Assurance of Sonship: The Spirit's Transformative Work
Summary
In Romans 8:14-15, Paul provides profound assurance to believers about their salvation through the concept of sonship. This sonship is not a temporary state but an indissoluble relationship with God, who has adopted us into His family. This adoption signifies a new relationship, transcending mere forgiveness and ensuring that we are the children of God. The Apostle Paul emphasizes that those led by the Spirit of God are indeed the sons of God. This leading by the Spirit is not about subjective feelings or personal guidance but about a transformation in conduct, behavior, and desires, which are practical tests of our sonship.
The sermon also explores the role of the Holy Spirit in producing a spirit of bondage and fear, which precedes the spirit of adoption. This spirit of bondage is not a negative state but a necessary phase where the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, leading to a profound realization of our depravity and inability to save ourselves. This conviction is essential for true repentance and transformation. The Holy Spirit uses the law to awaken us to our sinful state, leading to a sense of condemnation and fear, which ultimately drives us to seek God's grace and mercy.
The spirit of adoption, on the other hand, is the work of the Holy Spirit that assures us of our sonship, allowing us to cry out "Abba, Father." This assurance is not just intellectual but deeply spiritual, providing peace and certainty of our salvation. The Apostle Paul contrasts the spirit of bondage with the spirit of adoption, highlighting the transformative work of the Holy Spirit in the believer's life. This transformation is not just about escaping condemnation but entering into a loving relationship with God as His children.
Key Takeaways:
1. Indissoluble Sonship: Our relationship with God as His children is permanent and unbreakable. This assurance of sonship is foundational to our faith, providing certainty and security in our salvation. It is not based on our actions but on God's adoption of us into His family. [00:53]
2. Spirit-led Transformation: Being led by the Spirit is evidenced by a transformation in our conduct, desires, and behavior. This is not about subjective feelings but about a practical change that aligns us with God's will. It is a test of our true sonship. [02:04]
3. Conviction by the Spirit: The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, leading to a spirit of bondage and fear. This conviction is necessary for true repentance and transformation, as it reveals our depravity and inability to save ourselves. [25:22]
4. Spirit of Adoption: The Holy Spirit assures us of our sonship, allowing us to cry out "Abba, Father." This assurance is deeply spiritual, providing peace and certainty of our salvation, and is a testament to God's grace and love. [17:25]
5. Transformation through Conviction: The process of conviction and transformation by the Holy Spirit is essential for entering into a loving relationship with God. It is through this process that we move from a state of bondage to one of adoption and assurance. [32:05]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:13] - Introduction to Romans 8:14-15
- [00:31] - Assurance of Salvation through Sonship
- [00:53] - Indissoluble Relationship with God
- [01:11] - Adoption into God's Family
- [02:04] - Being Led by the Spirit
- [03:10] - Misinterpretations of Spirit Guidance
- [05:20] - Examples from Acts of the Apostles
- [07:08] - The Holy Spirit's Guidance
- [10:06] - Sanctification and Spirit's Leading
- [12:13] - Assurance of Salvation
- [13:15] - Understanding the Spirit of Bondage
- [17:25] - Spirit of Adoption
- [25:22] - Conviction by the Holy Spirit
- [32:05] - Transformation through Conviction
- [44:26] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Romans 8:14-15
- Galatians 4:6
- Acts 16:6-7
---
Observation Questions:
1. According to Romans 8:14-15, what is the relationship between being led by the Spirit and being sons of God? How does this passage describe the nature of our relationship with God? [00:13]
2. In the sermon, how does the pastor describe the role of the Holy Spirit in leading believers? What are the practical tests mentioned that indicate we are being led by the Spirit? [02:36]
3. What examples from the book of Acts were given in the sermon to illustrate the Holy Spirit's guidance? How do these examples help us understand the Spirit's role in our lives? [05:20]
4. How does the sermon explain the transition from a spirit of bondage to a spirit of adoption? What role does the Holy Spirit play in this transformation? [32:05]
---
Interpretation Questions:
1. What does it mean to have an "indissoluble sonship" with God, and how does this concept provide assurance of salvation for believers? How might this assurance impact a believer's daily life? [00:53]
2. The sermon discusses the spirit of bondage and fear as a necessary phase before adoption. Why is this phase important, and how does it contribute to a believer's spiritual growth? [25:22]
3. How does the assurance of being able to cry out "Abba, Father" affect a believer's relationship with God? What does this intimate term suggest about our connection to God? [17:25]
4. In what ways does the Holy Spirit's conviction of sin lead to true repentance and transformation? How does this process differ from merely feeling guilty about wrongdoing? [29:34]
---
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt led by the Spirit in a decision. How did you discern that it was the Spirit's guidance and not just your own desires? What practical steps can you take to ensure you are being led by the Spirit in future decisions? [03:10]
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of transformation in conduct and desires as evidence of being led by the Spirit. Identify one area in your life where you feel the Spirit is prompting you to change. What steps can you take this week to align with this prompting? [02:04]
3. Consider the concept of the spirit of bondage and fear leading to adoption. Have you experienced a period of conviction that led to a deeper relationship with God? How did this experience shape your faith journey? [25:22]
4. The sermon highlights the assurance of sonship and the ability to cry out "Abba, Father." How can you cultivate a deeper sense of intimacy with God in your daily prayer life? What specific practices can help you embrace this assurance more fully? [17:25]
5. How can you support others in your community who may be experiencing a spirit of bondage and fear? What role can you play in helping them move towards the assurance of adoption and sonship? [32:05]
6. Reflect on the examples of the Holy Spirit's guidance in the book of Acts. How can these stories inspire you to be more attentive to the Spirit's leading in your own life? What specific actions can you take to be more open to the Spirit's guidance? [05:20]
7. The sermon discusses the transformation through conviction by the Holy Spirit. Identify a specific area in your life where you need transformation. What steps can you take to invite the Holy Spirit to work in this area? [32:05]
Devotional
Day 1: Indissoluble Sonship
Our relationship with God as His children is permanent and unbreakable. This assurance of sonship is foundational to our faith, providing certainty and security in our salvation. It is not based on our actions but on God's adoption of us into His family. This indissoluble sonship means that no matter the circumstances, our identity as God's children remains intact. It is a profound truth that offers peace and stability, knowing that our salvation is secure in God's hands. [00:53]
Ephesians 1:5-6 (ESV): "He predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved."
