Ferguson comments, "The 'leading of the Spirit' in view here
does not refer to the mystical elements in divine guidance, but to
the moral character of Christian behavior: God's sons are to exhibit
the family trait of holiness, and this implies putting sin to death
through the power of the indwelling Spirit (Romans 8:13). The Spirit
whom believers have received is not a spirit of bondage, but the 'Spirit
of sonship'. The evidence of this is that in the Spirit 'we cry, Abba
Father', the implication being that the Christian participates in
a communion with God first experienced by Jesus himself, hence the
echo of Jesus' own prayer-language (Mark 14:35-36) in the prayer life
of the church (Gal. 4:6-7).
This astonishing use of child-language ('Father') is so remarkable
that it has sometimes obscured the force of Paul's teaching...the
atmosphere here is not tranquillity but crisis.
The connection between this and what follows ('The Spirit himself
testifies with our spirit that we are God's children') is unstated
and often disputed. At the very least this crying 'Abba, Father' is
illustrative of, perhaps even definitive of, the Spirit's bearing
witness with our spirits that we are God's children and therefore
heirs together with Christ.
The logic is clear: through the Spirit we enter into the sense of
sonship with Jesus experienced in the context of our humanity; we
therefore have experimental evidence of our adoption. Knowing this
we also come to realize the implications of our new status: we are
children of God, brethren of Christ and therefore heirs together with
him. But even more striking than the logical implications is the experiential
phenomenon: it is the 'cry' that God's children utter that the Spirit
bears witness.
The Christian's own spirit does display an awareness of sonship,
as the rest of the New Testament makes clear (I John 3:1ff). The problem
is that this awareness is often weakened, and God's children may even
find themselves doubting their gracious status and privleges. What
Paul is saying, however, is that even in the darkest hour there is
a co-operative and affirmative testimony given by the Spirit. It is
found in the very fact that, although he may be broken and bruised,
tossed about with fears and doubts, the child of God nevertheless
in his need cries out, 'Father!' as instinctively as a child who has
fallen and been hurt calls out in similar language, 'Daddy, help me!'
Assurance of sonship is not reserved for the highly sanctified Christian;
it is the birthright of even the weakest and most oppressed believer.
This is its glory!"
Dear ones, may I encourage you to exercise your birthright as a believer
by lifting your voice in intimate prayer to your heavenly Father in
Jesus name? May I encourage you to exercise your birthright and give
evidence to your salvation and filling with the Spirit by crying out
'Abba, Father!'? This prayer e-mail often calls your attention to
the needs of those you know intimately in the body of Christ; other
times to those you don't know at all. May I encourage you to learn
to exercise your birthright as a believer for both with the same intensity
that you cry out to your heavenly Father for your deepest personal
needs? It is an exercise of love for those who belong to our Savior,
and even for those who are dead in their sin, just as we were, and
need Him desparately.
