♪ so so ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Well, good morning, everyone. Welcome back to the Lord's House. Good to see everyone as we start a week together and get off on the right foundation, a biblical foundation, build a good foundation as we then go out into the world and face the trials and the battles and the blessings that will come in the new week. So, okay, let's see. Our missionary prayer emphasis for the week is Doug Dowman and his family as they're ministering in the New York area on the Appalachian Trail. Now it's very, very unique ministry. I want to just go over this again since we have a little bit of time. They're inviting hikers in to spend the night in their home. They're giving them food and they're giving them drinks and a place to sleep. So it's just been a great ministry. And they're also sharing the gospel with them while they're there. So it's such a unique ministry. I would encourage you to pray for them this week. Again, just thank you for being a part of Operation Christmas Child. We collected 36 boxes. You never know where those boxes will go or what the Lord will do with those boxes for the cause of Christ. You will find out what you did and what you accomplish when you get to heaven. This side of heaven, I don't know how we would know, but the Lord knows. So we're just going to be faithful there. Okay, for our call to worship, I'm using Ephesians 1, verse 3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. It's Christmas season, and as our practice has been for years, when we move into December, we start singing Christmas carols. We're gonna do that today, so please stand if you're able, and let's sing and think about what the Lord has done for us in sending Christ in his birth, and we celebrate that at Christmas time. So please stand if you can. O come, O come, Emmanuel And ransom captive Israel That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear Rejoice, Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer, Our spirits by thy laughter impure. Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, And death's dark shadows purge. Rejoice, Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel O come, thou wisdom from on high, And order all things far and nigh, To us the path of knowledge show, And cause us in her ways to go. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel O come, desire of nations, bind all people in one heart and mind. Fade in these triumphant choruses. Fill the whole world with heaven's peace. Rejoice! Rejoice, Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel From the long-expected, Jesus, born to set thy people free. From our sears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee. Israel's strength and consolation Hope of all the earth, thou art Dear desire of every nation you. ♪ Go to him your praises bring ♪ Christ the Lord has come to earth ♪ Come to earth to test our sadness ♪ He whose glory's new no end ♪ By his life he brings us gladness ♪ Our redeemer, shepherd, friend ♪ Leaving riches without number ♪ Born within a cattle stall ♪ This the everlasting wonder ♪ Christ was born the Lord of all Born my people to deliver Born a child and yet a king Born to reign in us forever How my gracious kingdom reigns By thine own eternal Spirit Rule in all our hearts, O Lord Amen, please be seated. If we could have our ushers come forward, and what a great opportunity to give to the cause of Christ as we're celebrating the birth of Jesus who came into the world and gave so much to us. So let's pray for just a moment, okay? Father, we thank you for this season. and everything that we celebrate, and for the many gifts you've given us, and we thank you for the opportunity of giving a piece back to you. We ask you to bless it, we pray in Jesus' name, amen. Start at the manger On a cold winter night Look for the star in the sky Then follow its light It leads to a savior For a world that is lost Start at the manger and then go to the crawl. Start at the manger, at the child in the hay, the gift of our Father and hand, the price he would pay. to save all his children, no matter the cost. Start at the manger, then go to the cross. Imagine that you own the wealth of the world, all of it silver and gold. What good will it do when tomorrow arrives and your heart is empty and cold? Start at the manger where redemption began. When Jesus stepped down from his throne to die as a man, all of our riches we will count them as loss. If we start at the manger, then go to the cross. Imagine that you own the wealth of the world, all of it silver and gold. What good will it do when tomorrow arrives and your heart is empty and cold? Start at the manger where redemption began. Jesus stepped down from his throne to die as a man. All of our riches, we will count them as loss. If we start at the manger, then go to the cross. If we start at the manger, then go to the cross. Today's reading is from Galatians 5 verses 13 through 26. For you were called to freedom, brethren. Only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another. But I say, walk in the spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desires against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh. For these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the spirit, you are not under the law. Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and the things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another. Please join me in prayer. Father, we praise you and thank you. Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Lord God, we do thank you that you came to the manger, Father, for us, and you went to the cross for us, Father. We thank you for your unselfishness, Father, and your sacrifice for us. Lord, we also thank you that you're the good shepherd, the chief shepherd of our souls. Father, we praise you and thank you. Father, we lift up Living Hope, we lift up our church. Father, we pray for Steve. Father, we thank you for him, for the leader that he's been. Father, we also ask you to lead him in this next season of life. Lead him and his family that he would be just as fruitful in that next season as he's been in this season, Father. We pray for the elders to give them wisdom and guidance to lead the church into this new season, to be with them, Father, that your perfect will be manifest through their leadership and through us. Lord, we pray for all of us or all of some members. Father, we ask that you help us to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus. Lord, would you help our hearts to be with you and not wander to distractions. Father, keep our hearts with you. Help us to love others as you have loved us. Help us to be gracious to others as you've been gracious to us. Help us to stand for truth, Father, to be humble yet bold in our witness of you as we interact with the world. Father, would you encourage all of us who are struggling and discouraged, who are in situations that we seem like there's no way out, would you help us to keep our eyes on you and to trust you in this moment, Father, and to see your mighty handwork. We ask you to touch all of us who need healing. Father, touch us. Help those who are watching by internet who can't be here but would like to be here. Father, encourage their hearts. Lord, help us to sow to the spirit and to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. Father, help us not to trade what we know for what we don't know. Lord, I pray for the greater body of Christ. I pray for Doug Dalma and his family and their ministry. to those lost people, lost souls, Father, seeking something they don't even know. Lord, let them find you as they're on that path. Let Doug be an instrument of that truth. We pray for the persecuted church, Father, those who suffer because of your name. Lord, help them to stand firm. Encourage their hearts. Encourage their families. Help them not be weary in doing good, Father. We pray you would touch people who are persecuting them. As you touch Paul, would you touch them and bring them to Christ? We pray for our government leaders. Father, I pray for great humility to come upon them, wisdom to come upon them at the local, state, and federal level. Lord, we ask you to forgive our nation for turning to unrighteousness and wickedness, Father, instead of to you. Lord, would you turn our hearts to you, Father, and that the nation that was founded, Father, through the influence of your word, would turn back to your word, that many would turn back to you, Father, and you would touch our leaders and bring them to you as well. And Father, we pray for today's service. We pray for our hearts, that they'd be open and tender to your word. You bless Steve as he gives the word, Father. And Lord, we pray you would be glorified in all we do this day. In Jesus' name, amen. Let's continue singing using the song in your bulletin, Angels from the Realms of Glory. Please remain seated as we sing. Angels from the realms of glory ring your flight o'er all the earth. Ye who sang creation's story now proclaim Messiah's birth. Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ the newborn King. Shepherds in the fields abiding, Watching o'er your flocks by night. God with men is now residing, Yonder shines the infant light. Come and worship, come and worship, Worship Christ the newborn King. Saints before the altar bending, watching love and hope and fear. Suddenly the Lord descending, in His temple shall appear. Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ the newborn King. All creation join in praising God the Father, Spirit, Son. Evermore your voice is raising to the eternal three in one. Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ the new-born King. amen now if you would please take your red song book underneath the seat in front of you and i hope that you participate in these things because there's a purpose for this okay the purpose all the purpose here is to help us worship the lord and be drawn closer to the lord and everything that we do how do we how are we drawn closer one way is by knowing more about the lord and his word and how it applies to us so Take your red songbook, please, and turn to page 871 with me, 871. And I want to read questions 33 through 36, and we're introducing a new doctrine in our study of Romans chapter 8 today, which is found in this section. And one thing we need to know, the difference is between justification and sanctification. And then the new doctrine that we're going to be looking at, which is adoption. So all three are used here. So let's start with question 33. What is justification? Justification is an act of God's free grace, wherein he pardons all our sins and accepts us as righteous in his sight only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us and received by faith alone. What is adoption? Adoption is an act of God's free grace whereby we are received into the number and have a right to all the privileges of the sons of God. What is sanctification? Sanctification is the work of God's free grace whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God and are enabled more and more to die unto sin and live unto righteousness. Now let's do one more. What are the benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification? The benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification are assurance of God's love, peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Spirit, increase of grace, and perseverance therein to the end. Amen. take a moment now and just give you the opportunity to pray silently pray for yourself people around you pray for me i'll close