"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God" (Romans 8:14)(ASV)
As we celebrate Father's Day, let's not forget that God is our Heavenly Father. (Matt. 6:14, 6:26, 6:32, 15:13, 18:35, Lk. 11:13)(NKJV) As you read this short devotional by Dr. George W. Linhart, remember that we can worship God and cry out "Abba, Father", because He has adopted us into the family of God and made us His sons and daughters.
Sons of God
Here we are introduced to the legal family status and the intimate family life of the Christian.
Believers sometimes live like spiritual paupers. But we are sons in the Family of God. Being a son of God involves BIRTH (vv.16,17). We are children of God, born ones of God (John 1:12,13).
It also involves ADOPTION (v. 15). Normally this idea is simply the voluntary taking of one into a family, like Pharoah's daughter and Moses (Ex. 2:10). However, in the Roman homes of Paul's day this was vastly different. An heir in a Roman family, as long as a child, was no better than a servant, supervised by tutors (Gal. 4:1-3). When he came of age, at a public ceremony, he was given the robe of manhood, and became an adult member of the family. This was called adoption--placing as a son. He was a full grown son with all the rights, responsibilities and privileges of his family (Gal. 4:4-7). For the believer, this placement comes at the moment of salvation! There is no childhood period recognized in the Christian experience.
Being a son of God involves HEIRSHIP (v. 17). The very purpose for adoption is heirship. A born-again person, adopted, must inherit as a son of God. In Jewish law the eldest son received a double inheritance. In Greek law, sons shared equally. The believer in Christ is joint-heir with the Savior!
As sons of God, we are led of the Holy Spirit (v. 14); at liberty by the Holy Spirit (v. 15); witnessed to by the Spirit (v. 16); and we have an inheritance under the keeping of heaven (v. 17).
"Having predestined us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will" (Ephesians 1:5)