READ: Rom. 8:15–17: … The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs …
Through the Holy Spirit you are renewed and freed from fear of God’s judgment. That fear would remain if you were stuck in the idea that you must fulfill the law in order to be saved, which is impossible.
The Holy Spirit gives you a completely different position: He makes clear that through faith you have become a child of God, adopted on the basis of Christ’s work of reconciliation. Then you are able to call upon God as your Father, in childlike reverence, trust, and great expectation.
Through Christ He has become your Father—faithful to His promises, almighty and merciful. He cares for you as no earthly father can and answers all your prayers (Matt. 6:25–34; 7:7–12). Perhaps in a different way than we think, but always in a way that fits His kingdom and our salvation.
When we say “Abba” to the almighty God, it is possible because the Spirit gives us that boldness on the basis of Christ’s high-priestly work (Heb. 4:14–17). That address “Father” is meant not only for our personal prayers, but also for the church. That is why we also pray “our Father.”
The Holy Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are children of God. The Spirit ensures that we may confess this—in awe, dependence, and expectation. At the same time the Holy Spirit confirms this before God the Father: Yes, this is Your child; yes, these are Your children (see also v.26).
Being allowed to be a child of God is a tremendously rich privilege. We may enter the kingdom of heaven, where a glorious inheritance is laid up for us. Amid all the suffering on earth we look forward to sharing in the resurrection-glory of Christ in the new heaven and the new earth.
Rev. 21:7 says: “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.”
How special is it that you may know you are a child of God?
Sing: Hymn. 37:4 (1984) / 48:4 (2014)