Romans 8:21 Study Bible: that the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of decay into the liberty of the glory of the children of God.

◄ Romans 8:21 ►

that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.

Study Bible

that the creation itself
The phrase "that the creation itself" refers to the entirety of the natural world, encompassing all that God has made. In the Greek, the word for "creation" is "ktisis," which can denote both the act of creating and the result of that act, the created order. This highlights the comprehensive scope of God's creative work, which is not limited to humanity but includes all living and non-living things. Historically, this reflects the Jewish understanding of the world as God's handiwork, a theme prevalent throughout the Old Testament, particularly in the Psalms and the book of Genesis. Theologically, it underscores the belief that all of creation is under God's sovereign care and purpose.

will be set free
The phrase "will be set free" speaks to the future liberation of creation. The Greek word "eleutherōthēsetai" is used here, which means to be liberated or released from bondage. This suggests a future event where creation will be delivered from its current state of corruption and decay. This liberation is not just a return to a previous state but a transformation into something greater. It echoes the eschatological hope found throughout Scripture, where God promises to renew and restore all things, as seen in prophetic books like Isaiah and Revelation.

from its bondage to decay
"From its bondage to decay" describes the current state of creation, which is subject to deterioration and corruption. The Greek word "phthoras" for "decay" implies a process of corruption and ruin. This reflects the consequences of the Fall, as described in Genesis 3, where sin introduced death and decay into the world. The phrase captures the tension between the present suffering and the future hope of redemption. It reminds believers of the pervasive impact of sin but also points to the promise of restoration through Christ.

and brought into the glorious freedom
The phrase "and brought into the glorious freedom" indicates the future state of creation, characterized by liberation and glory. The Greek word "doxa" for "glorious" conveys a sense of splendor and divine radiance. This transformation is not merely a return to Edenic conditions but an elevation to a state of glory that reflects God's own nature. The "freedom" mentioned here is not just the absence of bondage but the presence of God's intended order and purpose. This aligns with the biblical narrative of redemption, where God is actively working to restore creation to its intended glory.

of the children of God
"Of the children of God" refers to the believers who are adopted into God's family through faith in Christ. The Greek word "tekna" for "children" emphasizes the intimate relationship between God and believers, highlighting the familial bond established through the Holy Spirit. This phrase connects the destiny of creation with the destiny of God's people, suggesting that the liberation of creation is tied to the revelation and glorification of the children of God. It reflects the biblical theme of adoption and inheritance, where believers are co-heirs with Christ, as seen earlier in Romans 8. This underscores the hope and assurance that believers have in their future glory and the ultimate restoration of all things.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Creation
Refers to the entire universe and all living things within it. In this context, it is personified as being in a state of anticipation and longing for liberation.

2. Children of God
Believers who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and are adopted into God's family. They are the recipients of God's promises and the ones who will experience ultimate freedom.

3. Bondage to Decay
This describes the current state of the world, which is subject to corruption and deterioration due to sin. It reflects the fallen nature of creation since the fall of man in Genesis.

4. Glorious Freedom
The ultimate liberation and transformation that believers and creation will experience in the new heaven and new earth, free from sin and death.

5. Paul the Apostle
The author of the Book of Romans, who wrote this letter to the believers in Rome to explain the gospel and its implications for both Jews and Gentiles.

Teaching Points

Understanding Creation's Groaning
Recognize that the current state of the world is not as God originally intended. The decay and suffering we see are temporary and will be redeemed.

Hope in Future Glory
As believers, we have the hope of future glory and freedom. This should encourage us to persevere through present trials, knowing that they are temporary.

Role of Believers in Creation's Redemption
While ultimate redemption is God's work, believers are called to be stewards of creation, reflecting God's care and anticipation of its future liberation.

Living as Children of God
Embrace your identity as a child of God, living in the freedom that comes from being part of His family. This involves living a life that reflects His values and hope.

Anticipating the New Creation
Let the promise of a new creation inspire you to live with an eternal perspective, prioritizing spiritual growth and the spread of the gospel.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does understanding the "bondage to decay" help us make sense of the suffering and brokenness in the world today?

