In Romans 8.5-11, Paul contrasts two kinds of people: fleshly and spiritual. He continues the contrast in Romans 8.12-17, using a different metaphor: slaves and sons. What does it mean to be a son (or daughter) of God?Â

According to verses 12-14, fleshly people are slaves and spiritual people are Godâ..s children:Â

Therefore, brothers, we have an obligationâ..but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.Â

Whenever you see the word therefore in Scripture, ask what itâ..s there for. In verse 12, it connects the ideas of verses 1-11 with those of verses 12-17. According to verses 1-11, Christ died and rose again so that neither the law could condemn nor sin contaminate you. Through faith in him, you receive the Holy Spirit, who makes possible your spiritual and moral transformation. So, to be a son or a daughter of God first of all means that Christ and the Holy Spirit are â..in you,â. as verses 9-10 put it, restoring you to a right relationship with God and with others. But what does that right relationship with God look like? Listen to verses 15-17:Â

For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirsâ..heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. If you are a child of God, you can approach God with familiarity, not fear. Thatâ..s what it means to call God â..Abba, Father.â. Several years ago, I was in Jerusalem waiting in line for an elevator with a young Jewish boy and his father. Growing impatient, the little boy said, â..Abba, when is the elevator coming?â. When I heard him say this, I finally realized what it means to call God â..Abba.â. It means to approach him with intimacy, trust, and affection on matters great and small, just as the young Jewish boy had done with his father.

To be a child of God also means that you are â..co-heirs with Christ.â. In a sense, Jesus is Godâ..s natural Son, whereas you and I are his adopted children. But God loves us so much that we are given an equal inheritance with Jesus. What blessings of life and love flow to Jesus will flow to us as well.

Finally, to be a child of God means to â..share in [Christâ..s] sufferings, which only seems fair, given that we will also share in his glory. But more about that next time.