Sons & Heirs
8:12-18
Paul continued his contrast of life in the flesh, dominated by sin, and life in Christ, dominated by the Holy Spirit.
Since believers have died to the flesh, we are not obligated (NIV, NASB) to live according to the flesh. The translations in the stream of the King James Version (The KJV, New King James Version, and English Standard Version) say we are not “debtors” to the flesh.) As Paul wrote before, living according to the flesh brings death. (12)
In contrast, living by the Spirit brings life as we put to death the deeds of the flesh. Paul describes some of those deeds in Galatians. They are: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. (Galatians 5:19)
We have eternal life as a result of coming to Christ. We have justification. But, we continue to put the sinful self to death and live by the Spirit. This is sanctification, the process of becoming more like Christ.
Paul then tells us of other benefits of our salvation. First, those who are in Christ receive the Holy Spirit. (13) We saw that in more detail in the previous lesson. John 14 also provides information on the Holy Spirit.
Second, those who have the Spirit, and are led by him, are sons of God. (14) We are sons by adoption into God’s family. John put it this way: “But to all who did receive him (Jesus), who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God…” (John 1:12) See also Galatians 3:26.
Since we are sons, we do not need to live as slaves. Slaves live in fear of their masters, their lords. But sons have an intimate relationship with their fathers. The Spirit leads us to this, allowing us to address God as “Abba” and Father. We have confidence in approaching God in prayer because we are sons. (15)
“Abba” is an Aramaic word that reveals this intimate relationship. Jesus used this word in his prayer in the garden of Gethsemane. It is recorded in Mark 14:36 as he was in great anguish right before his arrest and execution.
The use of the term “sons” does not exclude women. But, in the culture at that time, sons had superior status over daughters. Sons inherited the father’s estate. So, by saying all believers are sons, he says that all believers attain this special status in relationship to God. This actually elevates the status of women, making them equal to men in relation to God.
Paul made the same point in Galatians, saying “for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith..there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus”. (Galatians 3:26-28)
Since we are sons, we are heirs. (17) We are fellow heirs with God’s son, Jesus.
So, what does it mean to be an heir of God with Christ?
First of all, God the Father appointed his son, Jesus Christ, the heir of all things. (Hebrews 1:2) All things were created by him and for him. (John 1:2; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 1:2) He is the heir of the whole universe, all of the earth and heavens, all of creation.
Psalm 2:7-9 says God will give the Son, Christ, all of the nations and all of the earth. John the apostle called Jesus the ruler of the kings on earth. (Revelation 1:5)
So, we, as co-heirs with Christ, will inherit the world. Remember back in Romans 4:13, Paul wrote that God promised that Abraham and his offspring would be heir of the world. Christ is the offspring who receives fulfillment of the promise to Abraham and his offspring. (Galatians 3:16) Since we are in Christ, we receive it too.
The saints (believers) will judge the world. (1 Corinthians 6:2)
If we endure, we will also reign with him. (2 Timothy 12)
“…you have made them a kingdom and rests to our God and they hall reign on earth”. (Revelation 5:10)
Since this new creation will last forever, we will need a new body with which to enjoy it. Part of our inheritance is a new body that lasts forever. It is imperishable. (1 Corinthians 15:3) Also, Philippians 3:20-21 says: “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”
The path to this inheritance includes suffering. We suffer with him so we an be glorified with him. (17) We will sometimes suffer from persecution.“Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” (2 Timothy 3:12) That persecution may be severe. Many Christians around the world live in constant threat of death, mutilation, kidnapping, and destruction of property.
It may be mild. You may be mocked for your beliefs or your morals. You may be excluded from friend groups or even your family. You may have to read offensive comments in the news, on shirts, and on bumper stickers.
There is also suffering that is not persecution. Notice that his verse does not mention persecution.You may suffer from illness or injury. You may suffer economic hardship. You may face loneliness and grief. You may experience betrayal. No one gets through this life without some suffering. It may not be persecution, but it is still suffering in Christ.
Paul likely wrote this because the Roman Christians were suffering and would continue to suffer. He wanted to encourage them. No matter how intense the suffering, they had the hope of glory.
Paul also wanted them to keep suffering in perspective. He suffered personally as they did. But, he pointed out that the present suffering could not even be compared for the glory that will be revealed to us in the next life and the next age. (18)
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