God’s Children Glorified via Suffering

Romans 8:15–17 NLT

¹⁵ So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” ¹⁶ For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. ¹⁷ And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.

 Message

I. Not Fearful slaves But God’s Own Children (15-16)

All who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God (Romans 8:14 NLT). Then should we live like fearful slaves to carefully follow the Spirit? See verse 15.

¹⁵ So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.”

God did not give us a spirit of slavery that produces fear (15^a, 2 Timothy 1:7).  We received God’s Spirit, who enabled us, as God’s adopted children, to call God our own dear Father—“Abba, Father.” (15^b, Galatians 4:6-7). Here, “Abba” is an Aramaic word meaning “father.” It is because God’s Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children (16).

II. God’s Children Are Heirs of His Glory (17^a-b)

See verse 17^a-b.

^17a-b And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory.

A similar verse to verse 17^a-b is Galatians 4:7 NLT:

“Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.”

Here, ‘a slave’ means ‘a slave of sin’ (John 8:34). A slave is not an heir, but a son is an heir (John 8:35). Together with Christ, we are heirs of God’s glory (17^b)

III. Sharing Christ’s Suffering and Glory (17^c)

But if we are to share His glory, we must also share His suffering (17^c).

Jesus foretold His disciples about His crucifixion and resurrection (John 10-21), and He called both events part of the “Glorification” (John 12:23, 28, 13:31-32, 17:1).
Jesus taught the glory after the suffering through the metaphors of a seed that dies and produces a plentiful harvest (John 12:23-24, 32-33) and a woman suffering labour pain, then rejoicing at the birth of new life (John 16:20-22).
So, if you are suffering in Christ, God is preparing you to share in Christ’s glory, and your suffering will ultimately give way to fruitfulness, joy, and life. Amen.