Romans Part 27

Those who are led by the Spirit of God are identified as the sons (children) of God, as Paul states in Romans 8:14. Christians demonstrate that they belong to God because they increasingly submit themselves to His will, obey His commandments, and allow Him to reshape both their actions and their thinking. Their minds come into agreement with God and willingly submit to His law. As Christ lives His life through them by His Spirit, believers grow into His likeness while anticipating the day when they will be fully transformed into spirit beings in the Kingdom of God. The goal of the Christian life is not merely moral improvement but full participation in God's family as His sons and daughters.  

Paul deepens this truth by describing believers as those who have received "the Spirit of adoption" in Romans 8:15. The Greek word huiothesia literally means "placement as a son." This concept carries even greater significance than modern adoption. It describes being granted the complete legal standing, privileges, and inheritance of a true son. God, in His love and mercy, has welcomed believers into His own family and given them full rights as His children. Through the Holy Spirit, God truly becomes their Father.

Writing to Christians in Rome, Paul likely had the Roman system of adoption in mind. Under Roman law, adoption permanently transferred a person into a new family. The adopted son received the family name, inheritance rights, citizenship privileges, and legal standing of his new father. He publicly renounced previous family ties and former obligations. His property became his father's property, his debts became his father's responsibility, and his old life was legally left behind. Adoption was permanent and could not be revoked. The adopted child stood before the law exactly as though he had been naturally born into the family. Paul uses this powerful cultural image to illustrate what God has done for believers. Through Christ, they become heirs of God, fully accepted into His household, with their heavenly Father exercising loving authority over every aspect of their lives. Galatians 4:4–5 echoes this same truth by describing believers as receiving adoption as sons through Christ.

Paul next explains that

"the Spirit [itself] bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God."

Here, the "spirit of man" refers not simply to the physical brain but to the immaterial aspect of human consciousness through which people think, understand, and reason. Scripture speaks of this in several places. Romans 8:27 refers to "the mind of the Spirit." I Corinthians 2:10–12 explains that God's Spirit communicates with the human spirit, and Proverbs 20:27 describes the spirit of man as "the lamp of the Lord," searching the depths of the heart. God's Spirit bears witness with the human spirit that believers truly belong to Him. This imagery also reflects the biblical requirement that every matter be established by two witnesses. The testimony of God's Spirit together with the transformed inner life of the believer confirms that he or she is genuinely a child of God.  

Being God's children carries extraordinary promises. Paul reminds believers that if they are children, then they are also heirs. Earlier, in Romans 5:17, he spoke of believers reigning in life through Jesus Christ, and now he explains how that promise will be fulfilled. When Christ returns as King, His people will reign with Him as kings and priests in His Kingdom. Revelation 1:6, 5:10, and 20:4 all describe this future role. As joint heirs with Christ, believers inherit the coming Kingdom of God that will be established on the earth. They also share in Christ's glorification, becoming like their elder Brother. They will share His immortal nature, reflecting His glory and bearing His likeness as fully as created beings can. Revelation 3:9 even describes a future time when the faithful will be publicly honored before the nations, demonstrating the exalted position God has prepared for His redeemed people.

Epistles of Paul is a course taught at ABC by Mr. Steve Myers. Recordings from the 2023–2024 class year are available on the ABC website.

UYA Team | uya@ucg.org

United Young Adults (UYA) primarily serves the 18–32-year age group for the United Church of God. There are three main areas of contribution to the lives of young adults: Promoting Spiritual Growth, Developing Meaningful Relationships and Making the Most of Your Talents. The Know Your Sword series is a daily expository message introducing God’s Word from a trusted perspective.