1 God ordained us unto sonship,
Ere creation's work was done,
To conform us by His Spirit
To the image of His Son;
That His only dear Begotten
Might become the firstborn One,
And by Him with many brethren
His expression full be won.
2 By divine regeneration
We the sons of God became,
But we must mature to fullness,
Thus the birthright to obtain.
Born and fully grown to manhood,
God's adoption we may share;
By the measure of full stature,
We God's sonship will declare.
3 All our spirit, soul and body
Unto Christ conformed must be;
This will be accomplished fully
When our glorious Lord we see.
By our body's full redemption
Shall adoption be complete;
By the final transformation
All God's purpose we shall meet.
4 By that final transformation,
We'll be fully sanctified;
God will bring us into glory,
With His Son identified.
All creation is expecting
Sons of God revealed to be,
That they might be freed from bondage
Into glorious liberty.