What Paul says here follows on from what he has just said about sharing in Christ's sufferings. This does not sound like good news. I like the idea of sharing in His glory, I don't like the idea of sharing in His sufferings. So how does this work?
What Paul says is that the level of suffering is as nothing compared to the level of glory. Note also that glory does not just include splendour, but also includes moral excellence and significance. In Chapter 5 Paul spoke about sufferings producing character etc. It is also true that it is those who are prepared to suffer who have a real impact on the world.
And this is not just about us, but is about the whole of creation. All of creation is waiting for the God's plans to come fruition, for the sons of God to be revealed. Ie for us to become what we were always meant to be. In Genesis 1 God told man to subdue the earth. Since we sinned against God we have failed to do this. In a sense creation is incomplete because of our sin. The whole plan of creation depended upon mankind living in trust, obedience and fellowship with God. Creation is dependent upon man.
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