I remember that as a young Christian in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s the doctrine of the manifestation of the sons of God was much maligned and in disrepute. Evidently a Christian teacher or two went overboard on this teaching and ended up proclaiming that they were already glorified and manifesting the fullness of Christ. If they taught this, then they were much mistaken.  All of creation still groans for the revealing of the sons of God. Consider the following words of Paul:

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 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. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 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. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. (Romans 8:18-25 ESV)

Verse 19 above actually contains the phrase “the manifestation (revealing) of the sons of God.” Thus we can see that this actually is a Biblical truth God means for us to apprehend. Yet its reality escapes most Christians. If they hear you speak of it they will call you a “God maker” and consign this doctrine to the heretical teachings of Mormonism or some other Christian cult. Romans 8, however, is not the only place in Scripture where God teaches this truth. Paul also wrote of it to the Corinthians.

20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since through a man came death, also through a man came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own group: Christ the first fruits, then those who are Christ’s at his coming,24 then the end, when he hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when he has abolished all rule and all authority and power. 25 For it is necessary for him to reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be abolished is death. 27 For “he subjected all things under his feet.”[d] But when it says “all things” are subjected, it is clear that the one who subjected all things to him is not included. 28 But whenever all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will be subjected[e] to the one who subjected all things to him, in order that God may be all in all.

…

35 But someone will say, “How are the dead raised? And with what sort of body do they come?” 36 Foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37 And what you sow is not the body which it will become, but you sow the bare seed, whether perhaps of wheat or of some of the rest. 38 But God gives to it a body just as he wishes, and to each one of the seeds its own body. 39 Not all flesh is the same, but there is one flesh of human beings, and another flesh of animals, and another flesh of birds, and another of fish, 40 and heavenly bodies and earthly bodies. But the glory of the heavenly bodies is of one kind, and the glory of the earthly bodies is of another kind. 41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars, for star differs from star in glory.

42 Thus also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruptibility. 43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 Thus also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living soul”;[j] the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 But the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. 47 The first man is from the earth, made of earth; the second man is from heaven. 48 As the one who is made of earth, so also are those who are made of earth, and as the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly.49 And just as we have borne the image of the one who is made of earth, we will also bear the image of the heavenly.

50 But I say this, brothers, that flesh and blood is not able to inherit the kingdom of God, nor can corruption inherit incorruptibility. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: we will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the blink of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For it is necessary for this perishable body to put on incorruptibility, and this mortal body to put on immortality.  (1 Corinthians 15:20-53 Lexham English Bible)

The Book of Hebrews calls this which Paul teaches both the Romans and Corinthians “bringing many sons to glory.” (Hebrews 2:10) These sons are “the children God has given me,” Jesus says in both Hebrews 2:13 and Isaiah 8:18. According to the testimony of the Book of Genesis a son bears the likeness and image of his father. This explains why God so meticulously wrote that he created every single living thing in this creation to reproduce “after its own kind” and why every living thing thus produced the seed of it progeny within itself. (Note: understanding this truth enlightens one to the evils so pervasive in today’s world of genetic manipulation, genetically modified organisms (GMO), producing plants which do not bear seeds, and all the doctrines of transhumanism.)

This leads me to state the most profound truth of all Scripture. God has used all of history to create his sons, sons made in his very likeness and image. Thus Scripture records, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God.” (Philippians 2:5-6 KJV) Is not a human son ultimately equal with his own father when he fully matures? Nevertheless, the Scripture also teaches us to obey authority. Thus children must obey their parents. Similarly, a son of God obeys his heavenly Father. Jesus perfectly portrayed this example of obedience.

Paul and the multitude of Old Testament parables also make it clear that not all human beings on the earth become a son of God. This does not mean that God consigns the rest of mankind to endless torment in an eternal hell. It simply means that unbelievers, evil men, and unfaithful Christians make up different groups within God’s eternal kingdom. We do not yet see their ultimate place in God’s plan. Knowing this, though, helps us to understand Paul’s following words:

6 But it is not as if the word of God had failed. For not all those who are descended from Israel are truly Israel, 7 nor are they all children because they are descendants of Abraham, but “In Isaac will your descendants be named.”[b] 8 That is,it is not the children by human descent[c] who are children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as descendants. 9 For the statement of the promise is this: “At this time I will return and Sarah will have[d] a son.”[e]10 And not only this, but also when[f] Rebecca conceived children by one man,[g] Isaac our father— 11 for although they[h]had not yet been born, or done anything good or evil, in order that the purpose of God according to election might remain, 12 not by works but by the one who calls—it was said to her, “The older will serve the younger,”[i] 13 just as it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”[j]

God’s Sovereign Choice to Show Mercy

14 What then shall we say? There is no injustice with God, is there?[k] May it never be! 15 For to Moses he says, “I will have mercy on whomever I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I have compassion.”[l] 16 Consequently therefore, it does not depend on the[m] one who wills or on the one who runs, but on God who shows mercy. 17 For the scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very reason I have raised you up, so that I may demonstrate my power in you, and so that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”[n] 18 Consequently therefore, he has mercy on whomever he wishes, and he hardens whomever he wishes.

19 Therefore you will say to me, “Why then does he still find fault? For who has resisted[o] his will? 20 On the contrary, O man, who are you who answers back to God? Will what is molded say to the one who molded it, “Why did you make me like this”?[p] 21 Or does the potter not have authority over the clay, to make from the same lump a vessel that is for honorable use[q] and one that is for ordinary use[r]? 22 And what if God, wanting to demonstrate his wrath and to make known his power, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction? 23 And he did so[s] in order that he could make known the riches of his glory upon vessels of mercy that he prepared beforehand for glory, 24 us whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles? 25 As he also says in Hosea,

27 And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel,

29 And just as Isaiah foretold,

30 What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness—even the righteousness that is by faith. 31 But Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, did not attain to the law. 32 Why that? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if by works. They stumbled over the stone that causes people to stumble[y], 33 just as it is written,

Isaiah, of course, tells us that God also calls his sons “Immanuel.”