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Nothing is more prized than liberty: indeed he deserves not the name of a man who can ever be reconciled to slavery. But while civil liberty is so desirable, the liberty in our text is of a still more important character. This liberty we may consider as gracious, and so enjoyed by believers even now; or as glorious, and so enjoyed in the life to come. It is of the latter the apostle speaks. Let us examine —

I. THE EXCELLENCY OF THIS LIBERTY YOU will not expect a full development of it. "Eye hath not seen," etc. "It doth not yet appear what we shall be." The believer's experience is "a glory to be revealed." It may well be called glorious if we consider —

1. Its price. Many things are estimated according to their price. The chief captain obtained his freedom with a great sum (Acts 22:28); but our freedom was obtained at a much greater cost (1 Peter 1:18; Acts 20:28).

2. Its immunities. Only think from what evils it will free us.

(1)  From the powers of darkness.

(2)  From a world lying in wickedness.

(3)  From indwelling sin.

(4)  From the blindness of our understanding; from perplexity, and doubt, and uncertainty.

(5)  From anxiety, trouble, and exhausting toil.

(6)  From the body of this death, this vile body, this prison.

3. Its accesses.

(1)  To what a place will it give us access! — the palace of the King of kings.

(2)  To what society! — our own beloved connections, patriarchs, apostles, just men made perfect, angels, and Jesus.

(3)  To what entertainment! — to rivers of delight; to the marriage supper of the Lamb; to fulness of joy, and pleasures for evermore.

4. Its anticipations. What God does for His people here is but little to what He designs to do.

5. Its duration. Immortality will extend to the body as well as the soul.

II. WHO ARE THE HEIRS TO THIS LIBERTY? "The children of God."

1. By adoption, by which God admits us into His favour, and we are made the sons and daughters of the Lord Almighty.

2. By regeneration; for every Christian is a new creature, not only as to his state, but as to his nature. A new condition requires new and suitable qualities. So God makes us "meet for the inheritance of the saints in light."

3. By imitation. Christians are obedient children, not fashioning themselves according to their former lusts in their ignorance, but as He who has called them is holy, so are they holy.

III. HOW THIS GLORIOUS LIBERTY BELONGS TO THESE CHILDREN. It belongs to them —

1. Only: "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

2. Universally. It belongs to all of them without exception. There is no difference here with regard to condition or circumstances.

3. Assuredly — as sure as the promise of God; the purchase of the Redeemer; the indwelling of the Holy Spirit can make it.

4. Freely and without desert.Conclusion:

1. Let us adore and praise the goodness of God in remembering us in our low estate, and in providing for us such a glorious liberty.

2. Seek after and ascertain your title to this glorious liberty.

3. Rejoice in the hope of this glorious liberty.

4. Walk worthy of vocation.

5. Be concerned for those who are strangers to all this.

(W. Jay.)

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KJV: For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

WEB: For the creation waits with eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.