Christian Fellowship Community Group
A safe place for Christians who Love Jesus Christ to meet and ask for prayer and share scriptures from the bible. We value the posting of Christian music, poems, stories and also personal testimonies. Please let us know your needs, concerns and have some fun getting to know each other. We treat each other with respect.
THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE SONS OF GOD
In the first seven chapters of the letter to the Romans, the Holy Spirit is only mentioned once, for these chapters deal chiefly with the question of sin and justification. The eighth chapter is the victory song of the overcoming life; and here we find the Holy Spirit mentioned 19 times.
This seems significant to me; before we can enter into the blessings of the eighth chapter and receive the power of the Spirit, we must be cleansed by the blood of Christ of the guilt of sin and be delivered of its punishment - as described in chapter three. The Holy Spirit, however, delivers from the power and dominion of sin, and He is just as necessary as the blood. Both have their separate purpose.
In the eighth chapter we find the difference between (immature) children and (grown-up) sons. Verse 14 and 15: " Who are led by the Spirit are sons of God...but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by Him we cry: Abba Father", - that is the language of sons. These are not only heirs in general, but co-heirs with Christ. (8.17) "The whole creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed." (8.19) The creation does not wait for small, immature children, but for mature sons, who have reached the fullness of the life of Jesus. In Eph. 4.13 the same thought is expressed: "Until we all reach unity of faith in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants..."
Don't get stuck in your child-like experiences, for though good, they are not sufficient; God has more for His grown-up sons. Children are "blown here and there by every wind of teaching"; they know only little of God and are open for all kinds of errors, Satan tries to offer them. There is so much erroneous teaching around, which contain just enough truth for children to swallow it whole, while sons turn away, because they know God.
"Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God" - namely those who are under the constant guidance of the Spirit, as their teacher and counsellor. He leads them step by step out of the childhood stage into the full measure of the mature sons of God. That is more than just an occasional guidance by the Spirit that every child of God knows.
Only through the Holy Spirit we grow up into true sons of God. He guides us into all truth and reveals the Lord in us; the creation longs for the appearance of such sons. At first, He usually makes us aware of our total helplessness, that we are unable to do anything by ourselves, but in need to be carried like little children in the fathers arms in all situations of daily life.
"Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God," they are not children anymore; He leads them into the understanding of the divine Word and opens for them the secrets of God, that would otherwise remain incomprehensible.
How often have we tried to raise life in us through our own fleshly efforts, tried to believe, to love God, brothers and our enemies, instead of trusting in the life-creating power of the Spirit in us. He makes the Word alive: "The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and Life", that is, through the power of the indwelling Spirit. Let us completely rely and lean on the Holy Spirit in us. (by M. von Brasch)
In the first seven chapters of the letter to the Romans, the Holy Spirit is only mentioned once, for these chapters deal chiefly with the question of sin and justification. The eighth chapter is the victory song of the overcoming life; and here we find the Holy Spirit mentioned 19 times.
This seems significant to me; before we can enter into the blessings of the eighth chapter and receive the power of the Spirit, we must be cleansed by the blood of Christ of the guilt of sin and be delivered of its punishment - as described in chapter three. The Holy Spirit, however, delivers from the power and dominion of sin, and He is just as necessary as the blood. Both have their separate purpose.
In the eighth chapter we find the difference between (immature) children and (grown-up) sons. Verse 14 and 15: " Who are led by the Spirit are sons of God...but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by Him we cry: Abba Father", - that is the language of sons. These are not only heirs in general, but co-heirs with Christ. (8.17) "The whole creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed." (8.19) The creation does not wait for small, immature children, but for mature sons, who have reached the fullness of the life of Jesus. In Eph. 4.13 the same thought is expressed: "Until we all reach unity of faith in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants..."
Don't get stuck in your child-like experiences, for though good, they are not sufficient; God has more for His grown-up sons. Children are "blown here and there by every wind of teaching"; they know only little of God and are open for all kinds of errors, Satan tries to offer them. There is so much erroneous teaching around, which contain just enough truth for children to swallow it whole, while sons turn away, because they know God.
"Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God" - namely those who are under the constant guidance of the Spirit, as their teacher and counsellor. He leads them step by step out of the childhood stage into the full measure of the mature sons of God. That is more than just an occasional guidance by the Spirit that every child of God knows.
Only through the Holy Spirit we grow up into true sons of God. He guides us into all truth and reveals the Lord in us; the creation longs for the appearance of such sons. At first, He usually makes us aware of our total helplessness, that we are unable to do anything by ourselves, but in need to be carried like little children in the fathers arms in all situations of daily life.
"Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God," they are not children anymore; He leads them into the understanding of the divine Word and opens for them the secrets of God, that would otherwise remain incomprehensible.
How often have we tried to raise life in us through our own fleshly efforts, tried to believe, to love God, brothers and our enemies, instead of trusting in the life-creating power of the Spirit in us. He makes the Word alive: "The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and Life", that is, through the power of the indwelling Spirit. Let us completely rely and lean on the Holy Spirit in us. (by M. von Brasch)
They have received the gift of salvation by the shed blood of Jesus, but never move much beyond that point. It may be that they do not receive a deeper teaching...or they are unchurched.
These are believers who I believe get into Heaven " By The Skin Of Their Teeth "
As mature Christians, we must uplift them and put no obstacle in their path and do our best to bring them to a full maturity