Co-Heirs with Christ

Introduction:

Connection:

*Sonship in the Ancient World & The Inheritance.* The greatest blessing and inheritance belonged to the firstborn son—not the other sons—and none of the daughters. The richest blessings fell upon the eldest son. It preeminently belonged to the him, as the promised heir of the father’s blessing!

Need:

We need to be lavished with a divine inheritance. But there’s only one way—sonship—and there’s only one way to receive the richest inheritance—being a firstborn son. So how can we participate in this blessing and grace? That’s the question set before us in our passage this AM.

Theme:

Co-Heirs with Christ

Purpose:

To proclaim the way of death in the flesh, and the way of life in the Spirit; to assure those in the Spirit of Christ of their adopted sonship, Gospel assurance, and promised inheritance; and to exhort us all unto mortal combat against sin.

Turn to Text:

Romans 8:12-17 ESV

Recap:

We saw last time in the book of Romans how Paul proclaimed the eternal hope of the Gospel for those who are in saving union with Christ, by the Spirit of life & through the Gospel which brings that double grace of justification and sanctification, forgiveness and new life, which leads to safety on judgment day & a new mindset in life by the Spirit. And we ended last time with living hope, as the Spirit of the resurrected Christ indwells us and assures us of our resurrection to come. … This AM we’re going to see how this very same Spirit leads us to fight against our sin and to glory in our sonship!

Read the Text:

Romans 8:12-17 ESV

PRAY - PRAY - PRAY - PRAY - PRAY - PRAY - PRAY

(1) The Two Ways of Life and of Death - vv. 12-13

Romans 8:12–13 ESV

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

(1) The Two Ways of Life and of Death - vv. 12-13

12 Ἄρα οὖν, ἀδελφοί, ὀφειλέται ἐσμὲν

Paul writes here that we owe a debt! (Not that we can ever truly pay it back…). But we are ever to be serving the one who has bestowed such rich blessings upon us (unto all eternity)! We are like King Ahaseurus in the book of Esther, who realized how much Mordecai had done for him in saving his life—and so he became a debtor to Mordecai and served him and lavished him with bountiful gifts of love (Esther 6). Likewise, because of all that God through Christ has done for believers in the Gospel and covenant of grace—in the lavishing of steadfast love and mercy—we are debtors indeed. But, lest we think we are debtors to the ways of the flesh, Paul clarifies that we are debtors to the SPIRIT….

οὐ τῇ σαρκὶ τοῦ κατὰ σάρκα ζῆν*,

We are not indebted to the flesh for God’s blessings—for the flesh cannot please God, and cannot receive God’s blessings! We are not indebted to our old way of life in Adam for God’s blessings—for Adam didn’t inherit the blessing, but forfeited it for us due to his sin. We are in no way debtors to the flesh. And if you think you are, if you think the flesh is benefitting you, and that you ought to serve it, and enjoy it’s sinful pleasures, and commit yourself to it’s way of life, then be warned. Paul adds:

13 εἰ γὰρ κατὰ σάρκα ζῆτε,

μέλλετε ἀποθνῄσκειν·*

The way of life in the flesh, in the sphere of sin and corruption and wickedness—in the sphere of self love, pride, and vanity—this is the mindset that reaps the fruit of death.

We’ve already seen this in previous verses, right? There is a principle of sin and death in our flesh, which comes with a mindset of evil, which is bound to corruption, and which ensnares the body under sin and God’s wrath. Those who live according to the flesh, who are enslaved in the habits of sin, are going to die the eternal death of the lake of fire, of utter darkness, and of the judgment of God. In fact, dear unbeliever, you are already dead in your sins now—and if you main in them, then you will perish in your sins and partake of eternal death.

Galatians 6:7–8 ESV

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption,

This is the first way: the way of death! But it’s not the only way! Paul continues:

εἰ δὲ πνεύματι τὰς πράξεις ⸂τοῦ σώματος⸃ θανατοῦτε,

The second way of life is not the way of the flesh, but the way of the Spirit. Not the way of sin and death, but the way of putting sin to death! How? By the power and grace of the almighty Holy Spirit! As the prophet writes:

Ezekiel 36:26–27 ESV

And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.

And our context in Romans would lend to the understanding, namely, that we put our sin to death ‘in or by the Spirit’ who is our Great Helper’. Paul has just contrasted those who are in the sphere of the flesh vs the sphere of the Spirit—and so now those who are in the sphere of the Spirit have the all the means they need to engage the power of the Spirit in the killing and mortifying of the deeds of the sinful body. And what is the promised reward for those who do so? Paul says:

ζήσεσθε*.