for us in just a minute and then we'll dig into our studies today let's pray Well Father we thank you for this Christmas season that we're heading into and what it means to your people. And Lord we thank you for this word that we're studying in Romans chapter 8 and we can see why the people in this congregation pick this as one of the greatest chapters in the Bible we pray that your spirit will apply it to us and meet the needs of each and every one that's here. I don't know what all the needs are Lord but you do. Now let's remind you and go over for just a moment where we have been and what we've been doing. The theme here is assurance of salvation. However, there's a difference between our theme and our purpose. The theme is a little bit academic assurance of salvation. Our purpose becomes much more personal. The purpose here, we want to ask the question, what's the Holy Spirit's purpose? What is Paul's purpose? The purpose here, the Lord wants you to know that you are a Christian. All on the other hand, he wants you to know if you are not a Christian, because if you're not a Christian and you know it, then you can address those issues and you can get right with the Lord. But we're driving this this purpose home through our study. The Lord wants you to have absolute confidence that you are a Christian. You can have that knowledge. And he wants you to have the peace that flows from that. regardless of what's going on in your life, what problems you're dealing with. He wants you to have that peace. So you need to be examining your heart just as I'm examining mine, because I have known preachers who were preaching God's word. And after years of doing that, they they realized that they were not a Christian. It can happen. So it's about a relationship in our heart and in our lives. So now we're going to where we've talked about the new nature that you have as a Christian. And now we're going to expand on that and tie that in with the new family that you are a part of. You are now part of the family of God. So we're going to give you more proof of salvation and hopefully it's your salvation. So let's pick it up with verse 14. For all who are being led by the spirit of God. These are sons of God. So Paul's now turn in a very positive direction. It's going to be a wonderful study. He's got great things to tell us. And starting off right up front he's going to give us practical benefits of being led by the spirit. Practical benefits. We're going to look at those benefits throughout our time together. The first practical benefit that we're going to deal with is the Holy Spirit promises to lead you every day. You're a child of God. If you're a child of God. Now this is new material for our study and I want to tie it in with a verse from John chapter 10 John 10 verse 27 where Jesus said my sheep hear my voice and I know them and they know me. Now does that apply to you. Do you know the voice of the Lord and do you follow that voice. Now look at verse 14 again. This is why I like you to have your copy of God's word in front of you whether it's paper on your phone whatever it may be. There's a little interesting word play here. Look at the first part of verse 14. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. Now what I want to focus on, for all who are being led, not the sons of God are led. You see the difference? There's a very important difference here. Why is that? Because sometimes Christians can be very stubborn. Even born again, Christians can be very stubborn. We can be distracted. Or as we talked about last week, we can become stuck spiritually. And at that point, when that happens, we don't follow the spirit, do we? So the Holy Spirit will lead you, but. You have to do your part. If you don't, if you don't do your part, Then it will grieve the Holy Spirit. And we see that in Ephesians chapter four, verse 30. Paul writes, Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. So he's not talking to unbelievers there. He's talking to Christian people who have been sealed. He says the Christians do not grieve the Holy Spirit. Now, when we're in our verse 14, where it says led by the spirit, that is a verb. So it requires action on your part and my part. It could be translated willingly led. So as you and I yield to the Holy Spirit. He's going to guide you daily. And how is how is he going to do that? He's going to guide you by his words. He's going to guide you by the Bible. We'll look at that more. We're going to dig into that in a few minutes. But the words used here are plural. Those sons of God, which includes daughters and teenagers, everything else. We are now part of the same family. Now, when I was a youngster, Our family went to a family reunion once a year and we lived in Virginia and our family was scattered through the state and they'd pick a spot somewhere in the center of the state and everyone would travel and we'd go to a park or someplace like that and the kids were throwing ball and the adults were eating and talking and We don't seem to do that anymore, do we? I don't see as much of that as I used to, but we as Christians are part of a family. Now, just like your blood family, your Christian family has a lot of different personalities in it. And you know that to be true. You know you've seen it in your family and you've seen it in your Christian family and their different personalities and their different abilities in the family. Listen the way boys put this far as the church. Most of the differences most of the difficulties that cause problems in our church family should not exist. And he's right. Most of the things that bother us as Christians and we get all worked up over. Should not exist. There's a biblical way to handle them. So a point of application this morning. Are you being led by the Holy Spirit. Are