Heirs with Christ -

Introduction

We come back to the book of Romans chapter 8 today in this series of messages on this chapter.... Without a doubt, this is a rich and pivotal chapter.

is rich in theology and instruction, and necessary for our understanding of who we are in Christ Jesus.

We are the children of God, and not just children, the Scriptures tell us we are heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.

That is a rich, wonderful identity my friends, a blessing. But sadly many do not understand it or know what it means for them. It is crucial that we understand our identity in Christ!

As so today as we continue walking down this message, and we will look at verse 12-17.

As so today as we continue walking down this message, and we will look at verse 12-17.

Now I know last week we looked at verse 12, and we will examine it again to hopefully gain a better understanding and knowledge of our place as the sons and daughters of God.

So lets consider this… Do you know who you are in Christ? What your relationship means, and what the future holds because of it?

If you don’t, today message will address that topic and I hope by the end of today’s message you will have a better understanding of God’s love for you and the place and or position He has given until to all who come to Him by faith.

I hope by the end of today’s message you will have a better understanding of God’s love for you and the place and or position He has given until to all who come to Him by faith.

So lets take our Bibles, I hope you brought your Bibles with you today.

So lets look at our passage this morning, Romans 8:12-17

Romans 8:12–17 ESV

12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 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. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 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!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 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.

Romans 8 ESV

1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 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. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. 12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 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. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 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!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 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. 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. 26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

romans 8

As we look at this passage, I want you to see that what Paul is teaching here is not a idea or possibility if you are good enough or do enough. This truth isn’t based on you, it is based on God and his work in your life. So it’s not up to you, it is the truth that if you are in Christ, you are a child of God, thus a heir with Christ of all that the Father has promised us.

He loves us, He called us, We said yes to that love, and he takes over as we walk in His grace and mercy.

So from today, there are three things i want to share with you.... I hope you will be blessed and strengthened as we explore the Word of God.

So three things i want to share with you today.... I hope you will be blessed and strengthened as we explore the Word of God.

3 points ...... Here is the first

1. The Blessings of Sanctification.

One of the blessings of the Holy Spirit as He works and ministers in our life is the truth that He seeks to make us better.

Better is always better, you see God never wants to tear you down, never desires to hurt you, never lies to you, misleads you or temps you. Instead the Bible says Jesus came to give us life and life more abundantly.

What do I mean by better? The Holy Spirit who indwells the Christian, is working to make us better.

What do I mean by better? He is working to make us more and more like Jesus!

He is working to make us more and more like Jesus! You see once we except Jesus as our Savior, the better starts, the Holy Spirit comes to us…

The entire process is called Sanctification, it is making us better and better with each passing moment.

it is making us better and better with each passing moment.

So as we think about the battle of the flesh and the Spirit, Paul makes it clear that we do not have to fall prey to the works of the flesh and be entrapped in sin. Lets look at our text, verses 12-14

Romans 8:12–14 ESV

12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 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. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

Now just like we looked at last week, I love this opening in verse 12… We are debtors .... and our debt is not tot he flesh, but to the Spirit of God.

The word “debtor” speaks of a person being obligated to something, in this case we are not obligated to the flesh and in like manner the world, as we once were in times past.

The old man was sold under sin, it is like one who was lost in slavery and found themselves on the auction block.

Romans 7:14 ESV

14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin.

They were about to be sold, because they were under a debt they could not pay, they could not satisfy the terms of the law. But Jesus did, His death satisfied the conditions, the debt of the law.and purchased us from the debt of sin and flesh.

They were about to be sold, because they were under a debt they could not pay, they could not satisfy the terms of the law. But Jesus did, His death satisfied the conditions, the debt of the law and purchased us from the debt of sin and flesh.

Why did God do that for us?m He loved us....

God did not make us in His image to have us bound, tied to the flesh continually… No, He would rather have us living according to the Spirit, and thus being used of Him.

That is the blessing of sanctification, to make us more and more like Him.

