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 8 of 11

UNDOUBTING ASSURANCE

The words "Abba, Father" are emphatic. They denote a loud utterance of undoubting assurance. This is no faint whisper, but spring from an inner consciousness of identity with the Living God through Jesus Christ. It is a strong, unwavering conviction that God is "for us," and not against us. Here is an intensely emphatic appeal to God's Fatherhood. These are bold words, but they are humbly bold. They are not presumptuous, nor are they an expression of one frantically groping in the dark. They are "bold" because they bring one into the presence of the Almighty. This a "bold" confidence, convinced that grace can be found to "help in the time of need" (Heb. 4:16). Spiritual confidence is something in which the modern church is seriously deficient. Its impressive programs have not yielded good results in this area. Its penchant for problem resolution has not left its constituents with the "full assurance of faith" (Heb. 10:22), "full assurance of understanding" (Col. 2:2), or "full assurance of hope" (Heb. 6:11). This condition is the result of spiritual robbery. The Pharisees "shut up the kingdom of heaven against men," prohibiting their entrance into divine availabilities (Matt. 23:13). The lawyers of Jesus' time took away "the key of knowledge," hindering the entrance of individuals into the kingdom for which they craved (Luke 11:52). Such spiritual atrocities have not ceased. The absence of strong confidence and full assurance is an epitaph to the fruitless labors of religious pretenders. God has sent "the Spirit of His Son into our hearts" (Gal. 4:6). We have received the "Spirit of adoption" (Rom. 8:15). Jesus Himself has "received us to the glory of God" (Rom. 15:7). The "welcome" sign has been hung out in heaven because of Christ's atonement. If there is any individual in Christ that is unaware of such benefits, it is either because he has been told and rejected the message, or he has never been told. The latter condition cannot be justified under any conditions. PRAYER POINT: Father, in accordance with Ephesians 1:18-20, open the eyes of my heart, so I will know the glorious hope to which you have called me, and the richness of your inheritance in me, and the unimaginable power that is devoted to my salvation!

-- TOMORROW: DIVINE FAMILIARITY --