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.