Children of God

Introduction/ Recap:

Two weeks ago we saw the contrast between the flesh and the Spirit. For those who are in Christ will not experience condemnation. However the flip side of that is true as well. That those not in Christ will only experience condemnation.

Those who have Christ have the Spirit as well and in this passage we see how much the Spirit does for us.

There are only two laws by which we can live by. The law of sin and death or the law of the Spirit of life.

It is impossible to please God with the law of sin and death.

It can only be done if we are walking in the Spirit being subject to the law of the Spirit of life.

So far we have seen that the Spirit gives us freedom and strength to walk with the Lord.

And this morning we will see that the Spirit gives us victory over sin, guidance in our walk with God, and that He testifies of our adoption as sons and daughters of God.

This week we are really going to focus on the obligation we have to walk in the Spirit.

vv 12-13) Indebted to the Spirit not to the flesh.

[12] Once again there is this drastic contrast between the flesh and the Spirit and an important conclusion we need to come too.

We owe absolutely nothing to the flesh, or have to live according to its rules or edicts

The old, evil corrupt nature has been nothing but a drag. It has never done us a bit of good.

If it hadn’t been for Christ we would have been dragged down to the deepest, darkest, hottest places of hell.

Why should we feel obligated to such a wicked enemy?

[13] The sad reality is that those who live according to the flesh will die, not only physically but eternally. To truly live according to the flesh is to be unsaved.

Why would Paul address these this to those who were already Christians?

Paul often includes words of warning and self-examination in his letters, realizing that in every congregation there may be some who have never been genuinely born again.

You see Paul constantly reminds us that living after the flesh ends in death.

We do need this reminder because we can be deceived into thinking that the flesh can offers us life.

This is why sharing our testimony is so imperative. It reminds us of the bondage we were under and the freedom we experience when we came to Christ.’

John 9:25 ESV

He answered, “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.”

This isn’t just for other but for you as well.

Psalm 103:2 ESV

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,

Psalm 119:111 ESV

Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart.

When we put to death deeds of the body; what i mean by that is to force the sinful flesh to submit to the Spirit

The only way we can accomplish that is through the Spirit.

If we try to do it in our own strength and through the flesh, we will become like the Pharisees and religious rulers spiritually proud.

What it comes down to is that not only are we saved by the work of the Spirit, but we also must walk by the Spirit if we want to grow and pursue holiness in the Lord.

We do not want to be like the Galatian church.

Galatians 3:3 (ESV)

Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?

They thought they could begin in the Spirit but then find spiritual perfection through the flesh.

vv 14-15) Walking in the Spirit means living as a child of God

[14] It is only fitting that a child of God should be led by the Spirit of God.

However, we should not think that being led by the Spirit is a pre-condition to being a son of God.

Paul didn’t say, “As many as go to church, these are the sons of God.” “As many as read their Bibles, these are the sons of God.” “As many as are patriotic Americans, these are the sons of God.” “As many as take communion, these are the sons of God.”

Adoption implies expectance into God’s family, with all the privileges and responsibilities of adult children.

This is beautiful because it implies that a new convert doesn’t have to wait a certain time before entering into their spiritual inheritance.

The moment that they receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior they are given that promise, and it applies to all believers!

In this text , the test of sonship is whether or not a person is led by the Spirit of God.

How does the Holy Spirit lead us?

Guidance

Galatians 5:25 ESV

If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

Drawing

John 6:44 ESV

No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.

Governing authority

Acts 5:3 (ESV)

But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land?

Where does the Holy Spirit lead us?

He leads us to repentance.

John 16:8 ESV

And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:

He leads us to think of ourselves less and more of Christ.

John 3:30 ESV

He must increase, but I must decrease.”

He leads us into love.

Galatians 5:22–23 ESV

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

He leads us into truth.

John 16:7 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.

He leads us into holiness.

John 16:13 ESV

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

He leads us into usefulness.

Acts 4:31 ESV

And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

Living as a child of God means an intimate, joyful relationship with God, not like the bondage and fear demonstrated by the law.

A child of God can have a relationship with God so close that they may cry out, “Abba! Father!”

It is easy for us to think of Jesus relating to the Father with this joyful confidence, but we may think we are disqualified for it.

However, remember that we are in Christ- we have the same privileges.

In the Roman world an adopted son was a son deliberately chosen by his adopted father to perpetuate his name and inherit his estate; he was no whit inferior in status to a son born in the ordinary course of nature.

Under Roman Adoption, the life and standing of the adopted child changed completely. The Adopted son lost all rights in his old family and gained all new rights in his new family; the old life of the adoption son was completely wiped out, with all debts being canceled, with nothing from his past counting against him any more.

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