The Whole Creation Groans Waiting

Next Part When the Inheritance and When Born Again?

The Whole Creation Groans Waiting

Before continuing, consider an important verse about another related aspect of salvation few understand. We have seen that Christians await a truly awesome salvation. But the whole creation also intensely awaits the appearance of many new Sons to be added to God’s Family.

Carefully read the following: “For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God; for the creation [all things in the known universe] was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the glorious liberty of the children of God. We know that the whole creation [everything] has been groaning in travail together until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves [Christians], who have the firstfruits of the Spirit [the FEW now called], groan inwardly as we wait for [birth] as sons” (Rom. 8:19-23, RSV).

All future “children of God” will liberate a creation now in bondage. A decayed and wounded earth, moon and stars will soon be renewed and returned to a state of beauty, harmony and tranquility under the leadership of Christ and God’s other children. This is part of your calling.

Continuing in Hebrews 2:1-18, notice that Christ “is not ashamed to call them brethren [the other many sons—US]” (Heb 2:11). Truly, the begotten Christian has been called to “glory” and to be one of “many sons.” Christ’s suffering and sacrifice allow Him to be the “Captain of their salvation”—and potentially yours.

What an incredible future for those whom Christ “calls…brethren.” Notice again: “For both He that sanctifies [Christ] and they who are sanctified [begotten Christians] are all of one: for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brethren” (Heb 2:11).

There will be no difference between Christ and His younger brothers and sisters, except that He will have greater authority.

Do you see what is described here? The Christian goal is to be born into the kingdom of God—to become a spirit being ruling with Christ. What could be more wonderful—more glorious—to look forward to?

The cherished traditions and fables of men, about life after death, or about anything else, have absolutely no worth, and this includes the fiction that deceived millions believe of a supposed “born again experience” in this life. The truth of the Bible is the only knowledge of permanent worth. Christians, having come out of a deceived, confused world, are set apart from the world by the truth (John 17:17).

If Christ is “not ashamed to call them (us) brethren,” then we, God’s begotten sons, must not be ashamed to defend the very truth that sanctifies us—and the truth of the gospel (Phil. 1:17). We must “grow up” unto Christ (Eph. 4:13) and hold to the true doctrines of God. We must qualify to stand beside Christ over “all things.” We must understand the truth about being born again!

Christ the Only Begotten Son—How?

A number of Old Testament servants of God had His Spirit before it was given to the New Testament Church. It was only by God’s Spirit that the Old Testament prophets recorded the Scriptures: “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (II Pet. 1:21).

Also, King David had God’s Spirit. After his adultery with Bathsheba, he poured out his heart in prayer asking God for forgiveness, and that he could continue to have the Holy Spirit within him: “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Your presence; and take not Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of your salvation; and uphold me with your free Spirit” (Psa. 51:10-12).

These verses are quite clear. And we could cite numerous others to demonstrate that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob will enter the kingdom. God’s Spirit was certainly dwelling in these men, but they were not—and are not—yet born into the kingdom.

Numerous judges and pre-flood preachers, along with many other prophets, were begotten of God exactly as Christians are today. But they have also not yet “entered into” (John 3:5) the kingdom.

This question then arises: If these men were also begotten of the Holy Spirit, how could Christ be called “the only begotten Son of God”? The answer is quite simple. Christ was the only person begotten by the Father in heaven directly in a human womb. No other person has ever been born of a virgin with God as Father. In this sense, Christ was the only begotten Son of God.

Hebrews 11:39-40 proves that the prophets and patriarchs are still awaiting their birth into the kingdom: “And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.”

The patriarchs are awaiting “us” (potentially including you)—to become “perfect,” born again, divine spirit beings in the Family of God.

Those Begotten Strive Not to Sin

The Bible is filled with many accounts of God’s greatest servants battling to overcome sin. In nearly every case, they had to learn difficult and sometimes painful lessons.

When examined collectively, Moses, Noah, David, Samuel, Peter and others fought every kind of problem known to man. Those begotten of God can still sin—and can, as seen, even commit the unpardonable sin, leading to an abortion—a miscarriage—and loss of eternal life. (Read our free booklet Just What Is “The Unpardonable Sin”? to understand when and how one may commit this sin.) Suffice to say, Christians can sin. Those born of God cannot.

John says that Christians sometimes sin. The begotten can slip up and temporarily get off track into sin. Here is how he expressed it: “If we [Christians] say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us [Christians]. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and His word is not in us…And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (I John 1:8-2:1).

This passage is most plain. The last verse (Jn 2:1) explains that Christ is our advocate—our High Priest (Heb. 4:15)—to whom we may go in time of need for forgiveness.

Paul represents a classic individual example of how one of God’s greatest servants fought to overcome sin. At the end of his life, he was able to say that he had “fought the good fight” and that he had “run his course” knowing that a “crown” awaited him. But this did not happen without much effort to defeat, through war, the human nature that he strove to overcome.

Carefully read Romans 7:14-23. It will educate and encourage you that you are not alone on your path to overcoming Satan, society and self—all of which lead to sin!

Paul said, “For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal [physical, made of flesh], sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I” (Rom 7:14-15). He continued, “for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would [do] I do not: but the evil which I would not [do], that I do” (Rom 7:18-19).

It was as though whatever Paul did or did not want to do, his human nature, his flesh, caused him to do exactly the opposite! Why? God inspired him to record the answer for us: “I find then a law, that, when I would [try to] do good, evil is present with me…But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin” (Rom 7:21, 23).

Paul went on to add that only through the power of Christ’s mind in him was he able to overcome and obtain final victory to keep God’s law, rather than obeying sin. Only in this way could Paul later say that he had “fought the good fight” and had “run his course” to victory.

Understand that Christianity is an all-out war! But Christians should expect to win, as long as they remain close to God to obtain strength for overcoming.

God looks on the intent of your heart. It is your overall desire and motivation that is important to Him. He wants to know if, after you sin, you are sorry for it and are determined to strive to do better. Hebrews 4:15 states that Christ “was in all points tempted like as we are.” Christ understands the temptations that beset us even better than we do. He watches to see if we will be sober and vigilant as we root sin out of our lives.

Two Ways of Translating

In one passage a chapter later, in I John 3:1-24, gennao is used and could possibly be translated correctly in two different ways. Let’s see.

God’s character will have already been perfected in those He “quickens” at the resurrection. At this time, they will no longer be able to sin: “Whosoever is born of God does not commit sin; for His seed remains in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God” (I Jn 3:9).

This is a fascinating verse. It can literally be translated two different ways, both correct. Some translators render this verse as begotten instead of born, because they understand that Christians do not practice sin as a way of life. In other words, they do not habitually sin—they strive not to sin.

Now consider the second way to view this verse correctly. If one is born of God in the resurrection, then a very member of the God Family, he “cannot sin”—it is impossible! This is also true! This second explanation is almost certainly what God intended. Here is why.

Return to the beginning of the chapter and reread a verse examined earlier: “Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God…Beloved, NOW are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is” (I Jn 3:1-2).

As explained previously, a Christian is “now” a begotten “son of God.” Yet, in this life, it “does not yet appear what we shall be.” The Christian is not yet “like Him”—“as He is.”

The context in I John 3:1-24 is clearly talking about sons of God who are not yet born. By I Jn 3:9, it is apparent that what is being described is how Christians will be “like Him” at the resurrection.

In other sections, we have already covered what it means to be like God—born again!