Friday | 04 July 2025
In response to their acceptance of this amazing invitation, the Holy Spirit comes into the believer’s spirit as ‘the Spirit of adoption’, enabling them to call God, ‘my Father’. Summarising this wonderful waypoint of salvation, the apostle Paul declared, ‘For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we [as an identity] cry out, “Abba, Father”.’ Rom 8:15.
When the Holy Spirit comes into the spirit of a hearer, enabling them to cry, ‘Abba, Father’, they are sealed with the Spirit and become a temple for the Holy Spirit. 1Co 6:19. Summarising the steps leading to this significant waypoint, Paul wrote, ‘[1] In Him [Christ] you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; [2] in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is [3] the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory’. Eph 1:13-14. It is amazing to consider that the Holy Spirit, whom a person receives in a firstfruits measure, is a guarantee of their eternal salvation! Rom 8:23. 2Co 1:21-22. He is committed to leading them in all truth.
In response to the believer’s cry, ‘Abba, Father’, which is enabled by the Spirit of adoption, the Father sends forth the seed of the Spirit of Christ into the spirit of the believer. This is the unique seed of their name, which was brought forth through the travail of the one Seed, Christ. This is what Paul meant, when he said, ‘And because you are sons [by adoption], God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” Therefore, you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.’ Gal 4:6-7.
Further Study:
Ephesians 1
References:
Rom 8:15
For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’
1Co 6:19
Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
Eph 1:13-14
In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
Rom 8:23
Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.
2Co 1:21-22
Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
Gal 4:6-7
And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, ‘Abba, Father!’ Therefore, you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.