“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 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.” (Romans 8:14,15)
Those who are led by the Spirit of God are adopted in as sons and daughters of God. We are not automatically called His children at birth. Instead, God must know us to be included into His family. This means receiving Jesus as Lord and then walking in the Spirit. These are those who are born again with the baptism of the Holy Spirit. They have been washed and made clean through the blood of Jesus and are now living a life for Him.
“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” (2 Corinthians 6:17,18)
As believers, we are separate from this world through Christ. We have received Jesus as Lord and are called the sons and daughters of God. We acknowledge that our bodies are the temple of the living God and no longer do things that destroy the body physically and spiritually. Through the Holy Spirit, we have overcome our addictions and can fight against temptation. Now, we live a new life, devoted to Christ, leaving our old ways behind for His sake.
“Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:24-26)
Through our faith in Jesus, we are called the children of God. Not every person that is in this world are God’s children, but there must be an adoption that takes place. The Jews are God’s holy people, and everyone else are gentiles. For us to be allowed into God’s fold we must be grafted in through faith in Jesus. We are justified by faith apart from the law. Those who choose to follow Jesus are guided by the Holy Spirit. Amen.
