Reading and meditation on Chapter 8 of the Letter to the Romans:
This chapter answers the question: who are the sons of God? The sons of God are the sons of the Kingdom—to use Christ’s expression from Matthew 13—represented by the fine seed, that Christ sowed in the world; meanwhile, the bad seed, which produces weeds, represents those sown by the devil (Matthew 13:24–30). In his explanation of the parable, Jesus Christ explicitly states that it is he who sows the sons of the Kingdom (Matthew 13:36–43). Thus, the sons of the Kingdom, or sons of God, are directly identified by Jesus Christ. These sons of the Kingdom—or sons of God—are baptized with water and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11). The concept of a heavenly or earthly hope does not come into play when reading and analyzing Chapter 8 of the Letter to the Romans.
Knowing who the sons of God are, the context of Romans chapter 8, gives an answer in order to know if, the status of « son of God » is only reserved only for a category of Christians, for example, those who have the heavenly hope of being one of the 144000, or to all Christians, including those who are an earthly hope (Apocalypse 7:1-8 (144000); 7:9- 17 (the great crowd coming out of the great tribulation). In order for the reader to check by himself, the context reveals two important points:
1 – The apostle Paul does not speak at any time directly, of two categories of Christians, but rather of two categories of humans, those who live according to fleshly desires and those (the faithful Christians) who live by being led by the Holy Spirit.
2 – The apostle Paul does not evoke the hope of everlasting life, by directly making a difference between everlasting life in heaven and everlasting life in the future earthly paradise.
“Therefore, those in union with Christ Jesus have no condemnation. 2 For the law of the spirit that gives life in union with Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3 What the Law was incapable of doing because it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and concerning sin, condemning sin in the flesh, 4 so that the righteous requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us who walk, not according to the flesh, but according to the spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the spirit, on the things of the spirit. 6 For setting the mind on the flesh means death, but setting the mind on the spirit means life and peace; 7 because setting the mind on the flesh means enmity with God, for it is not in subjection to the law of God, nor, in fact, can it be. 8 So those who are in harmony with the flesh cannot please God. 9 However, you are in harmony, not with the flesh, but with the spirit, if God’s spirit truly dwells in you. But if anyone does not have Christ’s spirit, this person does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in union with you, the body is dead because of sin, but the spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If, now, the spirit of him who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also make your mortal bodies alive through his spirit that resides in you” (verses 1-11).
In verses 1 to 8, the apostle Paul describes those who walk according to the flesh: « For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the spirit, on the things of the spirit » (verse 5). This verse sums up very well, the contrast between these two categories of humans, those who live according to fleshly desires, and those who live led by the holy spirit.
In verses 9 to 11, he is describing those who are « sons of God », by adoption, with the difference between the two categories of humans, in a different way: « However, you are in harmony, not with the flesh, but with the spirit, if God’s spirit truly dwells in you. But if anyone does not have Christ’s spirit, this one does not belong to him » (verse 9).
More concretely, those who walk according to the flesh manifest the fruits of the flesh, and the sons of God who walk according to the Spirit manifest the fruits of the Spirit, described in Galatians: » Now the works of the flesh are plainly seen, and they are sexual immorality, uncleanness, brazen conduct, 20 idolatry, spiritism, hostility, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, dissensions, divisions, sects, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and things like these. I am forewarning you about these things, the same way I already warned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit God’s Kingdom. 22 On the other hand, the fruitage of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, 23 mildness, self-control. Against such things there is no law » (Galatians 5:19-23).
“So, then, brothers, we are under obligation, not to the flesh to live according to the flesh; 13 for if you live according to the flesh, you are sure to die; but if you put the practices of the body to death by the spirit, you will live. 14 For all who are led by God’s spirit are indeed God’s sons. 15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery causing fear again, but you received a spirit of adoption as sons, by which spirit we cry out: “Abba, Father!” 16 The spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 If, then, we are children, we are also heirs—heirs indeed of God, but joint heirs with Christ—provided we suffer together so that we may also be glorified together” (verses 12-17).
Verse 17 seems to be applied to the 144,000: « If, then, we are children, we are also heirs: heirs indeed of God, but joint heirs with Christ, provided we suffer together that we may also be glorified together » . When the Apostle Paul wrote that those who are sons of God, are as heirs with Christ, he seems to refer to the heavenly hope to live with Jesus Christ (even if he is not directly mentioned) (see Apocalypse 14:1-5, the 144000 on Mount Sion (in the heavens), with King Jesus Christ). In addition, the previous verses seem to describe this process which allows a Christian, to know that he has the heavenly hope (to be heirs with Christ): « For you did not receive a spirit of slavery causing fear again, but you received a spirit of adoption as sons, by which spirit we cry out: “Abba, Father!” The spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are God’s children » (verses 15,16). At this stage of the study, the question that arises, is the following, if the apostle Paul applies the expression « sons of God », to the heirs with Christ (the 144000), does it not apply to all Christians who live led by spirit, and who have the earthly hope? Let us read the context of Romans 8:
“For I consider that the sufferings of the present time do not amount to anything in comparison with the glory that is going to be revealed in us. 19 For the creation is waiting with eager expectation for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but through the one who subjected it, on the basis of hope 21 that the creation itself will also be set free from enslavement to corruption and have the glorious freedom of the children of God. 22 For we know that all creation keeps on groaning together and being in pain together until now. 23 Not only that, but we ourselves also who have the firstfruits, namely, the spirit, yes, we ourselves groan within ourselves while we are earnestly waiting for adoption as sons, the release from our bodies by ransom. 24 For we were saved in this hope; but hope that is seen is not hope, for when a man sees a thing, does he hope for it? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we keep eagerly waiting for it with endurance” (verses 18-25).