Romans 6:22 ESV

22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.

We no longer owe nothing to the world, to the flesh, and have disowned its unrighteous claims and are deaf to the demand of the flesh, the Spirit has you!

That is the blessing of Sanctification… The Holy Spirit takes the renewed life that now belongs to the Father and works in that person so they bear fruit.

That is the blessing of Sanctification… The Holy Spirit takes the renewed life that now belongs to the Father and works in that person so they bear fruit.

In all of this we bring glory to the Father...

And in bearing fruit,

Aren’t you glad the Holy Spirit is at work in you for the glory of God.

But this only happens if you know Jesus as Lord and Savior… Jesus does not use those who are not his...

If you are here today and you do not know Him as a Savior, you can change that today… you can give your heart to Jesus, and the Holy Spirit will begin to work in you....

Let Him into your heart today...

Now lets move forward to my second thought for today...

2. The Blessing of our Sonship

The next logical step in thinking about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives is the way the Holy Spirit continues to work in our lives to teach us exactly who we are in Christ.

To be in Christ means we not only have the Holy Spirit in our lives, but having him is a promise that we are the sons and daughters of God, His children. How wonderful is it to know exactly who you are… knowing who you are brings strength, power and wisdom for each passing day.

To be in Christ means we not only have the Holy Spirit in our lives, but having him is a promise that we are the sons and daughters of God, His children. How wonderful is it to know exactly who you are… knowing who you are brings strength, power and wisdom for each passing day.

So lets move forward and lets look at the next section of our passage my friends,

So lets look at , verse 15

The Blessing of our Sonship

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!”

So when you listen to the apostle Paul here, He gives us a two contrasting pictures to consider.

Two pictures… slavery and fear and then adoption and sonship.

So Paul says that having received Christ as our Savior means that we were not received, not brought into the family of God only to be pushed away and put back into slavery, and with slavery fear, never knowing or understanding our place, our position or what is to happen in our future, never knowing who we are and never understanding if we have hope or not....

Instead, in place off… We found Jesus and with Jesus we received the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of Adoption and with that we are given a place, position and a hope.

Instead, we received the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of Adoption and with that we are given a place, position and a hope.

Consider adoption if you will, for a couple, a family or a person seek to adopt a child and bring them into their family, they must first search for that child. After having found that child, they then choose that child to be their own and then go through the process to make that child theirs… and when it is over, that can never change, cause they were chosen.... That child will always be their child.

I want you to know God came in pursuit of us. He knew us in our lost condition, in our lost shape and in love pursued us to bring us into His own family.

And here is where it gets better and better, He chose us (He chose you!). It was a definite, deliberate action on God’s part, He came to us and called us unto Him.

The Holy Spirit is God’s Spirit of Adoption, he comes and purposefully calls us, he comes and convicts of sin and it is a call that is meant just for us. And in that call, we answer and become His and that is something that cannot change, it is eternal.

How awesome, never can separate me from the love of God found in Christ Jesus. And in that Salvation, we cry abba, Father, you know why? Because we have found our heavenly Father.

I remember the day I found my heavenly Father, how wonderful it was to know His love for me, His forgiveness and blessing.

What a joy the blessing of Sonship is…

Do you know that blessing my friends?

Do you understand that God loves you so dearly and wonderfully…?

Now lets move forward and see this last thought, being a child of God and a heir of Christ, we have Assurance...

3. Blessing of Assurance...

In today’s world, people are looking for truth. They want to know without a doubt what is real, and they need proof.

The Holy Sprit brings us assurance of what Jesus has promised is real!

When I found Jesus as my Savior, 36 years ago, I found just what I was looking for, I found just what I needed to fix my soul and here is the greater blessing, I had the assurance to know without a doubt that I am a child of God.

How do I know that.. Lets go back to our text… Lets look at , verses 16-17

Romans 8:16–17 ESV

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

Wow, thank you Holy Spirit for your great love, thank you for not only residing in us, but you bear witness with my spirit to assure we are the children of God.