Those who live according to the ways of the sinful flesh will die—but those who put to death such sinful ways will live! And this life is indeed life eternal, which has already begun now in the enjoyment of fellowship with God in the present—and which will be consummated one day when we see Jesus face to face, and he makes all things new and comes to reign on earth forever!

So for those who follow the new way of life in the Spirit, of mortal combat against sin, and mortifying and destroying the root and habits of sin—they alone have the assurance of eternal life in Jesus Christ. (And note that this verse doesn’t tell us to simple steer away from sin, externally—but to utterly destroy our sin, internally! And there is a big difference between the two; it comes to the difference between the Pharisees and true Spirituality!

Galatians 6:7–8 ESV

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

Paul shows us in these verses…

(1) The Two Ways of Life and of Death - vv. 12-13

There are only two ways! The way of life in the Spirit, and the way of death in the flesh. Which one are you on? Are you being dominated by the pleasures of sin, or are you dominating the pleasures of sin? Are you making a habit and way of life in sin? Or are you making a habit and way of life in killing sin? Let us examine ourselves, to see if we are in Christ. And this is where Paul goes next, to help Christians know that they are in Christ, and will be, unto eternity! So secondly for this morning, we see:

(2) The Spirit of Guidance and of Sonship - vv. 14-15

Romans 8:14–15 ESV

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

(2) The Spirit of Guidance and of Sonship - vv. 14-15

For those of us who might struggle to know whether or not we are savingly in Christ by the Spirit—these following words bring such comfort to our souls. Paul says:

14 ὅσοι γὰρ πνεύματι θεοῦ ἄγονται,

The word for led is: αγω (v. 14), which means “to lead [or] guide morally or spiritually … or to encourage in the direction of” (BDAG). And note that it’s in the passive tense. This is being done to us. We are not leading, we are being led! We are not the captain, we are the passengers. It is the Holy Spirit himself who is taking the charge in the spiritual guidance and direction of our souls—for those who are savingly in Christ.

Galatians 5:18 ESV

But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Those who are led by the Spirit, are not under the bondage of the law, sin, and death. They are being led into faith in Jesus, repentance from sin, obedience to God, and the practice of piety, godliness, and virtue! They are new creatures! And are being led to bear the fruit of the Spirit, in their minds, hearts, and lives! And so for these people, Paul declares:

οὗτοι ⸉υἱοὶ θεοῦ εἰσιν⸊*.

Who are the children of God? Who are the eternal heirs of God’s grace, and members of God’s family? Those who are being led by the Spirit. Those who are in the Spirit, and in whom the Spirit dwells. Those who are in Christ, and in whom Christ reigns. Those who have personally received God’s covenant mercy in Jesus, who:

John 1:11–13 ESV

He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

John 3:6 ESV

That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Those who are born again of the Spirit, are born into the everlasting family of God, as beloved sons of God! Hallelujah! But Paul gives another reason why we are the sons of God in the following verses. He continues:

15 οὐ γὰρ ἐλάβετε πνεῦμα δουλείας πάλιν εἰς φόβον

In the Greek Paul says: ‘you did not receive the spirit of slavery or bondage AGAIN (which is translated in the KJV, but not the ESV). The fact that Paul says: πάλιν (again) throws a wrench into the understanding of this passage… Is Paul referring to a lower-case-s spirit of bondage, or the upper-case-S Spirit of bondage? The use of ‘again’ indicates that this Spirit is something we have already received once, not something that we will never receive. And so in my study, the text seems to me to be speaking of the Spirit of God as the Holy Spirit of bondage, who once came upon believers before they were adopted as sons and daughters, to convict them of sin and to convince them of utter hopelessness in and of themselves (in the stirring of the conviction of sin and the fear of wrath). Sort of how Jesus himself said:

John 16:7–8 ESV

Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:

And it’s in the convicting work of the Spirit of bondage or fear, who produces the dread of the curse, and the consequences of our sins, and the stirrings of our iniquities—which makes us fear him who is able to destroy both the body and the soul in hell—as we realize that we are slaves to sin and servants of unrighteousness. But the Spirit doesn’t leave God’s children in this state! This Spirit of slavery drives us to Christ for Liberty!

Manton writes: “God as a Judge, by the spirit of bondage, sends us to Christ as Mediator, and Christ as Mediator, by the spirit of adoption, sends us back again to God as a Father.”

