Michael Tinsley Supporter Retired Army veteran. Love my Bible (Jesus) and fishing.

If you begin with Romans 8:18, 'I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.', you will see that Paul is talking about our future, glorious, incorruptible bodies he explains more about in 1 Corinthians 15:51-55.

Continuing on in Romans 8:19, 'For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. ' 

He then provides detail in Romans 8:20-21, 'For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.'

He completes the explanation in Romans 8:22-23, ' For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.'

Paul was talking about our resurrection bodies, our future physical, mental, and spiritual perfection. 

Taken out of context, Romans 8:19 can be said to mean most anything and it has happened in the past that some people thought it to mean the perfection of the Church (we, the members of) on Earth which will give us tremendous powers of the Spirit to manifest all over the world.

Reference link: https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/smith_chuck/c2000_Rom/Rom_008.cfm?a=1054019

That is why taking just a part of scripture out of the text can lead to serious misunderstandings. Many cults use this practice, like those who practice snake handling.

For us however, reading through to completion of Paul's message, he gives us the answer he meant us to receive and understand.

July 15 2016 • 3 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Tim Maas Supporter Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

In my opinion, the phrase "sons of God" in this verse is a reference to all of the redeemed (regardless of gender). 

As Paul said in the verse immediately preceding the verse cited in the question (Romans 8:18), Christians are enduring "present sufferings" in the form of rejection, hardship, and persecution in this life. By undergoing this, they are sharing in the same sufferings that Jesus endured on earth. 

However, Paul also notes in the same verse that, regardless of how difficult these trials can be to endure, they are too small to even be compared to the glorification in God's presence that awaits believers when Christ returns -- sharing then in the same glory that the risen Christ now possesses in heaven. 

It is at that time that the true status of Christians will be revealed -- not as people rejected and scorned by society (as they may now seem to be to others), but as those whom God has eternally blessed, and who will have everlasting life in His presence,

July 15 2016 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Ezekiel Kimosop Supporter

Who are the sons of God mentioned in Romans 8:19 and how shall they be revealed?

My view is that the sons of God here refer to the redeemed of Christ who have been purchased by the blood of Christ (Acts 20:28-29). These saints together with Christ constitute God's divine household of which Christ is chief for He is the firstborn of all the redeemed of God who takes preeminence over all the possessions of God's family (Romans 8:29).

This is not to suggest that Christ shall dissolve into the church community in heaven but that He remains eternally God the Son, sharing fellowship with us yet full of all divine essence and therefore worthy of our worship forever. Christ shall exercise full and final possession of His church (Rev. 2:17) and no one can ever snatch the saints from His divine presence (1Thess. 5:17). 

The church is meanwhile being continually conformed to the image and likeness of Christ in preparation for this life to come. What we enjoy now is simply a deposit or down payment of the great glory that awaits us in the presence of God. 

When we come to Romans 8:28, we notice that Paul reveals with clarity that the subject of his passage of Romans 8 are believers. 

Notice the development of Paul's argument falls into two major parts in Romans 8.

First, Romans 8:1-17 speaks of the life in the Spirit, describing the newness of our regenerate life which we now have in Christ. 

Secondly, the passage of Romans 8:18-30 concerns the future glory to be revealed when Christ shall rapture His church and present it before the Father. 

Now here is the passage that in my view gives us a glimpse of this powerful revelation:

Romans 8:14-19 (NKJ) says "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs -- heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. 18 For I consider 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 creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God." 

The church may now undergo tribulations, sufferings and afflictions of various descriptions as part of God's preparation for what is to come (James 1:2-4). We may appear weak and disfigured but make no mistake, the church in its glorified state shall be full of power.

The sufferings and groanings mentioned in Romans 8:21-23 are evidence of our discomfort with this present passing world as we look forward to the full glory of what God in Christ has kept for us in heaven.

There is therefore no doubt in my mind that Paul was referring to the glorified church which shall reign with Christ as members of God's eternal household of faithful people. 

Are you a member of this great company? Only Christ's redeeming blood can connect a person to this household.

How shall we be revealed? 

We who are in Christ are the sons of God are the redeemed of the Lamb (Rev. 5:9-10) We are the betrothed to Christ who shall be married to Christ in the Marriage Feast of the Lamb (Rev. 19). This is the first revelation or unveiling of the Church. The church will also reign with Christ for a thousand years (Rev. 20:4) until Satan, the great enemy of God's people, and his followers, shall be vanquished forever and dispatched to the lake of fire (Rev. 20:10-15). 

