The Holy Spirit and Assurance of Sonship (Romans 8:15-17)
This sermon delves into the profound work of the Holy Spirit as described in Romans 8, particularly focusing on how the Spirit assures believers of their identity as God's children. It explores the intimate relationship we can have with God as "Abba Father" and how this assurance empowers us to overcome the motivations for sin and live free from fear.
This sermon explores the Holy Spirit's primary work in assuring believers of their identity as God's children. It reveals how this assurance impacts regeneration, sanctification, and empowers a life free from fear and conditional acceptance.
Overview
The sermon begins by identifying Romans 8's dual themes: the work of the Holy Spirit and the assurance of believers. The preacher highlights how New Testament writers emphasize the Spirit's divine personhood, stating that the Spirit is God Himself come to live within us. He argues that the core purpose of the Holy Spirit's work is to assure believers that they belong to God, are His children, and are profoundly loved.
The first two ministries of the Holy Spirit are then detailed. The ministry of regeneration (Romans 8:9-11) is when the Spirit quickens a person from spiritual death to life by revealing their acceptance as God's child through Jesus Christ. The second, the ministry of sanctification (Romans 8:12-14), explains how the Spirit enables believers to "put to death the misdeeds of the body." This is achieved not through sheer willpower, but by addressing and destroying the root motivations for sin, reminding individuals of their secure identity and approval as a child of the King.
The third ministry is termed "high assurance and power" (Romans 8:15-17). Here, the Spirit enables believers to cry "Abba Father." The sermon explains that "Abba," a universal, childlike sound, represents a primordial human desire for a perfectly loving, powerful, and unconditionally present parent—a desire only fully met by God. This intimate address liberates believers from a "spirit that makes you a slave again to fear," replacing performance-based religion with the secure acceptance of a beloved child.
The sermon concludes by explaining that while sanctification involves ongoing, intentional effort, the "high assurance" aspect is a direct, intuitive, and often overwhelming testimony from the Spirit to our spirit. This divine witness, described as a "ray of Glory filling the soul with God," confirms our identity as God's beloved child. Although not something we can control or generate at will, diligently pursuing sanctification prepares the heart for these moments of unspeakable joy and deep certainty in God's love.
Key points
- Romans 8 centers on both the Holy Spirit's work and the assurance of believers, with the Spirit's main role being to assure us of our identity as God's children.
- The New Testament's grammatical treatment of "Spirit" emphasizes that the Holy Spirit is God Himself, not merely a force.
- The Holy Spirit has three main ministries: regeneration, sanctification, and high assurance and power.
- Regeneration (Romans 8:9-11) is when the Spirit makes us alive by showing us acceptance in Christ as children of God.
- Sanctification (Romans 8:12-14) involves the Spirit helping us mortify sin by destroying its root motivations through the assurance of our identity in Christ.
- Crying "Abba Father" (Romans 8:15) signifies an intimate, trusting relationship with God as the perfect, unconditional parent we deeply long for.
- The ministry of high assurance (Romans 8:16) is a direct, intuitive witness from the Spirit to our spirit, confirming our identity as God's beloved children, bringing "joy unspeakable and full of Glory," and is not humanly controllable.
In Tim Keller's words
“The main job of the Holy Spirit, the work of the Holy Spirit, is to assure you that you are a child of the king.”
“Faith sometimes Rises to so full and assurance that it swallows one up into the presence of God.”
Outline
- I. Introduction: The Dual Theme of Romans 8
- A. The Holy Spirit
- 1. Grammatical insight: Greek writers affirm the Spirit's divinity by using masculine pronouns for a neuter noun.
- 2. The Spirit is God himself, come to live within us.
- B. Assurance ("no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus")
- 1. Emphasized at the beginning and end of Romans 8.
- C. The Intertwined Nature: The Holy Spirit's main job is to assure you that you are a child of the King.
