Section 16

liberated. The creation is eagerly expecting and anxiously watching for this kingdom to come. Thus, "the whole creation groans together and travails in pain together until now" (v. 22). The universe is groaning and travailing in birth awaiting the revelation of the sons of God. Fur thermore, we ourselves, "having the firstfruit of the Spirit," also groan as we expect sonship, the redemption of our body (v. 23).

In verse 24 Paul says that "we have been saved in hope; but hope that is seen is not hope; for what anyone sees, why does he also hope?" The hope mentioned in this verse is the hope of glory. Since none of us has ever seen this hope, it is a hope complete and genuine. Some hope is partial because we have seen a certain percent age of it. However, the hope of glory is a whole hope, for we have not seen any part of it. Hence, we are waiting for that hope; "we eagerly expect it through endurance" (v. 25).

The Sharing of God's Glory

Romans 5:2 says, that we "boast in hope of the glory of God," and 9:23 says that we are "vessels of mercy, which He had before prepared unto glory." This glory will be in the revelation of the coming kingdom in which we, as revealed sons

of God, shall participate. God has called us into this glory (1 Thes. 2:12; 2 Thes. 2:14; 1 Pet. 5:10). Christ Himself is the hope of this glory (Col. 1:27) which we are expecting and for which we are waiting. Our hope is none other than Christ Himself who will be revealed as our glory. We now boast and rejoice in this hope of glory. We shall share this glory at the day of our glori fication. When Christ appears, we shall appear with Him in glory (Col. 3:4). This is our destiny.

Today we are growing in life and being con formed into the image of His Son. When we are matured we shall be glorified and share God's glory.

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