing more. But at least we have a hope which lessens the misery of this world’s pains. The lost have nothing but pain, here and here after.