Romans 8 – Page 2 – Ministry of Grace Church

Category: Romans 8

Romans 8:29 – Who Chose Whom?

Posted on April 20, 2018 by Will

Because whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers.

Truth to Learn

God chose us to be Christ-like before He created anything.

Behind the Words

The word “foreknew” is the Greek word proginōskō, which is a compound word made up of pro, meaning “before, in place or time” and ginōskō, meaning “to know in a completed sense, that is, to have full knowledge of.”

This word translated “predestined” is the Greek word, prooridzō, which is made up of pro, meaning “before, in place or time” and horidzo, meaning “to mark out, appoint, or determine.” Thus we see that prooridzō means “to predetermine” or “to decree beforehand.”

Meaning Explained

Entire chapters of theological books have been written on the subject matter of this verse, but I will attempt to give the meat of the meaning as clearly and concisely as I can. The controversy of this verse revolves around a single Greek word. It’s meaning and proper interpretation, though much debated, is very clear and uncontestable, and yet there are still many Bible-believing Christians who choose not to accept it. The word I’m talking about is proginōskō, translated “foreknew.” Foreknowledge means that God had full, intimate knowledge of us before we were born. In Ephesians 1:3-5 Paul tells us:

Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, for us to be holy and without blemish before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,

God’s foreknowledge and choosing of us as his adopted children actually happened before the world was created.

I have heard competent, sound, fundamental Christians say to this, “Yes, of course. God foreknew who would accept Christ as Savior and chose them.” In fact, if this were true, then it would also be true that He foreknew who would not accept Christ as Savior, and according to the current verse in Romans He would have to predestinate them to be conformed to the image of His son as well (whom He foreknew, He also predestined). Hence, everyone would be saved. But this simply isn’t true. This faulty type of reasoning speaks of God’s foresight, not His foreknowledge. Also, if God chose us based on our decision to accept Christ as Savior, then in reality we chose Him, and He had no choice in the matter. That’s a big man, little god theology, which simply isn’t true.

God’s foreknowledge and His choosing flow directly from one another. According to the current verse, as a result of His foreknowledge of us He predestined us to be like His son Jesus.

Application

It is hard for us to accept the fact that God chose us for salvation while He allowed others, as a result of their sins, to suffer in Hell for eternity. However, that’s exactly what the Bible teaches. So, instead of fighting against God (a futile activity, at best) let us praise Him for having chosen us to be conformed to the image of Christ and to be adopted as His children!

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 8:28 – Called for Goodness Sake

Posted on April 19, 2018 by Will

And we know that to the ones loving God all things work together for good, to those who are the called ones according to His purpose.

Truth to Learn

God is producing goodness in Christians because He has decided to do so.

Behind the Words

The words “all things” are from pas, meaning “all” or “every.” It is expressed here as a neuter plural noun, thus “all things.”

The Greek verb sunergeō is translated “work together.” It is made up of sun, meaning “together with” and ergō, meaning “to work.” It is expressed as a third person singular verb so it could be translated as “He (God) works all things together.”

“Good” is from agathos, meaning “good and benevolent” or “useful.” There is another Greek word translated “good.” It is the word kalos, meaning “inherently good without necessarily being benevolent” or “beauty as a harmonious completeness.” An easy way to distinguish the two is to think of kalos as specific goodness or beauty and agathos as general goodness.

The word translated “called” is from klētos, meaning “one who is called, invited, or appointed.” It is a noun, not a verb.

Meaning Explained

What does Paul mean by “all things work together for good?” The key is the word translated “good,” meaning “general goodness.” Paul is saying that even though some of the things that happen to us don’t necessarily seem very good, all things work together for our general goodness.

As we mentioned above, the verb “work together” is a singular, third-person verb. The subject for this verb is not “all things.” How do we know? The word translated “all things” is a plural subject. In Greek, as in English, the number of a verb (singular or plural) must always agree with the number of its subject, so the subject of this verb must be singular. As it turns out, the subject is not stated but simply implied. That’s why some translators render the first part of this verse as, “And we know that God works all things together for good.”