He testifies to our Spirit, You have found life and life abundantly....

Paul shares this word of assurance again to the believers in Galatia.

Galatians 4:6 ESV

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

How incredible is that...

How incredible is that...

Let me share this story with you about the Hymn, “He Lives”....

Alfred Ackley, wrote the old hymn “He Lives” in 1933, that we still sing today… and the last line of the chorus shares the beautiful truth of the Holy Spirit presence, it says… He lives within my heart...

Alfred Ackley knew this from his own experience as a child of God, that the Savior resides inside of Him through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. And in that, the Spirit brings the assurance each day of who He is and whose he is...

And the same is true for each of us, the Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.

And then Paul continues in verse 17, being reminded that we are God’s children through the Holy Spirit, we also know that if children, we also know we are heirs.

And heir is someone who has had something set aside for them. Lets think of your parents or grandparents, they have something, they make a will and they say to you, I want you to have this or that, to your sibling this item or that one.

The idea is that they loved you and wanted you to have something that would be yours when they left this world.

But let me share the much richer picture of Scripture. There is a shift in the words Paul uses in the text.. Being in Christ, in verses 14-15 we are called sons, and it is important. We are in the family, and its special

But.....

In verses 16-17 we are called children, there is a movement of emphasis, in relationship…we have become legal heirs, we are loved and provided for…we are the heirs of God and co-heirs in Christ.

Now is special my friends, we are entitled to all that the Father has for us. Life, eternal life, in His presence for ever and ever, that is the future… But understnad we are also co or fellow heirs with Christ.

Jesus is the first recipient of the resurrection, enjoying the resurrection power of the Father. Jesus was alive, killed by shameful men, buried in a borrowed tomb and on the third day rose from the dead by the power of God.

Guess what, to be co - heirs, the Father has promised to give unto us eternal life. all that Jesus as received we will receive, eternal life, we will be in the presence of Almighty God and Jesus, the lamb who was slain for me..

Now that will make you shout....

My friends, the Holy Spirit was sent to us as a guarantee of the good things to come, He was sent to us to ensure that we received just what the Father has set aside for us. You want to know what that is my friends, … Sonship and Heaven

The Holy Spirit was sent to us as a guarantee of the good things to come, He was sent to us to ensure that we received just what the Father has set aside for us. You want to know what that is my friends, … Sonship and Heaven

Did you hear that, you are the sons and daughters of God, His children and will receive the blessings of the Father...

But understand there is a cost involved...

Look at the end of verse 17...

“...provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.”

There is a price to pay for following Jesus. Its never easy, Jesus said if a man would come after me he must take up His cross daily. We have to die to self first, and secondly we understand there is the chance of persecution, suffering for following Jesus.

Now we dont face much of that here in America, but at times we are ostracized, at times we can be made fun off, and at times we might be in the minority. So we suffer, the persecuted church suffers, I heard this week that a family who shared the gospel in North Korea was executed for sharing the gospel.

But there is a wonderful truth, we will one day face the last state of the Christian life, glorification.

This is where we are make like Jesus, he has taken that which is mortal and made it immortal. The perishable is made imperishable…

We will be like Jesus, having a eternal glorified body...

How wonderful my friends....

The Holy Spirit, He is a wonderful part of our lives, and I am so thankful the Lord has sent Him into the world and into each believers heart.

So this morning,

1. Do you know for certain that Jesus is your Savior, You must have Him to have His Holy Spirits presence in your life...

So Is Jesus Lord and Savior,

2. Secondly if you are a Christian, are you walking with Jesus like you should? At times we find that we have drifted away, doesn't matter how it happened, The Holy Spirit is calling you back so that you can enjoy your life in Christ...

3. Do you need a church home....

4. Do you need prayer, do you need forgiveness, or to forgive someone else… What ever type of prayer you need, Jesus stands ready to forgive and draw close to you once again...

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.