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Timothy: Romans 8:18-25
Future Glory of the Church

18 For I calculate that the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to compare to the coming glory to be revealed in us.

9 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly awaits the revelation of the sons of God.

20 For the creation was not willingly subjected to vanity, but through Him subjecting it, on hope;

21 that also the creation will be freed from the slavery of corruption to the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

22 For we know that all the creation groans together and travails together until now.

23 And not only so, but also we ourselves having the firstfruit of the Spirit, also we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly expecting adoption, the redemption of our body;

24 for we were saved by hope, but hope being seen is not hope; for what anyone sees, why does he also hope?

25 But if we hope for what we do not see, through patience we wait eagerly.

[Literal Translation of the Holy Bible]

Dear God, my Beloved Father, I am grateful for the new day you have given me, along with the opportunity to read and reflect on the Eternal Living Word of God. May the Word of God sanctify me, bringing joy and enlightenment to my life. I pray that Christ may grant me new strength for this new day, and that the Holy Spirit may guide me in truth. I thank Christ and the Holy Spirit.

Dear Father, I would like to present my understanding of the teachings in Romans 8:18-25.

Dear Father, I understand verse 18 to mean that those who are the children of God and still living in this world will experience pain and suffering due to the persecution and harm inflicted upon them by the world. As Jesus Himself stated in John 15:18-19 and 17:14, the world hates the people of God. Additionally, the children of God may also suffer from natural disasters, diseases, wars, and social injustices while striving to remain blameless. However, these afflictions are only temporary and will pass, and they are one of the reasons why the children of God will receive rewards from God. The glory that awaits the children of God in the afterlife is so great that if the suffering in this life is considered the price for that glory, then the cost is incredibly cheap.

Dear Father, I understand verses 19-22 to mean that God has given mankind dominion over all things, and after man sinned, he lost the glory of God, and all things also began to decay into vanity. Vanity here means worthlessness, death, and suffering. Therefore, all things suffer together with humanity because of mankind’s sin. However, one day, when humanity is restored in the Kingdom of Heaven, all things will also be restored.

Dear Father, I understand verse 23 to mean that we are the people of God in the Church, the first to receive the firstfruits from the Holy Spirit. The firstfruits are the presence of God the Holy Spirit in our physical bodies, the fullness of the holy spirit, the power of God, in our spirits, and our being resurrected before the other people of God. However, we still have to endure pain in this life. Therefore, we long for and await the day when Christ comes so that our physical bodies can be transformed or resurrected into glorious, immortal bodies, and we can officially become adopted children of God.

Dear Father, I understand verses 24 and 25 to mean that we have been saved from sin, from the punishment of sin, from eternal death, and into holiness and eternal life. But now, while we still live in these corruptible bodies, we do not yet see the glorious new body that God has prepared for us. Therefore, we live in hope. By faith, we patiently wait for that day of blessing to come.

Dear Father, I thank You for giving me the hope of that blessed day. I thank You for keeping me blameless and ready for that day. I entrust everything to Your kind and loving arms, Father. May that day come soon. Amen!

In the grace of Jesus Christ, my Lord.

Timothy Christian Huynh
03/25/2023