Romans 8:18-19 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. For the earnest expectation of the creature waits for the manifestation of the sons of God.
‘Sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us’ no suffering can compare with the eternal glory (1Cor. 2:9; 2Cor. 4:17). Eight facts about Christian suffering is given: Suffering is not strange or unusual for Christians (1Pet. 4:12; 2Tim. 3:12). One should rejoice when a partaker of the sufferings of Christ (1Pet. 4:13; Matt. 5:10). The greater the suffering the greater the joy and glory (8:17-18; 1Pet. 4:13). Besides the greater glory to come, the Christian has the Holy Spirit upon him now to enable him to endure (8:26-27; 1Pet. 4:14;). Christian sufferings glorify God (8:17-18; 1Pet. 4:14). It is an honour, not a shame, to suffer as a Christian (1Pet. 4:16). Though sufferings begin with Christians, they end in an eternal weight of damnation to the ungodly (1Pet. 4:17-18). Sufferings should be borne by Christians, in patience as in the will of God, realizing that God is always faithful to His own in their sufferings (1Pet. 4:19; 1Cor. 10:13).
‘Earnest expectation’ [Greek: apokaradokia] anxious-looking with an outstretched body (Php. 3:20).
‘Creature’ [Greek: ktisis] Creation (Mark 10:6; 13:19; Rom. 1:20; 8:22; 2Pet. 3:4; Rev. 3:14), creature (Mark 16:15; Rom. 1:25; 8:19-21, 39; 2Cor. 5:17; Gal. 6:15; Col. 1:15, 23; Heb. 4:13); building (Heb. 9:11); and ordinance (1Pet. 2:13). Here it refers to the whole creation waiting for the removal of the curse.
‘Waits for’ [Greek: apekdechomai] wait for (8:19, 23, 25; 1Cor. 1:7; Gal. 5:5) and look for (Php. 3:20; Heb. 9:28; 1Pet. 3:20). ‘The manifestation of the sons of God.’ When the sons of God will be manifested before all as joint-heirs of Christ God will also restore nature in all its glory with no effect of the curse on it.
Living the Word 