Introduction
Most religions, including some expressions of Christianity, give no certainty that what they teach about a person’s eternal future will actually happen for their followers. They can give no personal assurance about anyone’s eternity.
Such religions usually teach that a person must keep doing, keep trying, keep thinking the right way, etc. If there is a god involved, that god must decide what to do with each person based on uncertain standards once it is too late to change anything anyone has done.
We are going to learn that Biblical Christianity is very different when it comes to giving assurance to those who’ve trusted Jesus as their Savior.
Last week we learned that the Holy Spirit is the answer to our personal holiness problem. He enables us to put to death the sinful deeds of our body. This week, as we continue in Romans 8, we will learn that the Holy Spirit has been given to us to give us assurance that we are God’s children.
According to what we’ll study today, there us no reason for a Christian to wonder if he/she is genuinely a child of God. The Holy Spirit is here to give us assurance.
I. The of God’s children, 14
Those who are by the Holy Spirit
Led – not just direction, but life by the Holy Spirit.
The word ‘led’ summarizes all the inner workings of the Holy Spirit already mentioned:
in the Spirit, 4
Having our mind set on the , 5
to God and his Law, 7
Experiencing the of the Holy Spirit, 11
by the Holy Spirit, 13
We can know if we are God’s child, and we can discern if others are God’s children by whether or not we and others , whether we and they are experiencing the life of the Holy Spirit, are walking in the Holy Spirit, are subduing sin through the Holy Spirit, and are focusing their lives and thoughts on spiritual things.
Those led by the Spirit are God’s children.
II. The of God’s children, 15a
We mustn’t be confused about how we become God’s children.
Some speak of as being a child of God. The Bible teaches that human beings are made in the image of God, but that are his children.
Some might think that being led by the Holy Spirit makes a person his child. This isn’t what Paul is saying. Being led by the Holy Spirit is of being God’s child but it isn’t anyone becomes God’s child.
How does a person become God’s child?
Through spiritual , 15a
Adoption – a Roman practice whereby someone who is not naturally a son is made one legally.
“Adoption usually occurred when a wealthy adult had no heir for his estate. He would then adopt someone as heir—it could be a child, a youth, or an adult. The moment adoption occurred, several things were immediately true of the new son.
First, his old and legal obligations were paid;
second, he got a new and was instantly of all the father had;
third, his new father became instantly for all his actions (his debts, crimes, etc); but
fourth, the new son also had new to honor and please his father.”
III. The of God’s children, 15b, 17
1. We call God “”, 15b
This was the special name Jesus used in relationship to God.
Mark 14:36
God’s children have the privilege of using the same intimate name for God that Jesus used in one of his most trying moments.
In the book of Galatians, Paul told the Christians there that
Galatians 4:6
One of the ministries of the Holy Spirit is to reveal to us our changed relationship to God. He is our Abba, our Father.
2. We become God’s , 17
Just as an adopted son in Rome became the heir of his adopting father, so when we become God’s children through saving faith in Jesus, we become God’s heirs. Of course, God isn’t going to die so we can inherit, but as his heir we have now, and one day will receive a set aside for us. As the apostle Peter said:
1 Peter 1:3–5
In trying to encourage the Colossian Christians to continue to work diligently no matter who they worked for he reminded them of the inheritance they would receive as their ultimate reward:
Colossians 3:23–24
We are privileged as God’s children to have an inheritance waiting for us in heaven. Regardless of whether we are rewarded on earth for anything we do, . As God’s children we are his heirs along with his Son, Jesus Christ.
3. We can share in , 17
We are God’s heirs along with Jesus, but Paul says to share in Jesus’ glory we must also suffer with him.
What does this mean?
The word translated ‘suffer with’ means to share in the same sufferings that happened to someone else. In this case that person is Jesus.
Of course, Paul doesn’t mean we must suffer crucifixion, although some Christians have suffered that, but he means the sufferings that Jesus went through because of and because of .
(MULTILINE)
Those who are truly God’s children will suffer the same sorts of things.
(MULTILINE)
They might suffer physically like Paul did, but that isn’t necessarily what Paul means. He is referring to the sufferings that occur because we to Jesus, for Jesus, Jesus, and as Jesus did.
In the future these sufferings will be more than overshadowed by the glory we’ll share with Jesus someday.
Romans 8:18
That Paul expected suffering as a part of being a born-again Christian is plain.
Acts 14:21–22
Genuine believers will suffer with Jesus, but that should not discourage them. They will one day share a that cannot compare to the things they have suffered for Jesus’ sake.
IV. The of God’s children, 16
1. We have a witness within , 16
This inner witness is produced by and accompanied with:
2. We have the witness of , 16
How does the Holy Spirit do this? How do we experience this ministry of the Holy Spirit?
He produces an certainty that we are God’s children. It isn’t a special feeling. It is something inside of us that we just know or sense. It is the assurance, certainty, and unshakable conviction that we are God’s children.
There will be times when we don’t act like God’s children, but God doesn’t say what certainty comes from looking at our , but from looking with, to the of the Holy Spirit.
The spiritual birthright of every born-again believer is the that he or she is God’s child that he or she is eternally saved. This is the precious work of the Holy Spirit who has been given to us..
CONCLUSION
If you are struggling with assurance of your salvation, don’t look to your feelings, your performance, or your sincerity, but to the and of the Holy Spirit within you. Believe what God’s Word says about salvation and then believe what the Holy Spirit is trying to say within you. You can be certain that you are God’s child if you have recieved Jesus as your personal savior.