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Bible Question: Romans
8:22. How does the whole creation groan? Does it literally groan?
Romans 8:23 What is meant by "we are the first fruits of the
Spirit"?
Bible Answer: Both
Romans 8:22 and Romans 8:23 talk about groaning. But
why do they groan? The answer is found in the verses which come before
them. In Romans 8:18-21 we are told that the creation was subjected
to futility and that it waits to be freed from corruption. The creation
includes the earth, stars, planets, plants, animals, and human beings.
It is not as beautiful or as productive as it was originally designed.
Because of Adam's sin, the creation was cursed. Here is God's message
to Adam,
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Then
to Adam He said, “Because you have listened to the
voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which
I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat from it’;
cursed is the ground because of you;in toil you will eat
of it all the days of your life. (NASB) Gen. 3:17 |
The
entire creation became subjected to sin along with Adam and Eve,
and as a result, it is not as beautiful as it was before Adam sinned.
The ground is not as productive as it could be. The
entire creation was changed in ways we do not completely understand.
Romans
8:22. Both Romans 8:19 and 22 tell us that the creation
has been groaning and suffering as it waits to see the saints - those who
believe in Jesus.
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For
we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains
of childbirth together until now. (NASB) Rom. 8:22 |
Dr.
J. Vernon McGee has this to say about the creation's groaning,
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Some
have called our attention to the fact that nature sings in
minor key. The wind blowing through the pine trees on a mountainside
and the breaking of the surf on some lonely shore - both
emit the same sob. The music of trees has been recorded,
and it is doleful. The startled cry of some frightened animal
or bird pierces the night air and chills the blood. Surely
nature bears audible testimony to the accuracy of Scripture. |
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J.
V. McGee. Thru The Bible. Nelson Publishing. vol. IV, p.
703. |
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