2. In what ways can we, as believers, reflect the "glorious freedom" we have in Christ in our daily lives?

3. How does the promise of creation's future liberation influence our responsibility towards environmental stewardship?

4. What are some practical ways we can live out our identity as "children of God" in our communities?

5. How can the hope of a new creation encourage us in our personal spiritual growth and in sharing the gospel with others?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Genesis 3
The fall of man introduces sin and decay into the world, setting the stage for the "bondage to decay" mentioned in Romans 8:21.

Revelation 21
Describes the new heaven and new earth where creation will be fully restored, aligning with the "glorious freedom" that Paul speaks of.

2 Corinthians 5:17
Speaks of believers being a new creation in Christ, which parallels the transformation and renewal that creation itself will undergo.

Colossians 1:20
Discusses the reconciliation of all things through Christ, which includes the liberation of creation.

Sermons

The Privileges and Responsibilities of the Children of God	C.H. Irwin	Romans 8:12-30
The Redemption of the Creation	T.F. Lockyer	Romans 8:18-25
Salvation in Spite of Suffering	R.M. Edgar	Romans 8:18-30
Creation Groans	T. Boston, D.D.	Romans 8:19-23
Creation's Groans		Romans 8:19-23
Creation's Travail and Delivery	T. Boston, D.D.	Romans 8:19-23
Creation's Waiting	Prof. F. G. Peabody.	Romans 8:19-23
Divine Sonship	D. Thomas, D.D.	Romans 8:19-23
Glorious Liberty	W. Jay.	Romans 8:19-23
Groans of Unrenewed and Renewed Nature	E. B. Pusey, D.D.	Romans 8:19-23
Life a Prophecy	N. Smyth, D. D.	Romans 8:19-23
Man Made Subject to Vanity	C. Wills, M.A.	Romans 8:19-23
Nature Perfected Through Man	T. G. Selby.	Romans 8:19-23
Our Present Attainment not the End of God's Design	C. H. Spurgeon.	Romans 8:19-23
Spiritual Liberty	J. Parker, D.D.	Romans 8:19-23
St. Paul's Account of the Creation	R. W. Dale, D.D.	Romans 8:19-23
Subjected -- in Hope	Dean Vaughan.	Romans 8:19-23
The Bondage of Corruption	Prof. Beet.	Romans 8:19-23
The Chrysalis State of Man	Stopford A. Brooke.	Romans 8:19-23
The Coming Deliverance of the Creature	Thomas Horton, D.D.	Romans 8:19-23
The Connection Between Man and Nature	C. J. P. Eyre, M.A.	Romans 8:19-23
The Creation Groans for Deliverance	J. Garbett, M.A.	Romans 8:19-23
The Creature Subjected to and Delivered from Vanity	Preb. Clark.	Romans 8:19-23
The Expectancy of Creation	A. K. H. Boyd, D.D.	Romans 8:19-23
The Expectation of the Creature	Prof. Godet.	Romans 8:19-23
The Expectation of the Creature	T. Chalmers, D.D.	Romans 8:19-23
The Final Deliverance of Believers	R. Watson.	Romans 8:19-23
The Groaning Creation	D. Thomas, D.D.	Romans 8:19-23
The Hope of a Fallen World	Canon Stowell.	Romans 8:19-23
The Hopes and Aspirations of the New Creature	D. Katterns.	Romans 8:19-23
The Longing of the Creature for Perfection	Thomas Horton	Romans 8:19-23
The Manifestation of the Sons of God	T. Manton, D.D.	Romans 8:19-23
The Manifestation of True Men the Supreme Want of the World	David Thomas, D.D.	Romans 8:19-23
The Solidarity of Man and Nature	Prof. Godet.	Romans 8:19-23
The Travail of the Creature	Thomas Horton, D.D.	Romans 8:19-23
The Universal Travail	J. Baldwin Brown, B.A.	Romans 8:19-23
The Upbuilding of the Race	H. W. Beecher.	Romans 8:19-23
The Vanity of the Creature	J. Lyth, D.D.	Romans 8:19-23
The Vanity of the Creature	Thomas Horton, D.D.	Romans 8:19-23
The Vanity of the Present State Consistent with God's Perfections	H. Grove, M.A.	Romans 8:19-23
The Whole Creation Groaneth Under the Burden of Our Sins	T. Manton, D.D.	Romans 8:19-23

