9781433573606-epdf

Picturing Moral Horror
judgment of God: “The creation was subjected to futility
. . . because of him who subjected it in hope” (8:20). Satan
did not subject it in hope. Adam did not subject it in hope.
God did. As Paul said in Romans 5:16, “The judgment
following one trespass brought condemnation.”
EVEN HIS CHILDREN UNDER JUDGMENT
To be sure, this passage is full of hope—“the freedom of
the glory of the children of God” (Rom. 8:21). God has
a stunning plan for a new creation, where “he will wipe
away every tear from their eyes” (Rev. 21:4). But for now,
we are all under his judgment. He has subjected the world
to death, disaster, and misery.
Yes, even his own children—those whom he “predestined
. . . for adoption” (Eph. 1:5), redeemed by the blood of his
Son (Eph. 1:7), and appointed for eternal life (Eph. 1:18)—
even we suffer and die because of God’s judgment in the
fall. “We ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit,
groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons,
the redemption of our bodies” (Rom. 8:23). Christians get
swept away in tsunamis. Christians are killed in terrorist
attacks. Christians get the coronavirus.
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