Who are those people for whom He works together all things? Paul says they are “those who love God.” Only we who have recognized our own sinfulness and need for salvation can fully appreciate the sacrifice that God made to have our sins paid for. And only we can really love God for having done it for us.

He also says it is “those who are the called ones according to His purpose.” As we noted above, the word “called” is not a passive verb, but a plural noun (as in, those who are the called ones). Those for whom God works all things together for good are those who are the called ones according to His (God’s) purpose. Paul is saying clearly that our being called to Christ and salvation is not of our own doing. It is wholly God’s doing and it is according to His purpose. We don’t know why God called us to salvation but we do know, according to Paul, that He is purposeful in calling us.

Application

When we are in the midst of trials we should be encouraged for two reasons. The first is that the Holy Spirit is our prayer partner and the second is that no matter how bad things seem, God is going to use whatever is happening to us ultimately to produce good in us, and that brings the glory back to Him.

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 8:25 – Patience and Perseverance

Posted on April 19, 2018 by Will

But if we hope for what we do not see, through patience we eagerly wait for it.

Truth to Learn

We patiently endure our trials through faith in God’s promise.

Behind the Words

The words “eagerly wait for” are translated from the Greek word apekdechomai. This is a double compound word made up of apo, meaning “from” but used here as an intensifier, ek which means “out” or “out of,” and deckomai, which means “to receive.” Hence, apokdechomai means “to eagerly or earnestly expect that something is going to be received.”

“Patience” is from hupomonē, which is made up of hupo (or hypo), meaning “under or beneath” and a form of menō, which means “to stay or to remain.” It is a picture of a beast of burden who, when loaded with a heavy burden, remains under the load. That is, he perseveres under the load with patience.

Meaning Explained

In yesterday’s verse we spoke about the word “hope” being not just an earnest desire but also the expectation that the object of the desire will come to pass. Paul said that our salvation, which in God’s record book has already taken place, is manifest to us with the full expectation that it will be consummated at the end of these last times. But he also makes another statement about this salvation in hope. It is not seen and it is not fully obtained now. If we have something that we can see and touch, then there is no hope, or expectation of it because it is already here.

Now allow me to open up the word elpis a little more. It is often translated as “hope,” but it is also frequently translated as “faith.” In the first part of the previous verse Paul said that “we are saved by (or in) faith (hope).” In Ephesians 2:8 Paul said “For by grace you are saved through faith.” It is this faith, this hope, this belief that God will do what he promised He would do at the end of the age that allows us to persevere. Faith is the instrument as well as evidence of our salvation.

We have to accept God’s promise on faith alone, because we don’t have visible, concrete proof of it right now. All we have is the promise and the seal of that promise in the form of the Holy Spirit living in us, and even He (the Holy Spirit) is unseen and untouchable for now.

In today’s verse Paul says that if we have faith (hope) in God’s promise, then we can eagerly wait for it with patience, knowing in our innermost parts that God will do for us just as He promised. There are some today who insist on concrete proof for everything. They will never be saved because we are saved through faith, not through proof. That’s why we as Christians often say that “believing is seeing,” not “seeing is believing.”

Application

In verse eighteen Paul said our current sufferings are not even worthy of comparison to the glory that will be revealed in us. Now he has shown us that through genuine faith we can endure these sufferings because we have faith that it will be over some day and we will receive the richest blessings of God when our salvation is consummated. I think it’s time for a prayer of thanksgiving, don’t you?

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 8:27 – Holy Intercessor

Posted on April 18, 2018 by Will

Now He who is searching the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Truth to Learn

The Holy Spirit knows what to say and how to say it when He prays to the Father for us.

Behind the Words

The word translated “searching” is the Greek verb ereunaō, which means “to investigate, explore, or make inquiry.”

“Mind” is translated from phronema, a derivative of the verb phroneō, meaning “to think or to have a mind set.” Hence, phronema means “the thinking or mindset” that is to say “the tendency or inclination of the mind.”

