Romans 8, part 5

Continuing the study in Romans chapter 8.

Romans 8, part 5: The Revelation of the Sons of God

Romans 8:19

Verse 19: For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.

Q: What is it that this verse says is waiting? How is it waiting? What is it waiting for?

This verse begins with the word "For" which leads us to consider what was just stated before verse 19. In verse 18, Paul says that he doesn't consider the sufferings of this present life worthy to be compared with the glory that is going to be revealed to us (meaning God's children).

Next, he now states that the creation waits with eager longing for the sons of God to be revealed.

Q: What do you think it means to wait with “eager longing”? What do you think it means by saying that God's sons are going to be revealed?

In Romans

To understand this, we can look at some other passages that will help us.
1. Psalm 132:11-12
2. Isaiah 43:6-7
3. 1 John 3:1-2 (see 2:29 as a preliminary verse to this).
4. Revelation 19:6-8
5. Revelation 21:7


We learn from these passages, that the sons and daughters of God are those who have a covenant (an agreement) with God. This covenant is that if they keep God's covenant with them and the testimonies that God would teach them, that they would sit forever on the throne with Christ. This means they will reign in the kingdom of God as God's sons and as co-rulers of the creation of God with Christ.

We also see that those whom God has chosen by grace to be His very own sons and daughters are called from all over the earth to be made for the glory of God.

We see that they are not known by the world, but are going to appear in the very same image of Christ when He appears. In an amazing way by the grace of God, they will be like Christ, the Son of God. In Luke 20:36, Jesus said they will be equal to the angels and are sons of God in the resurrection.

We see glimpses of this being fulfilled in Revelation 19, where the people of God are called the Bride of the Lamb and are clothed in beautiful garments of righteous deeds.

Revelation 21:7 gives the promise to all who conquer, that they will be God's very own Sons. This victory or conquest is also referred to as overcoming the world by faith that Jesus is indeed the very Son of God (1 John 5:4-5).

So Paul says in Romans 8:19 that the creation itself is waiting eagerly, longing for the day when this will happen.

In the verses that follow, Paul will explain how this hope of the revealing of God's true children is being worked out.

For now, consider some things:
1. What does it mean to be a son of God?

2. How is it important to me to know whether I am truly a son of God?

3. How can I become a son of God?

4. What hope do they have who are the sons of God, and what hope do they have who are not His children?

5. The only begotten Son of God came into the world to redeem God's chosen children, is this what I base my life on? Do I seek to know God's only begotten Son and to serve Him in humble fear and worship all the days of my life? Do I love Him so that I can say that my life belongs totally to Him and His service?

Remember who it was that God sent to die for us. Who it was who rose to conquer death and sin and hell.. and who it is who is coming again to bring God's children home.

See 1 Thessalonians 1:10
1Th 1:8 For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything.
1Th 1:9 For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,
1Th 1:10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.