What does 'whole creation' include in Romans 8?
In Romans 8, 'whole creation' includes everything, not just humanity: flowers, birds, trees, the animal kingdom, and even rocks. All creation is aware of the Creator, groans under the curse, and waits for deliverance from corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Les teaches that Romans 8:22's phrase 'whole creation' is not limited to mankind. It stretches to everything: flowers, birds, trees, the animal kingdom, and rocks. The creation is under the bondage of corruption, sin, and death, and it groans and travails in pain under the results of the curse. Les explains that creation itself is aware of the Creator—even the rocks would cry out at the triumphal entry if the people were silenced. All creation waits for deliverance from the curse into the glorious liberty of the children of God. Believers also groan, longing for that same day.