Sons and Daughters

Jan 21 2025 - Eric Buresh

The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ . . .
Romans 8:16-17 

Romans 8 is one of my favorite chapters in the Bible. I must throttle the number of times I write about Romans 8, or I’d be writing about it all the time. But occasionally . . . I can’t help it! 

Versus 12-17 of the Great Eight proclaim a truth so rich, so glorious, that if we truly believed it by childlike faith, it would transform our lives entirely. We are not merely servants of God, nor mere recipients of His grace—we are His children, adopted into His family, and heirs with Christ Himself. This is no distant hope or lofty sentiment; it is a present reality for those who are in Christ. 

But here lies the challenge: do we truly believe what God has said about our identity? The strength and power of the Christian life flow from appropriating (personally owning) by faith the truth of who we are in Christ. The power and life inherent in who we really are is beyond words. 

Paul declares, “As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”  This is not a vague spiritual concept; it is a declaration of our position before God. Through Christ, we have been adopted into His family. We are not second-class children or probationary members of God’s household—we are fully His, with all the rights and privileges of a full heir. The Holy Spirit is constantly confirming this truth to our hearts, not merely as doctrine but as a living, personal reality. He whispers repeatedly to our innermost being, “You are His.” This witness of the Spirit is not a fleeting emotion or a passing thought—it is the settled assurance of our identity and place in God’s family. And it is the foundation for all that follows in our lives. 

To truly believe what God has said about you is to walk in the strength and power of that truth. If you believe you are a child of God, how can fear dominate you? If you believe you are an heir of God, how can the trials of this world crush your spirit? If you are led by the Spirit as a child of God, how can sin hold you in bondage? But, my brothers and sisters, here is the key: your identity in this truth must be appropriated by faith. It is not enough to hear it or even to assent to it intellectually. We must take hold of it, believe it with all our hearts, own it, and let it shape how we see ourselves and consequently how we live. 

Even this, though, is not a matter of self-effort or mental determination; faith leading to belief is the work of the Spirit in us. As we meditate on His Word, pray in faith, and yield to His leading, the Spirit deepens our faith and our conviction of who we are in Christ. And it is this conviction that transforms everything – from what we were on our own to what we really are in Christ. Let this truth sink into your heart today: you are a child of God. Not by your merit, but by His grace. You are NOT a servant of fear, but a son or daughter in God’s love. Believe it, embrace it, and live in the strength it provides. 

In those moments when my faith is strong, I can testify to the absolute joy of walking as a child of the King. To the great satisfying force of crying out, “Abba, Father,” with confidence. Let us walk in this truth together, letting the power of our identity in Christ carry us through every trial, every challenge, and every moment of our Spirit-led, faith-filled lives.