14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received
does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought
about your adoption to sonship.[a] And by him we cry, “Abba,[b] Father.” 16 The Spirit himself
testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are
heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we
may also share in his glory.

Romans 8:14-17

What kind of father is God?

1. God is a loving, not controlling, father.

• vs15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.”
• Psalm 145:9 “God is good to everyone, and his compassion, his love, is intertwined in everything he does

God is a close, not distant, father.

• 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “ Abba, Father.”
• Rick Warren: “People say, ‘The fatherhood of God, and the brotherhood of man, we’re all God’s children.’ Well, those are true in the sense that we were all created by God, but it’s not true in the sense that we are all a part of God’s family. We are all God’s creatures, but we all become a part of His family, His children . by choice and by letting the spirit come into our lives.”

God is affirming and not rejecting as a father.

• vs 16“The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.”

God is giving and not withholding as a father.

• 17Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”
• Galatians 4:6-7“Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ‘Abba, Father.’ So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.”

God’s love for as a son or a daughter just changes everything.