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The central point of Paul’s discussion is to clarify our obligation
in light of our unique position as Children, Sons & Heirs.
See Romans 8:12
“So then, brethren, we are under
obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh—”
Today we look at the final step in the progression. We call God “Abba!
Father!”
and we are called Heirs
of God!
A. We are
Children vs.
16
Romans 8:16 “The Spirit
Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, . . .”
We see the Apostle John testifying to the same marvelous truth. The
Holy Spirit gives us life through spiritual regeneration seen here in John
1:12,13; 12 “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right
to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13
who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will
of man, but of God.”
The same indwelling bears witness with our reborn human spirit that we
are indeed children of God! Are you His child my friend? If not, listen to
what Jesus said to Nicodemus; John 3:3-8; 3 “ . . .Truly,
truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom
of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when
he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be
born, can he?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you,
unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the
kingdom of God. 6 “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and
that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 “Do not marvel that
I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 “The wind blows
where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it
comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the
Spirit.”
B. We are
Sons
vs. 15
Romans 8:15 “For you have
not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have
received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba!
Father!”
This was the subject of last weeks study. In loving grace God has
appointed us as sons. It was not a natural relationship. We were alienated
from God by sin yet by His own design He appointed us as sons! See Ephesians
1:4-6; 4 “just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the
world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5
He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself,
according to the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise of the
glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
Amen to that!
C. We are
Heirs
vs. 17
Romans 8:17 “and if
children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed
we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him.”
Lets look at what we have here. Verse
17 says:
- "if children, heirs also"
1. Not of Law: Romans 4:14 For if those
who are of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise is
nullified.
2. Heirs of Promise: Galatians 3:29 And if you belong to Christ,
then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.
1. Eternal Life: Titus 3:7 “that being justified by His grace
we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
2. Not By Status: James 2:5 “Listen, my
beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in
faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love
Him?”
3. Members of His Body: Ephesians 3:6 “to
be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members
of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through
the gospel,”
- "fellow heirs with Christ"
Hebrews 1:2 “ . . . in these last days has
spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things,
through whom also He made the world.” He is heir of all things and we
are “fellow-heirs!”
- “. . . we suffer with Him in order that we may also
be glorified with Him.”
Our suffering cannot be compared to His suffering,
yet He prayed:
John 17:24a “Father, I desire that they also,
whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am, in order that they may
behold My glory, which Thou hast given Me; . . .”
AMEN! We are fellow-heirs with God the Son,
creator and sustainer of the universe! His prayer to the Father was
that we may be where He is so that we may see and experience His GLORY
FOREVER. Are you HIS Fellow-heir?
If you have never entrusted your life to Him, why not come to Him today
for Salvation. That's the first order of business.
"And
there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven
that has been given among men, by which we must be
saved." Acts
4:12
Please contact
us if you sense your need to come to Him. We can help. (Just
click on "contact us.")
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