Charles Spurgeon Commentary Romans 8:23

"And not only so, but ourselves also, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for [our] adoption, [to wit], the redemption of our body." — Romans 8:23 (ASV)

And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

This is what we are looking for. Our human nature is not all soul: it is body, too. And here, still, this poor body seems to lie outside the gate, like Lazarus, while the soul rejoices in God. But its time of glorification is coming. The trumpet of the archangel shall proclaim it.

And not only they, but ourselves also, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

Of course, we do groan within ourselves. Who said we did not?

And those brothers who say they never groan, I wish they would learn better. It is one of the signs of grace and marks of a child of God that he is not perfect, and does not think he is, but groans for it, cries for it.

We groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. For this poor body still lies, in some measure, under a curse, still with its pains, still with its carnal appetites and fleshly tendencies to hamper and trouble it.

But this is what we groan for—that this flesh of ours, and the whole creation in which we dwell, will yet have a joyous deliverance.

And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

Still the body is under bondage. The body is dead because of sin: hence those headaches — this palpitation of the heart — this heaviness of the day which encases us. But soon, as the material world is to be delivered from its bondage, so will these bodies also pass away from all the burden of weakness, and disease, and death, into a better state.

And not only they, but ourselves also, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

That is our state now; at least, it is the condition of most of us. Some of our brothers have gone ahead so tremendously that they have passed out of the world of groaning altogether; they are perfect. I regret that they are not in heaven; it would seem to be a much more proper place for them than this imperfect earth is. But as for us, our experience leads us, in sympathy with the apostle, to say that we are groaning for something better.

We have not received it yet. We have the beginnings of it, we have the earnest of it, we have the sure pledge of it, but it is not yet our portion to enjoy. We are waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

For, though the soul is born again, the body is not. The body is dead, says the apostle in the tenth verse of this chapter (Romans 8:10), because of sin; but the spirit is life because of righteousness. There is a wonderful process through which this body will yet pass, and then it will be raised again, a glorious body, fitted for our regenerated spirit; but as yet it remains unregenerate.

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.

That is what we are waiting for: the redemption of our body; and we shall not wait in vain for it, for Christ is the Saviour of our body as well as of our soul, and the day shall come when even our bodies shall be free from pain, and weakness, and weariness, and sin, and death. Happy day! We may well look forward to it with the loftiest anticipations.

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.

Our soul has been delivered from the curse. The redemption of the soul is complete, but not yet that of the body. That must suffer pain and weariness, and even descend into the tomb, but its day of manifestation shall surely come. At the appearing of our Lord from heaven, then shall the body itself be delivered, and the whole creation shall also be delivered, so we wait in a condition of travail; and we may well be content to wait, for these pangs within us and in all creation signify the glorious birth for which we may wait in hope.