“Intercedes” is translated from the Greek word enthugchanō. We looked at a form of this word in yesterday’s verse. It is a compound word made up of en, meaning “in” and thugchanō, which literally means “to strike an opponent with a weapon.” When these two words are combined, however, the word has the meaning of “to fall in with or in behalf of another” or “to make a defense or appeal with another person.”

The word translated “saints” is the Greek word hagios, which means “a holy one” or “sanctified (set-apart) one.” Contrary to the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church, you don’t have to be canonized in order to be a saint. Anyone who has accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior has been justified and cleansed of all sins, has been set-apart (sanctified) by God as His own, and is referred to as a “saint” in the New Testament.

Meaning Explained

In the previous verse Paul told us that the Spirit of God within us prays for us when we are spiritually or physically weak. There are many who believe that this verse applies to us any time we are praying since, compared to God, we are always weak. But whether it is in those times when we think we are weak or at all times since we are spiritually weak compared to Him, the Holy Spirit is our perfect prayer partner.

Notice that the words “the will of” are in italics in our translation. We have inserted these words to make more sense to us; there are no equivalent words in the Greek text. A more literal translation of the last phrase of the current verse would be: “because He makes intercession for the saints according to God.” That is to say, the intercessory work of the Holy Spirit is according to what God has determined, not according to our wants or desires.

When we put this all together we see why the Holy Spirit is such a perfect prayer partner. It is because He (God, who is the one who searches our hearts and knows us even better than we know ourselves) also knows what His own thinking is and, therefore, can speak directly to the Father for us in the most effective way and in perfect keeping with the will and purpose of God the Father.

Application

I have heard Christians say, “I’m not very good at praying.” What Paul is telling us is that we don’t have to be. In Phillipians 4:6 he tells us, “let your requests be made known to God.” We don’t have to use a lot of theological words, with an occasional “Thee” and “Thou” sprinkled in. We simply have to open our hearts and talk directly to God. Then, the Holy Spirit will be our interpreter, our representative, our legal mouthpiece to the Father.

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 8:26 – Our Prayer Partner

Posted on April 17, 2018 by Will

In the same way the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Truth to Learn

The Holy Spirit knows when we don’t know what or how to pray and takes over for us, praying to the Father on our behalf.

Behind the Words

The Greek word translated “helps” is sunantilambanomai, which is a double compound word made up of sun, meaning “together,” anti, meaning “against” or “mutually,” and a form of lambanō, which means “to take, or to hold.” Literally, this means “to take hold of another mutually as by the hand,” that is “to grasp hands with someone so as to keep them from falling.”

The word translated “weaknesses” is astheneia, which literally means “without strength” but by application means “weakness or sickness.” In the context of these verses we would have to conclude that it refers to weakness rather than sickness.

“Intercession” is the Greek word huperentugchanō, which is made up of “huper” meaning “over” or “on behalf of” and entugchanō” meaning “to turn to” or “to appeal.” This is a legal term used to express what an attorney does when speaking in behalf of the client. As a legal representative, the attorney speaks in place of and with the authority of the client. The attorney, in fact, becomes the legal voice of his or her client.

Meaning Explained

You will recall that we’re talking about Christians enduring suffering during this lifetime. Paul has just said that it is our faith, the hope of future glory, which makes it possible for us to endure these sufferings. He also told us back in verse nine that the Holy Spirit dwells in us and he said that we should live by and be led by the Spirit.

We have all suffered at times because of our faith. Sometimes this suffering is so deep that we don’t know how we will ever recover. And often in those times of suffering we don’t even have the strength of faith to be able to pray or we don’t know how to pray about the situation. We may be so deep in the pit of despair that all we can do is cry out to God, “Help me, God, please!” Paul tells us that in those times of weakness, whether it is physical or spiritual, the Holy Spirit of God helps us.

He starts off this verse with, “In the same way.” Now we have to ask ourselves, “In the same way as what?” In order to answer this question we have to go back to verse twenty-three. There Paul was talking about those of us who have the Spirit of God in us groaning under our suffering until we receive our adoption and the redemption of our bodies.