People

Paul, Romans

Places

Rome

Topics

Always, Attend, Bondage, Corruption, Creation, Creature, Death, Decay, Delivered, Enjoy, Free, Freedom, Glorious, Glory, Hope, Itself, Liberated, Liberty, Obtain, Power, Servitude, Slavery, Thraldom, Yet

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Romans 8:21

     6610   adoption, descriptions
     6658   freedom
     6738   rescue
     7115   children of God
     7120   Christians

Romans 8:17-25

4010 creation, renewal

Romans 8:18-23

6705 peace, experience

Romans 8:18-24

9613 hope, as confidence

Romans 8:18-25

9130 future, the

Romans 8:18-27

8416 encouragement, promises

Romans 8:19-21

     4028   world, redeemed
     5110   Paul, teaching of
     5977   waiting
     6201   imperfection, and God's purposes
     8146   renewal, natural order

Romans 8:19-22

     1135   God, suffering of
     2303   Christ, as creator
     4287   universe
     5483   punishment
     7449   slavery, spiritual

Romans 8:19-23

1315 God, as redeemer
6723 redemption, NT

Romans 8:20-21

     1355   providence
     6142   decay
     6203   mortality

Romans 8:20-22

     4007   creation, and God
     6024   sin, effects of
     6200   imperfection, influence

Romans 8:20-23

5441 philosophy

Library

December 18:
December 18th. The misgiving which will creep sometimes over the brightest faith has already received its expression and its rebuke: "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?" Shall these "changes in the physical state of the environment" which threaten death to the natural man, destroy the spiritual? Shall death, or life, or angels, or principalities, or powers, arrest or tamper with his eternal correspondences? …
Henry Drummond—Beautiful Thoughts

October 10. "If Ye, through the Spirit, do Mortify the Deeds of the Body, Ye Shall Live" (Rom. viii. 13).
"If ye, through the Spirit, do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live" (Rom. viii. 13). The Holy Spirit is the only one who can kill us and keep us dead. Many Christians try to do this disagreeable work themselves, and they are going through a continual crucifixion, but they can never accomplish the work permanently. This is the work of the Holy Spirit, and when you really yield yourself to the death, it is delightful to find how sweetly He can slay you. By the touch of the electric spark they …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

August 6. "As Many as are Led by the Spirit of God they are the Sons of God" (Rom. viii. 14).
"As many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the sons of God" (Rom. viii. 14). The blessed Holy Spirit is our Guide, our Leader, and our Resting-place. There are times when He presses us forward into prayer, into service, into suffering, into new experiences, new duties, new claims of faith, and hope, and love, but there are times when He arrests us in our activity, and rests us under His overshadowing wing, and quiets us in the secret place of the Most High, teaching us some new lessons, breathing …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

October 12. "The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus Hath Made Me Free" (Rom. viii. 2).
"The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free" (Rom. viii. 2). The life of Jesus Christ brought into our heart by the Holy Spirit, operates there as a new law of divine strength and vitality, and counteracts, overcomes and lifts us above the old law of sin and death. Let us illustrate these two laws by a simple comparison. Look at my hand. By the law of gravitation it naturally falls upon the desk and lies there, attracted downward by that natural law which makes heavy bodies fall …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

November 8. "For the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus Hath Made Me Free" (Rom. viii. 2).
"For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free" (Rom. viii. 2). There is a natural law of sin and sickness, and if we just let ourselves go and sink into the trend of circumstances we shall go down and sink under the power of the tempter. But there is another law of spiritual life and of physical life in Christ Jesus to which we can rise and through which we can counterpoise and overcome the other law that bears us down. But to do this requires real spiritual energy and fixed …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

