Notes on Grace and Submission

In Romans 8:14 - 17 Paul gives us a tremendous message of hope and salvation through submission to God.

Romans 8:14 "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." To be, "led by the Spirit of God" we must submit to the will of God. To be led is to follow. Following is an act of submission. We set aside our plans and take the path to which he calls us. By doing this we become the children of God.

It is the act of submission to God that makes us sons of God.

Romans 8:15 "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." We do not submit out of fear but our submission is adoption into the people of God. In this adoption God becomes our own dear father.

Romans 8:16 "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:" The Holy Spirit is witness to our adoption. It was customary to have witnesses to an adoption and in this adoption the spirit of God stands witness.

Romans 8:17 "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." As Children of God we share in Gods kingdom. The word for heir is kleronomos, it also means one who shares in something. So heir does not mean heir in the sense that we will inherit the Kingdom of God when God dies for he will never die. God is head of the family. Not the immediate family as we use the word today but somewhat closer to tribal confederation or nation. When we join in to the Kingdom of God we share in the bounty of the Kingdom.

Romans Chapter 8 - Full Text

Romans 8:14 - 17