THE KING’S BUSINESS
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ing Spirit within us. As long as we seek - to be controlled by laws and ordinances -outside o f us “the rudiments o f the world,” we are “children” (cf. Gal. 4:3, R. V .), but when we enter into the larger life and lib erty o f those who are led. not by a law outside o f us, but by the living Spirit dwelling within us, then we are no longer merely children, but sons (cf. Gal. 5:18, R. V .). These are wonderful words, “ sons o f God,” but we are so familiar with them that we do not stop to weigh their meaning. W e do well to stop and meditate upon their significance right here. The only ones who really are sons o f God are those who have surrendered their will to the control o f the indwelling Spirit o f God and are con- sequntly led by Him. v. 15. " For ye received not the spirit of bondage again unto fear; but ye received the spirit o f adoption, whereby (rather, in whom } we cry, Abba, Father.” Mere keep ing o f a law outside o f us is “bondage” and is full o f “ fear,” but when the believer receives the Holy Spirit he. receives, not a spirit o f “bondage unto fear,” on the con- Itrary he receives “ the spirit o f adoption.” Adoption means placing as a son. It does not indicate at all the adoption o f one who is not a member o f the family into the family, as we so often use the word adop tion, it refers to our receiving a place as a son with the rights o f a son in the. Father’s house., In regeneration we receive the nature o f a son o f God, God’s own nature; in adoption we receive our place as a son, no longer under tutors and gover nors or a law outside o f us (cf. Gal. 4:1-5), but controlled in the fearless lib erty o f a son in his father’s house by the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. The words “spirit o f adoption” are a name o f the Holy Spirit. The H oly Spirit is called “ the Spirit o f Adoption” because He is a filial Spirit, thè Spirit called also “ Spirit of His Son” (Gal. 4:6), and produces in the one who receives Him a sense o f sonship. This is the Spirit whom we receive, and having received such a Spirit wè do not cry, when we address God, “My Tyrant,” or even “My Ruler,” but “Abba, my
Father.” Many today who call themselves Christians do not seem to have received the Spirit o f “placing as sons,” they cringe before God in terror; their whole heart does not go out in the fearless trust o f a son toward his father. v. 16. “ The Spirit Himself beareth wit ness with (rather, together with ) our spirit, that we are children o f God." It is' to be carefully noted that Paul does not say here that the Holy Spirit bear§ witness to our spirit that we are children o f God. Rather, he says the Holy Spirit bears'wit ness together with our spirit: that is to say, there are two witnesses to our sonship, our own spirit and the Holyx Spirit. Our own spirit, accepting God’s word for it that “as many as receive Jesus are children o f God” (John 1:12), and resting upon that Word, bears witness to our sonship. But along with our own spirit the Holy Spirit, another person who has come to dwell in our hearts, also bears witness to our sonship, and produces in us a sense o f sonship, and this conviction o f sonship which the. Spirit gives is given because we are children, not in order that we may become children. “ Because ye are sons” God sends forth “the Spirit o f His Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father” (Gal. 4 : 6 ) . ' v. 17. "And if children, then (rather, also ) heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified with Him.” It is a'glorious thing to be a child o f God, and it brings something else o f vast moment along with it, viz., heirship, and not only that, but joint heirship with Christ ; that is to say, heirship to the extent that Christ is an heir o f God. Thèse are stupendous words. Do we dare take them as meaning all that they say? Do we dare take them as meaning anything else than they say? They distinctly tell us that the believer is an heir o f all God has and all God is, heir just as Christ is heir, and to the extent that Christ is heir. The only difference is that Christ is heir by His own natural and personal right, and we are heirs because o f our union with Him. He is an
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