Romans 8:14-17 (WEL) 14 For all who are being led by God’s Spirit are God’s children. 15 For you have not received the spirit of slavery again [which produces] fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption which causes us to shout, “Abba, Father!” 16 The Spirit Himself is giving witness with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 And if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. If perhaps we suffer together, it’s so that we may be glorified together.
V14 For all who are being led by God’s Spirit are God’s children.
When we are being led by the Holy Spirit, it means He is accompanying us. God’s Spirit is with us. God’s leading is not a voice, a sign, a feeling, etc. It is either just moving us to the correct place through chastening or whatever or causing us to remember a Bible passage showing what is wrong and what is right.
We pray for guidance—Psalm 143:10.
We search the Scriptures for what is right or wrong, principles, and examples to guide us—2 Timothy 3:16-17.
We need the desire to want God’s guidance. God puts that desire in our hearts (Romans 8:15).
V15 For you have not received the spirit of slavery again [which produces] fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption which causes us to shout, “Abba, Father!”
The spirit of slavery is the devil’s way, the addiction to sin that all humans have including philosophies, false religions, etc. The world’s standards and decisions lead to fear.
Believers in Jesus Christ have a desire to know God’s will and so cry out, “Father, help me.”
V16 The Spirit Himself is giving witness with our spirit that we are God’s children.
Wuest Words Studies explains the word Himself when the Greek is neuter (Itself): The A. V., translation, “the Spirit itself” is explained as follows: The Greek word “spirit” (pneuma), is neuter in gender; the personal pronoun according to the rules of Greek grammar must agree with its antecedent in gender; therefore, the translation “itself.” The translators followed a slavish, idiomatic method of translation here instead of translating according to sense. The Holy Spirit is a Person. The pronoun should be rendered “Himself.”
There is a witness in our hearts.
Adam Clarke: “For as many as are led by the Spirit, who has not Divine assistance, can either find the way to heaven, or walk in it when found. As Christ, by his sacrificial offering, has opened the kingdom of God to all believers; and, as a mediator, transacts the concerns of their kingdom before the throne; so the Spirit of God is the great agent here below, to enlighten, quicken, strengthen, and guide the true disciples of Christ; and all that are born of this Spirit are led and guided by it; and none can pretend to be the children of God who are not thus guided.”
V17 And if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. If perhaps we suffer together, it’s so that we may be glorified together.
Since we are heirs, we are children of God the Father and joint heirs with Jesus, God the Son. All Christians suffer for the faith in one way or another. If we all suffer now, we will all be glorified in the future. We are a family.
God’s adoption of believers is both an Old Testament and New Testament doctrine.
OT—Exodus 4:22, Proverbs 14:26, and Jeremiah 31:9.
NT—Matthew 5:9, 2 Corinthians 6:18, and 1 John 3:1-2.
Individuals—King David (2 Samuel 7:14), King Solomon (2 Chronicles 22:10), and Messiah (Psalm 22:7).
We learn:
- Believers have the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
- Believers are the adopted children of God.
Questions:
- Are you a believer?
- Do you rely on the guidance of the Holy Spirit?