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Answer
If you have ever desired to be liberated from your earthly body to be free from sin and the physical suffering associated with it, then you understand a part of what Paul meant when he stated, “All creation groans” in Romans 8:22.
To gain a better comprehension of the concept of all creation groans, it is beneficial to examine the context. In Romans 8, the apostle Paul is instructing believers that their new life in Jesus Christ is firmly based on God’s promises and plans for His children. The initial promise Paul addresses is that of future glory: “I consider our present sufferings insignificant compared to the glory that will soon be revealed to us” «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. », (Romans 8:18, GW).
We may endure hardships during our journey on earth, but Paul reminds us that this world is not our permanent residence (1 Peter 2:11;Hebrews 11:13). A magnificent future kingdom awaits us where death is conquered, and tears of sadness, pain, and sorrow will be eliminated «And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. », (Revelation 21:4). By firmly grasping this promise from God, we can start to perceive our current tribulations as light and momentary compared to the much greater eternal weight of glory «For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; », (2 Corinthians
In Romans 8:19, Paul states that all creation eagerly awaits the future glorious day when God’s children fulfill their true purpose. J. B. Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English interprets verse 19 as follows: “The whole creation is on edge to witness the magnificent sight of the sons of God stepping into their destiny.”
Due to the fall of man, every aspect of God’s creation was placed under a curse “For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope”, (Romans 8:20). As a result of this curse, all creation groans: the land was cursed because of Adam, thorns and thistles began to grow, women have experienced painful childbirth, and death came into the world (Genesis 3:14-19).
In Romans 8:21, Paul clarifies that the entire universe, under the curse, eagerly anticipates the day when it will be set free along with God’s children from death and decay. Paul refers to the new heavens and new earth where “there will be no more curse” “No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him”, (Revelation 22:3). The curse of sin will be removed, and all creation will be renewed to reflect God’s glory as in Eden (Isaiah 65:17; Isaiah 66:22; 2 Peter 3:13). “‘There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away”, (Revelation 21:4).
Things are passed away.” (Revelation 21:4).
Right now, the entire creation reflects the curse of sin. All creation “groans”; that is, all created things suffer a common misery, being in a state of pain and disorder. The “groaning” is intense, as Paul’s simile shows: “as in the pains of childbirth.” When sin is finally removed from the children of God, all of nature will burst forth in glory. The full work of redemption includes the reversal of the curse.
As part of creation, we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory. We long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as His adopted children, including the new bodies He has promised us. (Romans 8:23, NLT).
God promises a magnificent future for the believer, complete with a brand-new, glorified body. At present, we only have a taste of our glorious future through the presence of the Holy Spirit within us. He is the down payment, or deposit, guaranteeing our full adoption as God’s children and the release of our bodies from sin and suffering (2 Corinthians 1:22; 2 Corinthians 5:5; Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30).
In the meantime, all creation groans—believers, along with the rest of the fallen universe, travail as a woman in childbirth, longing to be clothed in their heavenly bodies. “For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven.”
, (2 Corinthians 5:2). Significantly, the pain of childbirth is not endured without the hope of new life. Paul, knowing that hope transforms suffering, gave believers this inspiring metaphor. Just as a woman labors through the agony of birth pangs with the hope of new life, all creation groans as it waits for the promise of full and final restoration and redemption. We may suffer now, but our heavenly reward is worth the wait.
