Romans 8:23

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Summary

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.

Which have

Even we

Waiting

1 John 3:2

The redemption

Luke 21:28

Ephesians 1:14

Ephesians 4:30

General references

1 Corinthians 15:13

Bible References

Which have

You have not for the second time acquired the consciousness of being--a consciousness which fills you with terror. But you have acquired a deep inward conviction of having been adopted as sons--a conviction which prompts us to cry aloud, "Abba! our Father!"

and that this hope never disappoints, because God's love for us floods our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

And He who formed us with this very end in view is God, who has given us His Spirit as a pledge and foretaste of that bliss.

The Spirit, on the other hand, brings a harvest of love, joy, peace; patience towards others, kindness, benevolence;

that Spirit being a pledge and foretaste of our inheritance, in anticipation of its full redemption--the inheritance which He has purchased to be specially His for the extolling of His glory.

Live and act as sons of Light--for the effect of the Light is seen in every kind of goodness, uprightness and truth--

Even we

In the same way the Spirit also helps us in our weakness; for we do not know what prayers to offer nor in what way to offer them. But the Spirit Himself pleads for us in yearnings that can find no words,

(Unhappy man that I am! who will rescue me from this death-burdened body?

For in this one we sigh, because we long to put on over it our dwelling which comes from Heaven--

For even after our arrival in Macedonia we could get no relief such as human nature craves. We were greatly harassed; there were conflicts without and fears within.

For, with me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

The sorrow comes in order that the testing of your faith--being more precious than that of gold, which perishes and yet is proved by fire--may be found to result in praise and glory and honour at the re-appearing of Jesus Christ.

Waiting

For all creation, gazing eagerly as if with outstretched neck, is waiting and longing to see the manifestation of the sons of God.

For indeed they cannot die again; they are like angels, and are sons of God through being sons of the Resurrection.

We, however, are free citizens of Heaven, and we are waiting with longing expectation for the coming from Heaven of a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ,

From this time onward there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but also to all who love the thought of His Appearing.

in expectation of the fulfilment of our blessed hope--the Appearing in glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ;

so the Christ also, having been once offered in sacrifice in order that He might bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, separated from sin, to those who are eagerly expecting Him, to make their salvation complete.

Dear friends, we are now God's children, but what we are to be in the future has not yet been fully revealed. We know that if Christ reappears we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is.

The redemption

But when all this is beginning to take place, grieve no longer. Lift up your heads, because your deliverance is drawing near."

that Spirit being a pledge and foretaste of our inheritance, in anticipation of its full redemption--the inheritance which He has purchased to be specially His for the extolling of His glory.

And beware of grieving the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you have been sealed in preparation for the day of Redemption.

General references

If there is no such thing as a resurrection of the dead, then Christ Himself has not risen to life.