Reflection: How does understanding your permanent sonship with God change the way you view your daily struggles and challenges?
Day 2: Spirit-led Transformation
Being led by the Spirit is evidenced by a transformation in our conduct, desires, and behavior. This is not about subjective feelings but about a practical change that aligns us with God's will. It is a test of our true sonship. The Spirit's leading results in a life that reflects God's character and purposes, moving us away from our old ways and into a new life of righteousness and holiness. This transformation is a continuous process, requiring our cooperation and willingness to be molded by the Spirit. [02:04]
Galatians 5:16-17 (ESV): "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do."
Reflection: In what specific area of your life do you sense the Spirit leading you to change, and how can you practically respond to this leading today?
Day 3: Conviction by the Spirit
The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, leading to a spirit of bondage and fear. This conviction is necessary for true repentance and transformation, as it reveals our depravity and inability to save ourselves. The Spirit uses the law to awaken us to our sinful state, leading to a sense of condemnation and fear, which ultimately drives us to seek God's grace and mercy. This process is not meant to leave us in despair but to bring us to a place of genuine repentance and dependence on God. [25:22]
John 16:8-9 (ESV): "And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent moment when you felt convicted by the Holy Spirit. How did you respond, and what steps can you take to ensure that conviction leads to transformation?
Day 4: Spirit of Adoption
The Holy Spirit assures us of our sonship, allowing us to cry out "Abba, Father." This assurance is deeply spiritual, providing peace and certainty of our salvation, and is a testament to God's grace and love. The Spirit of adoption transforms our relationship with God from one of fear and distance to one of intimacy and closeness. It is through this Spirit that we experience the fullness of God's love and acceptance, knowing that we are His beloved children. [17:25]
Galatians 4:6-7 (ESV): "And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba! Father!' So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God."
Reflection: How does the assurance of being God's child impact your prayer life and your approach to God in times of need?
Day 5: Transformation through Conviction
The process of conviction and transformation by the Holy Spirit is essential for entering into a loving relationship with God. It is through this process that we move from a state of bondage to one of adoption and assurance. The Holy Spirit's work in our lives is not just about pointing out sin but about leading us into a deeper relationship with God, where we experience His love and grace in profound ways. This transformation is ongoing, requiring our openness to the Spirit's work in our hearts. [32:05]
2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV): "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to allow the Holy Spirit to bring about transformation, and what steps can you take to cooperate with His work today?
Quotes
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God, and of course, if we are in the relationship of sons, it is an indissoluble relationship. You can't go in and out of sonship. That is where every doctrine of falling away from grace is finally unscriptural and false. [00:59:28]
Our position as Christians is not merely and only that we've been forgiven and then may sin ourselves out of forgiveness and then come back again, having been forgiven as the result of repentance. Now we are put into an entirely new relationship. We are adopted into the family of God. [01:37:14]
The man who is not a Christian is not led by the Spirit of God. He resists the Spirit; he is opposed to the Spirit. He doesn't receive the revelation of the Spirit; he is devoid of the Spirit; he is dead in trespasses and sins. [02:34:56]
The Holy Spirit can impress a thing upon the mind. He can keep a thing before us constantly so that we can't escape it. We are conscious of a kind of pressure upon the mind and upon the spirit. We feel an urge verging us in a given direction. [06:01:09]
The spirit of bondage and of fear is the peculiar work of the Holy Spirit himself. The law cannot do this. It's one of the things the law cannot do. That is why the law had not solved the problem. The law was incapable of doing this, but it is the Spirit's special work. [35:39:24]
The Spirit comes and applies the law to us, and as he does so, he produces this spirit of bondage and the fear. What then are its manifestations? Well, here, the first thing, of course, is a sense of condemnation. [36:41:22]
The Apostle says, I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. You remember what it was, don't you? He thought he understood the law, but he didn't. Then the Holy Spirit really brought the law to him. [25:48:57]
The Holy Spirit is the spirit that convicts of sin and of righteousness and of judgment. It is the Holy Spirit that brings a man down and shows him his need, and that is the way he brings him into a spirit of bondage and of fear. [31:57:22]
The spirit of bondage, which I have just been describing, always precedes the spirit of adoption. You see, the Apostle is building up this case. There are grounds for assurance in the first half of this 15-plus as well as in the second. [42:43:47]
The Spirit of God comes down in revival. His first effect invariably is to do this very thing: is to humble people, is to convict them profoundly of sin, is to make them feel utterly and completely hopeless, which they had never felt before. [31:25:50]
The Holy Spirit Himself produces our adoption, and therefore, when he talks about the spirit of adoption, he means the spirit that produces the adoption or creates the adoption within us. [16:16:06]
The spirit of adoption, whereby we cry Abba, Father. Now then, here is the same word used twice. You see, there's a comparison in the contrast here. There are two sides to this matter, but the same word is used: spirit, spirit. [13:12:80]
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained only on this specific sermon. Do you have any questions about it?