You Need To Know Where You Stand. Rom. 8:14-17

What Guides You Identifies You vs 14.

Romans 8:14 NASB95

For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

All who are being led by the Spirit of God----- these are the sons of God. the indication here is those who are being guided by the Holy Spirit are the offspring of God. Being led--means to willingly undergo an action or course of action, due to the influence of a moral or spiritual influence. Douglass Moo says, "if life is the ruling idea in vs 1-13, then sonship or adoption or children of God dominates vs 14-17. , "teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground."

Ill: field sobriety test

Conduct or behavior influenced or guided by the Holy Spirit identifies believers are children of God. J.B Phillips translates , "don't get you stimulus from wine, but let the spirit stimulate your souls."

let's us know that as children of God we are no longer obligated to guided by selfish instincts. To be led by the Spirit means to submit to the overall governing and directing of one's life by the Spirit, including "putting to death the sinful deeds of the body," or better said practicing spiritual disciplines that lead to christ honoring lives that glorify God.

You Are A Child of God vs 15-16.

Romans 8:15–16 NASB95

For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God,

Your conversion makes you a child of God.

God Changed Your Name. "The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.

Your prayer life indicates your relationship with God. "By which we cry, Abba, Father." This phrase is translated 'by the Spirit's power we cry out.' The Holy Spirit's presence within us enables us to call on the name of the Lord. The emotional and relational content of the term 'Abba,' indicates the special and intimate relationship between the believer and God. Our relationship with God in Christ is marked by intimacy and not fear. When we call Him father it indicates the warmth and confidence. He is our protector and our provider. He is our hope and holiness. He is our solace and our savior.

The witness of the Holy Spirit confirms that we are children of God.

To bear witness means to testify with and to support by testimony, providing supporting evidence. the Greek translation of this sentence reads....For His Holy Spirit speaks to us deep in our hearts and tells us that we are God's children. The old saints used to sing, "I know I've been changed, the angels in heaven done signed my name." They used to sing, "If you don't believe that I've been redeemed, follow me down to the Jordan stream, I stepped in the water, the water was cold, it chilled my body but not my soul." i wouldn't have a religion I couldn't feel sometimes! The force of this preposition, "bears witness," means the Spirit adds His testimony to the believer's inner witness that we are God's children. The Holy Spirit witnesses to the believer's regenerated spirit as well as witnessing with it, strengthening and confirming the inward conviction we have with the Spirit's powerful testimony.

Your Inheritance is Guaranteed vs 17.

Romans 8:17 NASB95

and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

The phrase "fellow-heirs with Christ’ is translated ‘together with Christ we will be given what God has promised." Also 'everything God gives to His Son, Christ, is ours too. As believers we have a position of privilege because of our membership in God's family. What does it mean to be fellow-heirs of Christ? It means that through our relationship with Christ, God's promised blessings become a reality.

Ill: F. B. Meyer wrote about two Germans who wanted to climb the Matterhorn. They hired three guides and began their ascent at the steepest and most slippery part. The men roped themselves together in this order: guide, traveler, guide, traveler, guide. They had gone only a little way up the side when the last man lost his footing. He was held up temporarily by the other four, because each had a toehold in the niches they had cut in the ice. But then the next man slipped, and he pulled down the two above him. The only one to stand firm was the first guide, who had driven a spike deep into the ice. Because he held his ground, all the men beneath him regained their footing. F. B. Meyer concluded his story by drawing a spiritual application. He said, “I am like one of those men who slipped, but thank God, I am bound in a living partnership to Christ. And because He stands, I will never perish.” (Our Daily Bread)