Now he is telling us that in those times of suffering when we are too weak to pray (physically or spiritually), or when we are in such depression or dejection that we don’t know how to pray, the Holy Spirit steps in, taking our hand, and speaks to the Father for us in a manner that is unspeakable or unutterable for us. When we are groaning in weakness not knowing what to do the Spirit groans and speaks for us.

Application

What a blessed promise! Have you had those times when you didn’t know what or how to pray? When we are in that pit of doubt and despair, without us even asking Him, the Holy Spirit steps-in and takes over for us. Who could ask for a better prayer partner when we need it the most?

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 8:24 – Safe and Secure

Posted on April 13, 2018 by Will

For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees?

Truth to Learn

Your salvation is as secure as God’s promise.

Behind the Words

The word translated “saved” is sōdzō, which means, “to save, deliver, or make whole, or to preserve safe from danger, loss, or destruction.” This verb is expressed in the aorist tense which implies past, punctiliar action, that is, action that took place at a single point in time in the past, not continuous action. This tells us that salvation is not a process, but a single event.

“Hope” is translated from the word elpis, which means, “an earnest desire, and the expectation of obtaining the object of that desire.” It is not an uncertainty that we hope will come to pass, it is with a clear expectation that it will happen.

Meaning Explained

As we mentioned in the previous verse, the Holy Spirit was given to us as a kind of “firstfruits” offering. That is, He is God’s promise that our salvation and our adoption will be consummated. Paul now adds some explanation to that idea. He says that we are saved in hope. There are two possible interpretations of this. These two interpretations revolve around the word translated “saved” which we talked about above in Behind the Words. If you interpret the word to mean “to preserve from danger,” then the beginning of this verse could be interpreted to mean that we are being preserved from danger by our hope of our future glory. That’s how some interpret this verse.

The other interpretation, which is more fully supported by the Greek text, is that we were saved (at a single point in time in the past) in light of an earnest desire and expectation that this salvation will be consummated at some time in the future.

The point is this; Paul has been talking about all of creation groaning in pain in anticipation of our adoption as sons by God and the final redemption of our body. He is now saying that our salvation, which legally has already taken place, is really an event in the future to which we look with longing, fully expecting it to happen.

Now let me say that Paul is NOT saying that we are unsure of our salvation and “hope” that it will happen. That use of the word “hope” is contrary to the meaning of the Greek word. When we were saved (at a single point in time in the past) we were given the Holy Spirit as a seal and a promise (Ephesians 1:13, 14) that God will consummate that salvation at some point in time in the future. In other words, we cannot get un-saved! It is not possible because we couldn’t give God His Holy Spirit back even if we wanted to. The giving of the Holy Spirit is an action initiated by God, not by you or me. Since He did the giving, only He could do the taking and that would mean God’s promise is worthless.

Application

Do you live in fear that you might lose your salvation if you’re not careful? Paul makes it pretty clear that it can’t happen. Your salvation is as secure as God’s promise and there’s nothing more secure than that!

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 8:23 – Groaning in Anticipation

Posted on April 12, 2018 by Will

And, not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly expecting adoption, the redemption of our body.

Truth to Learn

We also groan, waiting for our redemption and adoption.

Behind the Words

The Greek word translated “firstfruits” is aparchē, which is made up of apo, meaning “from” and a form of archomai, meaning “to begin.” This word refers to the first ripe fruit of the season.

“Redemption” is from the Greek word apolutrōsis, which is made up of apo, meaning “from” and lutroō, meaning “to bring forward a ransom.” Thus, apolutrōsis means “to release a captive upon receipt of a ransom.”

