12 Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation, but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 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 a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him.
REFLECTIONS
Written by Paul Bogg
We recently went through the process of putting together a will, setting out the terms of how and where our possessions would go when I and/or my wife die. It was quite the task to go through, listing all the things that we needed to account for and to whom we would like them to be distributed. And not that it’s much of a spoiler alert: but our kids will inherit most of our things. Although they are too young to really understand what it all means, the principle is simple: an inheritance will come their way, and they didn’t do a single thing to earn it. They will receive it simply because they are our children.
Today’s passage brings news which is similar, but so much better. At the start of the chapter, Paul told us that those who are in Christ Jesus have the Spirit of life that sets them free from the law of sin and death (v 1-2). Today it gets even more amazing: All who are led by the Spirit are sons of God. If you put your trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of sins, you receive the Spirit who brings sonship, and this sonship means that you can call God “Father”. God sees you just like his son Jesus.
When I reflect on this, it seems unbelievable: the God of the universe – the all-powerful, all knowing, eternal King who brought creation into being with just his word – would count me as a son, and want me to call him Father. But it gets even more mind-blowing: just by being a son of the living God, I am heir to an eternal inheritance, which includes sharing in God’s glory! Of course, there is no possible way I could have worked for or earned that. I simply receive it because I am counted as a son. It seems unbelievable – but it is to be believed, because God said it, the Spirit testified to it by raising Jesus from the dead, and the Spirit testifies to our spirits that it is true.
Rest in this truth today: God has made us his own heirs with Jesus his son.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Paul is a member of our Bossley Park Morning congregation.