you being led by the Holy Spirit. So God gives you a promise today. If you will work. To follow the Holy Spirit. You will see the Holy Spirit leading in your life and then you're going to see spiritual growth in your life. So one way you know that you're a Christian is by seeing this spiritual growth take place in you. Doesn't mean you won't slip and fall and have setbacks. That's what I mean. But it means if you're being led by the spirit and you are a Christian, you will see this spiritual growth take place. So what does it look like? OK, well, I'm going to go back to our scripture reading, because in our scripture reading today, we see both sides of it in Galatians chapter five. We see our old nature and how it's described and we see our new nature and how it's described. I'm not going to read it all again. I'm just going to hit some high spots. But if you are being led by the spirit now, he goes back and he talks about our old nature, the D. He calls it the deeds of the flesh. What are they? Idolatry, witchcraft, hate, strife, jealousy, outburst of anger, drunkenness. And it's not a complete list. Things like this. Things like these. Now, he gives us the description of what we should see coming out of our new nature, which is in verse 22, the fruit of the Spirit, which is love, joy peace patience kindness goodness faithfulness gentleness was the last one self-control so what is one of the evidence is that you are a Christian is fruit the evidence will be fruit in your life so this is one way to know today if you are a Christian Paul describes all Christians as sons of God so sons of God what they look like The fruit of the Spirit describes what your family members Should look like so he isn't talking about biology Isn't talking about DNA or whatever that stuff is. He's talking about Obedience you can you can know a Christian because a Christian wants to obey the Lord So boys again this is good. We are children of whoever we choose to obey. We are children of whoever we choose to obey. And there are times in Christians lives when we choose to obey our old nature. We can't stand up and say I didn't have any choice. I had to know we need to. We need to just call it what it is whether it's in my heart or your heart. When we do those things that are described as deeds of the flesh. It's because we choose to. So will you obey your old nature. Or will you obey your new nature? Now, boys, again, when you obey your old nature, you are following Satan. I'm glad he said that, because that's pretty strong. If I said that, somebody would probably get upset with me. But I think he's right. Put myself in there. When we follow our old nature, we are choosing to follow Satan. So the sons of God, sonship, children, and the new words introduced that we're going to deal with in a minute, heirs. We're not there yet. But verses 14 and 15 are introducing proof of what Paul has been building on in the weeks before. So verse 14 gives us the negative. Not everyone is a member of God's family. Verse 50 also gives us the positive. All Christians are members of God's family of folks. This is radical stuff. This is radical. And if you've been in church all your life, you may not think of it that way. But this is radical teaching because he's talking about a radical change that takes place in you and me when we're saved. And that's going to take place in your life. And you're going to see it because can you do what you doubt that if God comes to live inside of you, that there will be a change. There has to be a change. If the Holy Spirit's inside of you, you cannot be the same person that you used to be. Now, we were all born members of the devil's family. We were born in Adam. But Paul is talking about a radical change, but he's also talking about a supernatural change that takes place in us. So it's radical and it's supernatural. And one of the references that I like to use in describing this is found in John chapter three where Jesus is dealing with the Bible scholar Nicodemus and he's the one that's teaching all the young people about the Old Testament and Jesus saying you don't you don't even know yourself. So John chapter three verse five Jesus answered truly truly so listen carefully. I say to you, unless one is born of water and spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the spirit is spirit. So do not be amazed that I say to you, you must be born again. Born again. OK, Jesus, how? The Greek word means from above. It has to come from above. So not only is the change radical, not only is it supernatural, the change is also far-reaching. Now the goal is sanctification. We now know what that means. We're going to add a new term in the weeks to come. The goal is also glorification, sanctification and glorification. So this is the practical side of verse 14 being led by the spirit. You are led by the spirit. And now because of that, you're going to grow in holiness. So an application. Do you see yourself growing in holiness? Don't think about your neighbor. Examine your own heart. Do you see yourself growing in holiness? All right. How does the Holy Spirit lead us? He's going to renew our mind. He's going to change your mind. I'm already in Romans 8, so I might as well turn over to Romans 12. Listen to Romans 12, verse 2. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is. How is He going to change your mind? He's going to change your mind through God's Word by reading God's Word. So the Holy Spirit is going to teach it to you and he's going to apply it to you and the problems and the situations that you're dealing with as you read it. Now, so you will find yourself living differently. You're going to start to live differently than the way you did before. You're going to start to look at things differently. I just give you a couple examples of that. I'm going to go to a Galatians chapter 4 Galatians 4 6 Paul writes because you are sons. God has sent forth the spirit of his son into our hearts crying Abba father. Listen to Matthew chapter five verse six Matthew five six. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. You're going to start to think differently. You're going to start to want different things. And Jesus goes on to make a promise for they shall be satisfied. Are you hungering and thirsting after righteousness? You will be satisfied. Jesus promises that. So here's the test. We're going to go through it as we take our time here. Are you a real Christian? How do you know? OK, do you love the Lord? Do you love the Lord? Do you want to please the Lord? Do you want to obey the Lord? Do you want to spend time with him? Do you want to read his word? Do you want to study it? Do you want to learn more about it? Do you have a desire to pray? I know we all struggle with some of these things as far as being busy and I struggle sometimes with prayer and being distracted. I get all that. I'm asking you about your heart. Do you want to? Do you have a desire to do that? So he will direct you. That's the promise. I'm going to go to Philippians chapter two verses twelve and thirteen. So then my beloved just as you have always obeyed not as in my presence only but now much more in my absence work out your salvation with fear and trembling. That's your part. Now what's the promise? For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. The Holy Spirit is living inside of you. There will be changes that take place. You will want to do his will. Now I'm not saying you won't struggle at times, but I'm saying you will have a desire. You will want to do that. as your will been redirected in this way deep down do you really want to serve him okay and a quote from john murray i wanted to share with you john murray was probably the greatest theologian of the 20th century and john murray said this You have to listen to it to pick it all up. It's first reading the activity of the believer is the evidence of the spirit's activity. And the activity of the spirit is the cause of the believers activity. Mary it again. The activity of the believer is the evidence of the spirit's activity and the activity of the spirit is the cause of the believers activity. Although that was very good the way he put that. All right. Another practical benefit of being led by the spirit. We see it in verse 15 verse 15. for you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again but you have received a spirit of here's our new doctrine you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out Abba father Now remember, the theme is assurance of salvation. The purpose is the Lord wants you to know that you're a believer and have 100% total confidence there. Remember, he told us as Christians we have been set free from sin. We're no longer slaves to it. Sin can no longer tell you what to do unless you let it tell you. You said does not have to tell you what to do anymore. It's your choice and it's my choice. If we do that. Jesus bought your freedom. How did he do that? He did it by his death. Now we're looking at Christmas. He came into the world lived the perfect life that you and I can't live and you are now part of his family. I found this definition of adoption as it applies to the New Testament being placed as an adult son being placed as an adult son to the moment you are born again it's a one time event you are placed in God's family Go to Matthew. Yeah. Matthew chapter six verse eight. Matthew chapter six verse eight. Now we take this for granted if you like me you've been in a church all your life you've been in good churches. So Jesus said. Do not be like them for your father knows what you need before you ask him. Jesus called God father the Jews never called God father and they hated it when Jesus called God father Jesus introduced this and he told his disciples I'm telling you to call God Father listen to the Lord's Prayer verse 9 pray then in this way our Father Who is art in heaven? Jesus called God Father Now as far as adoption in a technical sense God only has one son Jesus the begotten one all of the rest of his children are adopted We're all adopted As an adopted child, we now have the privilege of calling God Father. We're not some kind of second-rate citizen or second-rate son or daughter. No. You have been justified. You now have been adopted. Now if you think about earthly fathers not and there's no perfect earthly fathers but when a father loves his children he wants what's best for those job for that child and those children. Now he'll fall at times but his heart is he wants what's best for them. So when Jesus said you now can call God father. God the father wants what's best for you and what's best for me. Now, let's give us a go back and review a minute at some proofs of our of our salvation. Are you being led by the spirit? Verse 14. Number two, we have been adopted by God. Adoption in a Greek could be defined this way. Do have an installation or placement as a son. When you are justified and you're born again, you are placed in. God's family. And I was I was had the privilege of being part of an adoption with with Brayden and we were in a courtroom and it was an official setting and and it was it was wonderful. And afterwards the judge said I have to deal with so many bad things and so many terrible things and so many broken families and this that and the other he said it's wonderful to have something that's joyful and he came down front and he got his picture taken with the family. So adoption is a wonderful thing. And that's what he's telling us here. We have been installed and placed as a child of God. So this is a process where you are taken from one family and you're