GOD’S POWER FOR SONSHIP

“And declared to be the SON of God with POWER according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead” – Romans 1:4

Another vital dimension of Christ’s Resurrection Power is GOD’S POWER for SONSHIP: Jesus was “declared to be the SON of God with POWER according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead” (Rom.1:4). He was shown to be the Son of God when He was raised from the dead by the Power of the Holy Spirit. Sonship comes with Power! In Jesus’ case, He was not simply made a son, nor did He begin to be the Son of God when He was made of the seed of David; but He, the Son of God, who existed as such, from eternity past, was manifested in human nature: His divine Sonship was declared and made evident according to the Spirit of holiness, “by the resurrection from the dead.”

The power that rested upon Jesus at His baptism in Jordan, raised Him from the dead and declared His Sonship, was the same power that: created all things out of nothing; upholds all things in their orbits and beings; governs the universe and all works of Providence; wrought miracles in both Old and New Covenants; raised Lazarus from the dead; performed the great work of redemption; enables the propagation of the Gospel and the liberation of sinners from bondage; and preserves the Church. This same power is available to transform every Believer into a SON of GOD, not just nominally but experientially.

The Holy Spirit – “the Spirit of holiness” and Author of holiness in the saints – was the Declarer of Christ’s Sonship. He did partly by bearing testimony to Christ’s Sonship at Baptism (Lk.3:22), in the Word (Jh.15:26), and in the hearts of believers (Rom.8:16); and primarily by raising Hiss body from the dead: “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you” (Rom.8:11). The Holy Spirit likewise confirms and seals our sonship in Christ: “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” (Eph.1:13); “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption” (Eph.4:30).

It takes the Power of the Holy Spirit to truly proclaim, “Abba, Father”: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are SONS of GOD. 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” (Rom.8:15); “And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!” (Gal.4:6). No human power can produce a ‘SON of GOD’! Sonship is ‘becoming’: “But as many as received him, to them gave he POWER to BECOME the SONS of GOD, even to them that believe on his name” (Jh.1:12, KJV). Sons of God – irrespective of gender – are His children who have submitted to the maturing Hand of the Holy Spirit.

Babies are born; sons are ‘given’: “unto us a CHILD is born, unto us a SON is given” (Isa.9:6a). Sons are processed, nurtured, and declared! Spiritual transformation is a Power-process! It takes God’s Power to be born-again, grow and mature into SONSHIP! No one can be born-again without the power of the Holy Spirit (Jh.3:5). And God does not want us to remain as babies and children. Our full inheritance is in sonship: “Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a CHILD, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all; but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father” (Gal.4:1-2). God’s Power is available for us to walk in the fullness of our eternal inheritance in Christ – as SONS!