“And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.” (Romans 8:23)
Right in the middle of Romans chapter 8, Paul writes about the coming glory of the new heaven and the new earth. But he doesn’t describe it as others have. He writes it from the perspective of those who are waiting for it and will benefit from it, the whole of creation and the saints. He begins verse 23 in the middle of a thought, leaving us to wonder, who are “they?” They in verse 22 is creation. All have that anticipation that something is coming. Yes, even the unbeliever feels that anticipation that something is coming without knowing anything about the work and the Word of God.
Paul explicitly writes, we also, who have the firstfuits of the Spirit feel that anticipation. It’s the understanding that after Jesus is revealed in glory with the saints, that many will believe after the rapture of the saints, be it pre-tribulation, mid-tribulation or post tribulation since there are differing opinions on that topic. The firstfuits of the Spirit seem to be those who believe now and have the Holy Spirit, before Jesus comes in glory. James wrote: “Of His own will begat He us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.” (James 1:18) Notice the term, “that we should be a kind” of firstfruits of His creatures. That indicates that there are other firstfruits of His creatures. In Revelation 14:4 we see another “kind” or part of the firstfruits of His creatures. “These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.” (Revelation 14:4) This begs the question. When were these virgin men saved? Evidently, they are saved before the rapture. They are Jewish virgin men, handpicked by the Lord, sealed and protected for a mission to those in the tribulation. (Revelation 7:3; chapter 14)
Many are confused about the rapture and the coming of Jesus in glory. In the rapture, Jesus comes for His believers, but He doesn’t come to earth. The saints, both those who have died and those who are living are changed and meet Him in the sky. That is the rapture. (1 Corinthians 15:51-53) When He comes in glory, He comes to earth with all the saints who are revealed in glory with Him, including the 144,000. (Revelation 14:1) And Jesus sets His feet on earth, Mount Sion to be exact.
We have the Holy Spirit indwelling, teaching and leading us. We have communion with the Holy Spirit and know in our spirits that Jesus is coming soon for us. Even if we measure soon in earthly terms, even if it takes decades, we feel the anticipation that the Spirit feels for the time when the Will of God and God’s plan for His creation is fulfilled. It is soon, but soon in God’s realm is different from soon on the earth. “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” (2Peter 3:8) But in the spirit, we feel it soon as did the apostles and all the saints throughout the centuries.
This anticipation is expressed in groans as Paul describes it. This groaning is a yearning and a desire for God’s Will to be fulfilled in our bodies. On earth our bodies are burdened with the decay of this earth. It is felt and is evident as we get older. Our bodies yearn to be free as does also all of creation. Paul mentions the redemption of our bodies. It is true that our bodies have not been saved. Our spirit is reborn of God and eternal, but our bodies will be buried and rot or cremated. But there is a redemption of our bodies. Job prophesied that he would see God in his flesh. “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:” (Job 19:25-26) Paul in writing to the Philippians also tells of the redemption of our bodies. “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself.” (Philippians 3:20-21) And in writing to the Corinthians, Paul writes that whether we are in the grave or living, our bodies will be changed to meet Jesus in the sky. (1Corinthians 15:51-53)
These Scriptures, all assure us that what we are feeling is God’s Will to be fulfilled in us. It’s the anticipation of the joy that our God will feel when we are united with Him for eternity. “...and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.” (Isaiah 62:5)
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