THE RELATION OF THOSE IN CHRIST TO THE FATHER

"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father" (Rom. 8:15). "And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father" (Gal. 4:6).

Devotion 5 of 11 THE SPIRIT OF ADOPTION

It is the Spirit of God's Son that confirms our sonship. That is why it is written, " . . . if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His" (Romans 8:9). Those who dispute over the indwelling of the Spirit within believers do great damage to the people of God. None of the saved are to allow others to tamper with affirmations that bear directly upon their relation to God--and here is such a declaration. While we dare not attach to God's Word the traditions of men, we are not to draw back from accepting it wholeheartedly. How wonderfully the situation is stated in Galatians 4:4-6. "But when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, in order that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" (NASB). The Spirit is called "the Spirit of adoption" in Romans 8:15. In that text, we are told that we cry out "Abba, Father," because of His ministry. The expression "Abba, Father" denotes unquestioning dependency upon God, together with a persuasion that, as our Father, He is inclined to support us in the challenges of life. Our faith brings this persuasion to us. The context of this verse certainly does not discourage us from viewing the "Spirit of sonship" as the Spirit Himself. "If the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you . . . " (v. 11). "But if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live" (v. 13). "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God" (v. 14). It is marvelous to consider that God has given us His own Holy Spirit--a repeated affirmation in Scripture (Rom 5:5; 1 John 3:24; 4:13), Even our sense of sonship comes from the influence of the Holy Spirit. "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him" (Romans 8:16). The cry "Abba, Father," therefore, is not simply a formality; it is the expression of a confident heart. The individual crying these words has been assured of divine acceptance. Hallelujah! The Holy Spirit, working through the testimony of the Gospel, and in concert with the faith of the child of God, confirms our relation to the Father. Who is able to adequately describe the blessedness of such a situation! PRAYER POINT: Father, I rejoice that my spirit can now call out in joyful dependence to You. I thank you for the work of the Holy Spirit in this regard, and for the matchless achievements of Your Son, which allow the Spirit to work within me.

-- TOMORROW: FATHER TO JEW AND GENTILE --