A Study of The Book of Romans

From Pastor Randy Johnson

Lesson 52 Chapter 8:16 – 19

1. Verse 16 “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:”
1. The Spirit here is the Holy Spirit – The word “beareth” means - to testify jointly – or to give evidence too.
2. This retains to the “Spirit of adoption” in verse 15.
3. “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit…” – That is gives evidence to our spirit that we are the adopted of God, or “that we are the children of God:” – Child means son or daughter. Galatians 4:7 “Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”
2. Verse 17 “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”
1. “And if children…” - If adopted into his family.
2. “…then heirs; heirs of God…” – The word heir means - a sharer by lot – Not given at death but rather a family share. God will never die therefore He will share His kingdom with us, as He will with Christ.
3. “…and joint-heirs with Christ…” – Romans 8:29 “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Firstborn as in Christ was of the seed of God to be born naturally, He was born perfect and because of his sacrifice for us we are like Him. Still not perfect but in Him we are. More on this when we get here.
4. Jesus Christ is the heir of all things Hebrews 1:2 “Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;” – and we are joint heirs with Him.
5. “…if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” – The suffering is a promise Philippians 1:29 “For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;” – if we are saved and doing Christ’s work, we will suffer. – but the promise is - “…if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”
6. John 12:24 - 26 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. (25.) He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. (26.) If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.”
3. Verse 18 “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.”
1. The word “reckon” means - to take an inventory, conclude, or reason – are not compared with what waits for me in glory that is yet to be seen.
2. Paul also said Philippians 3:13 “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,”
3. 2 Corinthians 4:17 “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;”
4. The richest of the rich have nothing compared to what we will have in Glory. Our greatest thought of it is just a grain of sand compared to it’s reality.
4. Verse 19 “For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.”
1. “For the earnest expectation…” - earnest expectation means – a sense of watching with an intense anticipation – that is of what is to come.
2. “…the earnest expectation of the creature…” – The word “creature” here has caused much controversy among many bible commentaries and while most differ somewhat on who those considered “the creature” are;

a. A. H. Strongs defines it – formation or creation – or creating something like a building - Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words defines it – as the product of the "creative" act.

b. This we know – in context with the verses following it cannot refer to the entire human creation, because God talks about deliverance of the “creature” verse 21 - This would also exclude the non-human creation that some have suggested. – I believe in context it refers to each individual born again “creature” that Gods has created in Christ Jesus “…waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.” Which is the rapture and the joining of our souls and spirits with our new bodies because of verse 23 “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.”

3. “…waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.” – The word “manifestation” means – disclosure, appearing, or coming – This could and most likely does read “Each individual born again “creature” waits for the “manifestation” (or the appearing) of all the creatures or the elect with their new bodies making us all look like Christ Jesus and salvation and adoption is complete.” We will fill heaven as “the sons of God”