Relative to the whole question of our place in the grand scheme of things, and central to both Herbert Armstrong's and Scout's musings on the topic, the eighth chapter of Paul's epistle to the believers in Rome is almost universally recognized as relevant or essential for Christians who contemplate the answer to it. In his magnum opus, The Incredible Human Potential, Armstrong had this to say about what Paul had written: Now understand please. Why should the whole universe -the creation - be waiting with eager longing for the actual birth and appearing of all these Sons of God, to be born into the Family of God? The following verses portray a universe filled with planets in decay and futility - yet as if subjected now to this dead state in hope! "Because the creation itself [the universe not now capable of sustaining life] will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the glorious liberty of the children of God."
Likewise, in his post, Riders on the Earth, Scout offered his own assessment of Paul's statement: This is one of my favorite scriptures and I admit that in the past I viewed it through the lens of HWA’s Unfinished Furniture model. HWA’s model has Trekkie value. The final frontier. Now I believe that this may mean something quite different from that view. What is implied by this statement is that the Creation that we know now, is in bondage to corruption. And this bondage is going to be abrogated by a time of liberty in the future. But what is that bondage to corruption? Is it the natural entropic tendency of the universe? If the organization of the universe breaks down, it becomes just stuff. Is our destiny to become cosmic custodians who wage war everyday against the insinuating randomness that is growing in the physical universe?
First, in the previous post, we have already established that Paul was most assuredly NOT talking about decaying/lifeless planets in his remarks to the saints of Rome (that notion would have been alien to both the apostle and his audience). So, what does the passage of Scripture mean? Let's take a closer look at this passage from Paul's letter to the Romans.
Paul had been discussing how Christ has freed us from the written commandments of Torah, and the sins which had resulted from the human failure to fulfill it and replaced it with the new way of the Spirit (Romans 7:1-6). He then proceeded to explain to the Christians at Rome that their failure was rooted in their own natures, and that Christ had made it possible for them to have a new nature (Romans 7:7-25). Continuing, in the next chapter, Paul explained how the Spirit helped them to live in harmony with what God wanted for them - righteousness with eternal life (Romans 8:1-11). He went on to say that the presence of that Spirit within them made them God's children and fellow heirs of God's promises with the glorified Christ (Romans 8:12-17)! This is the context of what preceded the passage in which Herbert was so interested.
Continuing, we read: For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. (Romans 8:18-25, ESV).
The Greek word here translated into English as "revealed" is apokalypto, which means to uncover what was previously hidden, to disclose, to make known, to manifest that which had previously not been apparent. Likewise, the Greek word here translated into English as "revealing" (and in the King James Version as "manifestation") is apokalypsis - a different form of the same root word! Also, we should note that instead of "revealed to us," the King James translates this passage as "revealed in us." Hence, according to Paul, whatever this manifestation or revealing was, it was intimately related to something that was going to happen to all of them (Christians) in the future.
The other word that stands out in this passage as critical is the word "creation." Interestingly, the original Greek word is ktisis. In terms of the Greek New Testament, this word is translated into English eleven times as "creature" and six times as "creation." Obviously then, the word refers to that which was created by God. In this sense, the word could refer to the Roman Christians, humanity as a whole, or everything that God had created (the world, the spiritual realm, the universe). Moreover, in the King James Version, the word is translated into English as "creature." Indeed, the same passage in that version reads: "For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God." By the way, the original Greek word translated into English as "futility" and "vanity" suggests that which is devoid of truth, depravity, perverseness, and frailty (see mataiotes).
Hence, when we consider the context of these remarks, we are forced to conclude that Paul was writing about the fallen state of man and how that state had impacted the world which God had created for us. That Paul was thinking in terms of humankind and earth - all things which are subject to being corrupted, destroyed, or perishing becomes very clear within the context of the remarks which surround the targeted passage. In other words, what Christ had done for them (and all Christians) had made the renewal of all things possible!
In this connection, we should also consider what follows. Paul wrote: "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how we should pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes on behalf of the saints according to God’s will. And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose, because those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified." (Romans 8:26-30, NET) Notice, that Paul returned to his theme about the Spirit working on our behalf - to remake us in Christ's image.
This, of course, was followed by one of the most inspirational and hopeful passages in all of Scripture: We read: "What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us. Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:31-39, NLT)
Thus, we must conclude that Paul was speaking of Christ's redemption of his people. He was explaining to the saints at Rome that Christ's work would result in the healing of humanity and the world which they inhabited - that their salvation would accrue to the benefit of all! In short, Paul was certainly NOT thinking or talking about lifeless planets, solar systems, or galaxies. And, while we can all imagine how our salvation might also impact the Cosmos someday, Paul was clearly NOT addressing that in his remarks to the Romans. Instead, Paul was focused on what Christ's salvation meant to his audience - both then and in the future. God's Spirit would make life better for them in the present and in the future and would eventually heal everything which they had perverted and twisted. Unfortunately, for some folks this simply isn't glorious enough - they want more. Not content with what Christ has done for them; they turn greedy eyes to the night sky and imagine themselves terraforming planets!
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