We haven’t only received the Spirit in this work of bondage and conviction—but also in his work of redemption and adoption! And so Paul adds:

ἀλλʼ ἐλάβετε πνεῦμα υἱοθεσίας

And so Paul is saying—the Spirit already brought you to that place of realizing your bondage and depravity, and that work is complete! You don’t need to receive him again in this way! Remember, saints, beloved of God in Christ, that you’ve received the Spirit of adoption, of sonship! The Holy Spirit has delivered us from bondage to corruption, from life in the flesh, from slavery to sin, from service to Satan, from membership in the kingdom of darkness, and from hopelessness! The Spirit of power, of grace, of love, and of sonship—has been poured out richly upon that, that we might be called children of God, and so we are!

Romans 5:5 ESV

and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

And how do we know that we’ve received the Spirit of adoption? We’re not drooping around in bondage all the time, rather, we are crying out like newborn babes! Paul speaks of the Spirit,

ἐν ᾧ κράζομεν·*

αββα ὁ πατήρ*.

It’s in and by and through the Spirit of God that we have been born again to a living hope, that we have been adopted into the family of God, that we have been engrafted into Jesus Christ—so that we have a new status before God, and a new name on our lips.

What is the first thing a child does when is is born? It cries. And what is the first thing a Christian does when he or she is born again? It cries. And typically, what are it’s first words? Abba, Father; Dada! And the glorious thing about this, is that because we are united to Jesus, we get to address God the Father as he does. This phrase was first on the lips of Jesus:

Mark 14:36 ESV

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.”

Jesus the Son of God has an intimate access to his Father, as God’s beloved Son—and now that we are united to Christ the Son, and have received the Spirit of sonship, we too cry out with Jesus: Abba, Father! And sometimes we can’t put words to our pain and petitions, and so all we find ourselves able to do is to cry out: Abba, Father! And this, according to the Apostle Paul, according to the living Word of God, is the evidence that you are a Christian indeed, born of the Spirit, united to Christ, and adopted into the family of God! Sealed unto the eternal day of redemption! Praise be to God! We see in these verses how the Spirit works in true believers as both:

(2) The Spirit of Guidance and of Sonship - vv. 14-15

Are you being led by the Spirit in mortifying sin? And are you crying out in the Spirt, Abba Father? Then take heart—you are a child of God. And to be a child means that you get all the rights and privileges of sonship in Jesus! And that’s exactly where Paul goes next. Thirdly, he speaks of:

(3) The Heirs of God and of Christ - vv. 16-17

Romans 8:16–17 ESV

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

(3) The Heirs of God and of Christ - vv. 16-17

If everything that Paul has said so far hasn’t been enough to prove that we can have assurance of salvation and the peace of our sonship, then nothing will! These verses are God’s gift of peace to us, who have ears to hear, and eyes to see. And even this assurance is not produced by us, by is confirmed by the Spirit of God within us. Paul says:

16 ⸆αὐτὸ τὸ πνεῦμα συμμαρτυρεῖ τῷ πνεύματι ἡμῶν

The Spirit himself, as the Spirit of adoption—witnesses or testifies or assures us. Brothers and sisters: to resist the assurance of salvation is to resist the working of the Holy Spirit! Because God has sent the Spirit to assure his sons and daughters of their adoption and salvation in and through Jesus Christ!

But what exactly is the Spirit doing here? In Greek the action of the Holy Spirit as witnessing/assuring is done either to our spirit or is done along with our spirit. Either we are passive in receiving this testimony of the Spirit. Or we are active in participating in this testimony with the Spirit. However the meaning of the Greek word to witness lends to the idea of a joint-testimony which seems to favour the idea that both the Holy Spirit and ourselves are testifying to the Father, that we are his children.

As we are looking the promises of God in faith, and repenting sincerely of our sins, and are joined to the house of God in the church—then we are able to examine ourselves and test ourselves by the fruits of salvation. And as we do so we are able to witness in our spirits that we are children of God! But the law of God requires more than one witness:

Deuteronomy 19:15 ESV

“A single witness shall not suffice … Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established.

And so, it seems that what’s happening here is that not only is the individual Christian able to witness that he is a child of God, weakly, but the Spirit also comes alongside of our spirits, and infallibly witnesses with us that we are indeed children of God!

The testimony of the Spirit is not audible—but spiritual; not mystical, but biblical. The Spirit applies God’s promises and purifying grace to us, and thus witnesses to our sonship in Jesus! And thus by two witnesses the evidence of our salvation is eternally confirmed and assured to our hearts—to those who are truly in Christ! And what is the content of this testimony? Paul says:

ὅτι ἐσμὲν τέκνα θεοῦ*.

The children of God are those who are led by the Spirit of God in holiness—and who are able to receive the witness of the Spirit in assurance!

