Romans 8:19-23 For the earnest expectation of the creature waits for the manifestation of the sons of God.… I. TRUE MEN ARE THE "SONS OF GOD." What constitutes men such? 1. Negatively. (1) Not that they are mere productions of God. All creatures are His productions. (2) Not that they resemble the Divine nature. Man is spiritual, reflective, free, but so are devils. 2. Positively. (1) Moral resemblance; similarity of governing disposition. Love is the ruling element in God. All thus ruled resemble Him, whether men or archangels. (2) Filial devotion. A man may have six male offspring, and not one true son. The grand purpose of the gospel is to give men the disposition of true children. II. These sons of God ARE TO HAVE A GLORIOUS MANIFESTATION ON THIS EARTH, "Waiting for the manifestation." Glorious — 1. In the perfection of their character. The best of God's "sons" on the earth to-day are not perfect. 2. In the vastness of their numbers. These imperfect "sons of God" are comparatively few. But the manifestation will be one of countless multitudes, each perfect. They are the coming men. III. This glorious "manifestation of the sons of God" IS THE SUPREME WANT OF A SUFFERING WORLD. They are the objects of the "earnest expectation" of suffering humanity. What is the great want of the teeming millions to-day? 1. More churches? Some think so, and ecclesiastical edifices are being multiplied. But the people do not want them, and they are half empty almost everywhere. 2. More converts to conventional Christianity? This does not make true men, but formalists and hypocrites. 3. More official preachers? Preaching there should be, but it should be the preaching of the living man, not of the professional pulpiteer. 4. More religious organisations? No; they with their committees and vested interests are drag-chains on the wheels of spiritual independency and true progress. 5. More Bibles? No, there are millions lying unread and uncared for. What the suffering world profoundly longs for is the advent of true men, "sons of God." Such men will be living Bibles, editions of Him who went about doing good. (David Thomas, D.D.) Parallel Verses KJV: For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.WEB: For the creation waits with eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. |
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