Big Idea: Paul showcases another blessing from the Spirit of the new covenant: glory. More particularly, the Spirit is a sign of the glory of the age to come and the new covenant. And yet, that glory occurs in the midst of this age and suffering.

Understanding the Text

1. Suffering/glory (8:18)

2. Three groanings (8:19–27)

a. Creation groans (hope for the revelation of the children of God) (8:19–22)

b. Believers groan (firstfruits of the Spirit / by hope we were saved) (8:23–25)

c. The Spirit groans (the Spirit helps us in our weaknesses) (8:26–27)

3. Suffering/glory (8:28–30)1

Each of these points—suffering/glory, the groaning of creation, the groaning of Christians, and the groaning of the Spirit—includes blessings of the age to come and the new covenant that have already dawned …