The Spirit of Christ in us authenticates God as our Father. Christ the Son of God, by the Spirit, makes us children of God. Former slaves, whose chains held them in fear, are now enabled to say, “Abba! Father!” This deep inner cry, “Abba! Father,” is the witness of the Spirit that we are born of God. It is a deep knowing whereby we know that we know. Hallelujah! A part of our joint heir-ship with Christ is that we suffer with Him so that we might also be glorified with Him. Early Christians saw suffering with Him as a badge of belonging to Him.
“For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. Romans 8:15-17 (NRSV)
