Here in Romans 8:12-13, Paul introduced us
believers to the means of an overcoming life. When we live a Spirit-controlled
life, we are empowered for victory over the flesh. The emphasis here, however,
is not on what the Holy Spirit will do. The emphasis is on what we must do to
collaborate with the Holy Spirit in our lives for victory. Our change in nature
gives us the liberty to follow after the desires of God. Hence we are no longer
to yield to the demands of the flesh that lead to death. Instead, we should
follow the Spirit’s prompting and, by self-discipline, constantly subjugate the
carnal desires.
From verses
14-17, we are told that the Holy Spirit who dwells in us will attest to our
status as children of God. As children by adoption, believers have free access
to the Heavenly Father. We now obtain the rights to God’s inheritance. There
are four ways the Holy Spirit attests to our status as children of God. In
verse 14, we are told that the Spirit will lead us believers in our daily walk.
Secondly in verse 15, He will also bring the liberty to us. Being God’s sons
and daughters we will find our release from fear as He enables us to intimately
relate with the Father. Thirdly, in verse 16, we will find an inward witness
that assures us of our status as God’s children. And finally, verse 17 tells us
that as children of His, we become heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ Jesus.
Hence, we will have the full right to the inheritance and promises of God and
we will share in His glory. Bear in mind however, that we must now share in His
suffering.
Paul’s point is
this: the indwelling Spirit of God within us will witness to us and give us the
assurance of our status as sons and daughters of God. From there we find
assurance to the promise that we have the full right to our inheritance, to be
glorified with Christ ultimately. A key part of our discipleship is to learn to
sharpen the ability to recognize the voice and inner witness of the Holy Spirit
from within us. And as we do that more and more, we will collaborate with the
Holy Spirit to bring about a transformation in life. Let’s sharpen our spiritual senses and tune
in to God!
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