"because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God" (Romans 8:14)

Isn't it amazing to know that you are a child of God? His Spirit inside testifies to this very thing. This truth is easy to take for granted especially if you grew up in a church because we hear this a lot. But stopping to reflect on this incredible reality will open your eyes to profound mysteries reveal in Christ Jesus.

Paul is teaching us to live by the Spirit of God in this entire passage of Romans 8. When we do this we will not gratify the desires of the flesh that we have been freed of. We will experience life and soul peace in the midst of trouble and hardship. This is an incredible lesson to learn, it is key to living free and victorious. However, just as important to understand is the truth found in today's verse. "...those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God" ( Romans 8:14 ).

Did you know that being a son or daughter of God makes you a heir in his kingdom? By bearing His spirit and His name we have all the rights and privileges associated with those things. Paul says later on in Romans 8 that we received a spirit of sonship that makes us heirs and co-heirs with Christ ( Romans 8:15, Romans 8:17 ). Ephesians tells us that we are no longer aliens and foreigners to the promises of God, but we are God's people, members of his own household built into a royal temple where God lives by His Spirit ( Ephesians 2:19-22 ). It is amazing to think that since we are his children and his heirs, He will withhold nothing from us. We have receive full the rights of sonship. We are no longer slaves, but God's very own children born out of love. ( Galatians 4:4-7 ).

In Luke's gospel he recorded the genealogy of Jesus in chapter 4. He traces Jesus' line clear back to Adam and in verse 37, he records that Adam was the son of God. Adam was born out of a desire to have a family. God was not lonely, he had all fullness living within himself and yet he desired to create life and mankind. Adam bore the name of God. After the fall, God still desired to have a family and to reconcile to himself all things. This is why he sent Jesus, his son to be the second Adam.

Now fast forward a little bit where Jesus was with John at the river Jordan. John baptized Jesus and look what happened. "As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased" ( Matthew 3:16-17 ).The Holy Spirit descended out of heaven in bodily form and landed on Jesus. But this amazing truth revealed to John two things, first that Jesus was the son of God. Second it revealed to him that God was extremely pleased in Jesus. The Holy Spirit living in Jesus showed both of these awesome truths, God loved him, was pleased with him and brought understanding that Jesus was the Son of God.

Adam was called the son of God and Jesus was called the son of God. Adam brought destruction and Jesus completely reverse everything that resulted in the fall. The Holy Spirit in Jesus was evident that he was the Son of God and that he came bearing of the good news that we can have peace with God. It was the Holy Spirit that revealed these things to the world. Since the Holy Spirit testified these things, we can rest assured that He will also testify the very same things to our spirits. God Loves us, God is please with us, God considers us his child. Jesus reminded the disciples of this very thing over and over while he was with them. "He [Holy Spirit] will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you" ( John 16:14-15 ). He is speaking to us on behalf of God the Father to reassure us of his great love for us.

This is an amazing truth. God loves you so much. Not only did he send Jesus to purchase your freedom and reconcile you to himself, but he also sent you the Holy Spirit to dwell continuously with you showing and revealing to you the love of the Father. That is why Paul, Peter and John wrote so many times that those who have the Spirit of God are children and heirs. "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" ( I John 3:1 ).

Today, I pray that you will listen to what the Holy Spirit is telling you. He is expressing the amazing love of God. He is revealing to you your place in God's family. If you feel any condemnation today the John said in I John 3, "This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God" ( I John 3:19-21 ). This is what the Holy Spirit was sent into your heart to reveal to you. You have peace with God the Father through faith in Jesus Christ. He loves you, he calls you friend, he considers you his beloved child and he wants you to have confidence before him. May this revelation of love and sonship bless you today. Amen.

Previous: Romans 8:13  Next: Romans 8:15

"For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live" (Romans 8:13)

Since we have been freed from the sin nature, Paul is telling us to live accordingly. This is what he is saying in today's verse, if you live by the previous nature you will die. But on the other hand if you live according the Spirit you will experience life right here and now on this earth. He is speaking about living in the natural realm. The death he is talking about is not eternal separation from God, but instead it is the things that become death to us and keep us subservient to them, when we were designed to be completely free.

Galatians 5 gives us a good portrait of these things that he wants us to be free of. "The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires" ( Galatians 5:19-23 ). The things that flow out of living contrary to your new nature will produce death in your life, your relationships, your workplace and your home. These things are evident by behavior. If we live like this, then we give ourselves over to be ruled and controlled by these things even though Jesus purchased our freedom from them.

However the contrast to these things exist in our born again spirit, these things are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. These things describe Jesus. He has gifted us with these fruits and by allowing these things to operate in our lives, then we will experience true life in our relationships, our workplaces and our homes. This is how we were designed to live. But it takes a choice. You have to decide to live this way, which is contrary to the world around you. These things were provide for you at salvation and you are fully equipped to live this way if you choose to. Paul said, "The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace" ( Romans 8:6 ).

It is the power of the Holy Spirit living inside of you that equips and enables you to live according to your new nature fashioned after Jesus in true righteousness and holiness ( Ephesians 4:24 ). The problem arises because our minds are so deadened to this amazing truth. The world has deceived us into thinking that this should be a struggle. We are so in tuned with everything around us that this becomes reality to us instead of renewing our mind to this wonderful Word and letting that truth sink into our hearts and minds. The Holy Spirit has given us the power to live fresh and anew everyday and by allowing him control in our lives we will experience these things in our entire existence.

Why did God provide this power and freedom for you? It was a testament to how much he loves you. The Holy Spirit inside of you give evidence that you are a child of God. No longer a slave, but an heir. And as an heir He wants you to have all of the benefits of being his child. He loves you so much that He did everything to reconcile you unto himself. He wants you to experience His love every day of your life. Today, it is my prayer that you understand how free you are in Christ Jesus. May you get a revelation of his love and experience true victory in life living by the Spirit of God. Amen.

Previous: Romans 8:12  Next: Romans 8:14