Rev. 21:23-22:6 describes the blissful life that awaits the saints of God in heaven where neither sun nor moon shall be required for the Lamb Himself shall by His glory give us light (Rev. 21:23); nor shall the gates be locked for no thief shall enter the there. 

What a joy and privilege to be counted among the sons of God

July 15 2016 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Rotimi EWEDEMI Supporter Very keen Bible Researcher

This is a very interesting question that the answer may be quite intriguing! 

To be very direct, the sons of God referred to in Romans 8:19 are:

- The Secondary part of the Seed of the woman, Genesis 3:15; Romans 16:20; Revelation 12:17.

- The Secondary part of the Seed of ABRAHAM (through which God promised to bless all the earth), Genesis 22:18; Galatians 3:16,26-28).

- The Saints of God, whom God will give the kingdom to along with Jesus, and who will judge the world and even angels, DANIEL 2:44; 7:13-14, 18, 21-22, 26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:1-4.

- The Israel of God; spiritual Israelites (Jews), the Bride of Christ, Annointed CHRISTIANS- (the salt and light of the world, who leads others to Christ and those who take the lead in pure worship of the Almighty God through Jesus Christ his Son), Zechariah 8:23; Romans 8:15-16; Galatians 6:16; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Revelation 21:9-14.

- The "Brothers" of Jesus Christ, whose mother is Jerusalem above, Galatians 4:26.

- Those in the New Covenant that God promised through to prophet Jeremiah, Jeremiah 31:31-35, which Jesus is the mediator, Luke 22:14, 20, 28-30.

- Those that are a part of the " covenant for the kingdom", Luke 22:28-30

The little flock whom Jesus said the father has approved of giving the kingdom, Luke 12:32
- The eleven faithful apostles plus the other one are the foundation members of the Sons of God, and bride of Christ, Luke 6:12-15; Revelation 21:9-14.

- The 144,000 who are those to be sealed as "slaves of our God"; who take the lead in "speaking about God and bearing testimony about Jesus" and stand on Mount Zion with the Lamb and become kings and priest with Jesus in the kingdom of heaven, Revelation 1:5-6; 6:9-11; 12:17; 14:1-4; 20:4-6.

The Spirit-begotten sons of God must be brothers of Jesus who is the first to be Spirit- begotten. Their mother is the Woman of Genesis 3:15, whom Paul described as 'Jerusalem above". Jesus is the Primary Seed while the other sons of God constitute the secondary part. God will bless all the earth, that is, other godly humans by means of the Seed of ABRAHAM. But how?

Bible teaching show that God created mankind to live happily for ever on the earth, (Genesis 3:22), but such humans must live according to his standards. However the first human pair violated God's righteous principle under influence of Satan. That action brought the curse of God on humans: the loss of God's favour, sorrow, pain, bad government and finally death, (Genesis 3:23-24). However since God's purpose cannot but be accomplished, he himself promised a way out of the curse in Genesis 3:15 to raise up a Seed that will reverse all that Satan had done. 

That Seed, to come through Abraham's family line, will be a source of blessing for mankind. How? In that the Seed will take control of an agency, a government- the kingdom of God, which God will set up to take over rulership from Satan who is really the god/ruler of the world, (John 14:30, 12:31, 2 Corinthians 4:3-4). That Government will bring three things, among others, that humans LIKE but LACK...peace, justice, and righteousness to the earth. 

By that arrangement, God assures in Matthew 5:5; Psalms 37:8-11, 29,34; Proverbs 2:21-22 that his purpose will be fulfilled.

The sons of God will be revealed when the prophecy of Revelation 21:1-4 is fulfilled. All creation has been in pain till now. They are eager to see the revealing of the sons of God, in other words, the beginning of the rulership that will remove all sources of pain and sorrow and death and bring good life to them here on earth. 

The yielding to the influence of Satan brought mankind to be under his rulership, with the attendant consequences of pain, sorrow and death. The revealing of the sons of God, under the headship of Jesus Christ, will be a blessing for obedient humankind. 

All obedient mankind today look forward to the revealing of the sons of God.

February 03 2017 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report