Romans 8:14-17

For believers who seek to live out the righteousness of Christ they first understand that there is no return to the state of condemnation when they fail (8:1-4).  Then they set their minds on the things of the Spirit (8:5-13).   This involves a serious preoccupation with all the word of God.  But Paul also might have in mind the things he speaks of in Rom. 8:13-39.  What follows are five magnificent, substantial provisions for the believer as he lives under grace.

** Under grace we have God as our Father, 8:14-17.

·        As many as are led by the Spirit of God.  The Bible does not teach the universal fatherhood of God.  He is Creator of all but those led by His Spirit are His sons.

·        These are sons of God.  All believers, male and female, are sons.  The idea is based on the Old Testament culture where the son is heir of the family treasure.  All believers, whether male or female, are so blessed by God.

·        The spirit of bondage again to fear.  This refers to being put again under our former master.  We are not bound by the law, constantly fearful of failure and sin.

·        The Spirit of adoption.  By the Holy Spirit we have been adopted.  The Bible speaks of the believer’s sonship in two ways because both are needed to explain our wonderful provision.  We are born again by the Holy Spirit (John 1:12-13; 3:5-8).  Thus we share in the nature of God (2 Peter 1:3-4).  We have a new, spiritual life.  But our position is also one of adoption.  This emphasizes our privileged position as heirs.  This was God’s plan from the beginning (Eph. 1:5).  Both regeneration and adoption involve the Holy Spirit God gives the believer (Rom. 5:5; 8:9).

·        We cry, Abba, Father.  Abba is Aramaic for father.  The idea is that we have a deep relationship with God.  As some have said, we call him Daddy.  To be under grace is to have access to a perfect, loving, omnipotent Father.

·        The Spirit Himself bears witness.  We cannot see the Father and may wonder at times about the reality of our relationship.  So the Holy Spirit gives a deep assurance that we are, in fact, God’s children.  This work of the Spirit of God in making Christ real to the believer is always in connection with the word of God.

·        Joint-heirs with Christ.  This is truly amazing.  In Romans 6 we saw the believer’s union with Christ in salvation.  Here it is in sanctification.  We suffer in our lives and Jesus came and lived among us, suffering all our temptations (Heb. 4:15).  As joint-heirs we see that we have access to every spiritual treasure Jesus Himself had access to.  The Father who equipped Christ as His beloved Son also equips us as His sons.  What grace this is!

This is why Jesus taught us, in prayer, not to come to Him, the Son, or even to come to the Spirit, but to come to the Father (Matt. 6:5-15).  That is where the believer’s grace is found.  Likewise the Holy Spirit does not call us to Himself but reminds us that we have a Father who will provide for us richly.