The Manifestation of the Children of God – Part 1

‘For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God’ (Romans 8:19, KJV).

‘For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are’ (Romans 8:19, NLT).

Introduction

The world is waiting for God to reveal those who are His children. The important word here seems to be ‘manifestation’.

What does it mean?

It means ‘a public demonstration’; ‘an act of display’. To manifest means, ‘to be made known’, ‘to show forth’, ‘to reveal’, ‘to unravel’, etc. John. 1:12 tells us, ‘But as many as received him, to them he gave power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name’. Jesus gave ‘power to become’ = the ‘means’, ‘right’, ‘authority’, and ‘privilege’ for us to be identified as the ‘sons of God’.

Who are those referred to as ‘the sons of God’?

To be a son (or as in our theme, ‘child’), is to be the offspring of a being. We call the Almighty God, our Father ‘which art in heaven’. That is the relationship. The link between a father and his child is in their relationship. That is why bastards are not included because their ownership is always in contention. They cannot expressly manifest the nature of their father.

The ‘sons of God’ are those who have a relationship with the King of all kings. How? By acknowledging His sovereignty; accepting our shortcomings; confessing and regretting our sinful nature; and surrendering and dedicating our lives to Him (1 John. 5:1-5).

The whole purpose of Jesus’ coming to this earth was not just to save the lost, but to restore us to our rightful place as the children of God which we have become by virtue of the indwelling spirit of God (Romans 8:16). To manifest as a child of God involves the bringing to light, the nature, character, personality, and attributes of the Almighty God. God wants mankind to come to the knowledge of His person through His sons (Habakkuk 2:14).

As teenagers, you may be pointing at others to ‘show forth’ their ‘christian-ness’; expecting others to do all the work required; and be all the ‘goody-two-shoes’. The reality? You are part of the “others”. You were created by the Almighty God, just like the others. You are part of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20), just like the others. And you are the ‘Bible people are reading’, just like the others. The world is looking forward to your divine manifestation. Remember, you are a child of God!!!