placed into another family. So adoption is connected to regeneration, but it's not the same thing. Regeneration is when you receive your new nature. Adoption is receiving a new status or a new relationship. You have a new relationship with God. You have a new relationship with Jesus and the Holy Spirit. You have a new relationship with people that's believers and unbelievers. You have a new relationship to God who is now your father. Now this term Abba father that we have here some Christians. I really don't like that term. And I've I've it's been tens on how you define it. I've heard it defined as daddy. And I think that's fine. The people that have a problem with it are saying oh you can't you got to be you got to be careful got to be respectful things like that. If you have a father and you're close to that father and you call him daddy, isn't that a term that's respectful? It's a loving term. That's what I think's going on here. You're able to call God your father. He is your daddy. You love him. He loves you. It's our ability to call God father, and it's based on what Jesus Christ has done for you. Matthew chapter 6 verse 9 pray then in this way our father who is in heaven so the title of father is new with Jesus Jesus told his disciples you can now call God father that was breaking news it had not taken place before I another benefit of being led by the Spirit you now belong to God verse 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God. You don't need a Pope. You don't need a priest. And you really don't even need a pastor. You have everything that you need right here in your Bible. That's everything that you need. You are now adopted. You are God's child. I want to read to you a quote that I found from McGee and I think this is very good number read the verse first. The spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. I've talked to you before about the difference between a recession and a depression. A recession is when your neighbor has cancer. A depression is when you have cancer. I listened to what McGee writes. I found this true the first time I went to the hospital for cancer surgery. I turn my face to the wall and said, Lord, I've been in this hospital many times. I pat at the hands of folks and I prayed for them and told them, Oh, you trust the Lord. He'll see you through. Lord, I've told them that, but this is the first time I've been in here. Now. I want to know whether it's true or not. I want you to make it real to me. You are my father. I want to know it and my friend and he made it real at a time like that. The Spirit of God cries out Abba father. It just wells up within you. So that's that's absolutely right. That's what he's talking about. Do you know do you have the assurance today that you are a believer and do you have confidence and do you rest in that knowing that God is your father? Yeah, where am I? So this is assurance of salvation. This is the purpose of what we're talking about this. I found this statement about assurance. It's by the word of God with the word and through the word by the word with the word and through the word but never against the word. Although that was very well put. So in this day and culture, we have to talk about these things. Your assurance of salvation isn't based on feelings. Because we live in a emotional, a feeling, feelings based culture today, and even Christians can get wrapped up in that. Your assurance of salvation isn't based on how you feel on any given day, folks. It's based on God's word. That's where you rest. So a brief test. Are you a Christian? OK, is God real to you? Not that you understand everything, you'll never understand everything this side of heaven. Do you pray? Do you know that you're praying to God? Do you know that he hears your prayers? Do you know that he will answer your prayers? He may not give you the answer that you want right at that particular moment. Hey, why do you go to church? Do you go to church to worship the Lord? Or do you go for some other purpose? I told you about a guy I worked with years ago. He said, I go to this particular church downtown and I go for business contacts. OK, he was very upfront about it. Do you go to church to be entertained? And there's a lot of entertainment taking place in Christian churches today. Is the Bible important to you? Do you want to read it? Do you want to know more about it? Here's one. Are you drawn to other Christians? Are you drawn to other Christian, other family members? You're now a member of the family of God. Are you drawn to your new family? Another benefit. The Holy Spirit is going to remind you of how valuable you are to God and how important you are to God. Verse 17. Pick up new material. And if children. Here's our word. Heirs also heirs of God. Fellow heirs with Christ. The word heir is used three times in in half of a verse. Children heirs. So as an adopted child, you are now identified with God and you have inherited certain privileges. Why about your inheritance? We'll dig into it more as we go. But the application is because you're a child of God, you're an heir of God. You want to live by the spirit. You want to walk with the Lord. So these are wonderful things. But now, Paul adds something that I Kind of wish he'd a left out. All right. Look at verse 17 again. And if children heirs also heirs of God fellow heirs with Christ wonderful comma. If indeed we suffer with him. Why did he have to put that in there. And you just left that out. If we know and I'm going verse by verse through books. I can't leave it out. I have to deal with it. Okay. I have to deal with the idea of suffering if indeed we suffer now Ray Steadman called this verse the hurts and the hallelujahs the hurts. I like that. Don't you the hurts and the hallelujahs but now we see glory and it's that