Romans 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves… I. THE CHRISTIAN IS A MAN GATHERING "FIRSTFRUITS." The harvest is not come. He looks out upon the beauty of nature, and he sees a "firstfruit" of a renewed and perfect creation. He has a happy thought, it is a "firstfruit" of an endless and universal joy. He tastes the delights of a pure affection, it is the "firstfruit"of a world where all is love. He catches a glimpse of Christ, it is a "firstfruit" of an eternal presence. He plucks from the tree of truth a holy feeling, it is the "firstfruit" of the rich abundance of a matured saintliness. To him, everything is a "firstfruit." If it is not the full glow of summer yet, it is not winter, "If the early grapes be so sweet, what shall the vintage be?" II. A MAN UNTAUGHT MIGHT SAY, "SURELY THOSE WHO GATHER FIRSTFRUITS AT LEAST WILL HAVE AN IMMUNITY FROM SORROW?" St. Paul said, "We which have the firstfruits of the Spirit groan within ourselves." I do not find that the Church has less suffering than the world without, only I find it more "inward." This "inward groaning," what is it, and whence? As soon as a man really receives one of the "firstfruits" of the Holy Ghost, immediately a very great change takes place in that soul. But how with the body? Is it altered? Some little degree of physical refinement may grow out of the spiritual change; but in the main the body is the same. It prompts the same desires, it leads on to the same sins. Sometimes it inflames us, sometimes it drags us. And so it will be to death, the changed soul in the unchanged body, the redeemed in the unredeemed. Now here is all the con-flict. Of all our misery this is the painful element, the inability of the body to carry out the higher aspirations of the soul. Other things may bring the sigh, the tear, but this brings the groan, "When shall I be holy? When will the contest cease?" "O wretched man that I am," etc. So — III. Because we have the firstfruits of the Spirit, "WE GROAN WITHIN OURSELVES WAITING FOR THE ADOPTION, TO WIT, THE REDEMPTION OF OUR BODY." The moment of death comes, the body and the soul are parted for a while. From that date the redemption of the body begins. It dies, it dissolves, it lies hidden, God works in it as He pleases. Presently, it comes forth; it is another, and yet the same, identical to be known, to be loved, to be embraced, and yet how changed! It is in sweetest harmony with the soul; it is not a whit less spiritual and heavenly than that which once it thwarted. It has taken the image of God; it perfectly reflects Christ. And then, and not till then, its redemption is complete. Hero is the great result of the travail of the believer. Conclusion; 1. All you have to do now with the body is to hold it down and keep it under. And that effort will be your "groaning." But only" till He comes." His second advent will perfect the reformation of your body, as His first did your soul. 2. There is probably a very close analogy between the redemption of the soul and that of the body. The seed of life sown in death, the long hidden process, the dying first before there is life indeed, the maintenance of the original character, where, nevertheless, all is new, the likeness to Christ in both, the intention of all to serve, in all the perfect sovereignty of God. 3. The focus of faith and hope to all is the coming of Christ. The groaning soul of the believer, carrying the burden of the flesh, looks there. The emancipated spirits of the departed "longing to be clothed upon with their house which is from heaven," look there. Even while they wait in paradise the redemption of that body, still perfect, is going on, and they stretch on with ardent desire for the moment when He shall bring forth the whole man in the integrity of his being. And in those at this moment who lie in the grave, out of our sight, it is that holy, blessed work which is going on. For that reason we gave them up. "We ourselves groan within ourselves" till we see them again. But we shall see them lovelier than before, but still the same, more ours, more His, the needful absence for the needful work done, no absence more, all ours and all one for ever. Wait on; He hears the groans of the waiting. (J. Vaughan, M.A.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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. |
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