September 27. "The Glorious Liberty of the Children of God" (Rom. viii. 21).
"The glorious liberty of the children of God" (Rom. viii. 21). Are you above self and self-pleasing in every way? Have you got above circumstances so that you are not influenced by them? Are you above sickness and the evil forces around that would drag down your physical life into the quicksands? These forces are all around, and if yielded to would quickly swamp us. God does not destroy sickness, or its power to hurt, but He lifts us above it. Are you above your feelings, moods, emotions and states? …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

October 11. "And He that Searcheth the Hearts Knoweth what is the Mind of the Spirit, Because He Maketh Intercession for the Saints According to the Will of God" (Rom. viii. 27).
"And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God" (Rom. viii. 27). The Holy Spirit becomes to the consecrated heart the Spirit of intercession. We have two Advocates. We have an Advocate with the Father, who prays for us at God's right hand; but the Holy Spirit is the Advocate within, who prays in us, inspiring our petitions and presenting them, through Christ, to God. We need this Advocate. We know …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

October 21. "Who Shall Separate us from the Love of Christ?" (Rom. viii. 35).
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" (Rom. viii. 35). And then comes the triumphant answer, after all the possible obstacles and enemies have been mentioned one by one, "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors, through Him that loved us." Our trials will be turned to helps; our enemies will be taken prisoners and made to fight our battles. Like the weights on yonder clock, which keep it going, our very difficulties will prove incentives to faith and prayer, and occasions …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

June 1. "That the Righteousness of the Law Might be Fulfilled in Us" (Rom. viii. 4).
"That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us" (Rom. viii. 4). Beloved friends, do you know the mistake some of you are making? Some of you say: "It is not possible for me to be good; no man ever was perfect, and it is no use for me to try." That is the mistake many of you are making. I agree with the first sentence, "No man ever was perfect"; but I don't agree with the second, "There is no use trying." There is a divine righteousness that we may have. I don't mean merely that which …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

October 13. "The Carnal Mind is Enmity against God" (Rom. viii. 7).
"The carnal mind is enmity against God" (Rom. viii. 7). The flesh is incurably bad. "It is not subject to the law of God, neither, indeed, can be." It never can be any better. It is no use trying to improve the flesh. You may educate it all you please. You may train it by the most approved methods, you may set before it the brightest examples, you may pipe to it or mourn to it, treat it with encouragement or severity; its nature will always be incorrigibly the same. Like the wild hawk which the little …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

August 4. "Ye are not in the Flesh but in the Spirit if So be that the Spirit of God Dwell in You. Now if any Man have not the Spirit of Christ He is None of His" (Rom. viii. 9).
"Ye are not in the flesh but in the Spirit if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of His" (Rom. viii. 9). A spiritual man is not so much a man possessing a strong spiritual character as a man filled with the Holy Spirit. So the apostle said: "Ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you." The glory of the new creation, then, is not only that it recreates the human spirit, but that it fits …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

Fourth Sunday after Trinity Consolation in Suffering, and Patience.
Text: Romans 8, 18-22. 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to us-ward. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to vanity not of its own will, but by reason of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the liberty of the glory of the children of God. …
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. III

Fourth Sunday after Trinity Redemption of the Creatures.
Second Sermon. Text: Romans 8, 18-22. REDEMPTION OF THE CREATURES. 1. We have heard how Paul comforts the Christians in their sufferings, pointing them to the future inconceivable and eternal glory to be revealed in us in the world to come; and how he has, for our greater consolation, reminded us that the whole creation as one being suffers in company with the Christian Church. We have noted how he sees, with the clear, keen eye of an apostle, the holy cross in every creature. He brings out this …
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. III

Eighth Sunday after Trinity Living in the Spirit as God's Children.
Text: Romans 8, 12-17. 12 So then, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh: 13 for if ye live after the flesh, ye must die; but if by the Spirit ye put to death the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For ye received not the spirit of bondage again unto fear; but ye received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are children …
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. III

