What Does it Mean to Be a Child of God?

Thinking about Romans 8:14-17.

Image created in Canva.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “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 joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. (Romans 8:14-17)

The obligation a Christian has to no longer live for self and sin, but rather, to live for Christ, is based on our new life and relationship with God.

The blessings given to us as God’s children are wonderful to consider!

You Have a New Identification.

Those in Christ Jesus are no longer identified as the enemies of God (Romans 5:9-10) but instead are the “sons of God.”

Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! (1 John 3:1)

What does this new identification as a son of God mean? It means those who are the sons of God will be led or guided by the Spirit of God.

But how does the Holy Spirit guide us?

He guides through the Word of God, of course. We can recognize no activity as pleasing or displeasing to God except by the Spirit’s teaching…We can have no sure knowledge of the way in which we ought to go unless there is a foundation of special revelation. The work of the Spirit in providence is real, but we can only explain it as providence by consulting the Word of God. - McGuiggan, Romans, 235

How would we know how we should walk as God’s children without consulting His Word, which is a “lamp” to our feet and a “light” to our path (Psalm 119:105)?

The Scriptures are the words of God given by His Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:20-21). As Peter wrote, we would do well to “heed” these words “as a light that shines in a dark place.”

Our new identity in Christ as God’s children means following the guidance of the Spirit of God - rather than blazing our own path.

You Have a New Relationship.

As God’s children, we aren’t back under the heavy yoke of another relationship grounded in fear. When we were immersed into Christ and contacted His blood, we were set free from sin (Romans 6:3-7).

This is a new relationship in Christ Jesus in which we “received the Spirit of adoption.”

And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. (Galatians 4:6-7)

Our new relationship with God is one grounded in love. Our adoption as sons allows us to approach Him as our loving Father.

Because of the love God has shown us through the death of His Son (John 3:16-17; Romans 5:6-9), those who are now His children can confidently approach Him as our loving Father.

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16)

As the adopted children of God by the Son of God (Galatians 4:4), we have a new relationship with the Father and can approach Him as our loving Father.

You Have a New Future.

The Spirit Himself bears witness along with our spirit that we are, in fact, God’s children. When we obeyed the “gospel of our salvation,” the Holy Spirit marked us as belonging to God.

In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. (Ephesians 1:13-14)

Because we are now the children of God through Jesus Christ, a new future awaits us. Not the future we had rightfully earned because of our sin (Romans 3:23; 6:23) but a gift - an inheritance.

This is nothing we could ever earn - as an inheritance is given, not earned! This inheritance is promised to us simply because we are God’s children in Christ (Ephesians 1:11-12).

However, this new future doesn’t mean ignoring the here and now. It doesn’t mean we get to live any way we please on this earth. The Christian must suffer with Christ so that we may be glorified with Him.

God’s own Son suffered for us. To be glorified by God together with Him after this life is over, we must suffer with Him in this life.

Paul made it clear that Christians have many blessings because of their inheritance, yet being an heir with Christ means that we also suffer with Him. Christ was glorified because of His suffering; and His followers, in order to be like Him and to truly become His heirs, must also suffer as they follow God’s paths and the leading of the Spirit. - Pollard, Truth for Today Commentary, 279-280

As God’s children, we look forward to a future where God will show us “the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:7). So we follow His example in this life - even if it means we must suffer and be persecuted in this life (Matthew 5:10-12).

The future that awaits God’s children in Christ is truly glorious!

---

Romans 8:14-17 wraps up the section in Romans where Paul is defending the gospel of Christ. It does not promote sinful living among God’s people. Just the opposite in fact.

God’s children in Christ Jesus live a life that follows and glorifies Him.

And the coming glory that awaits the child of God is what Paul will consider next.