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Sermon #3150

The Fathers Children

A Sermon on Romans 8:14

Originally preached Oct. 14, 1960

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Scripture

Romans 8:14 ESV KJV
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. (ESV)

Sermon Description

What is the doctrine of sonship? How might Christians practically deny this important doctrine? How may they be sure they are children of God? In this sermon on Romans 8:14 titled “The Father’s Children,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones examines the teaching of sonship in various ways. The New Testament takes keen interest in sonship, as Dr. Lloyd-Jones says, because it is the great motive for sanctified living. Christians glory in the truth that the Father has taken special care in them as His children. However, they may practically deny their sonship in their prayer life if they are convinced it is more spiritual to offer distant or cold prayers because of God’s holiness and majesty. Dr. Lloyd-Jones cautions against this extreme by appealing to the adoption as His children. With full assurance, he says, Christians can offer prayer to God because His presence is always with His children. Since they are led by the Holy Spirit into this relationship with the Father, they can be sure of their adoption. No matter faults or failures, they are sons and daughters of God. Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones expounds the apostle Paul’s beautiful message on Christian salvation – the adoption as His children.

Sermon Breakdown

  1. Paul introduces the theme of sonship to give further assurance of salvation.
  2. Not all people are sons of God, only those led by the Spirit.
  3. We are the sons of God. This is an amazing truth we must grasp.
  4. Sonship means we are adopted into God's family and born again with a new nature.
  5. Sonship implies a likeness and similarity to God in mind, outlook, and behavior. We have the mind of Christ.
  6. Our behavior should resemble God's, like loving our enemies. We are to be perfect like our Father.
  7. Sonship shows God's special love, interest, and concern for us like a father for his children.
  8. God plans for us to be brought to glory. He leads and chastises us for our good.
  9. God provides, cares, protects, and listens to us. He anticipates our needs.
  10. We can approach God with confidence as His children, not with craven fear.
  11. We can know we are God's sons if we are led by the Spirit, not forced or driven.
  12. The Spirit leads us by persuasion, not against our will. His commandments are not grievous.
  13. To be led by the Spirit means our life is guided and directed by the Holy Spirit.
  14. Natural men are led by desires, the world, reason, or willpower, not the Spirit.
  15. Christians are led by the Spirit, though imperfect. The Spirit directs the main tendency of their lives.

The Book of Romans

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.