The Daily Word of Righteousness

Fifty-two Kingdom Concepts, #48

The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. (Romans 8:19—NIV)

The Manifestation of the Sons of God

Paul stated in the Book of Romans that the creation is eagerly awaiting the revealing of the sons of God. There are believers in our day who are viewing the revealing of the sons of God as an endowment of miraculous power that will be given to us in the last days. However, I think Paul is speaking of our returning with Christ to install the Kingdom of God on the earth.

We are in the Church Age at the present time, and shall continue to be in the Church Age until the return of the Lord. This means the gifts and ministries of the Holy Spirit will continue to travail in birth pains until the members of Christ's Body come to maturity as measured by the stature of the fullness of Christ.

That the creation is bound with chains of sin and rebellion against God is evident. The consequence of such spiritual bondage is pain, insanity, uproar, sickness, bewilderment, and death. The whole planet is in an agony of torment and confusion.

What is the solution? Certainly not education. There is as much pain and bewilderment among highly educated people as there is among the uneducated. Certainly not democratic government. The United States of America is not a model of peace and righteousness. Some of our cities are in a state of near-anarchy.

The only solution to the pain of the world is the return of the Prince of Peace, the Lord Jesus Christ.

However, we may note that Paul did not say the creation is eagerly awaiting the revealing of the Son of God but of the sons of God. I do not think this statement of Paul's is emphasized enough.

The fact that the creation shall be brought into the liberty of the glory of the children of God through the revealing of the sons of God gives us a true picture of our future, and also of the demands placed on us in the present world.

If we are to return with the Lord Jesus Christ, then our concept of eternal residence in beautiful mansions in Heaven is a fairy tale.

In addition, we have some growing to do. The Christian churches in their present state are not producing many believers who are prepared to return to the earth and cause God's will to be done here as it is in Heaven.

The truth is, we have been taught that it is not essential we do God's will because we have been "saved by grace." It is not necessary we come to the stature of the fullness of Christ because we have been "saved by grace."

It is not necessary we go through fiery trials with the Lord because we have been "saved by grace."

It is not absolutely necessary we deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow the Lord Jesus each day because we have been "saved by grace."

It is not absolutely necessary we present our body a living sacrifice to God because we have been "saved by grace."

The expected result of the current teaching is spiritual babies. They do not know the Consuming Fire of Israel. The only righteousness they understand is that which is given to them with no effort on their part.

They know nothing at all about holiness, except it has something to do with the way women used to wear long dresses.

To them, God is a kindly, loving grandfather who spoils His children, making no uncomfortable demands on them.

Such is the mythical "Gentile church."

To be continued.