The Children of God Through the Spirit!

‘For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.’ – Romans 8:14-17 NIV

Most of us are confused with our own spirits and with the Spirit of God, because we tend to go forward with God only when we are in inspirational moments. However, when we have these moments, we are just at the mountaintop of God, where we receive visions from God or the empowerment for us to live in valleys—our ordinary lives—through the Spirit of God (John 14:15-27). Thus for this reason, we have to ask to Him to give us His Spirit (Luke 11:13) if we want to be led by Him to be how He wants us to be (James 1:5-8). He is more than willing to pour His Spirit into us because Jesus Christ is actually knocking on the door of our hearts to fully come in (Revelation 3:20). This is the exact reason why He was crucified and resurrected. Once we open the door of our hearts for Jesus Christ to fully come in, as—the Spirit of God (Ezekiel 36:26-27); the Spirit of the truth (John 16:7-15); the Spirit of the freedom (2 Corinthians 3:17); the Spirit of the life (John 6:63)—we become the children of God (John 1:12-13) and citizens of the eternal kingdom of heaven (Philippians 3:18-21).

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh,God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.  (Romans 8:1-17)

Since we are the children of God if we live according to the Spirit, then we have to become the light (Matthew 5:14-16) and the ambassadors of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:18-21). “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.” (Romans 8:29-30) Furthermore, we have to crucify everything of our worldly nature, such as the desires and passions, if we want to really abide in the Spirit of God (2 Peter 1:3-11)—as the word of God states—“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.” (Galatians 5:24-25) The main reason for this is that the desires of the Spirit are contrary to our worldly ones (Galatians 5:17). For instance, when we are trying to serve God and money, we are not able to choose both—we have to love one and despise one another (Matthew 6:24). The world urges us to live comfortable and easy lives but Jesus Christ tells us those are not the way of the true and satisfying lives. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Galatians 6:7-10)

Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. (1 John 2:15-17)