Transformed Into The Sons of God Romans 8:14-17 "There is no neutral ground in the universe. Every square inch, every split second is claimed by God and counterclaimed by Satan." - C.S. Lewis in Christian Reflections, pg. 33. I. Like it or not, we are born into a cosmic war. II. The truly amazing thing is that God calls all people with the Spirit sons of God. V.14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. (Romans 8:14, ESV) a. Sons of God are indwelt by the Spirit of God 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. (Romans 8:9, ESV) b. Sons of God are empowered by the Spirit of God But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. (Acts 1:8, ESV) My speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, (1 Corinthians 2:4, ESV) c. Sons of God are led by the Spirit of God For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. (Romans 8:14, ESV) III. These people are made sons of God by adoption. V.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! (Romans 8:15, ESV) a. In adoption sons are made the absolute possession of the father b. In adoption the sons are under the absolute control of the father c. Adopted sons lose all rights to the old family and gain all the rights of a legitimate son in the new family d. Adopted sons become heirs to the new father s estate e. The old life of adopted sons is completely wiped out f. Adoption is done before witnesses and is irrevocable IV. This adoption begins the inside out transformation of the adoptee into actual sons of God. a. The Spirit bears witness with their spirit The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, (Romans 8:16, ESV) b. There is a deeper level of communion with the Father These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. (1 Corinthians 2:10 11, ESV) Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. (1 Corinthians 2:12 13, ESV)
c. There is an overwhelming desire to be like Christ even through suffering. 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 8:17, ESV) Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith (Philippians 3:8 9, ESV) That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. (Philippians 3:10 11, ESV) V. The staggering benefits of adoption into God s family should cause all of us to seek God for this transformation. Vs. 16-17 a. You will have freedom Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. (2 Corinthians 3:17, ESV) For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1, ESV) b. You will have God s fatherly care And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. (Philippians 4:19 20, NKJV) c. You will experience and extend reconciliation
For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. (Romans 5:10, ESV) Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:18b 20a, ESV) d. You will have the ability to express compassion and forgiveness Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32, ESV) e. You will have responsibilities For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. (Galatians 5:13 15, ESV) f. You will have God s discipline For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives. It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? (Hebrews 12:6 7, ESV) g. You will have God s good will There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1, ESV) h. You will be heirs with Christ of all things So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. (Galatians 4:7, ESV)
For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future all are yours, and you are Christ s, and Christ is God s. (1 Corinthians 3:21 23, ESV) i. You will suffer with Christ For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, (Philippians 1:29, ESV) j. You will be glorified with Christ And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. (Romans 8:30, ESV)