Adoption: Children of God

“Freedom brings an obligation. If a person lives to the fallen nature, death is his destiny. The Christian is empowered by the Holy Spirit to stop doing the sinful deeds of the body. He can mortify the flesh and its activities, and he lives.” [1]

“Do motify. Do put to death; do destroy. Sin is mortified when its power is destroyed, and it ceases to be active. The deeds of the body. The corrupt inclinations and passions, called deeds of the body, because they are supposed to have their origin in the fleshly appetites.” [2]

This functions as a period of transition whereby Paul has now proven that the Gospel (and the grace of Jesus) has completed and accomplished what the law could never do: “sanctification of the soul: the destruction of the corrupt passions of our nature, and the recovery of man to God.” [3]

APPLICATION: A child of God relies on the power of God through the Spirit to resist the inclinations of the old nature; thus, by the Spirit’s power, putting them to death. the child of God does not allow the sinful nature of the old man to have any control in his/her life.

Children of God are led by God’s Spirit. [v. 14]

This involves a complete surrender and willingness of the individual to yield their own control. Additionally, it involves an acknowledgement that to be legitimate children of God is impossible without the influence of the Holy Spirit because of the distortion in the image of man influenced by sin.

“No man has not Divine assistance can either find the way to heaven, or walk in it when found. As Christ, by his sacrificial offering, has opened the kingdom of God to all believers; and, as a mediator, transacts the concerns of their kingdom before the throne; so the Spirit of God is the great agent here below, to enlighten, quicken, strengthen, and guide the true disciples of Christ; and all that are born of this Spirit are led and guided by it; and none can pretend to be the children of God who are not thus guided.” [4]

“As are led. As submit to his influence and control. The Spirit is represented as influencing, suggesting, and controlling. One evidence of piety is, a willingness to yield to that influence, and submit to him.”

APPLICATION: The child of God is willingly led by the Spirit of God, cheerfully delighting in His will and not his own.

Children of God cry out to God as Father. [v. 15]

The implication for the child of God is that they are in a relationship with the Father- one that is freeing rather than binding; one that is comforting rather than frightful.

This is the expression of the child, to depend upon and cry out to the father in prayer.

Where the law produced alarm and alert to sinfulness- and fear of condemnation- the child of God, by adoption, now experiences “feeling of affection, love, and confidence which pertains to children; not the servile trembling spirit of slaves, but the temper and affectionate regard of sons.” [5]

APPLICATION: The relationship we have with the Father, now, through the adoption, evidenced by the Spirit, is one that comforts, assures, and protects. It is one that promotes a unity and relationship with the Father whereby one experiences freedom rather than bondage.

Children of God are glorified with Christ. [vv. 16-17]

Verse 16 is assurance of the adoption, that the Spirit testifies with our Spirit that we are sons of God. This is extremely beneficial for the believer in having assurance- to our consciences, understandings, or minds. He provides assurance that we are indeed children, adopted into the family of God. Eph. 1:13 Refers to the Holy Spirit as the seal of our inheritance/adoption. However, concerning assurance, perhaps it is helpful to ask these questions:

Is there present trust? [Do I trust Jesus today?]

Is there evidence of the regenerating work of the Spirit in my life today? [Gal. 5:22-23]

Is there a pattern of long-term growth in my Christian walk?

Notice the progression and promise of the adoption: if we are children indeed, having evidence and assurance of the Holy Spirit, then we have full inheritance rights of the Father, the Kingdom of God, with Jesus.

If children, heirs.

heirs of God, joint heirs with Christ.

“if” introduces a conditional clause- if, in the condition or occasion that suffering is present, know that you will be united with Christ in His glory, as well. Suffering should be expected [2 Tim. 3:12]; glory should be anticipated. [Rm. 8:18]

APPLICATION: For the child of God, there is the assurance of adoption, the promise of inheritance, and the glory of the Kingdom.

Takeaways:

[1] Do the patterns of your life support that you are a child of God?

[2] (1.) Are we conscious that an influence from above has been drawing us away from the corrupting passions and vanities of this world? This is the work of the Spirit. (2.) Are we conscious of a desire to yield to that influence, and to be conducted in the path of purity and life? This is an evidence that we are the sons of God. (3.) Do we offer no resistance; do we follow cheerfully, and obey this pure influence, leading us to mortify pride, subdue passion, destroy lust, humble ambition, and annihilate the love of wealth and of the world? If so, we are his children.

Bibliography:

[1] Edwin A. Blum, “Romans,” in CSB Study Bible: Notes, ed. Edwin A. Blum and Trevin Wax (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), 1793.

[2] Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament: Romans, ed. Robert Frew (London: Blackie & Son, 1884–1885), 179.

[3] Ibid.

[4] Adam Clarke, The Holy Bible with a Commentary and Critical Notes, New Edition., vol. 6 (Bellingham, WA: Faithlife Corporation, 2014), 96.

[5] Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament: Romans, ed. Robert Frew (London: Blackie & Son, 1884–1885), 180.

Takeaway notes:

under [2]: Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament: Romans, ed. Robert Frew (London: Blackie & Son, 1884–1885), 179.

Other consulted resources:

Warren W. Wiersbe, “Romans” in Be Right: How to be Right with God, Yourself, and Others (Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook, 2008).

William Barclay, “The Letter to the Romans” in The New Daily Study Bible (Louisville, KY: The Westminster John Knox Press, 2017).

Online sources consulted:

Got Questions, “What Does it Mean to be a Child of God?” https://www.gotquestions.org/be-a-child-of-God.html

Yvonne Pratt, “How to Know for Sure you are a Child of God” (August 2, 2015)

https://www.stonegableblog.com/how-to-know-for-sure-you-are-a-child-of-god/#:~:text=You%20are%20a%20child%20of%20God%20if%20you%20have%20believed,In%20other%20words%2C%20God's%20child!

Rebekah Drumsta, “What Does it Mean to be a Child of God as an Adult?” (October 29, 2020)

https://www.christianity.com/wiki/salvation/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-child-of-god-as-an-adult.html

Britt Mooney, “What Does it Truly Mean to be Called Children of God?” (April 18, 2023)

https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/what-does-it-truly-mean-to-be-a-child-of-god.html

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