- II. Three Great Ministries of the Holy Spirit (All Assurance Ministries)
- A. The Ministry of Regeneration (Romans 8:9-11)
- 1. The Spirit indwells, quickens, and makes alive.
- 2. Shows us we can belong to the Father through Christ, not by self-effort.
- B. The Ministry of Sanctification (Romans 8:12-14)
- 1. Putting to death "misdeeds of the body" by the Spirit.
- 2. Mortification: Destroying the motivation for sin at the root by affirming identity in Christ.
- 3. Continuously reminding oneself of who they are in Christ (Ephesians 5:18-19).
- C. The Ministry of High Assurance and Power (Romans 8:15-17)
- 1. Receiving the "spirit of sonship" instead of a "spirit that makes you a slave again to fear."
- 2. Crying "Abba Father"
- a. Jesus called God "Abba."
- b. "Abba" is a universal, primordial sound representing a child's desire for perfect, unconditional love, power, and presence.
- c. Human parents cannot perfectly fulfill this desire; God is the one we are truly looking for.
- d. Liberation from seeking this perfect "Abba" in imperfect human relationships or performance.
- 3. The Spirit "testifies with our spirit" that we are God's children (Romans 8:16).
- a. This is a direct, intuitive, often overwhelming, and joyful witness of God's love and acceptance.
- b. It is like a defense witness breaking open a case, bringing new information to light.
- III. How to Experience High Assurance
- A. It is not controllable; it is like the "wind" (John 3).
- B. Do not confuse occasional features with causal features (e.g., specific church practices, speaking in tongues, reading certain literature).
- C. Work diligently on the second ministry: mortifying sin by living under righteousness and letting your spirit testify daily to your identity in Christ.
- D. This consistent work positions you for the Spirit's direct witness, bringing "joy unspeakable and full of Glory."
Scripture references
- Romans 8:15-17
- Romans 8:16
- Romans 8:9-11
- Romans 8:9
- Romans 8:12-14
- Romans 8:12
- Romans 8:5
- Ephesians 5:18-19
- Acts 9
- John 3
- John 17
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 And 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.
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
Insights
The Holy Spirit reveals God not as a distant judge, but as an intimate, loving Father.
Our deepest longings for perfect love and security point ultimately to God alone.
True freedom from fear comes from knowing God accepts you unconditionally as His child.
Questions & answers
What is the main theme of Romans 8, according to the sermon?
The sermon argues that Romans 8's theme is primarily about both the person and work of the Holy Spirit and the assurance of believers, with the Spirit's main task being to assure believers of their identity as God's children.
Why does the preacher emphasize the grammatical usage of "Spirit" in the New Testament?
The preacher highlights that New Testament writers intentionally used masculine pronouns for the neuter Greek word for "Spirit," effectively "trampling on grammar," to emphasize that the Holy Spirit is God Himself, not merely a force or emanation.
What does the word "Abba" mean in the context of the sermon?
"Abba" is an Aramaic word for Father, likened to "Dada," representing a universal, primordial sound a child makes when reaching for a parent. It signifies deep confidence, intimacy, abandonment, and absolute trust, fulfilling the human desire for a perfectly loving and powerful parent that only God can be.
What is the "spirit of fear" versus the "spirit of sonship"?
The "spirit of fear" describes relating to God based on performance, like a hired servant whose love is conditional. The "spirit of sonship" (Romans 8:15) is knowing God as an unconditional, loving Father, accepting you as a child regardless of your performance.
How does the Holy Spirit help with sanctification, according to the sermon?
The Spirit aids sanctification by helping believers "put to death the misdeeds of the body" not through mere willpower, but by going to the motivational root of sin. It involves reminding oneself of one's identity as a beloved child of God, thus removing the underlying need or desire that fuels sinful behavior.
Can believers control the "ministry of high assurance and power"?
No, the sermon explains that this ministry, where the Spirit directly testifies to our spirit, cannot be controlled or "harnessed like the wind." While diligent work in sanctification can prepare one for it, it remains a sovereign act of the Spirit.
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