According to the context of Romans 8, can be called « son of God » by being simply heir of God, without necessarily being a joint heir with Christ like the 144000: « If, then, we are children, we are also heirs: heirs indeed of God » (verse 17).
The very fact that the apostle Paul added, « but joint heirs with Christ », seems to support the idea that the « heirs of God » represent the whole of obedient humanity and the « joint heirs with Christ », in this context, regarding the 144000. It is completely logical, always according to the context of Romans 8, to consider the faithful Christians having earthly hope, as « sons of God » who will be his heirs, in view of everlasting life. It should be recalled that in Romans 8, the apostle Paul wrote that the « sons of God » are who live led by spirit, and this is quite the case of the faithful Christians who have the earthly hope. In addition, if it is obvious that the expression of « joint heirs with Christ » has a restrictive meaning in Romans (8:12-17), applying only to the 144000, this expression can be applied currently to the faithful Christians who have the earthly hope, in the broad sense of Luke 23:43: « You will be with me in paradise ». The currently faithful Christians who have the earthly hope, will be, in a broad sense, « joint heirs with Christ », because they will be with Jesus Christ in paradise…
Finally, it is also good to remember how the Model Prayer begins: « Our Father in heaven » (Matthew 6:9)… If Jesus Christ asked his disciples to begin this prayer with the expression « Our Father », it is well proof that God will not wait a thousand years to consider, right away, that the faithful Christians who have the earthly hope, are their sons, the sons of God… « For all who are led by God’s spirit are indeed God’s sons »(Romans 8:14). All Christians baptized with water and the Holy Spirit, regardless of their hope of everlasting life (in heaven or on earth), are sons of God.
« For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but through the one who subjected it, on the basis of hope » (verse 20).
The One who subjected the creation to futility on the basis of hope is God. In the narrative of Genesis, in chapter 3, we read that Satan the devil rebelled against God. Adam and Eve followed him in this rebellion. Afterward, God pronounced the following judgment:
« Then Jehovah God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this, you are the cursed one out of all the domestic animals and out of all the wild animals of the field. On your belly you will go, and you will eat dust all the days of your life. 15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your offspring and her offspring. He will crush your head, and you will strike him in the heel.”
16 To the woman he said: “I will greatly increase the pain of your pregnancy; in pain you will give birth to children, and your longing will be for your husband, and he will dominate you.”
17 And to Adam he said: “Because you listened to your wife’s voice and ate from the tree concerning which I gave you this command, ‘You must not eat from it,’ cursed is the ground on your account. In pain you will eat its produce all the days of your life. 18 It will grow thorns and thistles for you, and you must eat the vegetation of the field. 19 In the sweat of your face you will eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For dust you are and to dust you will return”” (Genesis 3:14-19).
It is through this irrevocable judgment that God subjected the creation—that is, the descendants of Adam—to futility and death (Romans 5:12; 6:23). Nevertheless, the verse 15, shows that there is hope for these descendants.
What is the message of this prophetic enigma? Jehovah God informs that his purpose to populate the earth with a righteous humanity will surely be fulfilled (Genesis 1:26-28). God will redeem the humanity through the « offspring of the woman » (Genesis 3:15).
“In like manner, the spirit also joins in with help for our weakness; for the problem is that we do not know what we should pray for as we need to, but the spirit itself pleads for us with unuttered groanings. 27 But the one who searches the hearts knows what the meaning of the spirit is, because it is pleading in harmony with God for the holy ones” (verses 26,27).
Sometimes, when we pray to our Heavenly Father, we cannot find the words to express our request—offering, at most, mere groanings. Yet, as Jesus Christ said, God knows what we mean even before we try to voice it, even if it amounts to nothing more than groanings: » Your Father knows what you need even before you ask him » (Matthew 6:8). In the following statement, we see that God and His Son Jesus Christ will always look with favor upon the sons of God who strive to the best of their ability to do His will:
“We know that God makes all his works cooperate together for the good of those who love God, those who are the ones called according to his purpose; 29 because those whom he gave his first recognition he also foreordained to be patterned after the image of his Son, so that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 Moreover, those whom he foreordained are the ones he also called; and those whom he called are the ones he also declared to be righteous. Finally those whom he declared righteous are the ones he also glorified. 31 What, then, are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who will be against us? 32 Since he did not even spare his own Son but handed him over for us all, will he not also, along with him, kindly give us all other things? 33 Who will file accusation against God’s chosen ones? God is the One who declares them righteous. 34 Who will condemn them? Christ Jesus is the one who died, yes, more than that the one who was raised up, who is at the right hand of God and who also pleads for us” (verses 28-34).
The conclusion of this eighth chapter offers wonderful encouragement, showing that as long as we strive our best to be faithful to God and His Son—as sons of God—His love for us will remain unshakable; He will never abandon us:
“Who will separate us from the love of the Christ? Will tribulation or distress or persecution or hunger or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 Just as it is written: “For your sake we are being put to death all day long; we have been accounted as sheep for slaughtering.” 37 On the contrary, in all these things we are coming off completely victorious through the one who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life nor angels nor governments nor things now here nor things to come nor powers 39 nor height nor depth nor any other creation will be able to separate us from God’s love that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (verses 35-39).
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Table of contents of the http://yomelyah.fr/ website
Reading the Bible daily, this table of contents contains informative Bible articles (Please click on the link above to view it)…
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