Yes — Paul means present suffering cannot compare with the future glory that will be revealed in believers, and the whole creation is waiting for that revelation.
In Romans 8:18, Paul says the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Verse 19 adds that creation waits with earnest expectation for the manifestation of the sons of God. Les Feldick emphasizes this includes the redemption of the body, not just the soul and spirit, and that believers and creation alike are longing for that completion.
Romans 8:18 — It directly compares present suffering with the future glory that will be revealed in believers.
Romans 8:19 — It shows creation eagerly waiting for the revealing of God's children, which is tied to that future glory.
Romans 8:18 declares: "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." Verse 19 continues: "For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God." The passage makes a clear connection between future glory and the revealing of God's children. Paul goes on in Romans 8:22-23: "For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 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." The scripture itself ties the coming glory to the redemption of the body and the groaning of creation. Ephesians 1:13-14 also speaks of the Holy Spirit as the earnest of our inheritance "until the redemption of the purchased possession," showing that something about our redemption is still future.
Les Feldick says very few people realize what Romans 8:18-19 are teaching. Paul, who knew suffering firsthand, could still say the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that will be revealed in us. Then Paul points to the earnest expectation of the creation — Les notes that the King James says "creature," but the marginal reading is "creation." Les explains that at salvation the soul and spirit are totally redeemed, but the physical body is not yet redeemed. The Holy Spirit is God's earnest, or down payment, guaranteeing that the body will be redeemed too. Believers groan within themselves, waiting for the adoption, which Paul defines as "the redemption of our body." For eternity, God intends people to be complete entities of body, soul, and spirit. Les also connects this to creation. The whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now, and believers who have the firstfruits of the Spirit groan with it. When the body is redeemed, believers will be ushered into the glorious rule and reign of Christ, and all creation is waiting for that day. The curse will be lifted, and He will reign as King of kings and Lord of lords.
Paul deliberately compares the two. The coming glory is tied to the complete redemption of the believer — body, soul, and spirit — and therefore far outweighs any present suffering. Les points out that Paul himself knew what suffering was, and could still make this statement about the future glory.
Our souls and spirits are redeemed the moment we believe. The body remains in the flesh and is not yet ready for eternity. God has placed the Holy Spirit within believers as His down payment on the body, guaranteeing that one day it will be redeemed and reunited with the soul and spirit, making the believer a complete entity.
Scripture says the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now. Les teaches that creation is waiting for the day when believers receive their redeemed bodies and are ushered into the glorious rule and reign of Christ. That is when the curse will be lifted and He will rule as King of kings and Lord of lords.
Earnest of the inheritance and the unredeemed body
Les shows that while believers are sealed with the Holy Spirit, the body is the part of the purchased possession that has not yet been redeemed.
Waiting for the redemption of our body
Les stresses that Romans 8:23 is not about redemption of the soul, but about waiting for the redemption of the body.
Suffering compared to glory and creation waiting
Les points directly to Romans 8:18-19 and says very few people realize what these verses teach: present suffering is not worthy to be compared with the coming glory, and creation's earnest expectation is for the revelation of God's children.
Body, soul, and spirit in eternity
Les shows that in the eternal state believers will have all three — body, soul, and spirit — not just a soul without a body.
Creation groaning and the coming rule and reign
Les ties the redemption of the body to being ushered into the glorious rule and reign of Christ, with all creation waiting for that day.
Believers groan with creation
Les emphasizes that both the whole creation and believers who have the firstfruits of the Spirit are groaning and waiting for the adoption.
Complete entity and the curse lifted
Les explains God has never used a human being as only a soul and spirit; the eternal state requires the complete entity of body, soul, and spirit, so the body must be redeemed.
Holy Spirit as down payment and future reunion
Les says the indwelling Holy Spirit is God's brand and down payment on the body, guaranteeing that even through death the body will one day be reunited with the soul and spirit for eternity.
Romans 8:18: For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
This is the direct promise that current suffering is not comparable to the glory to be revealed in us.
Romans 8:19: For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
This identifies creation's eager waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God.
Romans 8:22: For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
This shows the whole creation groaning and travailing in pain until now.
Romans 8:23: 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.
This defines the adoption believers are waiting for as the redemption of the body.
Ephesians 1:13-14: In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
This shows the Holy Spirit as the earnest or down payment until the redemption of the purchased possession.
In context, the glory is future and will be revealed in believers. Les connects it with the complete redemption of the believer — body, soul, and spirit — so that the whole person is made ready for eternity.
Romans 8:22 says the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. Les says all creation is waiting for the day when believers receive redeemed bodies and are ushered into the rule and reign of Christ, and in that day the curse will be lifted.
Paul defines it as 'the redemption of our body.' Les stresses this is not the redemption of the soul, which already happened at salvation; it is the future redemption of the physical body.
At the moment of salvation the soul and spirit are saved, but the body remains unredeemed. God has put the Holy Spirit in believers as His down payment, guaranteeing that one day the body will be reunited with the soul and spirit so the believer is a complete entity for eternity.
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