8:17–21 As all the children in a human family are heirs of the father along with the oldest brother, so believers are God’s heirs in and with Christ. But receiving the inheritance that comes to us in Christ involves sharing in His suffering, the pathway to sharing in His glory (2 Cor. 4:17). “Glorified,” and “glory,” in vv. 17–21 (cf. v. 30) mean the transforming, ennobling, joy-bringing manifestation of God in one’s personal being. The glory to be revealed (v. 18) will appear as the sons of God are revealed in their new nature (v. 19), and the creation is liberated from its present state of imperfection and decay (vv. 20, 21). The revelation of this glory will more than wipe out all the harm and loss (“futility,” v. 20) that the created order has suffered as a result of Adam’s fall (Gen. 3:17). The regeneration of all things (Matt. 19:28; Acts 3:21; Rev. 21:1) in the created order corresponds to the freedom in glory (vv. 17, 18) enjoyed by the children of God.