Sons, Children, and Heirs

I. Introduction

II. Believers live as those set free from the law of sin and death!

Romans 8:12 ESV

12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.

Romans 8:2 ESV

2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

III. Believers Conquer Sin By the Spirit

Romans 8:13 ESV

13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

Romans 8:4–6 ESV

4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

Colossians 3:5 ESV

5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

IV. Believers are the Spirit-led sons of God

Romans 8:14 ESV

14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

A. Believers are Sons of God by adoption.

Romans 8:15 ESV

15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

BDAG Adoption Definition: of those who believe in Christ and are accepted by God as God’s children... with full rights.

Louw & Nida Adoption Definition: to formally and legally declare that someone who is not one’s own child is henceforth to be treated and cared for as one’s own child, including complete rights of inheritance—‘to adopt, adoption.’

BDAG Sons definition: one whose identity is defined in terms of a relationship with a person or thing … a. In a special sense the devout, believers, are sons of God, i.e., in the light of the social context, people of special status and privilege

Abba! Father!

Galatians 4:6 ESV

6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”

Mark 14:36 ESV

36 And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

B. Believers are Children of God by the Spirit’s witness.

Romans 8:16 ESV

16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

NET Translation Note Quote: In sum, Rom 8:16 seems to be secure as a text in which the believer’s assurance of salvation is based on the inner witness of the Spirit. The implications of this for one’s soteriology are profound: The objective data, as helpful as they are, cannot by themselves provide assurance of salvation; the believer also needs (and receives) an existential, ongoing encounter with God’s Spirit in order to gain that familial comfort.” (Biblical Studies Press, The NET Bible, Second Edition. (Denmark: Thomas Nelson, 2019).

C. Believers are Heirs of God and Fellow-heirs with Christ.

Romans 8:17 ESV

17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

BDAG Definition Heir: one who receives someth. as a possession, beneficiary, fig. extension of mng. 1: in our lit. of God as the one who bestows