| I. The Declaration of Our Sonship |
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VERSES 8:14-17 |
| A. The Statement: |
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| 1. The People: |
For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, |
(14a) |
| 2. Their Position: |
these are sons of God. |
(14b) |
| B. The Explanation: |
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| 1. The Agent of our Adoption: |
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| a. The Negative: |
For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, |
(15a) |
| b. The Positive: |
but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” |
(15b) |
| 2. The Witness to our Adoption: |
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| a. The Statement: |
The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, |
(16) |
| b. The Implication: |
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| (1) First: |
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| (a) If: |
and if children, |
(17a) |
| (b) Then: |
heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, |
(17b) |
| (2) Second: |
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| (a) If: |
if indeed we suffer with Him |
(17c) |
| (b) Then: |
so that we may also be glorified with Him. |
(17d) |
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| II. The Anticipation of Our Sonship |
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VERSES 8:18-25 |
| A. The Comparison: |
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| 1. The Present: |
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared |
(18a) |
| 2. The Future: |
with the glory that is to be revealed to us. |
(18b) |
| B. The Creation’s Anticipation: |
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| 1. The Statement: |
For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. |
(19) |
| 2. The Explanation: |
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| a. Its Bondage: |
For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, |
(20a) |
| b. Its Expectation: |
in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. |
(20b-21) |
| c. Its Suffering: |
For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. |
(22) |
| C. The Children’s Anticipation: |
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| 1. The Statement: |
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| a. Who: |
And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, |
(23a) |
| b. What: |
even we ourselves groan within ourselves, |
(23b) |
| c. Why: |
waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. |
(23c) |
| 2. The Explanation: |
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| a. The Statement: |
For in hope we have been saved, |
(24a) |
| b. The Principle: |
but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? |
(24b) |
| c. The Conclusion: |
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| (1) If: |
But if we hope for what we do not see, |
(25a) |
| (2) Then: |
with perseverance we wait eagerly for it. |
(25b) |
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| III. The Certainty of Our Sonship |
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VERSES 8:26-30 |
| A. The Present Work of the Spirit: |
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| 1. The Statement: |
In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; |
(26a) |
| 2. The Explanation: |
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| a. Our Inability: |
for we do not know how to pray as we should, |
(26b) |
| b. The Spirit Prays: |
but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; |
(26c) |
| c. The Father Hears: |
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| (1) Who: |
and He who searches the hearts |
(27a) |
| (2) What: |
knows what the mind of the Spirit is |
(27b) |
| (3) Why: |
because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. |
(27c) |
| B. The Sovereignty of the Father: |
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| 1. The Statement: |
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| a. The Subject: |
And we know that God |
(28a) |
| b. His Works: |
causes all things to work together for good |
(28b) |
| c. Its Object: |
to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. |
(28c) |
| 2. The Explanation: |
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| a. Step One: |
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| (1) Who: |
For those whom He foreknew |
(29a) |
| (2) What: |
He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, |
(29b) |
| (3) Why: |
so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; |
(29c) |
| b. Step Two: |
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| (1) Who: |
and these whom He predestined, |
(30a) |
| (2) What: |
He also called; |
(30b) |
| c. Step Three: |
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| (1) Who: |
and these whom He called, |
(30c) |
| (2) What: |
He also justified; |
(30d) |
| d. Step Four: |
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| (1) Who: |
and these whom He justified, |
(30e) |
| (2) What: |
He also glorified. |
(30f) |