Sons of God Rom. 8:14- 25 CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO

When we get saved we become the sons of God [Jn 1:12] through our new birth in Jesus Christ.  Our birth as sons of God involves three things that are discussed in the middle of Rom 8.  These three things are our adoption, our inheritance and our redemption.  As sons of God we receive:

Our adoption – Rom 8:14-16 we are not children of God by our natural birth; we are children of Adam [1 Cor 15:22] and children of the devil [Eph 2:2-3].  There are only two spiritual families in the earth: the children of the devil and the children of God [1 Jn 3:10].  When you get saved you are bought by God [1 Cor 6:20] and adopted into his family.

From the time of your salvation, you are led by the Spirit of God [Rom 8:14; Gal 5:18].  You are not always obedient to his leadership but he is there to lead you and you are to follow his leadership.  His leads gently [Gal 5:22-23].  When you are feeling “pushed,” that is not the Lord.  It may be pressure you have put on yourself or it may be the devil.

Before we were saved we were in the spirit of bondage [Rom 8:15] because we were bound by the law.  But now we are delivered from the law [Rom 7:4, 6] and we are adopted into the family of God [Gal 4:5; Eph 1:5].  Thus we call the Lord “Father,” or “Abba” if we are Jews.  Before our salvation, we were governed by fear [Rom 8:15].  But now, God hath not given us the spirit of fear [2 Tim 1:7].  Religions keep you in bondage by fear (that something “bad” is going to happen to you if you don’t adhere to their dictates and rituals).

According to Rom 8:16 the Spirit of God bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.  Likewise, if you are not saved, the Spirit of God and your own spirit cannot bear witness that you are God’s child.  On several occasions we have seen adults, who thought they had gotten saved in their youth, respond to the gospel because there was no witness of the Spirit to their salvation.  After receiving Jesus the Spirit has borne witness to their adoption ever since.

Our inheritance – Rom 8:17 – because we are the children of God we are also his heirs.  Jesus is the heir of God, as his only begotten Son [Matt 21:38].  Therefore, we are joint-heirs with him [Gal 4:7].  A part of our inheritance (like our mansion in heaven) is guaranteed to us [Eph 1:11].  We get it by virtue of the fact that we are God’s children.  But another part is conditional upon us suffering with Christ [Acts 14:22; Phil 1:29].  Our reign with him [Rev 5:10; Lk 19:16-24] could be forfeited, for instance, if we refuse to suffer with him [2 Tim 2:12].  See also Col 3:24-25.

Our redemption – Rom 8:18-25 – though we suffer here in the earth, the glory of the Lord will be revealed in us in eternity [Rom 8:18].  Our bodies will be glorified at the rapture [Phil 3:21; Rom 8:29].  At that time, the sufferings will seem like nothing compared to the glory.

In Rom 8:19-22, we see that all of creation which was affected by the curse of sin is waiting for the “manifestation” of the sons of God.  That is we are sons of God now [1 Jn 3:1-2] but our son-ship will be evident to all when we are in our glorified bodies.  The creatures earnestly expect our manifestation because, at that time, the peace of Jesus will be in the earth and will lift much of the effect of the curse upon them [Is 11:6-9; 65:25].  The creatures shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into our glorious liberty.  In the meantime, the whole creation groans and travails in pain.  That’s why all things created will be singing and praising God at the coming of the Lord [Ps 98:7-8; Ps 148:7-13; Ps 150:6; Rev 5:13].

In Rom 8:23-25, like all of creation, those of us who have the Spirit groan within ourselves waiting for the redemption of our body.  We are redeemed now [Gal 3:13] but our bodies haven’t been redeemed and won’t be until the rapture.  Hence we are saved by hope as we wait for our Saviour [Titus 2:13] and our glorified bodies [1 Thes 4:16-18; 1 Cor 15:50-55].  We wait patiently for that which we have not yet seen [2 Cor 4:17-18].

Conclusion: Our adoption, inheritance and redemption are things that were not given to us under the law.  They are great reasons to live for the Lord as the children of God.  These things are unique to those of us who are in Christ Jesus.