Sons Of God

Romans 8:14

Paul�s former exhortation to �walk after the Spirit� (8:12) is almost identical with the current definition of those who are now �led by the Spirit.� But his thought moves forward as well, for now he turns from the concept of life to that of sons. Both are linked with the work of the Spirit, but a deeper level is plumbed; the gift of life is seen as the proof of sonship, and such sonship goes to the heart of God Himself.

The two leading ideas of God�s Spirit and man�s sonship are then interwoven in a remarkable pattern: �...for as many...sons of God.� (Verse 14) Such a verse is like a ladder which has been set up from earth to heaven, and its lowest rungs are within the reach of all:
�For as many as are led...they are the sons of God.� (Verse 14)

The emphasis on the work of the Spirit continues in this paragraph, but our Christian status and privilege are now described in different terms.

What Paul has just said (Verse 13) is, �If by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live.�
What he now says (Verse 14) is, �All who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God".

The two sentences are closely parallel. Both refer to the activity of the Spirit, but the first time in terms of life; the second in terms of sonship.

In our society there are two ways of becoming children of parents.

By birth
By adoption

God hath also appointed these two ways that His people should become His children.

SONS �Sons� (uios, Gr.) Is the proper word..."sons agrees with the idea of �adoption,� �children� with the idea of the new birth (regeneration), and in this passage Paul uses both.

�Sons� is opposed to slaves while children has the idea of dearness.
�Sons� also agrees with conduct for a son who should act the part expected of him in relation to his father. A king�s son must act as behooves a prince.

�Children� move in different spheres. A child conveys the idea of dependence and immaturity. The difference is meaningful for each word has its own flavor even in English. Paul uses them accordingly.

�Sons� is the term more commonly employed by Paul. It denotes a legal relationship, and of privilege, and of rights.
�Children� is the term more used in the writings of John, and denotes kinship, nature, birth, and origin.

Strictly speaking, one becomes a �son� by adoption, and a child by a new birth. We have received a spirit of trust and fellowship befitting those who have been brought into the family of God by His gracious adoption. The Holy Spirit places children of God (teknon, born ones) as adult sons in a legal standing before God and in relation to Him.

These expressions �Sons of God� and �Children of God� are so nearly related as to be in some connections interchangeable. But Romans 8:14,16,19,21 are not to be regarded as identical. According to Olshausen, the word, �son,� expresses more the developed consciousness of adoption than does the word �child.� Alford says that the word �son� implies a more mature and conscious member of God�s family.

It should be added, that while the word �children� emphasizes the natural and legal relations of origin and heirship, the word �sons" emphasizes the moral and spiritual relations of likeness and reciprocal affection.

�Sons of God� points inward to the divine sonship by which men should be known: �They are the sons of God.� The term �sons of God� is all the more remarkable when we remind ourselves that God�s only Son in the most strict and rigid meaning of that term is Jesus. (John 3:16; Romans 8:32) Christ is always called �Son,� and is never called �child� of God. Emmanuel, both Lord and Christ; yet, God�s purpose when He sent Him into the world was that He should be �the firstborn among many brethren.� (Romans 8:29)

Therefore, to be reckoned as the sons of God means recognition by the Father that we belong to the �many brethren� of Him who is called the �firstborn.�
�For ye are all sons of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus.� (Galatians 3:26)
�Ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.� (2 Cor. 6:18)

This is infinitely more than to stand in the place of creatures in the presence of their Maker; it is more, far more, than to stand in the place of servants in the presence of their Master. It means that such a man has a new and vital stature in the divine household; he now belongs to it as one who is a son of God. He may be called other names in other circumstances; �chosen generation,� �a royal priesthood,� �kings and priests unto God;� he may also be called a disciple or a believer. But such names are incidental to the ultimate reality: He is a Son, near and dear to the Father�s heart and in the Father�s presence.

Sons - Not Slaves

The Holy Spirit does not lead to slavery but to sonship. Paul said in Galatians 5:18: �If ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.� We were slaves under the law, but now we are the sons of God. There is a striking contrast between the old state of bondage and this new and active life of freedom.

