Romans 8:16,17 – Children of God

The spirit itself is testifying together with our spirit that we are children of God. Yet if children, enjoyers also of an allotment.

The spirit of God that we received is a “spirit of sonship.” The official sonship waits for the moment of “the deliverance of our body” (8:23). Until then we are “sons of God” to be. But since “the spirit of life” (8: 2) is already our portion, we are already “children of God”. After all, we possess (new) life that has been begotten by God Himself. God’s spirit in us bears witness to this.

God’s spirit testifying shows that God’s spirit is also his word. It speaks to us. And when our spirit agrees with what God’s spirit (= word) says, our spirit testifies together with God’s spirit.

If we are children now, this means that we will soon be “enjoyers of an allotment”. For once children have been made sons, the property of the father will be theirs (= allotment). The concept of son in Scripture is synonymous with possessor of allotment (Gal. 4: 7), usually translated “heir”. Sonship goes so much further than childhood. As children we are begotten of the Father, but as sons we share with the Father!

Delen: