It is only by the surpassing riches of the grace of God that any of us are His children, and because it is wholly of grace, it must be therefore on the principle of faith, and not of works. It is, however, very blessed to know it on the authority of the Word of God as a divine certainty, but more blessed still to have the enjoyment of this new and everlasting relationship by the truth brought home to our hearts in the power of the Holy Spirit. “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” Another inspired Apostle says, “Beloved, now are we the [children] of God” (Rom. 8:16; 1 John 3:2). It is scarcely possible that anything can be more simply or more definitely stated. There is no “if” or “but” in the sentence; no “hoping to be” or room for the shadow of a “doubt.” The fact is unmistakably set forth that all who truly believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, are “children of God.” Let us never forget that this is what the Spirit of God teaches, and it is therefore God’s truth, and not man’s opinion.
After we hear and believe the gospel of our salvation, we receive the forgiveness of sins, and the Holy Spirit is given to indwell us as God’s seal, His anointing, the earnest of the inheritance, to lead us also and teach us, so that we might know and enjoy, on the authority of Scripture, our new and everlasting relationship of children. He witnesses with our spirit that we are children of God, and it is a never-ending source of holy enjoyment, thanksgiving and praise. In this way the soul begins to know God as Father.
Heirs
This is not all, for we are further instructed, “If children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together” (Rom. 8:17). Let us not lightly pass this by, but consider how far we know and enjoy this blessed relationship to God into which we have been brought. Let us remember that we have “joy and peace in believing,” not in knowing the doctrine merely, but in receiving the truth of it into our hearts as from the mouth of God. Thus, eating the words of God for ourselves, making them our own, we live day by day in the comfort of this unchangeable and everlasting relationship. However pious we may appear, we cannot walk as children of God unless we know we are His children. Many will say, “Yes, I see it,” or, “I have known it for some years,” but to live day by day in the enjoyment of it as a settled reality and look on to the blessed prospect laid out before us produces gladness of heart and holy liberty as nothing else can. Let us then not fail to receive from God by His Word and enjoy before Him the astounding truth that His own unfathomable grace has made us His children to care for and comfort forever to His own everlasting praise and glory.
The Holy Spirit
Observe, too, that the Spirit given to us to make us know that we are God’s children is spoken of as “the Spirit of His Son,” that we may have in our measure His own feelings and affections, and that He is also spoken of as “the Spirit of adoption,” to make us realize our position and give us thoughts, feelings and affections suited to Abba, Father. Our Lord prayed that the love wherewith the Father loved Him may be in us, and He also referred to a time when the world will know that the Father has loved us as He loved Him. Precious grace! The Holy Spirit is also our leader. “As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” And be it remembered that He is here also to guide us into all the truth. He is never spoken of as driving us, but in all the tenderness of a loving nurse leading the little children. This is in full keeping with divine love, and being led by Him is a mark of sonship.
As to this leading of the Spirit of God, it is easy to say, “I am led of the Spirit to do this or that,” but it is certain that He never leads us to have confidence in the flesh or to covet a position in the world which has crucified the Lord of glory or to do anything contrary to His Word. Doubtless His usual way of leading is by the written Word, though as to time, place, circumstances and other details, if we walk in the truth, watch His eye and hand, having no will of our own in activity, but with all humility having an eye to His glory, He will assuredly guide. The Spirit is the glorifier and testifier of the Son of God, and He takes of the things of the Father and of the Son and shows them unto us. These are important landmarks never to be lost sight of. To separate, therefore, the operations of the Spirit of God from the testimony of the written Word and from the person of the Son would be misleading and unsound.
Fellowship
The Holy Spirit brings us into conscious association with Christ. Even if He occupies us with ourselves to reprove us for sin, it is to bring us with self-judgment into the presence of God. As we are called into the fellowship of the Son of God, to have parted company with Him is to have descended to the thoughts of the flesh. Communion with the Father and the Son is the normal state of the child of God, and it is maintained only in the power of the Holy Spirit. The world does not receive the Holy Spirit because, as our Lord said, “it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him.” To His disciples, however, He blessedly added, “But ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you” (John 14:17). All believers who know they are God’s children know, in some feeble measure, the Holy Spirit and something of His gracious operations and ways. Those who have the Spirit of God dwelling in them have a personal consciousness of God’s love, for it is shed abroad in their hearts; they delight to bow to Jesus as their Lord as well as their Saviour. They know that they are God’s children. They realize also His power in ministering the precious things of the Son of God to them, while drawing their hearts upward to Christ and outward for Christ.
H. H. Snell from
The Christian Friend, 17:18