Divine Support and Protection
[What shall we say then to these things?] If God be for us, who can be against us? T he passions of joy or grief, of admiration or gratitude, are moderate when we are able to find words which fully describe their emotions. When they rise very high, language is too faint to express them; and the person is either lost in silence, or feels something which, after his most laboured efforts, is too big for utterance. We may often observe the Apostle Paul under this difficulty, when attempting to excite …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2

Accusers Challenged
Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God who justifies. T hough the collating of manuscripts and various readings has undoubtedly been of use in rectifying some mistakes which, through the inadvertency of transcribers, had crept into different copies of the New Testament, yet such supposed corrections of the text ought to be admitted with caution, and not unless supported by strong reasons and authorities. The whole Scripture is given by inspiration of God: and they who thankfully …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2

The Intercession of Christ
Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us! T he Redemption of the soul is precious. Fools make mock of sin (Proverbs 14:9) . But they will not think lightly of it, who duly consider the majesty, authority, and goodness of Him, against whom it is committed; and who are taught, by what God actually has done, what sin rendered necessary to be done, before a sinner could have a well-grounded …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2

Triumph Over Death and the Grave
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin: and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. T he Christian soldier may with the greatest propriety, be said to war a good warfare (I Timothy 1:18) . He is engaged in a good cause. He fights under the eye of the Captain of his salvation. Though he be weak in himself, and though his enemies are many and mighty, he may do that which in other soldiers …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2

August the Twenty-Fifth Impotent Enemies
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" --ROMANS viii. 31-39. Who can get between the love of Christ and me? What sharp dividing minister can cleave the two in twain, and leave me like a dismembered and dying branch? Terrible experiences cannot do it. "Tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, or sword!" All these may come about my house, but they cannot reach the inner sanctuary where my Lord and I are closeted in loving communion and peace. They may bruise my skin, …
John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year

May the Twenty-Eighth the Sons of God
"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the sons of God." --ROMANS viii. 9-17. And how unspeakably wealthy are the implications of the great word! If a son, then what holy freedom is mine! Mine is not "the spirit of bondage." The son has "the run of the house." That is the great contrast between lodgings and home. And I am to be at home with the Lord. And if a son, then heir! "All things are yours." Samuel Rutherford used to counsel his friends to "take a turn" round their estate. …
John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year

Sons and Heirs
'If children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.'--ROMANS viii. 17. God Himself is His greatest gift. The loftiest blessing which we can receive is that we should be heirs, possessors of God. There is a sublime and wonderful mutual possession of which Scripture speaks much wherein the Lord is the inheritance of Israel, and Israel is the inheritance of the Lord. 'The Lord hath taken you to be to Him a people of inheritance,' says Moses; 'Ye are a people for a possession,' says …
Alexander Maclaren—Romans, Corinthians (To II Corinthians, Chap. V)

Suffering with Christ, a Condition of Glory with Christ
'...Joint heirs with Christ: if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together.'--ROMANS viii. 17. In the former part of this verse the Apostle tells us that in order to be heirs of God, we must become sons through and joint-heirs with Christ. He seems at first sight to add in these words of our text another condition to those already specified, namely, that of suffering with Christ. Now, of course, whatever may be the operation of suffering in fitting for the possession of …
Alexander Maclaren—Romans, Corinthians (To II Corinthians, Chap. V)

The Witness of the Spirit
'The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.'--ROMANS viii. 18. The sin of the world is a false confidence, a careless, complacent taking for granted that a man is a Christian when he is not. The fault, and sorrow, and weakness of the Church is a false diffidence, an anxious fear whether a man be a Christian when he is. There are none so far away from false confidence as those who tremble lest they be cherishing it. There are none so inextricably caught in …
Alexander Maclaren—Romans, Corinthians (To II Corinthians, Chap. V)

The Revelation of Sons
'For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.'--ROMANS viii. 19. The Apostle has been describing believers as 'sons' and 'heirs.' He drops from these transcendent heights to contrast their present apparent condition with their true character and their future glory. The sad realities of suffering darken his lofty hopes, even although these sad realities are to his faith tokens of joint-heirship with Jesus, and pledges that if our inheritance is here …
Alexander Maclaren—Romans, Corinthians (To II Corinthians, Chap. V)

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