Romans 8:12-25.                     The groaning of life!!                                      17/7/11

 (12)  Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation--but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. {13} For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, {14} because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. {15} For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." {16} The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. {17} Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. {18} I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. {19} The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. {20} For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope {21} that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. {22} We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. {23} Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. {24} For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? {25} But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

 Our reading here this morning speaks of the frustration and groaning of life. This we are told here is something that extends right across the whole of creation. Now we need little reminding that this is the case: we see it constantly as we go about life each and every day: we ourselves experience it all along the way. We enter life with pain and we leave it with pain, and in between it is constantly there to a greater or lesser degree. This groaning too extends to all creatures, as we see when we look around us. Not just as we look to the tsunamis and other great disasters, but right down to the droughts and environmental degradations. All are frustrated because something has gone horribly wrong. We long to have it all go well for us, but it doesn’t.

 It is there, isn’t it? Both the frustration and groaning, as well as the longing, are there as we seek to have a better life. It is not just the poor and sick that experience this: It is there in each and every one of us, as well as in all creation. Some time ago I listened to the show on TV which dealt with the fact that even the millionaires, that seem to have it all, experienced this same frustration. Even for the positive, go-getters as well as the ‘super-Christians’ in life, if they are honest with themselves will admit that this is the case.

 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.

 Here we have a very deep and profound statement that helps us to understand this frustration. To assist us in understanding this we need to remember that in the beginning all things were created perfect and designed in such a way that everything worked together and was effective in every way, for the good of mankind. All of creation was dependent on humanity, and for the good of humanity; and in the beginning all worked effectively together.

 However, with the fall of Adam into sin: through the selfishness of humanity and its desire to go against God’s will and do its own things, humanity has now failed to be and do what it was intended for, and that has also effected all of creation as well. None of it, now works together effectively, and is continually frustrated because it does not do and achieve what it was designed to. All kinds of things that are a part of creation and for our good now become part of the curse of mankind. That which is intended for good is now turned and used for destructive and evil purposes. The result is continued frustration and groaning.

 However it is here that we are reminded that this frustration is now a part of God’s will for our lives and for creation itself. He does not simply allow us to enjoy the fruits of our evil intent, but to be frustrated by it all. Frustrated to the point where we look for something more; something better: In the hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay. And oh how we long for this freedom. If only things could be better. If only there was no more sickness, tragedies and death. If only we could be free from these things. If only we could have heaven on earth. However because of the sinfulness of humanity this will never be.

 Yet it is here at this point that we remember that God himself has provided a way out for us. Despite the fact that we want to ignore God and what he has to say to us, and as a result he should send us to Hell for all eternity, instead he sends Jesus into our world to take the punishment that we deserve on himself, by dying on the cross. Thereby forgiveness of sins is made possible for all. In his resurrection three days later he assures us that he truly is God come to us to provide a way our for us; and that just as he was raised from the dead so also will all those who are connected to him.

 So through baptism we are connected to our great God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. There he washes us clean from our sin and accepts us as his very own sons and daughters and gives us his Spirit so that we can grow into this faith that has now been given to us. As we continue to live and grow in this faith, we are continually strengthened and encouraged through Jesus’ body and blood which he shed on the cross for us, so that in the midst of a sinful, frustrated world, we can keep our focus on that which has made it possible for us to be finally liberated from this bondage to decay. We can have hope now in the midst of a frustrated and hopeless world.

 Now that there is this sure hope of freedom from this bondage to decay; and that all will not end in disaster, we can have hope. As we look to Jesus we now know that what we see and experience around us is not the end of the story. Many of our frustration and hurts are still there; but now our groaning are as the pains of childbirth: they are hurts that now focus us on the sure hope of something far better ahead. We ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

 Now through God’s Word and the Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion God’s Spirit is at work testifying with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ. So now even though life is still not what it should be; and in reality will never be this side of eternity, we go forward with confidence and hope. Yes we will still share in his sufferings but we now have that sure promise that we will also share in his glory.

It is in this hope that we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

 This we readily see in life all the time. When everything goes well for us we do not look to the important things in life: we do not long to be with God in heaven. We are quite happy here on earth, thank you very much. However when the frustrations and groans are there; then we hope for that which we really need: The greater the groaning, the greater the yearning for that which we have been assured is ours. Because of Christ and his death and resurrection we can now consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

 Therefore, we have an obligation--but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father."

 So now in the midst of the frustrations and groaning of life we can know that all is not lost. Instead we can seek to live and be people who are God’s children doing that which is right and good. Yes we will continue to struggle and decay in this world and in our own lives, but we will continue to look forward in hope. With our eyes focussed on Jesus and his death on the cross and his resurrection, we will be able to go forward with confidence and certainty: Patiently taking each day as it comes, knowing that God is using us for a greater good and that he has this eternal inheritance for us. So he now is our hope and our salvation; to him be all glory and honour, now and always. AMEN.

 Pastor Roger Atze

Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish