Sermon

Romans 8:14-17

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  1. Good morning, please take your copy of God's Word, which I hope that you have with you this morning, and join me in Romans chapter 8.

    Romans 8 chapter mention

  2. To continue our study of Romans 8, Lord willing, we will finish the chapter on Christmas Eve morning. That's the plan as it stands.

  3. We will, of course, still take some time and turn our attention to the coming of Christ and all that that entails, which certainly includes what Paul's teaching us in Romans 8.

  4. I want you to know that these decisions are made prayerfully and thoughtfully with the aim of best ministering to your souls.

  5. So we do hope that you'll be well served, that you don't miss too much those Advent-themed sermons as we continue with chapter 8.

  6. Now this morning we have further opportunity to consider the ministry of the Spirit.

  7. Last week we saw in verses 5-13 that the Spirit, number one, gives us life.

  8. Herein we find the doctrine of regeneration.

  9. That is to say that those who are in Christ Jesus were once dead spiritually, but are now alive spiritually.

  10. Those who are in Christ have been born again.

  11. Secondly, we saw that the Spirit empowers us to live like Christ.

  12. The third person of our Trinitarian God sets us free from bondage to sin and works in us to bring about holiness.

  13. Our justification guarantees our sanctification or gradual growing in holiness.

  14. Now before we press in today's text, I want to briefly address the closing phrase of it at the outset,

  15. a phrase that we will consider, Lord willing, at greater length next week.

  16. And that's this phrase, in order that we may also be glorified with Him.

  17. You'll see that there at the end of verse 17.

  18. And here we find the goal for the Christian life.

  19. I think that John most succinctly sums up this idea of us being glorified with Christ

  20. in 1 John chapter 3 and verse 2, where he says,

    1 John 3 chapter mention

  21. Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared,

  22. but we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him,

  23. because we shall see Him as He is.

  24. When we are glorified, we will be like the perfect, sinless Son of God.

  25. God accomplishes this saving work in our lives by the power of the Spirit.

  26. I'm aiming us there as we're thinking about these ministries of the Spirit together.

  27. Let me draw your attention just briefly to the names used for the Spirit in Romans so far.

  28. Paul's doing this inspiration very carefully to help us understand something of the Spirit's work in our lives.

  29. We see Him called just the Spirit in chapter 8, verse 4, verse 5, verse 6, verse 9, verse 10, verse 11, and verse 13.

  30. We see Him back in chapter 1 and verse 4 called the Spirit of holiness.

  31. We see Him in chapter 8 and verse 2 called the Spirit of life.

  32. In chapter 8, verse 9, and in today's text, verse 14, we see Him called the Spirit of God.

  33. And then we also see Him called the Spirit of Christ in chapter 8 and verse 9.

  34. So the Spirit brings about life and holiness, emanates from God, is part of the triune God, and works to magnify Christ.

  35. Paul says in Colossians chapter 1, verse 27,

    Colossians 1:27

  36. Christ in you, the hope of glory.

  37. The hope that we will one day be glorified.

  38. Christ indwelling by the Spirit in us.

  39. So with this in mind, let's look at Romans chapter 8, beginning in verse 14.

    Romans 8 chapter mention

  40. Let me remind you before I read it, beloved, that this is God's Word to us.

  41. It was written for His glory and for our good, and so we would all do well to listen to it in order to believe its promises and to obey its commands.

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

  43. 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.

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

  45. And if children, then heirs.

  46. Heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ.

  47. Provided we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him.

  48. I want to show you from our text four ways that the Spirit ministers to us.

  49. I am not suggesting that the Spirit's ministry is delimited by these four things, but I do believe that they are the primary ministries of the Spirit.

  50. They are as follows.

  51. Number one, because of the Spirit, we are led.

  52. Number two, because of the Spirit, we are accepted.

  53. Number three, because of the Spirit, we are confident.

  54. And number four, because of the Spirit, we are rewarded.

  55. So firstly, because of the Spirit, we are led.

  56. Each of these points begins with that because, because verse 14 starts with a four.

  57. Recall that when we see this word, it shows us what Paul is saying is a continuation of what he has previously said.

  58. This is not a disjointed thought.

  59. He is following a logical flow, and so we do well to remember the context as we consider what it means to be led by the Spirit.

  60. The Spirit does give us inclinations about the everyday details of our lives, but this is not what Paul is talking about here.

  61. I don't want to limit that, that there are things we think perhaps we should say that are led by the Spirit,

  62. but that's not what Paul is saying in this text.

  63. text.

  64. So, for or because what?

  65. We're immediately proceeding.

  66. Verse 14 is verse 13.

  67. I love how that numbering helps us.

  68. Romans 8.13 says this,

  69. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die.

  70. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

  71. It's just after that that he says,

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

  73. Paul is specifically teaching that the Spirit empowers putting to death sin in our lives.

  74. The Spirit leads us away from wickedness,

  75. but not away from wickedness just to a position of neutrality,

  76. but also toward holiness.

  77. If you move up the chapter a little more to verse 4,

  78. there we see,

  79. In order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us,

  80. who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

  81. So at the beginning, do not be confused.

  82. Paul is not talking about subjective inclinations here,

  83. but about objective holiness.

  84. If we are led by the Spirit of God,

  85. we are being led to obey the good commands of God.

  86. That's here what he is talking about.

  87. I also want to talk a little bit about the word all.

  88. It says,

  89. For all who are led by the Spirit of God.

  90. And this little word needs some attention.

  91. I will say simply,

  92. Those who belong to God are led by the Spirit.

  93. If a person is in Christ Jesus,

  94. then they are filled with the Spirit of Christ,

  95. and the only objective observable marker of the state of their souls

  96. is obedience to God's law.

  97. There's a lot of confusion about that in our day.

  98. If you are in Christ,

  99. then you have His Spirit,

  100. and it evidences itself in obedience to God's Word.

  101. Don't let somebody tell you that you have to laugh uncontrollably

  102. in order to be filled with the Spirit.

  103. It's not in the text.

  104. You can't find it in the text.

  105. What are we to do?

  106. We are to obey God's Word.

  107. But all who are sons of God

  108. are led by the Spirit of God.

  109. Now we also have to spend some time on this verb,

  110. led.

  111. What does it mean to be led by the Spirit?

  112. Perhaps you will tolerate me a little Greek nerdiness for a moment,

  113. and maybe you'll even enjoy it.

  114. I hope that you will.

  115. The verb led is in the indicative mood,

  116. which describes something as actual,

  117. not theoretical or merely possible.

  118. So, actually led.

  119. It's in the present tense,

  120. which describes something happening

  121. with no reference to its completion.

  122. So, it's happening and happening and happening and happening.

  123. In actuality, going on all the time.

  124. Not momentarily,

  125. not in little spurts,

  126. but all the time going on.

  127. And it's in the passive voice,

  128. which describes an action,

  129. where the action is happening

  130. to the subject of the sentence or phrase,

  131. regardless of the participation of the object.

  132. So, it's happening necessarily to.

  133. You see, Paul is stating

  134. that the leading of the Spirit

  135. is a thing that necessarily

  136. is always happening to the Christian.

  137. If you are a son of God,

  138. then you are led by the Spirit of God.

  139. We don't always follow the leading of the Spirit

  140. in our lives, to be clear.

  141. But you are being led

  142. if you are in Christ.

  143. Christ is in you.

  144. In fact, another way to translate

  145. the Greek verb here translated,

  146. led, is to take hold of.

  147. If we belong to Him,

  148. then by the Spirit,

  149. He has taken hold of us.

  150. And He is aiming us in a direction,

  151. which I mentioned previously,

  152. which is that final glory

  153. that we await.

  154. So, if we are led by the Spirit,

  155. then we are sons of God.

  156. Those led by the Spirit of God,

  157. the Spirit was sent by God the Father

  158. and God the Son

  159. to show that we are sons of God.

  160. The gift that God had given us

  161. proves that we belong to Him.

  162. Here we see the contrast

  163. of two categories of people

  164. and a pressing question.

  165. We see that those who are part of God's family

  166. and by implication,

  167. those who are not.

  168. You are either led by the Spirit

  169. and a son of God

  170. or you are not led by the Spirit

  171. and not a son of God.

  172. To which family do you belong this morning?

  173. Most important question about you.

  174. Are you led by the Spirit of God

  175. to put to death sin in your life

  176. and be obedient?

  177. Do you hate your sin

  178. and possess an innate desire

  179. to obey God's good commands?

  180. Or are you looking for every possible excuse,

  181. any potential justification,

  182. to live your life on your terms?

  183. I want you to keep Romans chapter 8 marked with me

    Romans 8 chapter mention

  184. and turn with me to John chapter 8.

    John 8 chapter mention

  185. It is altogether possible

  186. for somebody to profess faith in Jesus Christ

  187. and not be in Him.

  188. This is addressed all throughout the Bible

  189. and I want to show you

  190. where Jesus addresses it specifically.

  191. John 8 beginning in verse 31.

  192. Verse 31 reads,

  193. So Jesus said to the Jews

  194. who had believed in Him.

  195. Verse 30 says that a number of Jews

  196. had come to believe in Him.

  197. Who had believed in Him.

  198. Now listen,

  199. these are people who have professed belief.

  200. We read that and we go,

  201. of course, they're Christians.

  202. They've become Christians.

  203. Jesus is addressing this very thing with them.

  204. Those who have professed faith in Him.

  205. He says,

  206. If you abide in My Word,

  207. you are truly My disciples.

  208. And you will know the truth

  209. and the truth will set you free.

  210. Now listen to how they respond.

  211. They answered Him,

  212. We are offspring of Abraham

  213. and have never been enslaved to anyone.

  214. How is it that you say

  215. you will become free?

  216. Jesus answered them.

  217. Verse 34,

  218. Truly, truly, I say to you,

  219. everyone who practices sin

  220. is a slave to sin.

  221. Had they been regenerate,

  222. they would already be aware

  223. of this reality.

  224. Verse 35,

  225. The slave does not remain in the house forever.

  226. The son remains forever.

  227. So, if the son sets you free,

  228. you will be free indeed.

  229. I know that you are offspring of Abraham,

  230. yet you seek to kill Me

  231. because My Word finds no place in you.

  232. Like, full stop,

  233. are these people believers in Jesus Christ?

  234. Jesus says otherwise.

  235. Right?

  236. I speak of what I have seen with My Father,

  237. and you do what you have heard

  238. from your father.

  239. Two different families.

  240. They answered Him,

  241. Abraham is our father.

  242. Jesus said to them,

  243. If you were Abraham's children,

  244. you would be doing the works

  245. Abraham did,

  246. works of faith.

  247. But now you seek to kill Me,

  248. a man who has told you the truth

  249. that I heard from God.

  250. This is not what Abraham did.

  251. You are doing the works

  252. your father did.

  253. They said to Him,

  254. We were not born of sexual immorality.

  255. We have one father,

  256. even God.

  257. Jesus said to them,

  258. If God were your father,

  259. you would love Me.

  260. For I came from God,

  261. and I am here.

  262. I am not of My own accord,

  263. but He sent Me.

  264. Why do you not understand what I say?

  265. It is because you cannot bear

  266. to hear My Word.

  267. You are of your father,

  268. the devil,

  269. and your will is to do

  270. your father's desires.

  271. He was a murderer

  272. from the beginning

  273. and does not stand in the truth

  274. because there is no truth in Him.

  275. When He lies,

  276. He speaks out of His own character,

  277. for He is a liar

  278. and the father of lies.

  279. But because I tell you the truth,

  280. you do not believe Me.

  281. Which one of you convicts Me of sin?

  282. If I tell the truth,

  283. why do you not believe Me?

  284. Whoever is of God

  285. hears the words of God.

  286. The reason why you do not hear them

  287. is that you are not of God.

  288. So it is possible, right,

  289. to profess faith

  290. and not belong to God.

  291. What does He say?

  292. If you abide in My Word,

  293. then you are truly My disciples.

  294. Now, if you are in this latter category,

  295. this professing,

  296. but not truly being saved,

  297. it is our prayer for you this morning

  298. that you would repent of your sin

  299. and place your hope in Christ.

  300. Without Him,

  301. there is no hope

  302. for this life

  303. or the life to come.

  304. Would you respond in faith

  305. to the invitation

  306. of the good news

  307. of Jesus' life,

  308. His death and resurrection

  309. on your behalf?

  310. Would you be born again

  311. this morning?

  312. We read a statement together.

  313. It's from our confession of faith,

  314. which originates from

  315. the New Hampshire Confession

  316. of 1833.

  317. We ask the question,

  318. what do we believe about grace

  319. in regeneration?

  320. And I love this succinct

  321. and well-packed answer

  322. that says,

  323. we believe that in order to be saved,

  324. sinners must be regenerated

  325. or born again.

  326. That regeneration consists

  327. in giving a holy disposition

  328. to the mind,

  329. that it is affected

  330. in a manner above our comprehension

  331. by the power of the Holy Spirit

  332. in connection with divine truth

  333. so as to secure

  334. our voluntary obedience

  335. to the gospel

  336. and that its proper evidence

  337. appears in the holy fruits

  338. of repentance

  339. and faith

  340. and newness of life.

  341. Those found in Christ

  342. will be turning

  343. by divine power

  344. from their sin

  345. by faith

  346. to Christ

  347. and obedience

  348. to His Word.

  349. If we are sons of God,

  350. then we are led

  351. by the Spirit.

  352. And I just want to emphasize,

  353. don't turn this into

  354. an experiential,

  355. feeling-oriented thing.

  356. Are you being turned

  357. from disobedience

  358. to obedience

  359. regularly?

  360. Do you desire

  361. to live in a way

  362. that is pleasing

  363. to our God?

  364. Do you,

  365. in a growing sense,

  366. despise your sin?

  367. Do you feel the conviction

  368. of the Spirit

  369. in your life

  370. when you do things

  371. that you ought not do?

  372. If you don't,

  373. I am worried

  374. for your soul.

  375. Repent

  376. and believe.

  377. Place your faith

  378. in Christ.

  379. Because of the Spirit,

  380. we are led.

  381. Secondly,

  382. because of the Spirit,

  383. we are accepted.

  384. Paul says,

  385. verse 15,

  386. chapter 8,

  387. for you did not receive

  388. the Spirit of slavery

  389. to fall back into fear,

  390. but you have received

  391. the Spirit of adoption

  392. as sons

  393. by whom we cry,

  394. Abba,

  395. Father.

  396. I listened to

  397. a sermon this week

  398. by Steve Lawson.

  399. If you guys know Steve Lawson,

  400. you can appreciate him.

  401. You know his voice.

  402. You may hear his voice

  403. in his head.

  404. And he kept saying,

  405. Abba,

  406. and that may be the way

  407. you pronounce it,

  408. but it drove me crazy.

  409. So I'm going to say,

  410. Abba,

  411. the rest of the morning.

  412. Paul here,

  413. with verse 15,

  414. with another four,

  415. elaborates on the idea

  416. of being sons of God

  417. with a denial

  418. and then an affirmation.

  419. He's such a good teacher.

  420. He constantly says,

  421. not this,

  422. but this instead.

  423. He first says,

  424. you did not receive

  425. the Spirit of slavery

  426. to fall back

  427. into fear.

  428. You did not receive

  429. condemnation.

  430. You did not receive

  431. the guilt

  432. that accompanies

  433. your sin,

  434. which rightly

  435. causes you to tremble

  436. before God.

  437. Whether it is present

  438. in your conscience

  439. or not,

  440. if you are not in Christ,

  441. you at your very core

  442. know that one day

  443. you will stand

  444. before your Maker

  445. and you will be judged

  446. for your sin.

  447. If you are in Christ,

  448. then you did not receive

  449. condemnation.

  450. Chapter 8,

  451. verse 1.

  452. But have been delivered

  453. from slavery to sin

  454. and the just punishment

  455. that is due it.

  456. Rather,

  457. you have received

  458. the spirit

  459. of adoption

  460. as sons.

  461. Now,

  462. a small note

  463. about the idea

  464. of being adopted

  465. as sons

  466. for the women

  467. of our church.

  468. You want this

  469. to be true

  470. of you

  471. because in Paul's day

  472. it was sons

  473. who received

  474. the inheritance

  475. of their fathers.

  476. Just a little

  477. historical context

  478. helps us understand.

  479. Today,

  480. inheritances

  481. are most typically

  482. divided equally,

  483. but not so then.

  484. So,

  485. just embrace the term.

  486. We should all

  487. want to be

  488. sons in the sun.

  489. This is a good thing

  490. that we would be

  491. adopted

  492. sons

  493. of the Most High.

  494. So,

  495. if you are

  496. led by the Spirit

  497. of God,

  498. you are a son

  499. of God

  500. and you have

  501. received the spirit

  502. of adoption

  503. as a son.

  504. Paul is the only

  505. Bible writer

  506. that uses

  507. the word

  508. adoption.

  509. He only uses it

  510. five total times

  511. and three of those

  512. usages are found

  513. in Romans.

  514. And so,

  515. this language

  516. demands our attention.

  517. Why adoption?

  518. Why this

  519. particular

  520. word?

  521. Elsewhere in the Bible,

  522. our regeneration

  523. has been described

  524. using the metaphor

  525. of new birth.

  526. made new,

  527. made alive

  528. by this

  529. new birth

  530. which brings us

  531. to spiritual

  532. life.

  533. But here,

  534. as adoption.

  535. And I just think

  536. this is a particular

  537. note,

  538. especially

  539. to where

  540. Paul's case

  541. is headed

  542. as we'll see

  543. in coming

  544. weeks.

  545. I believe

  546. that Paul

  547. means to highlight

  548. the choosing

  549. work of God

  550. in saving us.

  551. Adopted children

  552. are chosen

  553. children.

  554. All of us

  555. love our kids,

  556. our biological kids.

  557. We don't

  558. not want them,

  559. but they were

  560. given to us.

  561. They were

  562. granted

  563. to us.

  564. Adopted

  565. kids

  566. are chosen.

  567. The emphasis

  568. here is on

  569. compassion

  570. and intimacy

  571. and grace

  572. and love.

  573. We'll see this

  574. through the end

  575. of chapter

  576. eight.

  577. Paul

  578. is saying to us

  579. that God

  580. is lavish

  581. in the calling

  582. of a people

  583. for his praise.

  584. Paul presses

  585. with the word

  586. adoption

  587. that we were

  588. once so evidently

  589. not a part

  590. of God's family,

  591. but we have

  592. now been made

  593. a part

  594. of his family.

  595. It places

  596. the work

  597. squarely in

  598. God's hands

  599. and leaves

  600. no room

  601. for boasting

  602. on our part,

  603. but only

  604. reveling

  605. in the saving

  606. work of God

  607. on our behalf.

  608. as Paul

  609. unpacks

  610. the ministry

  611. of the Spirit,

  612. perhaps he

  613. has the words

  614. of Jesus

  615. in John

    John 14:16–18

  616. chapter 14

  617. verse 16

  618. through 18

  619. on his mind.

  620. There Jesus

  621. said,

  622. I will ask

  623. the Father

  624. and he will

  625. give you another

  626. helper to be

  627. with you

  628. forever.

  629. Even the

  630. Spirit of Truth

  631. whom the world

  632. cannot receive

  633. because it

  634. neither sees

  635. him

  636. nor knows

  637. him.

  638. You know

  639. him for

  640. he dwells

  641. with you

  642. and will

  643. be in

  644. you.

  645. Then verse

  646. 18 says,

  647. I will not

  648. leave you

  649. as orphans.

  650. I will

  651. come

  652. to you.

  653. There,

  654. the acting

  655. work

  656. of God

  657. the Son,

  658. working in

  659. conjunction

  660. with God

  661. the Father,

  662. by the power

  663. of God

  664. the Spirit

  665. to be with

  666. us

  667. forever.

  668. The doctrine

  669. of adoption

  670. is a

  671. precious,

  672. precious

  673. doctrine.

  674. Paul says,

  675. you have

  676. received the

  677. Spirit of

  678. adoption

  679. as sons

  680. by whom

  681. we cry,

  682. Abba,

  683. Father.

  684. Now,

  685. Abba is

  686. the informal

  687. Aramaic

  688. term

  689. for Father.

  690. He steps

  691. out of

  692. Koine Greek

  693. for a moment

  694. and uses

  695. an Aramaic

  696. word.

  697. Perhaps

  698. a modern

  699. English equivalent

  700. would be

  701. daddy.

  702. It's a term

  703. of affection.

  704. It connotes

  705. tenderness,

  706. intimacy,

  707. dependency,

  708. and a

  709. total

  710. lack of

  711. fear.

  712. We can

  713. boldly

  714. approach

  715. God

  716. because

  717. He is

  718. our

  719. adopted

  720. dad.

  721. Because

  722. of the

  723. Spirit,

  724. we are

  725. accepted.

  726. We deserve

  727. to be

  728. God's

  729. enemy.

  730. But because

  731. of our

  732. regenerating

  733. work in

  734. our lives,

  735. He has

  736. granted to

  737. us the

  738. righteousness

  739. of Christ

  740. and now

  741. we are

  742. welcomed,

  743. open-armed,

  744. !

  745. rise out,

  746. Abba,

  747. Father.

  748. This should

  749. grab our

  750. attention.

  751. I'm going to

  752. tell you,

  753. but can you

  754. think for a

  755. moment where

  756. else you

  757. see this

  758. combination of

  759. Aramaic and

  760. Greek?

  761. Abba,

  762. Father.

  763. When Jesus

  764. is in agony

  765. in the garden

  766. of Gethsemane,

  767. the night

  768. before His

  769. crucifixion,

  770. He prays to

  771. God the

  772. Father in

  773. this way.

  774. Mark 14

  775. and verse

  776. 36,

  777. He says,

  778. Abba,

  779. Father,

  780. all things

  781. are possible

  782. for You.

  783. Remove this

  784. cup from

  785. me,

  786. yet not

  787. what I

  788. will,

  789. but what

  790. You will.

  791. I think

  792. that what

  793. Paul is doing

  794. here is he

  795. has in mind

  796. this text

  797. and he

  798. employs this

  799. language in

  800. chapter 8

  801. to help us

  802. think about

  803. the suffering

  804. we'll have to

  805. share in

  806. with Christ.

  807. In verse

  808. 16,

  809. he begins

  810. introducing

  811. this very

  812. idea and

  813. the waiting

  814. for and

  815. the longing

  816. for glory

  817. and the way

  818. in which God's

  819. working all

  820. things for

  821. good.

  822. Paul is

  823. beginning to

  824. set us up

  825. to understand

  826. that because

  827. we are

  828. accepted by

  829. God,

  830. we can

  831. endure all

  832. things because

  833. we have an

  834. internal

  835. inheritance in

  836. Him.

  837. come what

  838. may,

  839. Romans 8 is

  840. going to

  841. say to

  842. us,

  843. if God

  844. is for

  845. us,

  846. who can

  847. be against

  848. us?

  849. And he's

  850. drawing our

  851. minds back,

  852. I think,

  853. to these

  854. words of

  855. Christ on

  856. the cross.

  857. These

  858. deeply

  859. intimate

  860. ways of

  861. referring to

  862. God as

  863. our Father.

  864. Now,

  865. you may

  866. have a

  867. difficult time

  868. thinking of

  869. God as

  870. your Abba

  871. Father,

  872. because perhaps

  873. your earthly

  874. father was

  875. unkind or

  876. harsh or

  877. maybe only

  878. extended love

  879. to you

  880. conditionally.

  881. But this

  882. is not so

  883. of your

  884. heavenly

  885. Father.

  886. Praise God

  887. for fathers

  888. that we can

  889. look to,

  890. that are an

  891. example of

  892. what our

  893. heavenly

  894. father is

  895. like,

  896. although

  897. imperfectly.

  898. But if

  899. your father

  900. was not

  901. this,

  902. look to

  903. the text,

  904. your father

  905. is not

  906. God.

  907. Look to

  908. the text,

  909. what does

  910. the Bible

  911. say is

  912. true of

  913. our

  914. heavenly

  915. father.

  916. J.I.

  917. Packer

  918. once wrote

  919. in a book

  920. called Knowing

  921. God,

  922. which I

  923. commend

  924. strongly to

  925. you.

  926. He said

  927. this,

  928. quote,

  929. you sum up

  930. the whole

  931. of New

  932. Testament

  933. religion if

  934. you describe

  935. it as the

  936. knowledge of

  937. God as

  938. one's

  939. holy

  940. father.

  941. If you

  942. want to

  943. judge how

  944. well a

  945. person

  946. understands

  947. Christianity,

  948. find out

  949. how much

  950. he makes

  951. of the

  952. thought of

  953. being God's

  954. child and

  955. having God

  956. as his

  957. father.

  958. If this

  959. is not

  960. the thought

  961. that prompts

  962. and controls

  963. his worship

  964. and prayers

  965. and his

  966. whole outlook

  967. on life,

  968. it means

  969. that he

  970. does not

  971. understand

  972. Christianity

  973. very well

  974. at all.

  975. For

  976. everything

  977. that

  978. Christ

  979. taught,

  980. everything

  981. that

  982. makes

  983. the

  984. New

  985. Testament

  986. new

  987. and

  988. better

  989. than

  990. the

  991. old,

  992. everything

  993. that

  994. is

  995. distinctively

  996. Christian

  997. as opposed

  998. to merely

  999. Jewish,

  1000. is summed

  1001. up in

  1002. the

  1003. knowledge

  1004. of the

  1005. fatherhood

  1006. of God.

  1007. Father

  1008. is the

  1009. Christian

  1010. name

  1011. for God.

  1012. Our

  1013. understanding

  1014. of

  1015. Christianity

  1016. cannot

  1017. be better

  1018. than our

  1019. grasp

  1020. of

  1021. adoption.

  1022. So

  1023. because of

  1024. the

  1025. Spirit,

  1026. we are

  1027. led

  1028. because of

  1029. the Spirit,

  1030. we are

  1031. accepted.

  1032. We belong.

  1033. We are

  1034. rejoined

  1035. with our

  1036. Creator.

  1037. Thirdly,

  1038. because of

  1039. the Spirit,

  1040. we are

  1041. confident.

  1042. Verse 16

  1043. says,

  1044. the Spirit

  1045. himself bears

  1046. witness with

  1047. our spirit

  1048. that we

  1049. are children

  1050. of God.

  1051. Our

  1052. growing

  1053. obedience

  1054. to God's

  1055. good

  1056. commands

  1057. gives

  1058. outward

  1059. witness

  1060. that we

  1061. are children

  1062. of God.

  1063. There is

  1064. observable

  1065. obedience.

  1066. But there is

  1067. also an

  1068. inner

  1069. testimony.

  1070. But this

  1071. is not

  1072. just an

  1073. inner

  1074. small

  1075. voice.

  1076. You don't

  1077. ask yourself

  1078. the question

  1079. and the

  1080. sound out

  1081. of the

  1082. void

  1083. says,

  1084. yes,

  1085. you are

  1086. in fact

  1087. saved.

  1088. That

  1089. inner

  1090. voice

  1091. in our

  1092. heads

  1093. may be

  1094. fickle

  1095. and

  1096. easily

  1097. swayed.

  1098. It

  1099. is

  1100. rather

  1101. the

  1102. inner

  1103. work

  1104. of the

  1105. Spirit

  1106. to

  1107. illuminate

  1108. God's

  1109. Word

  1110. to us,

  1111. to

  1112. sanctify

  1113. our

  1114. thoughts

  1115. and our

  1116. passions,

  1117. and to

  1118. compel

  1119. relationship

  1120. with God.

  1121. We can

  1122. take up

  1123. and read

  1124. and God

  1125. speaks to

  1126. us by

  1127. His

  1128. Spirit

  1129. through

  1130. His

  1131. Word.

  1132. Gives

  1133. us

  1134. conviction

  1135. of our

  1136. sin,

  1137. puts

  1138. desires

  1139. in us

  1140. to change

  1141. from one

  1142. degree of

  1143. glory

  1144. to another

  1145. that we

  1146. might

  1147. have

  1148. loving

  1149. communion

  1150. with

  1151. God.

  1152. Granting

  1153. to the

  1154. believer

  1155. assurance

  1156. is a

  1157. ministry

  1158. of the

  1159. Spirit,

  1160. but some

  1161. people

  1162. really

  1163. labor

  1164. over the

  1165. assurance

  1166. of their

  1167. salvation,

  1168. and I

  1169. want you

  1170. to know

  1171. that I'm

  1172. with you

  1173. in that.

  1174. I understand

  1175. where you're

  1176. coming from.

  1177. I think

  1178. most often

  1179. though,

  1180. this is

  1181. due to

  1182. doctrinal

  1183. confusion.

  1184. Somewhere

  1185. along the

  1186. way,

  1187. you've

  1188. misread

  1189. or been

  1190. mistaught

  1191. what the

  1192. Christian

  1193. life is

  1194. to look

  1195. like.

  1196. This is

  1197. why I

  1198. will not

  1199. tire of

  1200. teaching

  1201. the

  1202. doctrines

  1203. of

  1204. grace.

  1205. I

  1206. will

  1207. hammer

  1208. them

  1209. until

  1210. the

  1211. day

  1212. I

  1213. die,

  1214. come

  1215. what

  1216. may,

  1217. with

  1218. all

  1219. their

  1220. beauty

  1221. and

  1222. all

  1223. their

  1224. complexity.

  1225. This is

  1226. why I

  1227. will not

  1228. tire of

  1229. teaching

  1230. the

  1231. relationship

  1232. between

  1233. the

  1234. law

  1235. and

  1236. the

  1237. gospel.

  1238. It's

  1239. important

  1240. that we

  1241. understand

  1242. the

  1243. way

  1244. in

  1245. which

  1246. the

  1247. !

  1248. law

  1249. is

  1250. meant

  1251. to

  1252. convict

  1253. us

  1254. of

  1255. sin

  1256. and

  1257. drive

  1258. us

  1259. to

  1260. the

  1261. gospel

  1262. and

  1263. then

  1264. once

  1265. we've

  1266. been

  1267. set

  1268. free

  1269. from

  1270. the

  1271. bondage

  1272. of

  1273. sin

  1274. the

  1275. way

  1276. that

  1277. law

  1278. is

  1279. meant

  1280. to be

  1281. employed

  1282. in

  1283. our

  1284. lives

  1285. to

  1286. give

  1287. evidence

  1288. of

  1289. our

  1290. saving

  1291. faith.

  1292. Now

  1293. when I

  1294. was a

  1295. young

  1296. teenager

  1297. I

  1298. believe

  1299. I

  1300. was

  1301. converted

  1302. at a

  1303. very

  1304. young

  1305. age

  1306. and

  1307. I

  1308. when

  1309. we

  1310. moved

  1311. to

  1312. Georgia

  1313. I

  1314. went

  1315. to

  1316. a

  1317. church

  1318. that

  1319. was

  1320. a

  1321. rather

  1322. a

  1323. large

  1324. church

  1325. that

  1326. in

  1327. many

  1328. ways

  1329. was

  1330. trying

  1331. to

  1332. manufacture

  1333. revival

  1334. many

  1335. years

  1336. later

  1337. I

  1338. can

  1339. look

  1340. back

  1341. on

  1342. it

  1343. with

  1344. some

  1345. clear

  1346. minded

  1347. scrutiny

  1348. but

  1349. there

  1350. were

  1351. times

  1352. I

  1353. sat

  1354. and

  1355. I

  1356. just

  1357. wasn't

  1358. sure

  1359. am

  1360. I

  1361. a

  1362. Christian

  1363. I

  1364. didn't

  1365. have

  1366. assurance

  1367. in

  1368. those

  1369. days

  1370. and

  1371. what

  1372. was

  1373. often

  1374. told

  1375. to

  1376. me

  1377. you

  1378. all

  1379. have

  1380. heard

  1381. this

  1382. the

  1383. pastor

  1384. there

  1385. would

  1386. say

  1387. if

  1388. you

  1389. ever

  1390. doubt

  1391. that

  1392. you're

  1393. a

  1394. Christian

  1395. he

  1396. would

  1397. say

  1398. turn

  1399. to

  1400. the

  1401. front

  1402. of

  1403. your

  1404. Bible

  1405. to

  1406. the

  1407. place

  1408. where

  1409. you

  1410. wrote

  1411. down

  1412. the

  1413. date

  1414. that

  1415. you

  1416. walked

  1417. the

  1418. aisle

  1419. and

  1420. have

  1421. assurance

  1422. this

  1423. was

  1424. really

  1425. problematic

  1426. for me

  1427. because

  1428. I

  1429. hadn't

  1430. written

  1431. a

  1432. date

  1433. down

  1434. in

  1435. the

  1436. front

  1437. of

  1438. my

  1439. Bible

  1440. I

  1441. turned

  1442. to

  1443. the

  1444. front

  1445. of

  1446. it

  1447. and

  1448. there

  1449. was

  1450. no

  1451. my

  1452. handwriting

  1453. in

  1454. the

  1455. front

  1456. of

  1457. my

  1458. Bible

  1459. and

  1460. frankly

  1461. I'm

  1462. glad

  1463. there

  1464. wasn't

  1465. because

  1466. it

  1467. would

  1468. have

  1469. been

  1470. a

  1471. very

  1472. paltry

  1473. place

  1474. to

  1475. put

  1476. my

  1477. assurance

  1478. I

  1479. didn't

  1480. need

  1481. pragmatic

  1482. decisionism

  1483. I

  1484. didn't

  1485. need

  1486. him

  1487. to

  1488. say

  1489. you

  1490. did

  1491. this

  1492. one

  1493. thing

  1494. one

  1495. time

  1496. therefore

  1497. you're

  1498. a

  1499. Christian

  1500. I

  1501. needed

  1502. biblical

  1503. instruction

  1504. in

  1505. assurance

  1506. I

  1507. needed

  1508. him

  1509. to

  1510. say

  1511. have

  1512. you

  1513. ever

  1514. doubted

  1515. that

  1516. you're

  1517. a

  1518. Christian

  1519. let

  1520. me

  1521. take

  1522. you

  1523. to

  1524. the

  1525. word

  1526. let

  1527. me

  1528. show

  1529. you

  1530. how

  1531. you

  1532. can

  1533. know

  1534. that

  1535. you're

  1536. in

  1537. Christ

  1538. just

  1539. one

  1540. example

  1541. and

  1542. I

  1543. want

  1544. to

  1545. exposit

  1546. this

  1547. whole

  1548. thing

  1549. but

  1550. I

  1551. don't

  1552. have

  1553. time

  1554. for

  1555. it

  1556. I

  1557. wish

  1558. he

  1559. had

  1560. taken

  1561. me

  1562. to

  1563. a

  1564. text

  1565. like

  1566. John

  1567. chapter

  1568. 5

  1569. verses

  1570. 1

  1571. through

  1572. 5

  1573. there

  1574. the

  1575. apostle

  1576. John

  1577. writes

  1578. everyone

  1579. who

  1580. believes

  1581. that

  1582. Jesus

  1583. is

  1584. the

  1585. Christ

  1586. has

  1587. been

  1588. born

  1589. of

  1590. God

  1591. and

  1592. everyone

  1593. who

  1594. loves

  1595. the

  1596. father

  1597. loves

  1598. whoever

  1599. has

  1600. been

  1601. born

  1602. of

  1603. him

  1604. right

  1605. I'm

  1606. sitting

  1607. there

  1608. going

  1609. I

  1610. believe

  1611. that

  1612. Jesus

  1613. is

  1614. the

  1615. Christ

  1616. and

  1617. what

  1618. am

  1619. I

  1620. supposed

  1621. to

  1622. do

  1623. with

  1624. that

  1625. information

  1626. love

  1627. the

  1628. church

  1629. I

  1630. do

  1631. love

  1632. the

  1633. church

  1634. I

  1635. love

  1636. !

