The Lord's Day Bible Message Outlines
November 29,
2009
Pastor Dana Johnson
"For the creation
was subjected to futility...."
-Romans
8:20
For the creation was subjected to
futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it
in hope.
1. The future
glorification of the "sons of God" is the ultimate stage of
salvation; and God's people wait longingly for that day. To
further capture and comprehend the incredible significance
of that great event in God's eternal plan Paul explains that
the creation is also waiting for the day to experience its
own deliverance.
Romans
8:19 - For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly
waits for the revealing of the sons of God.
a. The
"creation" refers generally to all that God has created
here on the earth, not including humanity.
b. Remember that
the heavens, not as affected by sin on the earth,
continue to declare God's glory.
Psalm
19 - The heavens declare the glory of God; and the
firmament shows His handiwork. 2Day unto day
utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge.
3There is no speech nor language where their
voice is not heard. 4Their line has gone out
through all the earth, and their words to the end of the
world. In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun,
5which is like a bridegroom coming out of his
chamber, and rejoices like a strong man to run its race.
6Its rising is from one end of heaven, and its
circuit to the other end; and there is nothing hidden
from its heat. 7The law of the LORD is
perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the LORD
is sure, making wise the simple; 8the statutes
of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the
commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;
9the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring
forever; the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous
altogether. 10More to be desired are they than
gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey
and the honeycomb. 11Moreover by them Your
servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great
reward. 12Who can understand his errors?
Cleanse me from secret faults. 13Keep back
Your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not
have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and I
shall be innocent of great transgression.
14Let the words of my mouth and the meditation
of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my
strength and my Redeemer.
2. Consider how the
creation has been affected by the Fall of man.
Romans
8:20-21 - For the creation was subjected to futility, not
willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope;
21because the creation itself also will be
delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious
liberty of the children of God.
a. On account
of man's first sin God imposed the sentence of death on
humanity. In addition, he subjected the creation to death
and futility.
b. Consequently,
the creation groans in the bondage of
corruption.
c. By application,
as we experience the hardships associated with human
suffering and the corruption of creation we must not
allow our groaning to develop into a complaint. But,
instead, recognize that this is God's just and right
response to sin.
3. Consider the
problems of evolution:
a. Evolution
fails to see God as the original Creator; nor does it see
Him as the judge who imposes a sentence of
corruption.
b. Evolution sees
death as a part of progress, not as the bondage of
corruption.
c. Evolution offers
little convincing explanation why humans should have such
a strong philosophical/spiritual reaction to the
corruption in the earth.
4. The creation will
experience deliverance.
a. The
creation is under the dominion of man and, therefore,
experiences its deliverance only after the "revealing of
the sons of God."
Genesis
1:26 - Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image,
according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over
the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over
the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping
thing that creeps on the earth."
Genesis 9:1-3 - So God blessed Noah and his sons, and
said to them: "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the
earth. 2And the fear of you and the dread of
you shall be on every beast of the earth, on every bird
of the air, on all that move on the earth, and on all the
fish of the sea. They are given into your hand.
3Every moving thing that lives shall be food
for you. I have given you all things, even as the green
herbs.
Romans 8:19 - For the earnest expectation of the
creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of
God.
b. The creation
will be delivered from the bondage of corruption to
experience liberty.
Romans 8:21
-Because the creation itself also will be delivered from
the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of
the children of God.
Isaiah 11:6-9 - "The wolf also shall dwell with the
lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, the
calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a
little child shall lead them. 7The cow and the
bear shall graze; their young ones shall lie down
together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
8The nursing child shall play by the cobra's
hole, and the weaned child shall put his hand in the
viper's den. 9They shall not hurt nor destroy
in all My holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of
the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the
sea.
5. A glorious future
is ahead for the creation and for those humans who are
justified by faith in Christ.
Romans
8:1 - There is therefore now no condemnation to those who
are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh,
but according to the Spirit.
Yet,
unbelieving humanity will pass from the suffering of this
earth to an eternal suffering of judgment. What is your
future? What is your present?
(All
Scripture quoted is from the New King James
Version)
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