“Ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 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” (Rom. 8:15-1715For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17And 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. (Romans 8:15‑17)).
Our association with Christ is particularly mentioned: “If children then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs,” or “co-heirs,” with Christ; if so be that we suffer with or “co-suffer” with Him, that we may be also glorified together, or “co-glorified.” Three things are brought out: (1) our possession, “co-heirs”; (2) our privilege, “co-sufferers”; (3) our prospect, “co-glorified ones.”
An Inheritance
That an inheritance is ours, inalienable and secure, we know — “an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:44To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, (1 Peter 1:4)). That suffering of one kind or another, as our present portion in this world, is what we may look for; this we accept, or soon learn by experience. Yes, and “all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:1212Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. (2 Timothy 3:12)). Then, beyond all that, glorification is our prospect according to the purpose of God, for “whom He justified them He also glorified” (Rom. 8:3030Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. (Romans 8:30)). It may be noticed how all flows from relationship — “if children, then heirs.” The birth-right and the birth-tie go together. We are children of God, here and now. The significance of that truth — relationship with God and the importance of realizing the true nature of the spiritual birth-tie—it seems impossible to overemphasize.
Adoption
This is a new relationship with God into which believers are admitted. It is built upon another plane and of an entirely different nature from any previously enjoyed by man. The link is formed through our being born again spiritually, born of God, through our having eternal life in Him and God’s sending forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father.” As here in Romans 8, where we have the owning (vs. 14), adoption (vs. 23), and manifestation (vs. 19) spoken of in connection with the position of being “sons of God,” the birth-tie itself comes immediately into evidence: “Ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” Heirship, then, we find here connected with our relation to God as His children.
Sonship
Galatians connects it with sonship (Gal. 4:77Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. (Galatians 4:7)). They do not differ essentially, although they are to be distinguished materially, “children” and “sons.” He is a child of God who, receiving Christ and believing on His name, is “born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12-1312But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:12‑13)). They are all sons of God who have “faith in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:2626For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:26)). If the one speaks of the tie or bond of relationship which constitutionally pervades the family of God, the other sets forth the place and position, albeit responsibility also, characterizing those who under the Christian economy are so related. What our passage then shows is that our heirship does not merely attach to sonship (with all the wealth of privilege and place implied in the term), but that such is involved in the birth-tie itself — “if children, then heirs.” Are we not therefore doubly secured in our heritage, by right and by title through the grace of God?
Joint-Partakers
“Heirs of God!” What a portion is ours! No mere legacy from one whom death relieves. Nor is it merely as the “inheritance of the saints in light” that it may be characterized. We are joint-heirs, co-heirs with Christ. It is not a legacy bequeathed, as has been said, but rather a partnership of blessing we are brought into. We are to be joint-partakers with Christ, as Ephesians 1 shows us, in that which is to result from the fulfillment of the purpose of God.
J. T. (adapted)