A Son or a Slave? - Pt 3

So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 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!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 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 8:12-17 ESV).

One of the ways we know we are the children of God is that God has sent his Spirit to lead us. He leads us into warfare with sin, and he leads us into paths of righteousness. Notice our reading again: “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 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!’ The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” This prompts us to leave our rags behind. The Apostle Paul said, “Whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him” (2 Corinthians 5:9). He did not mean “Our whole futile, aimless, pointless Christian life is a failure since nobody can do it.” He didn’t mean that. He meant what he said in 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12: “[God fulfills] every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Don’t call that magnificent, grace-based Spirit-work filthy rags and displeasing to the Lord. Christ did not die just for our justification. He died for our sanctification. He did not die just to remove the guilt of sin, but the power of sin as well. Sons of God revel in forgiveness and trust the Spirit of the Father to do good. If there are imperfections in our Spirit-empowered good deeds, which there are, that does not make them filthy rags. They are the fruit of the Spirit, and our Father is pleased with them. The day of perfection will come. Oh, it will come. But until then, God knows what he’s working in his children. Mark that: God knows what he is working in his children, and he is pleased with what he is working. “[He is] working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” (Hebrews 13:21). Do you see how that sets us free to serve? There is a huge difference in how this produces contentment and peace of mind and heart.