The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.  Romans 8:16-17

A. The Spirit’s Leadership: Our Familial Identity with God

1. What family traits does the Spirit lead us to? Rom. 8:14

– Holiness: like the Lord Jesus – 1 Thess. 4:3

– Love: like the Lord Jesus – 2 Cor. 5:14-15

2. Family identity declared – 1 John 3:1-3

B. The Spirit’s Witness: Our Adoption, Access, His Witness

Rom. 8:14, Rom. 8:15-16

1. We receive the affirmation of our Adoption – Eph. 1:5

2. In our adoption we have access to God as Father – Gal 4:6

3. The independent witness of the Spirit – Rom. 8:16

– Spiritual Fruit – Gal. 5:22-23

– Desire for communion with God – Acts 9:10-11, Phil. 1:21-23

Today

4. The Independent Witness of the Spirit – Romans 8:17

a. We are heirs of God – Titus 3:4-7

– The promised inheritance – Eph. 1:11, 12, 15-19

– The person of our inheritance – Phil. 1:21-23

– The place of our inheritance – Rev. 21:1-4

b. We are fellow heirs with Christ – Matt. 25:31-34, Luke 12:37, Rev. 19:6-9

c. We are heirs of Christ’s Sufferings – Phil. 1:29, Phil. 3:10, 1 Thess. 3:1-5, 1 Peter 4:13