We are not slaves who toil and sweat beneath the old state of bondage and this new and active life of freedom.
We are not servants, we are not strangers; we are the sons of God, at home in the Father�s household.

There was a time when we might have been glad to be known as one of the hired servants, (Luke 15:19) but the time has come when we hear the Father Himself declare: �Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.� (Luke 15:31)

This Idea Of Sonship Has A Three-fold Implication

It means that we bear the Father�s name and reflect His character, and we are placed in trust to be all that such a name implies: �That ye may be the sons of your Father which is in heaven.� (Matt. 5:45)
It means that we know the Father�s love and enjoy His affection, and that love is now shed abroad within our hearts by means of His Spirit: �Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed on us, that we should be called the sons of God.� (1 John 3:1)
It means that we share the Father�s home and receive its benefits, and we delight in the dignity and the privilege which it confers: �Then shall they be called sons of the living God.� (Rom. 9:26)

Look At The Sons Of God

Their spirit is obedient, confident, and loving.
Their assurance is divine and unquestionable.
Their prospects are glorious and certain.

The Privileges of The Sons Of God Are Unbelievable And Fantastic.

As relating to the present life

He may look up to God as his reconciled Father in Jesus.
Trials may befall him, but he knows that �all things work together for good to those who...�
He may come to God with the confidence of a child.
As his course draws nearer and nearer to eternity, it grows brighter and brighter.

As for his privileges in eternity - �Eye hath not seen...�

The Happiness Of The Sons Of God Lies In:

They are led by His Spirit.
They bear the name of children.
They render the obedience of children.
They feel the confidence of children.
They participate in the inheritance of children.

The Effects Of Sonship

Liberty in deliverance from the bondage of sin, and from the condemnation of the law. (2 Cor. 3:7)
Security from fear either of God as an avenging judge or from our past sins coming back to haunt us. We are safe in our Father�s care. (Rom. 8:15)
The restoration of the love of God in our hearts, and so, we now cry, �Abba, Father.� This restoration is the source of our deepest joy.

Our Father treats us as His sons. He has a parent�s sympathy for us, and He fulfills for us all that a father should - but perfectly.

He provides for us.
He defends us.
He extricates us from our difficulties.
He instructs us.
He corrects us.
He makes us mindful of His plans for us.
He will eventually take us home to be with Him forever.

All Human Beings Are Not God's Children

How do we know if we are? There are many signs in addition to the ones mentioned here:

Every child is like his father.
It is not always true in carnal generations. But you can know your spiritual sonship by this rule - your heavenly Father is holy (1 Peter 1:15-16), merciful, righteous, slow to anger, abhors all manner of evil, and totally loving - we are either like that or the reverse.
Every child bears a filial love for his father.
God's love is infinite (Psalm 103:13). What love do we show? We can talk about our love, but if we love Him could we estrange ourselves from His interest? Could we stand to hear His sacred name blasphemed, etc.
Reverence Him.
We would not do anything willfully that would displease Him. We would submit ourselves willingly to Him for correction. We would depend on Him for all our provisions. We would wait patiently on Him to reveal His will to us.
Is led by His Spirit
We would wish to always be led by the Holy Spirit of God, rather than trying to have things our way.

If led by God's Spirit, rejoice in the reality of your divine sonship. As God's children, let us evermore seek to be led by His Spirit. By this we may know that we are sons of God.

My Father is rich in houses and lands,
He holdeth the wealth of the world in His hands!
Of rubies and diamonds, of silver and gold,
His coffers are full, He has riches untold.

I once was an outcast stranger on earth,
A sinner by choice, and an alien by birth;
But I've been adopted, my name's written down,
An heir to a mansion, a robe, and a crown.

A tent or a cottage, why should I care?
They're building a palace for me over there;
Tho' exiled from home, yet, still I may sing:
All glory to God, I'm a child of the King.

I'm a child of the King, a child of the King;
With Jesus my Saviour, I'm a child of the King.

Sermon By Dr. Harold L. White
Email Dr. White at [email protected]