What could be more wonderful than to realize that we have been predestined "unto the adoption of sons by Jesus Christ to Himself" (Eph. 1:5).
The word "children" in the Authorized Version is out of harmony with Paul's idea of adoption, and so is the preposition "of." The Greek. word "huiothesia," denoting "sonship," is used instead of "children." "Adoption of children" is acceptable to the English mind, where we think of children as the subjects of adoption. But Paul is speaking of "born ones" who are destined to a place of full maturity, responsibility, and authority in the family of God.
Paul had the ear of a poet and a seer. "We know," he says, "that all creation groaneth and travaileth." He sees nature as unsatisfied -- the thunders are complaining, the rolling years are moaning, the winds are wailing, and the flowers are withering. Something must happen.
"For (even the whole) creation (all nature) waits expectantly and longs earnestly for God's sons to be made known -- waits for the revealing, the disclosing of their sonship " (Rom. 8:19 Ampl.)
Creation here can only mean the world of nature. It cannot mean the sons of God, for they are that which is awaited. It cannot mean the evil world system, because none of it will share in the glory. It cannot mean the angels, because they are not described in the creation story. There is only one possible meaning. It is this: the physical, material world of plants, animals and earth which God has made as the habitation of His family, groans and suffers along with us under a condition of mortality and corruption.
Not only so! "... we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, are groaning within ourselves, waiting for the adoption" (the placing in full sonship). For while we know we are God's children, we are waiting for the son's robe. Our robes are now ragged. This corruptible body is not good enough for sons, we are waiting for the redemption of the body. Until sonship is complete we rejoice to be in the family; and while we are able to say "Hallelujah," there is ever another cry, "Even so, come (quickly) Lord Jesus."
The Phillips' version says, "It is plain to anyone with eyes to see that at the present time all created life groans in a sort of universal travail. And it is plain, too, that we who have the foretaste of the Spirit are in a state of tension, while we wait for that redemption of our bodies which will at last mean we have REALIZED OUR FULL SONSHIP IN HIM" (Rom. 8:23).
DeVern Fromke