Now this doesn’t mean that every Christian has full and complete assurance in this life. We can, through our sin and neglect, or faulty teaching and doctrine, cloud and darken the enjoyment of this assurance of faith—nor does it mean that all who outwardly profess this assurance are truly saved (because hypocrites abound in the church)—but what it does mean is that full assurance of faith and salvation is both a possibility and is attainable for all Christians in the ordinary use of the means of grace! By a hearty faith in God’s promise, and a spiritual examination of our lives, and a confirmation by the shepherds over us in the Lord—and with the Holy Spirit witnessing with our spirits through the Word—then we can rejoice in this glorious hope with joy unspeakable:

1 John 3:1–3 ESV

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

Asher and Asaph might not always consciously be assured of their sonship, partly due to their age and immaturity—but that doesn’t change the fact of their sonship which is rock solid—and that doesn’t change that fact that they still cry out for their abba, father, and dada, in their distress. And as they mature they will come to grow into the assurance of my love for them, and come to know with unshakeable confidence, that they are children of dada!

And according to the Apostle Paul, if we are true children of God, crying Abba, Father, then we will receive a rich inheritance from God … and God wants us to be assured of this! Paul adds:

17 εἰ δὲ τέκνα,

καὶ κληρονόμοι·*

And we are not only temporal or earthly heirs, no, according to Paul we are:

κληρονόμοι μὲν θεοῦ,

συγκληρονόμοι δὲ Χριστοῦ,

Because we are sons of God in Christ, who is the Son of God, then we are also heirs of God in Christ who is the heir of God! United to the firstborn Son—we receive the firstborn inheritance! We share in the fullness of the kingdom inheritance of Jesus who shares his spoil with his dear brothers and sisters:

Galatians 4:4–7 ESV

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

We are heirs through God. And this … “Inheritance is by a new creation (1 Cor. 15:50), or by adoption (Rom. 8:23), and as such it is an object of hope. Salvation (Heb. 1:4), glory (Rom. 8:17), redemption (8:23), grace (1 Pet. 3:7), blessing (3:9), in sum, eternal life (Tit. 3:7), constitutes the content of the inheritance” (TDNT). As our Lord blessed us, and Paul assures us:

Matthew 5:5 ESV

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

1 Corinthians 3:21–23 ESV

For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.

Christ Jesus is the heir of God who inherits all things, in the renewal of the heavens and the earth—and we, in him, share in all of this, both now, and when he comes to make all things new! But Paul puts another condition on this inheritance, and a qualifier for who true sons are in Christ. Those who will receive this inheritance will do so:

εἴπερ συμπάσχομεν

ἵνα °καὶ συνδοξασθῶμεν*.

The path to glory is through suffering—the path to the crown is through the cross—the path to Canaan is through the wilderness—the path to Zion is through Babylon. Don’t see your suffering as evidence of God’s disfavor, and of proof that your not a son—see your suffering as evidence of Gods favor, and of proof that you are a son! Just as Christ suffered and then rose and entered his glory—so too is it the case for us who are in Christ! So press on dear believer under the weight of suffering and trials!

1 Peter 5:10 ESV

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

Our passage teaches us who it is who are:

(3) The Heirs of God and of Christ - vv. 16-17

They are the sons of God, in the Spirit of God. Are you an heir of God and Christ? O come even today by faith and cry out: Abba, Father!

(A) Uses & Applications from our Text:

(I) Instruction in the Necessary Conditions of Life & Death.

Life and death are conditioned upon our lifestyles in the present. Paul’s logic flows as such: if A, then B. A, therefore B. If you live according to the flesh you will die. You are living according to the flesh, therefore, you will die. & If you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. You are putting to death the deeds of the body, therefore, you will live. Do you see how this works? The way of life is a condition to the outcome.

Now it’s important for us to distinguish between the right to eternal life and the entrance into eternal life. The former is justification—the latter is sanctification. When we trust in Jesus by faith alone, we receive the legal right to eternal life. But the way to entering into it’s fullness is through the pathway of obedience and godliness. In other words, true faith produces good works. And without the good works, you won’t enter into heaven. But the good works aren’t your right to heaven—faith is. But you won’t get into heaven without good works, because true faith works! Is this making sense to everyone?

To put it negatively, with James, faith apart from works is dead. And to flip it, faith with works is alive! If you are going to enter into the possession of the inheritance of eternal life, you must put sin to death by the Spirit. Just as God redeemed Israel out of Egypt, but then conditioned their enjoyment of the promised land upon their obedience of faith. If you obey, you will live long in the land! And so Paul is saying here, for you who have been redeemed out of the world into the kingdom of Christ, if you obey, you will live long in glory! But we aren’t redeemed by our obedience—obedience is the fruit of our redemption, and the way to enjoy God’s blessings and our inheritance.

