Why Is "All Creation Groaning"?
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The apostle Paul is the author of the letter to the Romans that is part of the New Testament. Paul had not yet visited Rome to preach and evangelize, but the church there was growing, and he expressed his desire to travel there (see Romans 1:11). It is in this letter Paul wrote that all creation is groaning in anticipation.
“For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 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 freedom and glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies” (Romans 8:19-23, emphasis added).
In this letter to the Romans, Paul gave a very full description of the Gospel, more so than any of the other letters he wrote. Paul alluded to something very significant in this passage – creation is groaning. Believers are groaning inwardly. Creation is in bondage, just as humanity feels the weight of sinfulness, death, and destruction. All creation groans, along with all of humanity, because of sin and death, and in longing for full redemption through Christ Jesus when he returns. Surely, the day will come when there will be a new heaven and a new earth.
What Does It Mean That “All Creation Is Groaning”?
This is a powerful passage, and perhaps when reading it, you can relate to the anticipation and longing of a new heaven and new earth. Perhaps you desire the promise of freedom from bondage and sin that Paul wrote about. Original sin, the result of Adam and Eve’s disobedience in the garden, impacted humanity and all of creation, as well. It is understood that natural disasters and the broken condition of our earth are consequences of original sin. As a result, Scripture makes clear that we are anxiously waiting for Jesus’ return. The Apostle Peter wrote similarly about the promise of something new and glorious.
“But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13).
Human beings anticipate when all suffering and sin will end, and creation, too, figuratively groans for its full redemption. We innately long for that day when there will be no more sin, pain, or destruction. Humanity and creation groan together eagerly for redemption through Christ. It began with Jesus’ work on the cross and will continue when He returns again.
What Is the Context of Romans 8?
In this letter, Paul was writing to the church in Rome, which was growing and thriving. Paul had not yet visited this church and had hoped and planned that he would soon travel there. In this chapter of the letter to the Romans, Paul was explaining that believers have freedom from death through Jesus Christ. Followers of Christ have been set free by the Spirit and are no longer condemned. Victory over death can be obtained because of freedom in Christ. As Paul wrote about the atoning work of Jesus on the cross, he also acknowledged that believers will share in Jesus’ sufferings, as well.
“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” (Romans 8:17).
This key verse in chapter 8 is when Paul transitions into this discourse about all creation groaning, and all humanity groaning in anticipation, as well. The groaning has to do with the reality of suffering, sinfulness, and destruction in the world around us.
As Paul finished this chapter, he offered great encouragement to the church of Rome. Even though we face troubles and suffering here in this lifetime, we are not condemned and have hope in Jesus. We have a God who loves us and is interceding for us (see verse 34).
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).
Lastly, Paul wrote that Christians can have peace and hope knowing with confidence that nothing will ever separate them from the love of God in Jesus Christ.
What Is Creation Waiting For?
Creation is waiting for the future glory of a new heaven and new earth after Jesus returns. While we wait, creation shows signs of its need for redemption: natural disasters, the destruction of rainforests, the extinction of species, and the depletion of resources. We find in Genesis similar sentiments about the suffering of creation because of sin.
“Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you” (Genesis 1:17-18).
The ground is cursed and bears the weight of the consequence of sin. What Paul was conveying is that even creation has experienced the consequences of sin and death and therefore, awaits the future glory.
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Romans 8:17).
The glory, indeed, that Paul wrote about is that of a new heaven and new earth. That all the old will pass away, our bodies will be made new, and there will be a new heaven and new earth free of suffering and pain. The promise and hope we have in what awaits God’s followers is incredible and unlike anything else we could ever dream up or imagine!
Is All Creation – Including Us – Still Awaiting This?
Though Jesus came, died on the cross, and rose again – bringing about salvation and the forgiveness of sins – we still wait for the coming glory. What Paul captured in this passage is that as we wait – both humanity and creation – we groan for what we were made for. We were not made for the sinful, chaotic world that we live in now. This is a result of the original sin. Another letter, written by Titus, affirms the idea of waiting for full redemption in Jesus’ return.
“While we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).
When Jesus returns, all this will pass away, and the full glory of the Lord will come. This is a beautiful promise to believers that what we wait for in Jesus will not compare to our present suffering and hardships.
Paul wrote that all of creation groans. This groaning has to do with the fallen state of humanity and creation, which is in need of full redemption upon Christ’s return. Creation’s groaning makes sense when we see natural disasters, water shortages, and other scary things going on in the world around us. Yet we do not need to be fearful. Paul did not leave believers with a message of gloom and doom. Rather, we can find encouragement in this chapter as Scripture teaches that the suffering in this world will not compare to the glory that awaits creation and followers of Jesus.
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