Meaning Explained

Going back once again to our discussion in verse 19 about the Greek word ktisis, which is translated either as “creature” or “creation,” we mentioned that some believe it refers to Christians as a whole, since the Bible in 2Corinthians 5:17 refers to us as “a new creation.” The current verse is one reason why this may not be the intended interpretation. Paul has just said that “all of creation” or “the whole creation” groans and is in pain. In the current verse, Paul now says “Not only that, but we also … we ourselves groan within ourselves.” He even clarifies the “we” by saying that we are the ones “who have the firstfruits of the Spirit… waiting for the adoption…” This expression clearly refers to saved Christians. But, if ktisis was referring to saved Christians, then Paul would not say that we Christians also groan … Hence, it appears that ktisis in the previous verse refers to all of the visible creation apart from mankind.

Next we have to ask ourselves, “What does Paul mean by, “we who have the firstfruits the Spirit?” There are those who believe that since Paul is talking to members of the early church, he means that they were the first ones who received the Holy Spirit; they had received “the firstfruits of the Spirit.” However, if you look at passages in the Old Testament that refer to the “firstfruits” offerings (Deuteronomy 26:2; Exodus 23:19; and Numbers 18:13, for example) you will see that the firstfruits were a pledge of what was to come later. Thus, they were a sacrifice that required faith to offer, believing that the full harvest would come later. That is precisely one of the images we have of the Holy Spirit in our lives. He is a pledge that the fullness of salvation, our adoption into God’s family, the redemption and recreation of our bodies, will come to us at the consummation of the last days.

Application

We born again Christians also groan within ourselves because we are eagerly awaiting the full adoption and the completion of our salvation. In other words, we are eagerly awaiting our redemption, our final release from the bondage of sin which will end all the pain and suffering which we endure in this earthly life. Next time you groan as a result of the physical or mental pain of being a Christian, remember the day of our redemption is coming soon.

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 8:22 – Wait For It …

Posted on April 11, 2018 by Will

For we know that the whole creation groans together and is in pain together until now.

Truth to Learn

All of creation eagerly awaits the end of time when they will be made anew.

Behind the Words

The word translated “groans together” is sustenadzō, which is a compound word made up of “sun” meaning “together” and stenadzō, which means “to groan or to sigh.” Thus we see it means “to groan together” or “to sigh together.”

“Is in pain together” is also from a single Greek word, sunōdinō. This is also a compound word. It is made up of sun, meaning “together” and a form of ōdinō, which means “to be in pain as a woman who is in the process of giving birth.” Therefore, this word means “to be in intense pain together.”

This is the only place in the entire New Testament that these two words appear. Notice that both of these verbs contain sun. Hence, we could translate this verse as, “For we know that all creation groans together and is in labor pains together until now.

Meaning Explained

Back in verse nineteen we talked about whether ktisis referred to a single creature or to creation as a single collection of created things. The current verse gives us evidence that it refers to all of the visible creation. First, the entire flow of these few verses makes sense if the word ktisis is referring to the same thing or collection of things throughout. Secondly, the fact that both of the verbs we talked about above are in the third person singular and yet are done “together” implies that ktisis refers to a collection of created things rather than a single created thing.

With that under our belt, we can see that Paul is probably talking metaphorically about how all of the visible creation is waiting to be delivered from the bondage of corruption as we talked about in the previous verse. And why do I think Paul is being metaphorical? Because, just as I started out this paragraph with a metaphor (none of us really put the first two paragraphs under our belt), I believe that creation doesn’t really feel pain, nor is it about to give birth. However, it is quite possible that all of creation is groaning, or sighing.

Paul is saying that all of creation is eagerly anticipating the revelation of the sons of God because it (creation) has been placed in a condition where it is not fully useful and is decaying due to the sin of man. In verse twenty-one Paul told us that creation will be set free from the bondage of decay and corruption. All creation is now in a state of travail or painful waiting until sin is dealt with and all is recreated in the new heavens and the new earth. The new heavens and new earth will be free from decay and will no longer be groaning or sighing.

Application

The next time you hear a tree creak from the wind blowing through it or hear of an earthquake, a massive storm, or a tidal wave, remember that all of creation is groaning and in pain until the consummation of time, waiting for our salvation to be completed and for all things to be made perfectly new.

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 8:21 – Curse Begone

Posted on April 10, 2018 by Will

Because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption unto the glorious freedom of the children of God.

