Bible Studies

Romans 814

by Thomas Kirkpatrick
04/04/22
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“For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” (Romans 8:14)

This week we are looking at the 14^th verse of Romans chapter 8. Paul’s simple statement is that living a Spirit-guided life will manifest the follower of Jesus Christ as a son of God. In my opinion, this is the ultimate privilege to be a child of God. John the Baptist spoke of this amazing position as part of the message of his ministry. “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, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12-13)

It is an incredible feeling to be known in the Kingdom of God as one of His children. It is a high privilege for humanity to be in Heaven as a child of God. Many of this world will never receive Jesus as Lord and Savior and neither be received by Him. For the children of God, eternity is being bonded to God’s love and a brother to His grace. Today, as His children, we should be living our lives here and now as His children. As on that day, we shall be known in Heaven as God’s child, so we should also be known as a child of God on this day. The Apostle John writes that it should be obvious that Jesus is our Lord. “By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.” (1 John 3:10)

The one who led is by the Spirit of God should show evidence of that relationship he has. The evidence can be seen in the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. The Holy Spirit enters our lives and reveals things to us not before known. He has a draw on our hearts, which leads us to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Once, we were blind to the truth of God’s Word, but now the Holy Spirit has given us back our spiritual sight. This instruction from the Holy Spirit brings us to the path of salvation. “And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.” (John 16:8-11)

The Holy Spirit, who is God, is infinitely full of wisdom, He is all-powerful, and therefore He comes as a counselor whose guidance is perfect. He knows all truth and will lead us into all truth. “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.” (John 16:13)

The Holy Spirit will cause us to see how we are in the view of God’s righteousness. We will come to realize our hopeless and lost condition. As we meditate on His Word, the Spirit opens our minds and heart to the deeper meaning of God’s truths that we can repent from our former ways and grow into godly ways. We see our sin in the context of God’s purity, which reveals to us the hateful effects that sin has on our lives and how that offends God. The Holy Spirit leads us to repent from these evil ways and turn towards God’s gift of salvation by His grace.

The Holy Spirit removes the veil between Jesus that we come to know Him as the Christ and our Savior and us. “He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.” (John 16:14) The grace of God opens our hearts to know Jesus, the Son of God. Jesus came seeking to save the lost, and in the power of His Spirit, we share that calling.“But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood.” (Galatians 1:15-16)

The Holy Spirit works through our saving faith in Jesus to regenerate our minds. We no longer seek the world’s foolish wisdom and no longer abide in the sinful behaviors that deaden our souls. We become anew and live to practice holy obedience to God’s Word and compassionate love for our neighbor. “But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.” (Titus 3:4-5)

As children of God, the Christian is a person who is privileged to carry titles of responsibility. The Christians, like the Israelites, are a chosen generation belonging to God. We are His Royal Priesthood, in service to each other and to those who are seeking the truth through God’s Word. “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9)

By our servitude to Jesus, He has made us a kingdom of priests unto God His Father. He not only saved us by His shed blood but called us into His service as a priest for the glory of God. “To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood--and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father--to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (Revelation 1:5-6)

Once, we were in bondage to sin, living under the law’s curse and facing the sting of death. “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” (1 Corinthians 15:55) The Christian has been liberated by the work of Jesus on the cross. We have been freed indeed. Let us not take our hand off the plow and return to the tyranny of Satan. “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1)

Many call on God’s name at certain times in their life but fail to get an answer. They have no relationship with God; they do not know Him and have failed to enter through the Gate, His Son Jesus. The child of God through Jesus has that connection and access to God the Father. He is the only way. “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” (John 14:6). The children of God have access to the Father anytime and anywhere, and they come boldly to His throne in prayer. “This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.” Ephesians 3:11-12)

The inheritance of the Children of God is eternal and bountiful from the riches of God’s glory. When that day comes, we will be standing before Him in pure white linen clothed in the righteousness of our Savior Jesus. “See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.” (1 John 3:1-2)

In confidence, the children of God live in His light without anxiety or fear as the Holy Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God.” (Romans 8:16) The world around us, too, shall know that we are the children of God. They will see the attributes of God in us through the fruits of the Spirit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23)

Thomas N Kirkpatrick

First Baptist Church of Durant, September 27, 2018