Romans 8: 12-25
So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh--
Paul never gets back to what we are under obligation to, only that it is not to be worldly.
for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die;
All flesh will die. All of our bodies are subject to the death we've earned by our sin. And if we live our lives only in view of this World, then we have no hope of anything else, we may even die sooner.
but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body you will live.
Even our present lives will be healthier and we will live longer if we cooperate with the ways God designed this Earth to operate, by forsaking all the sinful ways that are detrimental to our health and relationships, by looking beyond this life to the next.
For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
Only those who have been "born" spiritually by God placing His Spirit inside our human spirit can be led by that Spirit, and are children of God Himself.
For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a Spirit of Adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba, Father!"
This is the reason why God made us. He wants us to live with Him as His family. This is the goal of God sending His Son to cleanse us and send His Spirit to live in us, by which we cry, "Da-da!" "Daddy!" This is the first word out of a little child's mouth!
The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God,
God's Spirit and our spirit are the two witnesses that are required to establish a fact (Deuteronomy 17: 6).
and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ,
So if we are legitimate children, born into God's family, then we will also be His heirs when we reach the "age of majority." This is already fact, we will inherit everything Christ Jesus receives from the Father: all things have been put into His hands.
if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.
This suffering is linked with His glory, so I think it may have a reference to dying in execution with Him on the Cross, as well as the trials and tribulations we face in living a Christian life. Since we died with Him, we also will be glorified in Him.
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
No matter what we will face in this "vale of tears," no matter how hard it is, or how tragic it is, or how painful it is, there is no comparison with all the glory God is preparing for us, and not just for us, but actually in us. This is incredible!
For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.
Even the Universe is looking forward to our resurrection!
For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly but because of Him who subjected it,
The whole Universe was cursed with the curse God placed "on the ground" for Adam's sake because of his sin (Genesis 3: 17). The Earth resides in our Solar System, in the neighborhood of the Milky Way, in the "city" of the Universe. So since it's all connected, it all had to be cursed. This is the Second Law of Thermodynamics, called Entropy, things winding down and wearing out, going from order into chaos, and finally death.
in hope
that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
When the curse is removed, then the Universe won't have to wind down any more, it will be free to do what it does in perfect order. We are the key to that happening.
For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.
We can look around and see all the geological upheavals and stormy weather and earthquakes and lightening fires and tsunamis and all the other writhing of our old Earth, going through the "birth pangs" of getting through this curse.
And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.
We are still in our frail bodies, even though we have God's Spirit living in our spirit, as the down payment, the earnest, the first fruits of the whole harvest that we will experience at our "graduation," our "ceremony" pronouncing that we are adults, ready to take on the responsibilities of our inheritance. This is our adoption, a Roman legal term.
For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees?
But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.
Our hope is not a worldly wish, but a Divine certainty that we haven't experienced yet. But we know it's coming, so we persevere patiently, eagerly looking forward to that Day.
O my Father, everything You do is with purpose, and You do nothing without purpose. This curse You put on this Universe is serving a purpose of showing us that You are Creator, and that the Universe couldn't make itself. It shows Your glory and magnificence, and You've put Your beauty into every part of it.
Father, Your Love put order into the chaos, and it is Your curse upon it that causes it to wind down back into the chaos again.
And it is Your Love that is the "outside force" that redeems what You have made out of the curse of death and into the glorious state of being You originally planned.
And You will only remove those shackles from the planets and stars and constellations of this Universe when You release Your children from the flesh bodies we inhabit now, into the glorious spirit bodies You originally intended for us to have (that Paul wrote about in I Corinthians 15: 35-50).
O Father, Your Grand Plan for all creation is unfolding through the Ages for all to see. As it appears from our perspective, the whole Earth could be spinning "out of control!" But You have it on Your "string," and You only need to "flick Your finger" to bring it all right back to You, like a yo-yo.
And all things are connected, and all work together in the same Story, the same Tapestry of Time, the same Plan that You planned before You even began.
And it all is for the benefit of Your family! You are amazing, Daddy. You are a wonderful Parent, who cares for Your children more than we can imagine!
Your Love is beyond all comprehension, because You are Love (I John 4: 8). Everything You do comes from Your Love. And You don't want what You made to be locked up in the prison of death and decay, so You will release it all one Day!
And Your glory will shine forth for all to see and enjoy and rejoice in You!
O how I long for that Day, Father. Please send us out to find all Your sheep who are still wandering or stuck somewhere or caught in a trap, to release them and bring them, by the hand or kicking and screaming, into the peace and security of Your One Fold with One Shepherd.
Fill Your house with the uncountable number of Your children, Your sons and daughters, Your kings and queens, to feast with You at Your great Banquet Table!
And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, and every tongue will proclaim that Jesus is our Christ, our Lord God Almighty, to the eternal glory of Almight God the Father, for ever and ever. Amen.
Even so, come swiftly, Lord Jesus!