glory is connected with suffering the Christian If you go through life thinking that you're never going to suffer, and if you suffer for a moment that God doesn't love you, you're going to have a miserable time. Because these things are connected here. What is your spiritual inheritance? It includes suffering. Now heaven is your future. No doubt about that. God promises you a home in heaven. John 14. But while you're here, a proof of your salvation is suffering. Now, the unbeliever is going to suffer and then he's going to say, forget this. I don't want anything to do with this. I'm out of here. OK. A proof of your salvation is suffering and how you handle that suffering. Now, are you led by God's spirit? Do you call God your father? The Holy Spirit is going to witness to you apply God's word to you and witness to you about your salvation. But the fourth fact is we also participate in Christ's suffering. Now the main theme that Paul has here as it relates to suffering is us suffering for the cause of Christ. You speak up at work about loving the Lord or being a Christian or you tell your boss, I can't do that because you're asking me to lie. I'm a Christian and I can't lie. And you're fired. Or you're maybe you're not fired because then you could sue. But maybe you are you don't get any more promotions. So mostly he's talking about a suffering for the cause of Christ, but there are other things involved here. He gives us this idea of suffering as proof of salvation. So we have all these wonderful doctrines that he's talking about. Then he throws the wrench in there. But you know what that rich is real, isn't it? Because if you've lived this life any number of years, you know, that Christian suffer. Paul lives in the real world. Paul himself was called by Jesus to a ministry of suffering Acts chapter 9. I will show him how much he must suffer for my sake. Acts chapter 9. All right. So how are some other ways that we suffer. Well not just for the cause of Christ. How about the death of a loved one. You and I suffer when we lose a loved one. We bury a loved one. How about disease? When we have to deal with some disease in our own body or in our family, someone that we care about. How does the unbelieving world respond to suffering? Well, one way an unbeliever is going to respond is just anger. Why me? I don't deserve this. Blame God. Blame other people. Now, at times, even a Christian can do that. But a Christian is not going to stay there. A Christian may start there, but he's not going to stay there. Paul says that suffering is a proof of your sonship. One more quote from from Boyce. Actually, I think he's quoting Martin Lloyd Jones. If you are suffering as a Christian and because you are a Christian, it is one of the surest proofs you can ever have of the fact that you are a child of God. That is an important use of persecution. It proves that we are Christians and therefore disciples for Christ. Just a couple more thoughts and I'm done. So suffering is used by the Holy Spirit to purify you. And to purify me. Hebrews chapter 2 Luke chapter 2. The one thing the Holy Spirit is promising. If you're a child of God, you've been justified and you've been adopted. You're born again. You will grow spiritually. It may be you may get stuck from time to time. You may have setbacks. It may be three steps forward, two and a half steps back. But if you are a Christian and the Holy Spirit is living inside of you, you will grow spiritually. So our purpose, again, the Lord wants you to have great peace in your life, comfort in your life as you realize, yes, I'm born again. I'm not perfect. I'll never be perfect this side of heaven. But I am born again and I'm believing God's word and the Holy Spirit is evident in my life and the people around me see it. I see it. So how are you doing on the test? Okay, let's pray. Father, thank you for this time, this day, and we pray, Lord, that your people would not doubt their salvation, but would take these proofs and see the evidence in their life and find great comfort and peace and rest in you as they deal with the struggles and difficulties of life. And if there's anyone here who's not a Christian, Lord, we pray that this would be the day when they would see their need and they would turn to you. We pray in Jesus name. Amen. I will be closing with, let's see, my worth is not in what I own. So please stand as we sing. My worth is not in what I own, not in the strength of flesh and bone, but in the costly wounds of love at the cross. My worth is not in skill or name, In win or lose, in pride or shame, But in the blood of Christ that flowed at the cross. I rejoiced in my Redeemer, greatest treasure, offspring of my soul. I will trust in Him no other, my soul has satisfied in Him alone. As summer flowers we fade and die, Fame, youth, and beauty hurry by, But life eternal calls to us at the cross. I will not boast in wealth or might, Or human wisdom's fleeting light, But I will boast in knowing Christ at the cross. I rejoice in my Redeemer, greatest treasure, wellspring of my soul. I will trust in Him no other, my soul is satisfied in Him alone. Two wonders here that I confess My worth and my unworthiness My value fixed, my ransom paid at the cross I rejoice in my Redeemer, greatest treasure, wellspring of my soul. I will trust in Him no other, my soul is satisfied in Him alone. I rejoice in my Redeemer, greatest treasure, wellspring of my soul. I will trust in Him no other, my soul is satisfied in Him alone. I had my Bible all ready for the benediction and I closed it. All right, Psalm 122, verse 7. Psalm 122, verse 7. May peace be within your walls and prosperity within your palaces. For I will now say, may peace be within you. That's what the Lord wants his people to have, peace within them. Have a good Lord's Day.