All Creation Is Eagerly Waiting For Glory

All of creation is awaiting and anticipating this coming glory.

a. “The earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits”: Paul considers that creation itself is eagerly awaiting the revealing of the sons of God. This is because the creation was subjected to futility on account of man’s sin, and will benefit from the ultimate redemption of men.   

• Isaiah 11:6-9 describes this redemption of creation in that day: The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole, and the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper’s den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.

b. “Him who subjected it in hope”: Only God could subject creation in hope. This was not ultimately the work of either man or Satan.

c. “The glorious liberty of the children of God”: This benefits not only the children of God themselves but also all of creation. Until that day, creation groans and labors with birth pangs.

d. “The revealing of the sons of God”: Certain groups with a “super-Christian” mentality take the idea of the revealing of the sons of God to say that all creation is waiting for their particular group of super-spiritual Christians to be revealed in an incredibly powerful fashion. This is a purely egotistical fantasy.

e. “The whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now”: “Creation is not undergoing death pangs… but birth pangs.” (Leon Morris)

Based on the Enduring Word Bible Commentary by David Guzik