Hebrews 12:14 ESV

Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

(II) Consolation to the Sons of God in the Sprit of Christ.

And oh brothers and sisters, you who who live according to the Spirit, you who are led by the Spirit, you who have received the Spirit, and you whom the Spirit bears witness to—you are sons of God, children of the King of kings! Take heart! Your sins are forgiven. You are declared righteous in Christ. You have peace with God. You are adopted into God’s family. Your name is written in heaven. Your inheritance is imperishable. And you will be raised unto everlasting glory on the last day! May the comforts of the Gospel fill you so deeply, that you may never cease to cry out in full assurance of faith, to your God in Christ: Abba, father!

And if this isn’t you this morning, then be encouraged that it can be! Come to Jesus, and cast your only hope in life and death upon him. Bring your sins. Bring your shame. Bring your sorrow. Bring your suffering. Bring you baggage! And throw it upon his back. He who died to forgive sinners. He who bore our shame on the cross. He who was the man of sorrows. He who suffered God’s wrath. By his stripes we are healed! And as you come to Jesus, repenting of your sins, turning from the ways of the flesh, and trusting in the Gospel of God’s grace, then the Spirit of God will be there to lead you in the ways of new life, as you fight against your sin, and as He assures you of your sonship and adoption into God’s family so that you, too, can cry out to your God in Christ: Abba, father!

Ephesians 1:3–6 ESV

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

(III) Exhortation to Mortify the Flesh by the Spirit of God.

John Owen has famously said: Be killing sin or it will be killing you! It’s so true. Brothers and sisters, according to the Apostle Paul, we must be putting to death the deeds of the flesh, by the Sprit, or we will perish eternally under God’s judgment. A true Christian is known by his warfare against sin! Not to earn God’s love—but because He is loved by God. We love him, and hate our sin, because He first loved us, and saved us from our sins! And so now we are empowered to wage warfare against the sinful desires and passions of the flesh!

Perhaps it’s lust and sexual immorality.

Perhaps it’s greed and financial coveting.

Perhaps it’s anger and unrighteous rage.

Perhaps it’s pride and selfish autonomy.

Perhaps it’s idolatry and loving other gods.

Perhaps it’s strife and relational chaos.

Perhaps it’s laziness and family neglect.

Perhaps it’s drinking and drunkeness.

Perhaps it’s marijuana and a clouded mind.

Perhaps it’s gossip and stirring of division.

Perhaps it’s lack of prayer and devotion.

Perhaps it’s lack of leadership and courage.

Perhaps it’s refusing to keep the Lord’s Day.

Whatever sin you are being weighed down by, whatever sin is easily besetting you and tempting you today, the Lord says to you right now: by the Spirit, put it to death—or it will put you to death! You must strive with all your energy to pluck out your eye, and cut off your hand—you must sacrifice and do what it takes, by faith, to put this sin under your feet. Fight the good fight. Be valiant for the name of your Father who is in heaven. You bear his name upon you in your baptism. So don’t take his name in vain and bring it into your sin, rather, bring his name against your sin as you wear the armour of God and fight!

Colossians 3:3–6 ESV

For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming.

(IV) Examination of our Assurance or the Lack thereof.

How can I know that I’m elect, a true believer, and eternal saved and secure in Jesus Christ? Paul’s answer: by the life-shaping, sin-killing, sonship-giving, and grace-assuring presence of the Holy Spirit! Remember, you’re either in Adam or in Christ, in the flesh or in the Spirit—and there’s no middle ground! Which is so helpful! Because now we can test ourselves to see on what side we stand! And by faith in Jesus, and our battle against sin—the Spirit of God comes to assure us, and offers the grace of assurance to you even now, dear Christian, that you are a child of God, both now, and forevermore—and to encourage you to not lose heart, to not give up, but press on to the eternal prize of everlasting life that is yours in Jesus. Let us pursue this glorious confidence!

Hebrews 6:9–12 ESV

Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

(A) Uses & Applications from our Text:

And this brings us to our final conclusion this AM:

(C) The Spirit of God Leads us to Slay our Sin and Savor our Sonship in Christ.

The dearest idol I have known, Whate'er that idol be, Help me to tear it from Thy throne, And worship only Thee.

& & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & &

My God is reconciled; his pard’ning voice I hear; he owns me for his child, I can no longer fear; with confidence I now draw nigh, with confidence I now draw nigh, and Father, Abba, Father cry!

(C) The Spirit of God Leads us to Slay our Sin and Savor our Sonship in Christ.

Amen, let’s pray!