Truth to Learn

The curse on God’s creation will be lifted when we are glorified as the children of God.

Behind the Words

“Delivered” is translated from eleutheroō, which is the verb form of the noun eleutheros, meaning “free to move about, unrestrained, or independent.”

The word “corruption” is from phthora, which refers to “decay” or “spoiling.”

“Into” is from the Greek word eis. This preposition is most often translated “into” but it can have a lot of nuance translations as well. When this word is used in relation to time, it can be translated as “unto” or as “in expectation of.” This is very likely the use of the word in today’s verse.

Meaning Explained

We recently learned that the whole of creation was placed in a state or condition where it is not fully useful; it is perishable, and it is decaying. We also learned that God subjected creation in hope. This hope is explained in today’s verse.

Paul tells us that the reason creation was subjected “in hope” is because creation will be set free from this bondage of decay at the glorious freedom of the children of God. In other words, when God completes the final judgment and we who are saved are all given our eternal bodies, all of creation will also be freed from the bondage of corruption and it will be re-created. Here’s how the Apostle John described it in the book of Revelation:

Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." (Revelation 21:1-5a)

I am eagerly looking forward to that day when all sin and all sinners will have been judged and the current heavens and earth are no more, when the new heavens and the new earth have been created and we will spend eternity in peace and joy (in Matthew 25:21, 23 it’s called the joy of the Lord). There, in God’s new creation which will have been freed from the bondage of decay, we will be serving and praising God eternally, for He is worthy!

Application

When you see corruption and decay all around, don’t despair. Some day in the not too distant future God will give His children glorified bodies, and He will recreate the heavens and earth as a perfect place for us to serve Him!

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 8:20 – Imperishable Expectation

Posted on April 9, 2018 by Will

For the creation was not voluntarily subjected to futility, but because of Him who subjected it in hope;

Truth to Learn

We live within perishable bodies in a dying and decaying world, but some day God will make all things imperishable.

Behind the Words

The word translated “subjected” is the Greek word hupotassō, which we have looked at before. It is a military term meaning to place in order (or rank) under another. It is often translated as “submit.”

“Futility” is translated from the Greek word mataiotēs, which is a form of mataios, meaning “without purpose, fruitless, aimless or empty.” It refers to “labor which is done with no purpose in mind” or, as is probably the meaning that Paul intended here, “a perishable and decaying condition.”

The word translated “voluntarily” is hekōn, which means “voluntarily, willingly, or without coercion.”

“Hope” is another word which we looked at back in chapter five. It comes from the Greek word elpis, which means “hope” or “anticipation.” In English when we think of “hope,” we think of desiring something but not really expecting it to happen, or at best, thinking that there is a chance of it happening. This Greek word, however, means, “the desire of something with the full expectation that it will happen.” It is more than just simple hope, it is expectant hope. For this reason, this word is often translated as “faith.”

Meaning Explained

When Paul says that creation was “not voluntarily subjected to futility” he is saying that it was placed in a state or condition where it is perishable and decaying, and that this condition was imposed on creation; it wasn’t voluntary. The subjection of all creation to a state of perishableness and continual decay was imposed by the only one who could impose it: God. This very likely is referring to the curse that God placed on the ground when Adam and Eve sinned:

Then to Adam He said, "Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat of it': "Cursed is the ground for your sake; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field. (Genesis 3:17-18)

This subjection of all of creation as a result of Adam’s sin was done by God with the promise that someday there would be a Redeemer who would conquer death and sin and who would restore all of creation to its former condition. I believe that is what Paul is referring to in the second half of this verse.

Paul will continue this thought in the next verse.

Application

The beauty of this verse is the promise of hope. No matter what happens to us, we always have the hope of God’s eventual triumph over evil, and we will share in that triumph with Him! And, even though we now exist in a perishable body in a dying and decaying world, we have expectant hope that God will honor his faithful children with a glorious body and a glorious creation, neither of which will ever decay or perish again.

In God's service, for His glory,