What does Romans 8:23 mean? (2024)

FAQs

What does Romans 8:23 mean? ›

We're waiting for our bodies to be redeemed after we die physically and are then resurrected as Christ was. Or as someone put it: Our adoption is complete; we're just waiting for our father to come and pick us up so that we can be with Him. Context Summary.

The Spirit is our helper, giving us the power to overcome temptation, and help us avoid the negative consequences of sin. Yet, even as believers who have the Holy Spirit, we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body (v 23).

The Holy Spirit

Paul said we “have the Spirit as the firstfruits” (Rom. 8:23). The Holy Spirit is a foretaste, the first installment of our future glory. He is God's the pledge of more to come in our resurrection life.

In Romans 8:22-23, Paul uses an interesting, memorable, and striking metaphor. Presently the whole creation, he says, groans in labor pains; its condition is like a woman giving birth to a child. Something is about to happen, an outcome. But for now there is waiting.

The Hebrew word for first fruit is bikkurim—literally translated to “promise to come.” Those who received the Spirit of Christ received a Spirit a sonship. These represent the first fruit. That means the rest of the harvest will come.

Romans 8 is one of the most loved chapters in all of Scripture. Paul begins and ends this passage with statements about the absolute security of those who are in Christ. First, there is no condemnation, at all, for those in Christ. Last, nothing will ever be able to separate us from God's love for us in Christ.

Firstfruits of Them That Slept

Since the firstfruits are a sign that the harvest has begun and many more crops are yet to come, the Apostle Paul is saying that Jesus Christ was the first from among the dead (“them that slept”) to rise again and that many more will yet be resurrected.

Going back to the biblical times, the Israelites' First Fruit symbolizes how God acknowledges His people's intentions. It is an offering to God from a heart of sacrifice and gratitude, and it sets the merit of giving back to Him the best of what He has provided them during those times.

The FIRSTFRUIT is the exclusive preserve of the one considered the Nation's Man of God (II Kings 4:42); and. The FIRSTFRUIT in Hebrew is “bikkurim” and literally means “promise to come.” And there is ONE who never breaks His promise – God! That is why the truth behind this “promise to come” in God's Word is so powerful ...

To humble oneself is to acknowledge God as Lord and to obey as servant. In order to do so, then, the Son had to take “the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:7). “We, as creatures, must obey our Creator, and he, as our brother, did the same.”

What does it mean to groan inwardly? ›

Groan inwardly is a feeling to express despair, disapproval or distress keeping quiet.

The fruit of the Holy Spirit is mentioned by St Paul in his letter to the Galatians 5:22 as the virtues of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Paul sees the fruit of the Holy Spirit as the counterbalance for the various vices.

Romans 5:3-5 — Our pain has a purpose.

And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love” (NLT).