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.
19 For the earnest expectation of the creature [THE CREATION] waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
20 For the creature [THE CREATION] was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
21 Because the creature [THE CREATION] itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
22 For we know that the whole creation [THE CREATION] groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
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.
Agree vanity means bondage of corruption. death. Not willingly the creation was made subject to vanity and the bondage of death...man is God’s creation and unless I’m mistaken ...all of creation was cursed and in the bondage of death because of sin. That verse (imo) shows when “free will” was lost. In “unwillingly” ...it all went into the bondage of death and stand there. We love to speak of free will but there is no free will under the umbrella of death. Move here, or move there, do this or that, choose this or that...every outcome is still Death. There is a whole book devoted to the bondage of vanity. Evidence is seen all around you. There is no free will but only slavery to corruption and death and sin. From when the creation was subjected to vanity and the bondage of corruption and death ...There was no freedom. So I don’t know what you are talking about. The word speaks of vanity and emptiness and the slavery to the bondage...but the creation was also subjected to hope.
NOT WILLINGLY: Ecclesiastes 3:10 I have seen the travail,
which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.
Romans 8:20 For the creature was m
ade subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
WILLINGLY: John 10:17-18 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. [18]
No man taketh it from me, but
I lay it down of myself. I have
power to lay it down, and
I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them
gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
1 John 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and
we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
Romans 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh,
God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and
for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
by God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh...unlike when the creation was, not of its own will, subjected to vanity and the bondage of corruption...man can by the power given of God, willingly, turn from vanity and the bondage of corruption and lay down his life, and serve The living God. If any could or would do it of his own will before Christ...then why did He(God)need to lower himself ...to do what only He could do?