And while we admit that these words of St. Paul may be applied to individual attainment of cosmic consciousness, and not refer to an era of earth life, in which the fruits of this larger consciousness are to be gathered in the physical, yet we maintain that the argument for such an hypothesis is strong indeed.  He says: 

“For the earnest expectation of creation waiteth for the revealing of the sons of God.”

For the term “sons of God” interpret “those who have attained cosmic consciousness,” and we may readily parallel this with the many allusions to the earth’s redemption, with which history is strewn.

To “redeem” the earth is quite comparable with the idea of redeeming any part of the earth’s surface—­either as a nation, or as a tract of land—­which is not yielding the best that it is capable of.

In the cosmogony of the heavens, the planet earth may well be likened to a territory that has possibilities, but which needs cultivation; encouragement; work; to bring out its possibilities and make it a place of comfort and enlightenment.

So we have been informed—­and an understanding of deeper occultism will bear out the information—­that this earth is being made a “fit habitation for the gods” (i.e., cosmically conscious beings, to whom love is the only authority necessary).

Paul clearly alludes to the redemption of the body, as well as the continuance of the life of the soul, when he says: 

“For the creation was subject to vanity, not of its own will, but by reason of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the liberty of the glory of the children of God.  For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.  And not only so, but ourselves also, WHICH HAVE THE FIRST FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT, even we ourselves, waiting for our adoption, to wit, the redemption of the body.”

St. Paul declared that even those who had glimpsed that wonderful Illumination (which have the first fruits of the spirit), are not free from the travail of the sense-conscious world, until such time as the cycle has been completed, and those who “are already in Christ, and then they that are Christ’s at his coming,” shall have made possible the perfected creation, and brought about the reign of love on earth.

So that, when a sufficient number of souls shall have attained to this Illumination (cosmic consciousness), the “last enemy shall be overcome.”  That this present era gives promise of this hope, is evident.

The attainment of cosmic consciousness brings with it immunity from reincarnation, as a necessity—­as a law, but it does not provide against the coming of avatars—­“sons of God,” who are to “deliver Creation from the bondage of corruption.”

This also is clearly stated by Paul: 

“There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ.  For the law of the spirit of life in Christ made me free from the law of sin and death.”