  1637. these

  1638. people

  1639. who

  1640. are

  1641. professing

  1642. faith

  1643. in

  1644. Christ

  1645. verse

  1646. 2

  1647. by

  1648. this

  1649. we

  1650. know

  1651. that

  1652. we

  1653. love

  1654. the

  1655. children

  1656. of

  1657. God

  1658. when

  1659. we

  1660. love

  1661. God

  1662. and

  1663. we

  1664. obey

  1665. his

  1666. commandments

  1667. I

  1668. don't

  1669. obey

  1670. his

  1671. commandments

  1672. perfectly

  1673. but

  1674. I

  1675. want

  1676. to

  1677. obey

  1678. his

  1679. commandments

  1680. I

  1681. find

  1682. in

  1683. me

  1684. that

  1685. I

  1686. am

  1687. obeying

  1688. imperfectly

  1689. but

  1690. some

  1691. of

  1692. those

  1693. commandments

  1694. I

  1695. see

  1696. a

  1697. desire

  1698. and

  1699. a

  1700. growing

  1701. ability

  1702. to

  1703. do

  1704. so

  1705. verse

  1706. 3

  1707. for

  1708. this

  1709. is

  1710. the

  1711. love

  1712. of

  1713. God

  1714. are

  1715. not

  1716. burdensome

  1717. for

  1718. everyone

  1719. who's

  1720. been

  1721. born

  1722. of

  1723. God

  1724. overcomes

  1725. the

  1726. world

  1727. and

  1728. this

  1729. is

  1730. the

  1731. victory

  1732. that

  1733. has

  1734. overcome

  1735. the

  1736. world

  1737. our

  1738. faith

  1739. who

  1740. is

  1741. it

  1742. that

  1743. overcomes

  1744. the

  1745. world

  1746. except

  1747. the

  1748. one

  1749. who

  1750. believes

  1751. that

  1752. Jesus

  1753. is

  1754. the

  1755. Son

  1756. of

  1757. God

  1758. man

  1759. I

  1760. needed

  1761. to

  1762. sit

  1763. on

  1764. this

  1765. and

  1766. think

  1767. about

  1768. it

  1769. and

  1770. he

  1771. wouldn't

  1772. have

  1773. read

  1774. it

  1775. to

  1776. me

  1777. and

  1778. I

  1779. wouldn't

  1780. have

  1781. gone

  1782. hey

  1783. assurance

  1784. but

  1785. I

  1786. need

  1787. help

  1788. in

  1789. this

  1790. process

  1791. I

  1792. need

  1793. to

  1794. be

  1795. reminded

  1796. that

  1797. if

  1798. I

  1799. belonged

  1800. to

  1801. Christ

  1802. then

  1803. there

  1804. was

  1805. nothing

  1806. I

  1807. could

  1808. do

  1809. to

  1810. stop

  1811. that

  1812. if

  1813. he

  1814. justified

  1815. me

  1816. he

  1817. would

  1818. sanctify

  1819. me

  1820. Thomas

  1821. Brooks

  1822. once

  1823. said

  1824. Puritan

  1825. pastor

  1826. this

  1827. is

  1828. on

  1829. the

  1830. back

  1831. of

  1832. your

  1833. bulletin

  1834. Christ

  1835. is

  1836. to

  1837. be

  1838. answerable

  1839. for

  1840. all

  1841. those

  1842. that

  1843. are

  1844. given

  1845. to

  1846. him

  1847. at

  1848. the

  1849. last

  1850. day

  1851. and

  1852. therefore

  1853. we

  1854. need

  1855. not

  1856. doubt

  1857. but

  1858. that

  1859. he

  1860. will

  1861. certainly

  1862. employ

  1863. all

  1864. the

  1865. power

  1866. of

  1867. his

  1868. Godhead

  1869. to

  1870. secure

  1871. and

  1872. save

  1873. all

  1874. those

  1875. that

  1876. he

  1877. must

  1878. be

  1879. accountable

  1880. for

  1881. if

  1882. you

  1883. belong

  1884. to

  1885. Christ

  1886. he

  1887. will

  1888. see

  1889. you

  1890. to

  1891. the

  1892. end

  1893. that

  1894. is

  1895. the

  1896. instruction

  1897. that

  1898. I

  1899. needed

  1900. because

  1901. of the

  1902. spirit

  1903. I

  1904. want

  1905. you

  1906. to

  1907. know

  1908. this

  1909. morning

  1910. beloved

  1911. we

  1912. are

  1913. confident

  1914. we

  1915. can

  1916. be

  1917. confident

  1918. you

  1919. need

  1920. to

  1921. be

  1922. taught

  1923. how

  1924. to

  1925. be

  1926. confident

  1927. how

  1928. to

  1929. be

  1930. assured

  1931. in

  1932. Christ

  1933. so

  1934. we

  1935. are

  1936. led

  1937. we

  1938. are

  1939. accepted

  1940. we

  1941. are

  1942. confident

  1943. and

  1944. lastly

  1945. and

  1946. briefly

  1947. we

  1948. are

  1949. rewarded

  1950. and

  1951. if

  1952. children

  1953. then

  1954. heirs

  1955. heirs

  1956. of

  1957. God

  1958. and

  1959. fellow

  1960. heirs

  1961. with

  1962. Christ

  1963. provided

  1964. we

  1965. suffer

  1966. with

  1967. him

  1968. in

  1969. order

  1970. that

  1971. we

  1972. may

  1973. also

  1974. be

  1975. glorified

  1976. with

  1977. him

  1978. so

  1979. briefly

  1980. as

  1981. we

  1982. will

  1983. pick

  1984. this

  1985. up

  1986. Lord

  1987. willing

  1988. again

  1989. next

  1990. week

  1991. if

  1992. we

  1993. are

  1994. children

  1995. then

  1996. we

  1997. are

  1998. heirs

  1999. heirs

  2000. of

  2001. God

  2002. we

  2003. have

  2004. an

  2005. inheritance

  2006. that

  2007. awaits

  2008. us

  2009. and

  2010. it

  2011. is

  2012. a

  2013. great

  2014. inheritance

  2015. because

  2016. that

  2017. inheritance

  2018. is

  2019. God

  2020. himself

  2021. if

  2022. your

  2023. eternal

  2024. mindset

  2025. stops

  2026. at

  2027. streets

  2028. of

  2029. gold

  2030. and

  2031. mansions

  2032. then

  2033. it

  2034. stops

  2035. too

  2036. low

  2037. we

  2038. will

  2039. have

  2040. God

  2041. and

  2042. we

  2043. will

  2044. have

  2045. God

  2046. forever

  2047. and

  2048. there

  2049. is

  2050. no

  2051. greater

  2052. inheritance

  2053. that

  2054. he

  2055. can

  2056. grant

  2057. us

  2058. than

  2059. himself

  2060. just

  2061. listen

  2062. briefly

  2063. to

  2064. the

  2065. testimony

  2066. of

  2067. a

  2068. number

  2069. of

  2070. Bible

  2071. writers

  2072. the

  2073. testimony

  2074. of

  2075. Asaph

  2076. in

  2077. Psalm

  2078. 73

  2079. and

  2080. verse

  2081. 25

  2082. there

  2083. he

  2084. says

  2085. to

  2086. God

  2087. whom

  2088. have

  2089. I

  2090. in

  2091. heaven

  2092. but

  2093. you

  2094. and

  2095. there

  2096. is

  2097. nothing

  2098. on

  2099. earth

  2100. that

  2101. I

  2102. desire

  2103. besides

  2104. you

  2105. and

  2106. Jeremiah

  2107. and

  2108. lamentations

    Lamentations 3 chapter mention

  2109. chapter

  2110. 3

  2111. and

  2112. verse

  2113. 24

  2114. he

  2115. says

  2116. the

  2117. Lord

  2118. is

  2119. my

  2120. portion

  2121. which

  2122. means

  2123. satisfaction

  2124. therefore

  2125. I

  2126. will

  2127. hope

  2128. in

  2129. him

  2130. and

  2131. the

  2132. apostle

  2133. John

  2134. in

  2135. Revelation

    Revelation 21 chapter mention

  2136. chapter

  2137. 21

  2138. and

  2139. verse

  2140. 3

  2141. records

  2142. for

  2143. us

  2144. that

  2145. he

  2146. heard

  2147. a

  2148. loud

  2149. voice

  2150. from

  2151. the

  2152. throne

  2153. saying

  2154. behold

  2155. the

  2156. dwelling

  2157. place

  2158. of

  2159. God

  2160. is

  2161. with

  2162. man

  2163. he

  2164. will

  2165. dwell

  2166. with

  2167. them

  2168. and

  2169. they

  2170. will

  2171. be

  2172. his

  2173. people

  2174. and

  2175. God

  2176. himself

  2177. will

  2178. be

  2179. with

  2180. them

  2181. as

  2182. their

  2183. God

  2184. God

  2185. himself

  2186. is the

  2187. greatest

  2188. and highest

  2189. good

  2190. and our

  2191. restoration

  2192. to him

  2193. forever

  2194. is the

  2195. very point

  2196. of the

  2197. gospel

  2198. and the

  2199. ministry

  2200. of the

  2201. spirit

  2202. so because

  2203. of the

  2204. spirit

  2205. we are

  2206. led

  2207. we are

  2208. accepted

  2209. we are

  2210. confident

  2211. and we

  2212. are

  2213. rewarded

  2214. let's

  2215. pray

  2216. together