“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God” (Rom 8:14). In the beginning of chapter 8 Paul connects back to the end of chapter 7 with “Therefore.” The point of the end of chapter 7 is that he serves the law of God with his mind. Now Paul explains that the way to have the mind obeying the law of God is to live under the direction and control of the Holy Spirit. By living in the Spirit we can keep our mind on the things of life and peace (vs 6). When a person is indwelt with the Spirit, and led by the Spirit, he or she is a child of God (vs 14). Because we are children of God we are “fellow heirs with Christ” (vs 17). Because we are fellow heirs with Christ, we will enjoy the future glory of redeemed bodies (vs 23). However, this is no all Paul has in view. Because we are children of God we cannot be separated from the Father, by anything in the universe (vs 39).
With this big picture of Romans 8 we can now see how Paul is building to the secure and everlasting promise; that we are children of God, if the Spirit dwells in us (vs 9), because we are children of God we will enjoy his glorious complete redemption of us in the future (30). Furthermore nothing can deny us this blessing from God (vs 39).
Seeing the promise we have by being united to Christ, let us resolve and completely carry out the discarding of anything hindering our union with Christ and impeding the complete leading and influencing of the Holy Spirit. We must search our hearts for the sin or prideful attitudes which keep us from being completely united to Christ and/or led by the Spirit. Once we find them we must get rid of them. May God send his Spirit to help us do this.
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